Hey guys -

What type of oil have you been using for oil changes?

I bought a certified pre-owned with 4500 miles and the dealer did the oil change (which was probably the first one) with Honda oil?

I now have 9200 miles and am contemplating having the dealer do the oil change with Honda oil, or using a synthetic oil (been using Mobil 1 in my '07 TL Type-S) and was thinking of using the same in the MDX.

What would you guys recommend? Too early to change to a synthetic, or might as well start now since it's only had 1 oil change?

Also, at what intervals are you doing your oil changes (months and mileage)?

 

The 3G MDX comes from factory with FULL synthetic i believe. That was what my dealer changed with.

My Acura dealer charges $65 for oil change (without tire rotate), full vacuum, quick clean inside, and very nice carwash outside. No point for me to go elsewhere. My days of changing my own oil is gone.

I go by what the oil indicator on dash says...probably around 7500 mi.

 

I would go with Mobil 1 0W-20, either the AFE or EP will work great in your engine. I use either the Fram Ultra filter or the Mobil 1 M-110 filter. What sucks is most oil change deals allow for 5 quarts, but your engine needs 5.6 quarts I believe. Of course Walmart always has good prices on their 5 quart jugs of Mobil 1.

Follow your MM for oil changes, or at least every year. I usually change mine at 10-15%. I also will run a UOA to see how my actual oil life is compared to the MM.

 

I forgot to add, did the dealer change the factory fill with the MM at 5-10%, or was the MM not even calling for an oil change? 4500 miles seems too early to change the oil, also, Acura uses a break-in oil on your car, so it really should have stayed in as long as possible.

 

You should be fine with any 5-20W oil or 0W-20 oil. I personally recommend Mobil 1 5W-20 High Mileage, 15,000 mile. It comes with a gold cap and is about $29 for a jug at walmart, or around $40 at autozone with a filter.

Change the oil according to the MID, not by mileage. Another poster was correct that acura uses a special break in oil that is supplemented with additives to help the engine.

 

I would recommend you NOT use 5W-20, since it violates the owners manual and would void your warranty. Mobil 1 EP and AFE both come in 0W-20, so why not use the viscosity required by the OM? Also, 0W-20 gives better start-up protection, when most engine wear occurs.

 

The thinner oils were recommended to help reduce startup emissions. Using 5W-20 won't void your warranty at all. After all the 3.7L burning oil with the 4G TL SH-AWD I wouldn't want to take a chance on a 50K SUV. Thinner oils tend to burn, that burning in turn coats the direct injection system and valves with unnecessary carbon buildup. I had to walnut shell blast the valve-train in my 760 because there was a bit of buildup that was affecting performance. I tend to keep my vehicles for 200K miles so I think long term, the manual doesn't necessarily do this. For example, my 760 had lifetime transmission fluid. The first trans bit the dust at 72K, the second at 110K.

Don't forget to flush the transmission fluid every 30K, with a 3x3 drain and refill procedure! The owners manual may state longer interval's but that is a recipe for a new trans at around 100K.

 

A 0W-20 and 5W-20 are the same weight at operating temperature, so the 0W is not a "thinner oil" when it heats up. It is however thinner at start-up, where most engine wear occurs, so his engine will last longer. The 3.7 is a different design than his newer 3.5, so it is not really pertinent.

A good 0W-20 synthetic like Mobil 1 AFE or EP, is mostly Group IV synthetic, so it should have a high flashpoint and low NOACK, therefore less likely to volatize and cause carbon build-up in your engine. If he is going to follow the MM, he does not need the EP, which is a 15,000 mile oil, since the MM will most likely call for oil changes around 7,000 miles or so. The AFE though is very comparable and can go 10,000 miles easily and it usually cost less.

 

I have a drum of Torco SR1 0w20. Since the Civic that got replaced by the MDX took it and my Silverado takes 8 quarts, buying the drum made more economic sense.