Hey all, wanted to weigh in on what most do not take into consideration on proper oils that are the best for your engines life, etc.
The first thing to realize is your engine is a GDI engine. Gasoline Direct Injection. So, right from the start your engine oil has to deal with 8-12 times the raw fuel pushed past the rings washing lubrication from the cylinder walls and diluting the engine oil. At 5% dilution oil is considered "condemned" and no longer able to protect properly. Now combine that with the super light viscosity oils that are specified today NOT because of "tolerances" and other lip service, but it is so that platform and engine will meet CAFE international fuel economy standards period.
This is why GM changed the recommended viscosity to a 0w50, etc. due to failed bearings, etc. when tracking.
Next, you have to look at the issue of LSPI (Low Speed Pre Ignition) that we have been discussing for years now before any of the recent articles on this have been shared. LSPI is a phenomena that was basically unknown before GDI engines were forced onto the industry far before being perfected. (Another reason engine warranties are now 1/2 of the period the old port injection engines were). LSPI is where fuel is forced behind the piston rings and mixes with crankcase oil vapors. If this ignites, it is a very unstable and violent explosion that breaks the ringlands at the least serious failure, and entire pistons for catastrophic failure. While our Crankcase evacuation systems designed for these engines prevents this, and removes most of that excessive fuel before it can settle and mix with the engine oil, eliminates this, Amsoil, M1, and a few other premium oils have changed formulation to include additives that render this mix far less explosive. So a good FULL synthetic only (the blends are the worst as it is the petroleum based oil components that compound this issue.
Then you need to look at the amount of particulate matter shed and also contaminating the crankcase oil, and the average oil filter does not remove the smaller micron sized particles so wear is always a concern. Again, our E2-X systems convert the PCV system to full time evacuation and remove most of this as well before it has a chance to settle and mix.
So, when we look at ZDP additives, they provide scuff protection that was needed for flat tappet camshafts, and as all today's engines are roller valvetrain, that is not as critical as a proper viscosity and full synthetic. Amsoil Signature series 5w50 flows well cold for most climates, and once up to operating temp provides that added viscosity to combat the fuel dilution, etc. So oil filter choice is critical also. AC Delco makes great filters, as Wix, Pureolator, etc.(NAPA Gold).
For those in extreme cold climates, M1 makes a 0w50 as well.
Here is a oil sample at over 13k miles showing how well oil remains clean and lasts far longer (protecting far more) when our E2-X system is used. The next sample will be at 20k miles. This is a twin turbo GDI engine making over 20# boost so subject to far more stress on the engine oil than a NA engine:
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And a piston with the most common LSPI damage. Uses oil and has misfires...dealer diagnoses is "no problem found" as they will not perform a leakdown test, only a compression test and that will not isolate the issue.
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So, think about these aspects of caring for a GDI engine that was never a concern in the past.
Questions? Just ask.
Direct email to our Engineering and technical support team?
Tech@EliteEngineeringUSA.com