CLSter

So am I screwed now that the Acura dealership just put 5W20 dino oil in my '03?

sidemarker

I dont want to sound too harsh but can you please prove this?

why would HONDA label the oil caps with 5w-20 if they knew it would cause any harm?

so far 2500 miles in 95-100 degree weather and no problem yet

sidemarker

sidemarker

I wouldnt worry especially if the dealership put the oil in your car. if anything happens to your 03 im pretty sure your dealership will take full responsibliity.

sidemarker

fender4

on my 01 the cap says 5w30,,, our engines are the same hummmm wonder why they changed to 5w20 .... could it be the "SATAN" or maybe this,,,

http://www.desertsundirectsales.com/ford5w20.htm

Virus

Unfortunately I don't have the links anymore to all the oil info. It was at least a year ago. There were some very good articles and it basically pointed out that the oil will break down too rapidly and 3k oil changes would be too long. I can't prove my statements is the bottom line. Pat Goss who is a local radio and TV host in the DC area stated pretty blatently on his show not to use the stuff, but he didn't provide any proof as well.

Zapata

what stuff breaks down to rapidly?

Virus

I pulled this info off the SVT message board. The 03 Cobra recommends 5w-20, but those guys use the Amsoil 0w-30. Several of the threads talked about the 5w-20 oils breaking down too quickly and they were having to do 2k oil changes. 1500 mile oil changes when they run at the track.

"According to Mike Riley, product design engineer with Ford Motor Company, 'Moving to 5w20 was driven by using best technology oils, CAFE requirements and customer needs'. The company believes the switch to lighter viscosity 5w20 oils will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 190,000 metric tons a year and reduce US fuel consumption by over 21,000,000 gallons a year."

Note that nothing is stated about reduced wear.

Here is the smoking gun - a letter the EPA sent out:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/cert/dearmfr/ccd0112.pdf

And here is the clincher - the diff between 20 wt and 30 amounts to a fuel savings of .8%! Wow! For that, on a hot running engine with boost, in 100 degree Virginia summers, I should risk a loss of lubrication? Hell, I am seriously thinking about the Mobil 1 5w40 "European" formulation for the summer. Nah, 0w30 Amsoil S2K will suffice.

ChadT

[
Here is the smoking gun - a letter the EPA sent out:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/cert/dearmfr/ccd0112.pdf

And here is the clincher - the diff between 20 wt and 30 amounts to a fuel savings of .8%! Wow! For that, on a hot running engine with boost, in 100 degree Virginia summers, I should risk a loss of lubrication? Hell, I am seriously thinking about the Mobil 1 5w40 "European" formulation for the summer. Nah, 0w30 Amsoil S2K will suffice. [/B][/QUOTE]

Looks like this 5w20 is pretty much an experiment at this point.

RUF87

Sorry, but that comment is way off base. There is no reason you can come up with that is factual to support your opinion.

'edit' - okay, you have some claim, but still not proven across the full synthetics.

My car's manufacturer specs, owners manual and oil cap all say to use 5w-20. And it say's it's "OKAY" to use 5w-30, but "RECOMMENDS" 5w-20.

Ruf

RUF87

And this is why I run my own mix as reported before.

That said, I would have no problem if Mobil 1, Red Line or NEO 5w-20 was easily available . . I'd run them in a heartbeat. Matter of fact, I'm already trying to work out a way to source the NEO 5w-20, and if I can't I'll run a mix of it.

Ruf

KavexTrax

Manual states:
2001 models-- 5w-30.

2002s+ -- 5w-20.

I asked my TLS friend and thats what it says.

mattg

5w-20

5w-30

RUF87

Dittos - as per my sig, the o2 TLS clearly states 5w-20 where ever there is a reference.

IMO -

If you have low miles on a 01, then there should be no issues if someone wanted to run 5w-20. Provided it is one of the three I mentioned.

Note, as wear takes place over time, one will typically start running a slightly thicker oil.

Ruf