RP to PP, loss of power and mileage

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jcmitchell

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This has me a bit concerned. I have an 05' Accord V6 with 57K. I've used RP 5W20 since the first oil change and averaged 30mpg (sometimes a bit more) on my bi-weekly drive between Houston and Dallas. Always used PureOne oil filters, Fram air filters (changed often), add Lucas UCL at each fillup (same gas stations, both Chevron), add Techron to fuel a couple of fills before an oil change. Mostly because of this site I tried PP 5W20 in preperation for ARX. I ran the PP for 1500 miles before adding ARX and my mileage immediately dropped to 25-26mpg. Even more once ARX was added. I had the alignment checked and the tires were rotated and balanced. Air filter and plugs are good. Am I just one of the people that shouldn't use PP? My parents 99' Jeep Grand Cherokee (with 9k miles, yep...you read that right) couldn't tell the difference between RP and PP but my Honda seems to know.

Any ideas?

BTW...Once the ARX treatment is finished (probably use Penzoil dino for the flush) I plan to change the plugs and switch to Amsoil 0W20 or back to RP 5W20.

Thanks in advance,

Joe
 
Don't know what caused it, but there is no way going to PP 5W-20 would cause you to loose 4-5 mpg and loose power. I've run about every type of 5W-20 or 0W-20 you can think in one of my Honda Elements (PP, Mobil 1, Amsoil 0W-20, RP 5W-20, and a few others) and I got the best mileage from either PP or Mobil 1. But, the difference in any of them was not over 1-1.5 mpg. Don't know what to tell you. The trip from Houston to Dallas and back is an easy one. I've made it hundreds of times in the 40-years I lived in Dallas.
 
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Originally Posted By: jcmitchell
This has me a bit concerned. I have an 05' Accord V6 with 57K. I've used RP 5W20 since the first oil change and averaged 30mpg (sometimes a bit more) on my bi-weekly drive between Houston and Dallas. Always used PureOne oil filters, Fram air filters (changed often), add Lucas UCL at each fillup (same gas stations, both Chevron), add Techron to fuel a couple of fills before an oil change. Mostly because of this site I tried PP 5W20 in preperation for ARX. I ran the PP for 1500 miles before adding ARX and my mileage immediately dropped to 25-26mpg. Even more once ARX was added. I had the alignment checked and the tires were rotated and balanced. Air filter and plugs are good. Am I just one of the people that shouldn't use PP? My parents 99' Jeep Grand Cherokee (with 9k miles, yep...you read that right) couldn't tell the difference between RP and PP but my Honda seems to know.

Any ideas?

BTW...Once the ARX treatment is finished (probably use Penzoil dino for the flush) I plan to change the plugs and switch to Amsoil 0W20 or back to RP 5W20.

Thanks in advance,

Joe

dino oil is always harder to pump
Quote:
AKA increased friction
than synthetic, wait till the PP thins out and your milage will have some gains, unless you chicken out and change it out too early.
people need to learn you have to use a brand of oil for a certain amount of time to make an accurate evaluation.
oh and the autoRX, you really wont need unless you think the RP oil is of poor quality, wich I would have to disagree with.
you had great results RP stick with what you know the PP oil got you with the cheaper price
spankme2.gif
 
I have a acura TL. So the motor really really similiar. I switched from Royal Purple 5w30 (Peer pressure) to Amsoil ASL 5w30 (even more peer pressure from BITOG). And to be honest I see no [censored] difference. My MPG is about the same. But I did notice my car not taking off quick as it use to off the line.
 
Highway miles are the easiest miles you can do. No way I'd put that ARX junk in a car with easy miles. Just dump it and go back to what your car likes. I've read that new oil has a break in period so the mpg may have improved. Surprised at the magnitude of the drop.
 
I think there is another issue here other than oil. Vacume line off or something. Is there any chance you got PP 15w50 by mistake?
 
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To answer the questions...

6-7K miles between oil changes
Always use PureOne oil filters
I still have 1/3 bottle of PP 5w20 so I know I didn't use the wrong weight
If there's a vacuum leak, I can't find it

I just made the Houston to Dallas and back run again. Same result. Even a bit worse. I just got a new set ot tires that are both heavier and have greater rolling resistance so that isn't helping. Those Michellins were just terrifying in the rain.

Unless anyone has any ideas, I'll go back to RP after the ARX flush and hope thing get back to normal.
 
I hope you meant after the ARX rinse. If RP works for you, continue to use it. But please let us know if the mileage goes back up to where it was.
 
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I also so a slight MPG drop going from RP 5w20 to MC 5w20. I was going to try PP in a few OCIs. Maybe I'll just go back to RP once I get some things taken care of.
 
I fill at the same stations and usually at the same pumps. I'm only 1000 miles into the ARX "decrudification" phase so it will be a while. I was considering trying Amsoil 0W20 but I'll probably go back to RP 5w20. Heck, in my neck of the woods RP is only $1/quart more than PP (unless there is a sale).
 
Originally Posted By: jcmitchell
I just got a new set ot tires that are both heavier and have greater rolling resistance so that isn't helping. Those Michellins were just terrifying in the rain.


I think that is your answer right there. Tires can easily account for a 4-5mpg difference, and Michelins tend to have lowish rolling resistance. Plus, worn tires have lower rr than new tires. Even if the mileage change didn't appear to exactly coincide with the new tires, I think it is much more likely that the change was masked for a period of time by some other factor, than that the oil made such a big difference. Even giving RP the benefit of the doubt and assuming it is a super-low-friction oil, you'd be looking at 2-3% from the oil, and even that is unlikely. That would be less than 1mpg.
 
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