tsxuser

I switched oil to Synthetic for my last oil change. according to the vendor, it seems like Synthetic can last 10,000 miles between the oil change. My question is our MID seems not recognize whether it is traditional or Synthetic oil. The oil life drop to 15% at 5500 miles. Should I follow the MID or just reset the MID and wait until 10,000 miles? Can someone who have been used Synthetic oil before give me some advice? Thanks.

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

MID system does not know you put synthetic in.

according to the OM it says MID or 1 year as the standard of care for OCI regardless of type of oil used.

if you want to get into the science of your oil from your engine, you can send it in for a blackstone oil analysis. many guys on the 3G TL side have done this to assess the condition of their oil. some follow the suggestion of what they say (usually say you can go longer based on what they found) or follow the MID.

i use synthetic in my TL...i follow the MID or 1 yr.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

to add what TLtrigirl has said, Most synthetic oils are blends of regular oil.

to make it easy on you, just follow the MID.

UTAH TSX

At 5000 miles it is black nasty looking stinky contaminated oil I never go more than that on the my full synthetic oil and I never use 5w20 that is gas milage oil 5w30 for me with turbo I now use 5w40

phokus

I have an 09 rdx - I also use full synthetic oil. I have the same question/concern. Synthetic oil can go at least 10k kms between oil changes but the mid usually calls for oil changes after about 5km.

Should I follow the mid or just keep it going until 8-10km? I do mostly city driving but think following the mid may be changing the oil too soon ( I guess that's not bad thing)?

phokus

I also don't drive too much so after 4-5 months the mid calls for an oil change even though I only drove 4000k s

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

^^you have a 1G RDX with a turbo. synthetic is required. it is known that the 1G RDX has shorter than usual OCI like around 4k miles. if drive more city and idle a lot your OCI will be shorter (4-5k mi range...maybe even 3500 on the RDX). follow the MID.

Simba91102

Remind me not to buy a car from this guy . . .

Simba91102

Extending change intervals is not really one of synthetic oil's benefits, that's a myth; it's just a better oil. You have probably two options. Change it when the MID indicates, or have the used oil tested (more than once, while following the MID schedule, and follow the directions). If you do have it tested, then I agree that you will most likely be told that you can extend the change interval. If Blackstone tells you that, don't be afraid to do it. Engine, oil, and filter technologies have improved tremendously over the years, and the days of 3K (or even 5K) mile change intervals are long gone for most cars.

UTAH TSX

LOL I don't know anything I Just started stupid mechanic job in 1982, how many Honda engines did you replace piston rings on last year because of 20w oil and MID 7000 plus recommended oil changes. I did well over 20 (oh and the bearings look like shit also) run 5w20 and follow the MID please that's how I make my house payment

bagwell

iTrader: (1)

you can't actually tell if the good is bad by the color...having it tested is the most accurate way - but I too change mine at max 5000 or 1 year.


BTW...you know they make 0W-50 and 5W-50
I bet these pour like honey tho...seems like it would be tougher on engine startup? 0W-20 and 5W-20 are like water.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

some oils are meant to change color faster than others.
utah, you might be a mechanic, butt you are no chemist.

UTAH TSX

I agree, but working at a Honda dealer and watching k24s drop like flies has some value

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

i'm sorry.
the color of oil has no correlation with K24's dropping like flies.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

you can,however, draw a conclusion from owners not changing their oil on time, on a regular basis, leading to catastrophic engine failure, but that would be on the owner. and not the oil.

I do agree with you that the 0w-20, that honda has decided to push is for CAFE reasons. (fuel economy)

opboarding

Educate me.

0w-20 was chosen for the 2011+ TSX models for fuel economy(as I read). What makes it better for fuel economy? Since it is thinner? Why wouldn't they use this originally in 09-10 years? Are there downsides to using 0w-20 over 5w-20?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

honda switched their whole fleet to 0w-20, the exception of the turbo RDX.
yes since it is thinner, in theory, you will gain .1 mpg.
times that by the whole fleet and Honda has achieved their CAFE regulations

no downsides, as at temp the 0w-20 is the same weight as the 5w-20.

0w-20 is a synthetic.

ive ran a full synthetic 0w-40 before.
right now im using redline 5w-30

UTAH TSX

It's not catastrophic engine failure the oil rings get all gummed up and stick in the piston then they use oil like crazy and people never check there oil and at 7000 miles it has 2-3 quarts left that is nasty stuff and it gets worse and worse by 100k it burns a quart of oil every 1000 miles (anyone on here checks there oil we tend to like our cars 99% of people just drive and put gas in) the k24 is the worst by far but we get a few v6's a month on the new oil consumption misfire recall now
I HATE OIL THREADS I'M DONE JUST CHANG THE CRAP AT NO MORE THAN 5K AND USE GOOD OIL

Simba91102

I agree that we should kill this thread (though that's all I agree with from this . . . fellow). It's obvious that there are many opinions on the oil issue, and we've beat it to death over the years (with the same conclusion: to each their own). Mine are based on experience and science, others maybe not so much. Whatever.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

lol utah.
calm down.

UTAH TSX

[QUOTE=Simba91102;14907256]I agree that we should kill this thread (though that's all I agree with from this . . . fellow). It's obvious that there are many opinions on the oil issue, and we've beat it to death over the years (with the same conclusion: to each their own). Mine are based on experience and science, others maybe not so much. Whatever.[/QU

Guess what I'm doing today Simba, this is a non scientific view of thin old oil LOL
2008 accord 123k miles faithful customer changed oil at 15% like clock work, bought car new from us

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^i'll bet it wasnt changed like clock work.

bagwell

iTrader: (1)

yep,

chemists/engineers tell us what SHOULD happen.
mechanics tell us what ACTUALLY happens.

Did the DEALER change the oil or did he do it personally or somewhere else?

count.chokula.d_brasil

my 09 has 110k and looks clean inside(pulled head just to check my walls), i have used amsoil 10w30 since 5k

cyberbro

The bottom line is, Acura does not care what you use as long as you change it when told.

Mercedes>BMW

Miles... Not KM's. Mid usually calls for oil changes after about 5k MILES. and 10KM would be 6K Miles, which is nothing for full synthetic oil...

richyrich1988

well my tsx came with a lifetime warranty on the engine from honda....so that means when the above happens eventually Utah will put a new K24Z3 in my car

EricInMaryland

[QUOTE=UTAH TSX;14908291]So that damage was from using 0 weight oil? I'll assume your dealership did all the oil changes?

I just find the story and the pictures hard to reconcile.

UTAH TSX

[QUOTE=EricInMaryland;14933120] It's what happens to some k24 engines when you follow the oil change recommendation the mid gives you, this car goes about 7k miles before it turns to 5% k6 miles 15%, not all cars do this but enough to see this on a regular basis

awats

Let's me add my confusion between using 0-20W and 5-20W. From my understanding the lower number is at 0C or lower and the upper number is at 100C. So if you live where it never gets below 0C, on a cold start the oil is probably at 5W or higher. Once the engine warms up, it moves up the weight scale. Since the 20W is at 100C (212F) and engine oil under a cruise load tends to be 20F-30F over the coolant I would expect 0-20W and 5-20W to act the same.

So unless you need that 0W when it's freezing, 5W is fine and unless they decide to send your oil out for testing they would never be able to tell the difference between 0W and 5W. 5-20W around here is cheaper and easier to find in any brand or type (normal/synth) of 0-20W. The dealer sells the Honda blend 0-20W for $7 so if I can find M1 0-20W at an equal price I will use that. It periodically goes on sale for $5.50. I know I need to have receipts for 0-20W for warranty so I am stuck there with 0-20W. Too bad none of my other cars use 0-20W (HHR SS used 5-30W and the Duramax uses 15-40W.)

I see zero downside mechanically to 5-20W over 0-20W. I doubt x-20W is pretty thin stuff but I assume Honda wants warranty repairs no more than I do.