oil
oil
im gonna get an oilchange sometime this week and ive been trying to figure out what kind of oil i need for this time of year. either 5w20,5w30, or 10w30. i dont want my car running like **** either. and i drive pretty hard.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 13,151
Likes: 3
From: Washington DC
Rep Power: 423 
5W30 is all I run. Its a pain to find Synthetic 5W20, and the car actually feels like it runs smoother with the thicker stuff. So I keep on buying my Mobil 1.
Registered!!
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 754
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh, NC
Rep Power: 0 ima use mobil1 too
but dont kno which one to go 5w-30 or 0w-20..
here in my area its about 100 in summer and 15 in winter..
i dont drive hard..
and i heard that i gotta wain at least until 5000 miles for first oil change cuz honda uses special fluids on a new car..is this true?
and what time is perfect for changing to synthetic?
but dont kno which one to go 5w-30 or 0w-20..
here in my area its about 100 in summer and 15 in winter..
i dont drive hard..
and i heard that i gotta wain at least until 5000 miles for first oil change cuz honda uses special fluids on a new car..is this true?
and what time is perfect for changing to synthetic?
Registered!!
iTrader: (13)
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,176
Likes: 3
From: Miami (Pembroke Pines), Florida
Rep Power: 452 man use royal purple synthetic oil, it is one of the only oils out there that claims to give you 1-10 extra horsepower depending on what mods you have, I use it and my car runs great.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 13,151
Likes: 3
From: Washington DC
Rep Power: 423 Originally posted by slamtank
ima use mobil1 too
but dont kno which one to go 5w-30 or 0w-20..
here in my area its about 100 in summer and 15 in winter..
i dont drive hard..
and i heard that i gotta wain at least until 5000 miles for first oil change cuz honda uses special fluids on a new car..is this true?
and what time is perfect for changing to synthetic?
ima use mobil1 too
but dont kno which one to go 5w-30 or 0w-20..
here in my area its about 100 in summer and 15 in winter..
i dont drive hard..
and i heard that i gotta wain at least until 5000 miles for first oil change cuz honda uses special fluids on a new car..is this true?
and what time is perfect for changing to synthetic?
I use 5W-30 in the Spring/Summer/Fall, then switch in November to 0W-30 for the winter. Seemed to work very well last winter when my car sat outside and froze. The 0 helps it cold start better, then once it warms up, you get same 30 weight viscosity.
Wait 4500 or 5K to change it, they do apparently add somekind of break in additive, then let Honda change it, go to 9 or 10K and put in synthetic. 10-15K is the recommended time to switch to synthetic... by that point, most engines are fully broken in.
Registered!!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0 I'm a member of another site where we discuss this very thing ad nauseum.
Only Honda and Ford are "recommending" 5W-20; it is not a requirement and nowhere in the manual or warranty docs does it say that your warranty will be voided if you use anything other that their recommended oil viscosity. Also look in your manual and note the API certification has more to do with fuel economy than durability.
Honda has said that durability isn't compromised with the 5W-20 but they don't say how many miles the engine will go, all things being equal compared with other viscosities. Somewhere I believe I read that with this new oil Ford says that the useful service life of their engines will drop from 150k to something closer to 100k and Honda also says theirs drops too.
So what viscosity does the rest of the world use? In Japan, Honda doesn't make just a single recommendation like they do here. Instead they bless 5W-30, 10W-30 and I believe 10W-40. This is for the same engines we have in the US. The European recommendations are not limited to 5W-20 either. I might also add that semi out of the blue Honda (and Ford) changed their recommendation and made it retro to years and models that received a 5W-30 recommendation. Engineer/tech types that have studied the service manual have not noted any changes in clearances, bearing materials or other tolerances from 5W-20 and non 5W-20 model years. If this is the wonder oil that can comfortably be retro used on older cars, note that none of the other vehicle manufacturers have come out in favor of 5W-20. Not a single one. Hmmm...
IMO, the US has more disposable income than any other country and Honda wants their engines to have a limited service life so we have to buy their cars sooner. Durability to them surely means that the engines makes it through the warranty period and after that you're rolling dice.
Also consider that 5W-20 is a very fuel efficient oil which contributes to the ULEV sticker on the window.
My recommendation: Any of the syns are great. I'd suggest Mobil1 5W-30 or 0W-30 for most areas but if you regularly see temps above 100 or have a lot of hard time on the engine, you could comfortably kick it up to a 10W-40. M1 can be had at Wally World in economical 5 qt. jugs for $20.
Speaking of performance fluids, you should also dilute your antifreeze to 40% and add some Redline Water Wetter with distilled water. This will give you freeze protection down to -7 and a greater ability to shed heat from these little engines. Ever notice that your engine reaches normal operating temp within 2-3 miles? Think about it.
Only Honda and Ford are "recommending" 5W-20; it is not a requirement and nowhere in the manual or warranty docs does it say that your warranty will be voided if you use anything other that their recommended oil viscosity. Also look in your manual and note the API certification has more to do with fuel economy than durability.
Honda has said that durability isn't compromised with the 5W-20 but they don't say how many miles the engine will go, all things being equal compared with other viscosities. Somewhere I believe I read that with this new oil Ford says that the useful service life of their engines will drop from 150k to something closer to 100k and Honda also says theirs drops too.
So what viscosity does the rest of the world use? In Japan, Honda doesn't make just a single recommendation like they do here. Instead they bless 5W-30, 10W-30 and I believe 10W-40. This is for the same engines we have in the US. The European recommendations are not limited to 5W-20 either. I might also add that semi out of the blue Honda (and Ford) changed their recommendation and made it retro to years and models that received a 5W-30 recommendation. Engineer/tech types that have studied the service manual have not noted any changes in clearances, bearing materials or other tolerances from 5W-20 and non 5W-20 model years. If this is the wonder oil that can comfortably be retro used on older cars, note that none of the other vehicle manufacturers have come out in favor of 5W-20. Not a single one. Hmmm...
IMO, the US has more disposable income than any other country and Honda wants their engines to have a limited service life so we have to buy their cars sooner. Durability to them surely means that the engines makes it through the warranty period and after that you're rolling dice.
Also consider that 5W-20 is a very fuel efficient oil which contributes to the ULEV sticker on the window.
My recommendation: Any of the syns are great. I'd suggest Mobil1 5W-30 or 0W-30 for most areas but if you regularly see temps above 100 or have a lot of hard time on the engine, you could comfortably kick it up to a 10W-40. M1 can be had at Wally World in economical 5 qt. jugs for $20.
Speaking of performance fluids, you should also dilute your antifreeze to 40% and add some Redline Water Wetter with distilled water. This will give you freeze protection down to -7 and a greater ability to shed heat from these little engines. Ever notice that your engine reaches normal operating temp within 2-3 miles? Think about it.
Last edited by Flashlightboy; Sep 4, 2003 at 09:17 AM.
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,225
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
Rep Power: 304 It's really just a matter of taste, location, and budget. Just don't get cheapo offbrand oil and change your oil regular and you will be ok.
Me, I use AMSOil, of the severe service type. I drive hard and push the car hard at the track in the summer esp. My has never lasted as long as it claims, because I run it like hell. But part of that is my location, OK is dirty and hot as crap in summer. (Texas is same ofc ourse)
Me, I use AMSOil, of the severe service type. I drive hard and push the car hard at the track in the summer esp. My has never lasted as long as it claims, because I run it like hell. But part of that is my location, OK is dirty and hot as crap in summer. (Texas is same ofc ourse)
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