Just got my first oil change after 4000 miles in my 2013 Rdx. Had a free first oil change from the dealer so I figured why not. They used regular 5w20, but for some reason I was expecting synthetic. My question is, is there any benefit to using regular oil? Synthetitc is more expensive but also lasts a lot longer so why not just use synthetic and avoid a trip to the oil change place?(don't want to change it myself) Since synthetic lasts about 3 times as long does it require a special filter? Does the oil life sensor in the rdx work with synthetic, or will it tell me to change the oil at an interval suited for regular? Is changing oil more often better for the car? I drive roughly 8k miles a year. For those of you who get their oil changed somewhere else, do you just go to a local shop or use dealer?

 

Regardless if you use regular or synthetic you need to follow the MID for oil changes. The car has no idea you are using synthetic so the only advantage is piece of mind and knowing synthetic will hold up better than regular oil. I only use synthetic on my owned cars, my current car is leased so I let dealer put in whatever they want.

 

most synthetics are blends anyway.


and the composition in oil has come a long way. the chemistry in the oil has made it possible to go 6k-8k mile oil change intervals.
So, just follow the on board computer.

 

I own this car so I'm want to make sure i treat it right, want it to last a long time.
Also have a 10yr old crv that I always put 5w20 every 5k miles, had no issues with that.

 

follow the on board computer and you'll do just fine.

 

Just checked out the manual, says 0w-20 is recommended which I believe is synthetic?
Looks like the dealer screwed me and gave me the cheaper 5w-20.

 

^no, it does not matter.

Honda Moved to 0w-20 for CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) reasons. ya know, trying to boost mpg across the line up.
a 0w-20 oil will have a very minimal mpg gain.
we're talking about .5mpg or less.
But if every car in their line up has a .5mpg increase, it raises the whole line up.

as said before, you're fine with 5w-20. you're fine with 0w-20.
you're fine with full synthetic. you're fine with a synthetic blend.

the important thing is to change your filter and oil when the on board computer tells you too.

 

before you come back with another "but but but..."

Just follow the MID and you'll be fine.

 

How can I tell the 5w-20 that was used is semi or full synthetic? It does come in regular right?

 

But it doesnt matter; if most synthetics are blends of regular oil....


and maybe you should be calling your acura dealer and ask the technicians on what oil they used in your car.

here's a hint; a true synthetic oil is EXPENSIVE.

I am running Redline 5w-30. 6 quarts cost $65.70

 

I have run pure synthetic before. My opinion has evolved to: save that extra money and change the transmission fluid twice as often as required instead.

 

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

 

Looks like they used regular 5w20

 

^so, follow the mid.

 

Doesn't look like this has been brought up yet but with a new car you need regular/conventional oil for the first little while. Conventional oil is in from the factory as well. This is for the break-in period of the engine. This was the case with my 06 RSX. I let them change it the first change, they put in conventional, and then I converted on my own for the next change to Synthetic.

I feel this is a good way to go so you are on track. Just go to Synthetic for the next change (DIY or if you have to bring it somewhere).

 

I have MANY years experience with this. You NEVER want to use synthetic oil BEFORE the rings have seated. Synthetic is SO GOOD that it prevents them from properly seating. After that, I ONLY use synthetic oil. I change it every 5K miles and have NEVER had a sludge or any wear issue. Although I've never used 0-20 wt oil. Of course if you don't keep the car, or it's a lease, it doesn't pay.

 

How long does it take for the rings to be seated? How many reg oil changes would you recommend prior to going with synthetic?

 

each car comes with a manual.
in the manual it states how long to leave the oil from the factory in.(usually one interval.)

the oil that comes from the factory has extra zinc in it.

 

2013 RDX manual does not mention how long to keep first oil in, just says to follow the oil life indicator. All it says is use Acura genuine 0w-20 or Api Certified 0w-20

 

^there's your answer!!!!!!!!!!!!
leave it in for one interval (about 6thousand miles or when the MID tells you to change it.)

 

I do have a manual and I read it thankyou. I've also read many times in different places about the factory oil from Honda/Acura and to leave it in for the required amount of time because of the special additives it has in it. But you are referring to the factory oil. My question was about going to full synthetic and how long one should wait to do that. Are you saying that it is fine to do that right at the first oil change?

 

if the manual states to leave the factory oil in till the MID tells you to; then after that it would be okay to switch to a synthetic.
the factory oil has extra zinc in it; to help seal the rings.

my recently purchased KIA states to change the 1st oil at 3k miles then everything after that at 6k miles.


Some one pointed out the link Bobistheoilguy
some great info there.

 

The reason I started this post was I wasn't not sure if 5w-20 regular was ok to use if the manual says explicitly to use 0w-20. The dealer said it was fine and I wanted some third party verification. I always read the manual before posting.

 

^you're fine.

as long as you change out the oil and filter regularly
Ive tried a few different oils

including M1 0w-40 and M1 5w-20
and now I'm using Redline's 5w-30.

 

Yeah, like I said, I understand all about the factory oil and to wait until mid says to change. However, techman seemed to be very emphatic about the valves seating or something and I was wondering if one should wait until maybe the third or fourth oil change to be on the safe side before switching to a pure synthetic.

Having said that, my RDX is now 9 mos. old and I have less than 4.5k miles on it. The oil life is at 50%. Based on this it may not be down to say 20% until well over a year. I've always never went more than 6 months between oil changes so this seems like an awful long time. I alternate between using the RDX and a Tundra p/u and that's why so few miles.

 

maybe try going back to him and ask him.
he would know better than us.

 

If you scroll up in this thread and look at my original post, I WAS asking techman as I was replying to his post. So I'll just wait for a response from him. But thanks anyway.

 

Hum, my indicator went to 15% @ 4000 miles. Wonder why the diff. Do you drive on highways mostly? The oil percentage is based on a combination of things like how often you drive, trip duration, speed, milage etc.

 

Not really a ton of highway...maybe half though. The rest is fairly light suburban during non-rush hours mostly. No stop and go, not much idling and not many real short trips. Must be the clean Chicago air! LOL. I'm going to call the dealer and see what they recommend. I think I read somewhere that the one year mark should be the longest one should go but I'll check.

 

The rule with Honda/Acura is to plan to change the oil when the oil life declines to 15% but before it reaches 0%. In order to not void your warranty you must have the required services done within 1,000 miles or one month whichever comes first after it reaches 0%. If you put on low mileage and do not reach the 15% mark within one year you must change the oil with the same one month grace period. so in order to protect the warranty you must have the oil changed within thirteen months. Of course these are the recommended intervals if it makes you feel better more frequent is OK. As to using synthetic oil the rings are seated early in the engines life and many newer engines are designed to use synthetic from the factory so you should be good to use synthetic on the first oil change. If you want to err on the side of old school thinking then wait until some time after 6,000 miles.

 

Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you very much.