Honda Green Oil

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by WyrTwister

If you are concerned about engine temp not being high enough , try a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator .

I did that once , on an older vehicle . Winter time & apparently the tstat stuck open . Little / no heat from the heater core . I was COLD , in the cab .

The cardboard helped me & the engine warm up .

Watch the temp gauge & remove some or all of the cardboard , when it is no longer needed .

God bless
Wyr

I already have something like a 90% grille block, just need to adjust it to 95%.

[WyrTwister]

How does 90% work in summer ?

God bless
Wyr

[Ecky]

I scale it back to ~75-80% when it's warm.

[WyrTwister]

Makes sense .

I remember when I was a kid , Dad used straight 20 weight Gulf oil in both the tractor & car .

Around 35.5 latitude .

Our little Chevy Sonic calls for 5-w30 Dexos specification .

God bless
Wyr

[ThermionicScott]

Originally Posted by Daox

Cool, but very odd with the engine temps.

I really have to change my oil. I haven't since I got the car and I know it is overfilled. The dipstick is over the full mark. I also have no idea what oil is actually in it.

If it's any more than slightly over the Full mark, I'd go ahead and let a little out as soon as you can. I did that recently to get my car down to the mid-way point advocated by Wayne and a few folks here. I'd always been the type to top everything off, before. Probably really easy for the folks with Fumomo valves.

Originally Posted by Ecky

I already have something like a 90% grille block, just need to adjust it to 95%.

Now that I have instrumentation, it's amazing how much my instantaneous MPG is improved toward the end of a batch of errands as compared to the beginning. We talk about avoiding coolant temps high enough to trigger the power-sucking radiator fans, but I sometimes wonder if it would be worth it to risk more occasional fan cycles if it meant the oil reached operating temp faster, especially in winter. I need to do some more reading on that...

[WyrTwister]

I was on an " Oil " forum , some time ago . It stressed the issue of a cold start .

Best I remember , I think it said most of the engine wear occurs during a cold start , when oil is not circulating properly .

I am guessing the engine will last longer , the quicker it comes up to " tstat temperature " . ( Of course fuel burn is probably more efficient when the engine is at normal operating temperature . )

I have seen many diesel trucks with methods of controlling winter air flow to the radiator .

Any way to make it adjustable for your car ?

God bless
Wyr

[Ecky]

Daox is working on an automatically actuated grille block, but for now I have foam inserts that I use to block more or less of the 25% of my grille that isn't permanently blocked.

[Magician]

I put a piece of cardboard in front of my radiator. Depending on the temperature outside I will either partially or completely block it... helps keep the car warmed up. I like the idea of it being auto opened.

[brucepick]

I'm intrigued by the possibility of using Honda Green oil in my Insight.

For my purposes, I've solved the need for variable grill blocking. I can block the grill optimally for temps down to sub-freezing. I check my phone's weather app for current and anticipated temperatures before I set out, and insert the appropriate grill block into my grill as needed.

I have three different sheets of coroplast that I've trimmed to different sizes, that fit between the a/c condenser and the radiator - in my car, one is in front of the other. Each sheet is marked for the max outside temp I can use it up to.

Observing my coolant temp on the ScanGauge lets me know when coolant temperatures are getting too high, for whatever grill block is in place at the time. Then I check my phone's weather app to find the outside temperature. Once I have a good peg on how hot the ambient air can safely get for a given sheet of grill block, I mark it with a permanent marker.

I also have most of my upper grill blocked with built up layers of foam window weather stripping. I think most folks here block the lower grill but I went for the upper. Air going through the lower grill has a smoother path to exit the engine bay. Less turbulence, less drag.

[rmay635703]

What ever happened to Mobil 1's plain single graded zero weight oil?