WOW, I'm overwhelmed by the amount of responses! I read through this thread before I came home from work. I decided to pick up Rotella T 15w40 and came home and changed the oil. I also made and installed a oil catch can. I live in PA so I'll wait until it's warmer to try 20w50. I'm going to answer several questions I saw, sorry I didn't get to everyone.
Just to clarify a few things.
1. I've been burning oil like this for about 120,000 miles, since the plug failure. When it began it was about 950-1000 miles per quart, now it's about 750-700. Prior to that it did not burn any oil.
2. I'm too attached to the car to junk it and I'm going to keep it until the bitter end.
3. Also, I'm a fully capable mechanic with plenty of funds, I chose to run the car rather than tear it down or swap. I want to see how far it will go on the original engine.
4. I have a CTS-V as a back up car
Originally Posted By: oilmaven
Hey Shark...how long have you owned the car? 363,000 miles is quite an accomplishment even in a Honda. I have a 1996 Accord with the V6...I've heard the 2.2 4 cyl. is a better engine. Mine has 113,000 miles and runs great. If I can get half the mileage your car has I'll be happy.
The V6 is a solid engine, I've seen plenty above 250,000 miles. Just keep the timing belt and water pump up to date and the trans fluid clean. I bought mine when I was 17, back in 2004. I paid $270 for it, it had 194,000 miles. I always maintained it well but I ran it REALLY hard for the first 6 years. Words can't describe. I take it easy on it now, but it still sees redline a couple times a day.
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
What tri state area? If youre talking NJ/NY/CT, it is rarely cold enough for a 15w- to be out of spec in reality.
Some start-up clatter isnt the end of the world, just go easy for a while.
Id likely run a 15w-40 HDEO to see how it goes.
If you get a lot of cold issues, you could swap in a 5w-40 HDEO in there, though that is more $.
20w-50 is another option, but IMO too thick for practical use, though your driving profile may be good for it.
Id start with a 15w-40 and move from there. My only concern being that if you are consuming it, and need to pass emissions, API SN PCMOs will have less ZDDP, and thus be kinder on your converters...
But not sure what the best way to just thicken up the oil is...
I went with that oil weight. I'm in PA near the PA/MD/DE point. I'm no too worried about the cat, it's the original. And the way I see it about 130 quarts have go through it already.
Originally Posted By: Oregoonian
Possibly.....this might be a good time to look for a new 'used' vehicle...
I'm a car guy, and usually have 3 or more cars at any given time.
Originally Posted By: Vikas
How about clarifying the NGK spark plug blow out? NGK is usually not known for causing this kind of problem.
The plug had about 25-30000 miles on it. It wasn't over torqued. The insulator blew apart and sent big chucks down into the cylinder. I still have the plug. I called NGK and they requested I send it to them, which I wasn't willing to do. I was cruising on level ground when it happened. The compression blew my plug wire off immediately.
Originally Posted By: Nick R
Go test drive a 2012 Cruze Eco, with the Manual. Sciphi has been demolishing the EPA fuel economy estimates in his.
I drove a Sonic turbo last month and loved it. I would buy a Cruze with the 1.4T, but I don't buy new cars. Maybe in a few years, unless my Honda's still running, haha.
Originally Posted By: silverrat
Burning 1 liter every 1000km is not unreasonable given the mileage on the engine. That's about how much my Accord consumes.
To suggest junking it and buying a new car based on that is laughable. Maybe some of us can't afford to just go out and buy a 2012 Cruze Eco.
I agree, oil's cheap, and keeping this car going is fun. It's be an amazing car. So much of it is original and working, A/C, power steering, alternator (just change brushes), all the power windows and power accessories.
