Guys--Did we ever get the official or unofficial Acura recommendation as to oil viscosity? Remember, Acura manual said 5w-20 and dealers were saying 5w--30? So what is it now and whose saying it? I wonder too, you guys with 03 model cars, what does the owner's manual now state these day........5w--20 or 30 ?Thanks, Quickrick

 

The dealer said 10w-30 is okay but I'd like to here it from Acura.

 

Manual says 5w-20
Oil Cap says 5w-20
Acura's Website says 5w-20

My guess is that Acura would tell you 5w-20w since they say so everywhere else. I actually have been using 5w30 for the last 8000 miles and I could swear that my MPG dropped by about .5-1mpg. At least that's what my calculator is telling me. Now my driving could have changed, but either way I'm going to switch to Redline 5w20 at the next oil change. I have a feeling that 10w30 would be too thick for this car.....

 

Wow.. you keep very precise track of MPG if you notice a .5-1MPG loss.

I don't keep any kind of record of my MPG -- it's consistently bad. But I guess I'm not the slowest driver in the world, either.

 

LOL... well, I don't log it or anything, but I figure it out at every fill up, so I noticed that I went from the mid 24 range down to mid to high 23 range and it happened right after I changed to the 5w30, so I attributed it to that. Since I commute during rush hour both ways, my driving habits really haven't changed, but I'm sure there are other variables involved. Either way I'm switching to the 5w20 next oil change.....

 

5w-20 is required in the new Honda and Ford engines to meet the ampg requirements. It is a very thin oil and thus should *ONLY* be used in engines stating 5w-20. Having said that, If you use a higher weight (i.e. 5w-30) you will reduce the mpg. As far as 5w-30 being okay to use in the engine, I am one who believes that the engineers knew what they were doing and there is a reason for all the 5w-20 labels on the manual, oil cap and website. Thus I have been using 5w-20 every 2500 ~ 3000 miles on the car. Been using Pennzoil .. will be switching to a synthetic for the next oil change..

 

The Acura TL and TLS uses a "SLEV" engine, and the required oil is 5W-20. Yes, it is on the cap and in the owners manual. If the dealer does not stock it (and most do not). Then bring your own oil, they will give you credit for it at the dealer, no biggy.

SLEV - Super Low Emission Vehicle.

Also, I met the Acura Rep a couple of times in Houston. He said use ONLY 5W-20, and not any thing else! He also, said that Honda, would like very much to use 0W-20 in all their SLEV engines, but that it can not be produced yet in the volumns they need for the U.S. market place.

Using 5W-30, only increases wear and tear, and decreases the MPG. If you are using 10W-30, well, you are just causing some long term problems, you may wish to consider using MUD.

 

WalkThisWay,

I don't know about the TLP but I beleive the TLS is only an LEV engine and not SLEV..

 

Yep, you are correct. I looked at the sticker - Guess I have too many cars to keep track of.

 

Per Blackstone labs the info they read from the 5w20 compared to 5w30 wasn't good. They don't even recommend using 5w20 in the engine. It didn't have good tests even after a few 1000 miles. 5w30 is perfectly safe as long as you use a good oil. And it won't put more wear on your engine.

 

I have been using Mobil 1 5w-30 but have thought about changing to Mobil 1 0W-30.

Anyone know of any benefits or problems with either of these?

 

The website (owner's link) says 5w-30.

 

Just checked Acura Owner's Link and extracted the following information:

"Choosing a Motor Oil
Acura recommends using a 5W30 motor oil year-round. Lighter oils flow easier once the cold engine starts, bringing vital lubrication to moving parts."

 

Pretty annoying to have conflicting info on something as basic as the Oil.

 

Fish--What you said is exactly my reason for this thread. I wondered if Acura had second thoughts about their 5w-20 recommendation as the dealer had no info on using the lighter oil?

 

Fish--What you said is exactly my reason for this thread. I wondered if Acura had second thoughts about their 5w-20 recommendation as the dealer had no info on using the lighter oil?

 

use this, it covers 0w20 needs. http://www.amsoil.com/products/tso.html

or read this fun info

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/all/misc/all_oilfaq.html



:wow:

 

Acura People (not the dealer) has told me that the "owners link" info on oil is "incorrect" and "out dated" (Also, "ownerlink is in a "pilot" stage only). And they, Acura, always restate use what is marked on "your" oil filler cap!

 

Unless I can be assured that the 5-W-20 recommendation is based solely upon long term engine protection, than I will probably plan to go with 5-W-30.

It is my opinion that the 5-W-20 recommendation is based upon a compromise between viscosity breakdown and fuel economy. I think Acura is recommending this to ensure that all cars get fast lubrication at cold startup during the winter in MINNESOTA! I live in So Cal and do a lot of driving to Arizona and Las Vegas. I don't think that 5-W-20 is sufficient to lubricate an engine doing 80mph in 120 degree heat. Once the oil breaks down and gets thin enough to blow past the rings, it's a self destructing situation and the blow-by problem self escalates. Also, it never gets below freezing here in the winter either, so I would think that 5-W-30 should get to the upper valve train faster than 5-W-20 would in MINNESOTA!

I could be wrong, but I think the "5-W-20 mineral oil" is based more upon EPA issues and cold weather startup wear and tear. I am more concerned with thermal breakdown during hot weather at extended highway speeds. I know that engine tolerances are much closer now than 20 years ago. Back then I used to use Castrol 20-W-50 in my 1982 Camaro Z-28. I have always had great faith in Castrol products. I used to have a 1964 Impala Supersport that burned a quart of oil every 1000 miles. WAAAAAY back then I tried every oil on the market including adding STP to the oil to try and stop the burning. I was turned on to Castrol at that time and when I switched to it, I could go 3,000 miles before burning a quart! I would be one quart low at oil change time.

I now use Castrol Syntec 5-W-30 in my 1994 Toyota Camry during the winter and use 5-W-50 in the summer. It has 100K miles on it now and it NEVER drops a bit on the dipstick after 5,000 miles, which is when I do my synthetic oil changes. It still runs as good as new.

Tell me I'm wrong to use 5-W-30 from some bonafide engine wear perspective verses environmental issue and I'll go through the hassle of trying to find it. I think a lot depends upon the climate, and with summer coming on in the Southwest, Castrol Syntec 5-W-30 sounds just right to me... OF COURSE I COULD BE WRONG... Does anybody have any facts to back up claims that this weight of oil would actually damage the engine? I just can't see it with regard to passenger car driving, especially in the summer.

 

My manual says 5-30 also

 

Not for the 2002 TLS.. The manual says specifically only 5w-20, but you can use 5w-30 for a short time if 5w-20 is not available.. but you should switch back to 5w-20 ASAP.