D4SSWME

just curious as to how many folks switched to synthetic oil for the first oil change

would you recommend it?

salesman told me not to do so until after third oil change.

I'm at 50% now and am still undecided which route to go

Thanks!

fast-tl

Couldn't hurt, but unless you plan to keep the car for a million miles, you can safely stick to conventional. I mean, the car was ENGINEERED for conventional, to last at least the 4yrs/50K miles of the warranty. Who knows better? I used Mobil 1 when I serviced my '97 Camaro Z28, but I look back on all that extra cash I could've used to better benefit. Again, if you plan to keep it forever, then it may be worth it. You'll likely have moved to new wheels before your engine realizes actual benefits.

JetJock

I found the same thing that fast-tl did. On my last car, I switched to Red Line at the first oil change...approx 1500 miles. The engine ran just fine, but I ended up selling the car at 12,000 miles, so I didn't benefit from the synthetic oil....just the new owner. If I had to do it again, I'd probably just stick to conventional oil, and change it often.

tq2k

Go for it... I did the oil change myself and put it synthetic oil. the earlier you put it in the better.

BdasAcuraTL

I like the idea of going more miles between oil changes.... since i put like 20k miles a yr on my car, switchin every 3-4k miles with conventional oil kinda got annoying after awhile.... with synthetic i usually go 7-8k...

SlntSam

my first service was free (most people get offered this I think) so I took it to the dealership to take advantage of that. I switched to synth on my second oil change.

J RIDE 81

If putting in Mobile 1 for you first A service, what grade oil would you recommend me using? Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks.

KilroyR1

If you want to use Mobil-1, go with the 0W20; it was forumulated specifically for Ford and Honda engines that run 5W20 oil. Some will say go thicker (10W30) but, unless you are racing, you won't ever notice a difference.

Don

TBone2004

How much more is the synthetic than regular. I usually have 5W-20 Castrol or other (Penzoil, Quaker State) that I buy for .89 to 1.19 per Qt. depending on sales where I stock up and buy cases of it. What is the typical cost of a Qt of synthetic and how many more miles can I go with it?


Just curious - never used the stuff - my first car was a hand-me-down from Dad and was driven just shy of 300,000 miles (hopefully she is still running out there somewhere...lets see..she'd be 25 years old now...wow)

but never used a drop of synthetic...

Hybrid

At least some of the 5W-20 oils are semi-synthetic anyway. For example, you can buy 5W-20 Motorcraft oil at Wal Mart for $1.42/qt. (my local price, anyway). That should get you much of the benefit of synthetic for a very low cost. That oil, by the way, gets very good reviews on the http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/ forums.

fast-tl

Synthetic as I recal runs about $3/qt in Dallas, usually more than $3. Before you say "it's cheap insurance", where is it written that the convetional oil the engine was designed for, is harmful or will cause engine damage? I'm not saying that synthetic oils are not better, I'm saying that with cars already designed to last longer and longer, is the cost vs. benefit really there? One poster said he got 300K miles w/o a drop of synthetic. Even manufacturers whi offer 10yr/100K mile warranties aren't requiring synthetic oil, just regular maintnenance. So, some of you will do it for peace of mind, and it's YOUR money, but I have yet to hear of someone's engine failing because they didn't use synthetic. It's like paying $5/gallon for race gas. Sure the car may produce more power, but unless you're always racing, is the cost vs. benfit there?

Shinj1EVA

getting some Amsoil 5w-30 later this week

12-1qt pack for 65 bucks.

Legend75

Use the Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil. I have been using it for 9 years never had a problem, still have amazing accelaration and quite happy with it. I do it myself and it costs only $26 bucks for six quarts plus filter. You get your oiled serviced anywhere your paying double that and someplaces charge more. I currently have 139,000 miles on my car and she still runs like new! Is it worth it? Yes, better performance, more horespower in the end. Speaking from experience with an old car!

Road Rage

I would wait until the first oil change, or approximately 3000 miles. Honda uses a special factory fill that ensures proper break-in of the reciprocating parts.

Today's better mineral oils (like Motrocraft and Havoline) or synblends like Motorcraft 5w20 perform as well or better than the synthetic of 15 years ago. So one of those may be all you need.

If you routinely run in high temps, extremely low temps, or want your engine to go to its max, then one of the better synoils or synblends (as already mentioned) may be right for you.

I use Lubrication Engineers 8130 in all my cars. www.leinc.com

Here is a link to very detailed threads on a variety of engine, tranny oil, and other lubricants. Also search under The RR Journals.

http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showt...ht=RR+Journals

Peace out!

djh1201

Ah, the synthetic oil question!!

This has been debated extensively on www.clubrsx.com (for the RSX). My general conclusion is that you can go to synthetic (I prefer Mobil 1) at the first oil change - but don't change the oil before the scheduled interval!!

i.e. put at least 5000 miles on the car before you switch - give your car some time to break in with regular oil before you switch.

jjsC5

I don't dissagree with you. But, as someone stated above, I drive a lot of miles, and do my own oil changes on all three of my cars. With sythetic, I feel a little better knowing that if I don't get to each one promptly, I probably have a little more safety margin.

But the best reason I know for using synthetic is that cars are my passion (like most people who hang out on car forums). I think anyone who has a passion in life shouldn't even have to explain why they are willing on spending three or four times as much for oil, even if the benefits are questionable. Some people spend stupid money on guns, art work, landscaping, clothes - whatever. I spend stupid money on my cars and don't look back!

fast-tl

I can certainly identify with that, jjsC5. I said a thousand times that my Z28 was my own personal amusement park ride and that's why I used Mobil 1 in it. I guess it does depend upon your point of view. Knowing what I know now, I think I'd not use Mobil 1 and spend the money on mods. It's been said that even with conventional oils, the change interval of 3000 is not critical, as it has a lot to do with the type of driving that's done. OK, so this has been my $.50; I'll let you guys heave it from here. At least I haven't been told I'm off my rocker.

ndawood

its better to run the car for abut 15,000miles before you do the switch to syn. oil... from what i understand you want the seals to break in well before the switch... since synthetic oil is much thinner it can and probably will start seeping out of your motor if it is done too early....

i ran my car for about 25,000 kms before i did the switch....

cvajs

nope,
all of the engine components will seat properly after the suggested breakin period. then feel free to syn-away, it will hurt nothing. seals don't break-in, they swell when sitting in dino oil. seals are engineered to seal with no oil, and when they swell slightly in dino oil they seal a tad more.

it's actually not good to switch from dino to synth on a car that has lots of miles (50-100k) because the synth will dissolve crud on the seals and then will shrink, which may cause leaking because most rubbers won't return to their original shape/size.

i prefer to change oil/filter twice (using non-synth) during break-in just to help remove any fine particles.

SouthernBoy

To cvajs;

Well well put. You explained this well.