Ok so when I first started following BITOG I was doing an oil lchange on my 2009 Kia Sedona 3.8L which specs for 5w-20. I grabbed the wrong bottle of oil off the shelf and ended up with Mobil 1 HM 10w-30. I didn't have the receipt and I felt fairly confident that after reading the threads on here that it was not going to be a big deal especially in the warmer weather so I used it. I also noticed that the oil was rated for 10,000 miles, and considering the vehicle is spec'd for 7500 ocis i figured it would be ok. Additionally, I bought that little Lubricheck device (which I am not saying is right or wrong) because I am a nerd who likes that sort of thing to try out.
Nonetheless I monitored the condition of the oil as the miles accumulated from August until yesterday. The device seemed to be indicating that the oil was wearing because it did go down each time I checked (about 2500 miles). I only added 1/2 quart to the mix during the first 7500 of the oci so things seemed to be fine. So yesterday I did the check again @9622 miles and the light is blinking to change immediately. It returned the same result 2 more times. I had the stuff for the next oil change so I changed the oil, which was Mobil 1 Annual Protection 0w-20 because I was hoping to get through the winter if possible without having to deal with the elements. I drive a lot of rideshare miles so they add up to frequent oil changes otherwise which is fine but a pain in the winter.
The thing is that the old oil was like so so much thicker than the new stuff. I know that one was a 30w and the other 20w, but this was really a big difference. The oil level was fine and everything and like I said I put 1/2 a quart in over nearly 10k miles so that is normal. Prior to that oil change the vehicle had a perfect oil change/maintenance record but I used conventional. This was the first time I used a synthetic and high mileage oil.
Over the months I have read about the differing opinions about the cleaning power of motor oils, and even Mobil says that if the engine is sludged up do one or 2 short ocis. I didn't think that the engine would have any sludge because it has been meticulously maintained.
So between the lubricheck results and just the marked difference how "thicc" they seemed I am sending in for a UOA and will share results.. In the meantime, I wanted thoughts/opinions on whether I am out of my mind or there may be a reason for this at such a low oci mileage.
Nonetheless I monitored the condition of the oil as the miles accumulated from August until yesterday. The device seemed to be indicating that the oil was wearing because it did go down each time I checked (about 2500 miles). I only added 1/2 quart to the mix during the first 7500 of the oci so things seemed to be fine. So yesterday I did the check again @9622 miles and the light is blinking to change immediately. It returned the same result 2 more times. I had the stuff for the next oil change so I changed the oil, which was Mobil 1 Annual Protection 0w-20 because I was hoping to get through the winter if possible without having to deal with the elements. I drive a lot of rideshare miles so they add up to frequent oil changes otherwise which is fine but a pain in the winter.
The thing is that the old oil was like so so much thicker than the new stuff. I know that one was a 30w and the other 20w, but this was really a big difference. The oil level was fine and everything and like I said I put 1/2 a quart in over nearly 10k miles so that is normal. Prior to that oil change the vehicle had a perfect oil change/maintenance record but I used conventional. This was the first time I used a synthetic and high mileage oil.
Over the months I have read about the differing opinions about the cleaning power of motor oils, and even Mobil says that if the engine is sludged up do one or 2 short ocis. I didn't think that the engine would have any sludge because it has been meticulously maintained.
So between the lubricheck results and just the marked difference how "thicc" they seemed I am sending in for a UOA and will share results.. In the meantime, I wanted thoughts/opinions on whether I am out of my mind or there may be a reason for this at such a low oci mileage.
