1Lieutenant

As many of us know, the 3.7 L engine is known, at times, for oil consumption issues. My own uses 1 QT per 2K miles but some use much more. I have been doing a bit of research and in looking at the oil recommendations for this engine in the UK and Germany, the recommended oil is quite different. Could it be that the 5W-20 recommendation for US models is less than optimal? I have used synthetic 5W-20 since removing the break-in oil.

The following is copied from the Mobil 1 UK website.

Make
HONDA
Model
Legend 3.7 VTEC V6 Saloon 4WD (217kW)
Engine
P
Year
2008-
MOBIL 1 ESP 0W-30
Application Recommendation Capacity (ltr)
Engine (P) MOBIL 1 ESP 0W-30 (a) 4.3
Lubricant / Capacity Notes

a. Alternative recommendations: <-30°C to >40°C, 0W-20/0W-30/0W-40; <-30°C to >40°C, 5W-30/5W-40; -20°C to >40°C, 10W-30/10W-40
General Notes

There are no notes to display for this model

This is from the Castrol UK website

RECOMMENDATIONS
FIND THE RIGHT OIL FOR YOUR VEHICLE
REFINE SEARCH NEW SEARCH
MAKE: Honda MODEL: Legend, KB (2005 - ) TYPE: Legend 3.7 V6 (2008 - )

IT'S MORE THAN JUST OIL. IT'S LIQUID ENGINEERING.
YOUR ENGINE OIL RECOMMENDATION
EDGE 0W-30
Use: Normal (Change 15000 km / 12 months)
Filter: 0,3 liter , Capacity: 4,3 liter Service fill, Capacity: 5 liter Dry fill


From the Castrol German website

MARKE: Honda MODELL: Legend, KB (2005 - ) TYP: Legend 3.7 V6 (2008 - )
MOTORENÖLE FÜR SIE

CASTROL EDGE 0W-40 A3/B4
Einsatz: Normal (Wechseln 15000 km / 12 Monate)
Filterkapazität: 0,3 Liter , Füllmenge (gesamt): 4,3 Liter Servicebefüllung, Füllmenge (gesamt): 5 Liter Trockenfüllung
Mit der Stärke von Titanium FST™. Für viele Fahrzeuge mit Otto- und Dieselmotoren, die einen Motorenschmierstoff nach den internationalen Spezifikationen ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4 oder API SN/CF fordern.
API SN/CF; ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4; VW 502 00/ 505 00; MB-Freigabe 229.3/ 229.5; BMW Longlife-01; Porsche A40; Meets Ford WSS-M2C937-A

From the Mobil 1 German website

Fabrikat
HONDA
Modell
Legend 3.7 VTEC V6 Saloon 4WD (217kW)
Motor
B
Jahr
2008-
Mobil 1 Fuel Economy 0W-30
Anwendung Empfehlung Kapazität (l)
Motor (B) 1. Wahl Mobil 1 Fuel Economy 0W-30 (a) 4.3
2. Wahl Mobil Super 3000 X1 Formula FE 5W-30
Schaltgetriebe
Automatisches Getriebe
Differential
Kühlmittel
Hinweise Schmiermittel/Kapazität

a. Alternative Empfehlungen: <-30°C bis >40°C, 0W-20/0W-30/0W-40; <-30°C bis >40°C, 5W-30/5W-40; -20°C bis >40°C, 10W-30/10W-40
Allgemeine Hinweise

Es gibt keine Hinweise zur Anzeige für dieses Modell

Ölwechselabstände

Motor
Monate max. 12
Km max. 20000
Copyright © OATS Ltd. 2014

Edward'TLS

Both 5W20 conventional and 5W20 synthetic oils exhibit the same viscosity under normal operating conditions, except under extreme heat or cold; thus it will make no difference in terms of preventing the oil consumption issue.

Since it is the piston rings that are the culprits, one can try using thicker oil weight, such as 5W30 or 10W30 oils, because heavier oil has less tendency to slip pass the sealing piston rings.

However, the factory only recommends using 0W20 for FWD and 5W20 for AWD TL's, so using a different oil weight might give Acura an excuse to void all engine related warranties.

1Lieutenant

I agree with your comments, but my point was this same engine requires 0W-30 in the UK and Germany with an option of 0W-40. Perhaps this increased viscosity helps to reduce oil consumption.

csmeance

Honda used to use 5W-30 and now it's down to 0W-20. Honestly, pick up some Mobil 1 High Mileage 5W-30 and it should help out the oil consumption. If it does, stick with that or move to the european 0W-40.

1Lieutenant

I can see using a 5W-30, but why a high mileage oil? The car is only three years old and the seals should be in good condition. Could you give me more insight?

Edward'TLS

At what mileage is a car qualifies as high mileage ?

mylove4cars

Because the Phosphorus level PPM is higher 1000 Zinc Level is higher as well 1100 which should give you a higher level of protection (Shearing) Nevertheless Mobil 1 5W-20 High Mileage has the same phosphorus/Zinc Levels as 5W-30

Shear stability is a measure of the amount of viscosity an oil may lose during operation. Oil experiences very high stresses in certain areas of the engine such as in the oil pump, cam shaft area , piston rings, and any other areas where two mating surface areas squeeze the oil film out momentarily.


Most multigrade engine oils contain special types of additives, called Viscosity Index Improvers, which are composed of very large, viscosity-controlling molecules. As the oil passes through the engine, these molecules are permanently sheared or torn apart over time, causing the additive to lose its viscosity.


Hope this helps

Edward'TLS

^^^^^

In that case, if high-mileage engine oils will provide better shearing protection, does it mean that all brand new cars (not just old cars) will also benefit from using these high-mileage oils for better shearing protection ?

mylove4cars

Yes, the high mileage name is a sales pitch; look at the formula and compare with Mobil 0W-40 European or some Boutique oils like Redline and compare Phosphorus and Zinc.

Jerry"O"

Wow 1 QT per 2K miles!!!!! I thought that my 2012 TL SH-AWD was consuming a lot of oil. I currently have 30,000km (18641.1mil) on it but I have to add 1L=1qt every 12000km (7456mil). I do only use acura fully synthetic motor oil 5W-20. I am not sure if it is normal or not???

mylove4cars

Btw. Besides the 25% higher Phosphorus and Zinc content the M1 5W-20 HM has a Flash point 472 F Compared to 446 F for M1 5W-20 EP


"Excellent overall lubrication and wear protection. Outperforms our conventional high mileage oils."


"Mobil 1 High Mileage oils are suitable for many types of severe driving applications including high speed highway and stop and go city driving."


And sure, if oil consumption is excessive (Like you mentioned: In case piston rings are the culprit) no matter which oil, none will resolve the problem.

Edward'TLS

Higher viscosity oil will always help if minor piston-ring sealing is the problem, because heavier oil won't get past the sealing cracks as easy as lighter weighted oil.

However, higher viscosity oils, such as 10W30 or 10W40, are not recommended by the factory for the TL sedans.

mylove4cars

Correct, that's why M1 5W-20 HM might be the best bet.

Nevertheless there is more in play than higher viscosity oils; additives (Viscosity Index Improvers) might be beneficial and compensate without having problems with manufactory warranties like M1 5W-20 HM

I like to try different oils; right now I’m using Redline 5W-20 - My 2011 TL SH-AWD does not consume oil regardless which oil I’m using Mobile or Redline.
I already mentioned in other posts that I’m not going by the MID – I change oil and filter between 3000 and 4000 Miles. Some might say its overkill.

For 50 years I checked the oil dipstick on a regular base no matter which car or what technology used. I’m an old guy and old school; I always changed oils before the recommendation of the car’s manual, maybe I was lucky for 50 years no problems, average mileage per year 35000 miles.

Oil is cheap; engine problems are annoying and expensive.

TL_Guy

I am currently driving a 2010 TL SH-AWD. Since I purchased it last August I've only used M1 5W-20 synthetic oil and I've noticed that when I reach close to 40% of oil life remaining my car had burned quite a bit of oil since the last oil change. Twice now I've gotten the low oil message. And I also noticed that at WOT throttle, it starts coughing somewhere between 6000 to redline and I can smell, what seems like to me, excessive fuel being burned. This coughing was always resolved by adding additional oil. I have just recently started using a 5W-30 high mileage synthetic by Penzoil. I'll let you all know how that works for me at my next oil change. So far I have noticed that the car runs a little smoother and just ever so slightly, a tad bit sluggish. I also did not notice that weird fuel smell at WOT . I hope this information sheds a little light for someone.

JM2010 SH-AWD

^ The stumbling is probably caused by the fact that there is insufficient oil in your engine to operate the VTEC transition mechanisms properly. If the engine is that low on oil, that is a big problem. A little lower and it probably would have gone into semi-limp mode, i.e., the engine wouldn't rev above about 2500 rpm.

Majofo

TL_Guy

So here's a quick update from when I switched from 5W-20 synthetic to 5W-30 synthetic. So I did a 3x3 tranny flush last week and I decided to check my engine oil and lo and behold, there wasn't any oil on the stick -literally nothing!! As if the engine were new and never had oil in it. I am about 5,500 miles in with 50% life remaining. I refilled it with Penzoil 5W-20 for the remainder of the oil life monitor since I will deploy here next month for 7 months.

I used 5W-30 fully synthetic by Penzoil coming from 5W-20 Mobil 1. Let's just say that both of these are off my list.