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I recently got an old 2003 civic 1.6

I got it for dirt cheap and it just needs a little tlc

Anyway I noticed there was a 10w 40 can of oil in the boot that wasn't fully empty so this is more than likely in the engine.

According to the specified oil you should use it's 5w 20

I know thicker oil is good for high mileage old engines but this old car only has 119k miles.

Would ye change the oil or leave it alone?

 
Rep Power: 222

the seller may have put that in the engine to hide something, put the proper oil in it with a new filter and cross your fingers

 
Rep Power: 119

Personally, I think high mileage oils are bad for oil rings, if the PO already kept a bottle of oil in the boot, you know they are already likely bad.

Common senario, oil light comes on, drive to nearest gas station and buy whatever oil they have.

 
Rep Power: 210

change the oil and use 5W20

 
Rep Power: 244

Yes change it and run 5w-20.

 
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That's what I use. I have 220k miles and switched to 10w40 about 2 years ago.

 
Rep Power: 222

in what car with what engine?

 
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05 civic ex. I change it every 3k-4K miles using conventional oil from chevron that I buy per case at Costco.

 
Rep Power: 222

i would run the proper oil in that but its your car

 
Rep Power: 210

why did you change from 5W20 ?

 
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Idk. I guess I felt it 5w20 was too thin for my high mileage engine. And where I live it's get hot in San Bernardino. A/c still blows cold though.

 
Rep Power: 229

No issues = 5w20 all temperatures
Burning due to piston rings = 5w30
Burning do to valve seals = 10w30

Leaking, depending on leak rate
-5w20 high milage
-5w30 h.m.
-10w30 h.m.
(Stop leaks can be used on combo with the options above)

 
Rep Power: 0

I put in 5w 30 and a new filter and everything is still okay.

 
Rep Power: 367

I don't know if there was something else, like a particle too big that passed through, but I had VTEC engagement issues when using a oil slightly too thick.