I just got this car and it has 31K, I have no idea what kind of oil it has, Synthetic or Regular, Is there a way to tell, also I will be changing the oil tomorrow, what do you guys recommend, Should I go with the synthetic or just regular if so what is the best oil and oil filter, also anything I should know before changing the oil, access to the filter? or etc.... Thanks

 

Certainly no way to tell...service records excepted.

 

I have a 04 and acura puts in reg

sooo probably reg unless u have a 06-08?

 

Well if the previous owner used synthetic and now you switch over to conventional, that's not good for the engine. Safe bet is to just go with synthetic since you do not know what the previous owner had. Synthetic is better for the car all around anyways.

 

+1
play it safe Mobile 1 synthetic

 

your MID should tell you how much oil life you have left until you need to change the oil

 

Sorry that is totally incorrect! Rather than voicing my opinion that may be considered subjective, I copied the following from the Castrol site:
Can I switch between a synthetic and concentional oil?
It is a common myth that you cannot go back to a conventional motor oil after using a synthetic. All of Castrol's oils are fully compatible with one another, and there is no cause for concern if you choose to switch from conventional to synthetic or vice versa.

Use a 5-20 oil, dino (less expensive) or synthetic and you'll be fine.
A wealth of info in the Sticky 3G TL Garage:
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/diy-oil-change-checklist-service-manual-scan-3g-garage-c004-550701/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/d-i-y-oil-change-pics-3g-garage-c-004-a-599067/

 

Forget about whether was synth or regular...

It doesn't matter. It's in the past.

Just switch to synth!

Your car would love it and it'll tell you....

And you'll have a smile...

I broke my 27K miles couple weeks ago my last oil change was 23785 miles done on Jan 6, and now my oil life shown on MID is still 60%

The way it goes, I might have till Jul or early Aug for my next oil change...

BTW, I brought my Castrol synth oil bought from Walmart, it's cheaper

 

Royal Purple FTW

 

This is not true...

Synthetic oil is beneficial if you want to "prevent" excessive wear on internal engine components. Switching to conventional oil will not hurt the engine, but it won't offer the same kind of protection that a synthetic will.

If a car started its life using conventional oil, it almost makes no sense switching to synthetic, since there is much less to protect. However, if you want to prevent further wear, then go ahead and switch.

 

The car has no idea whether it has synthetic or convention in the pan, as the MID is based on numerous items, pne of which is not the type of oil. On ours, the last oil change by the MID at 15% was 7730 and that was with 5-20 dino oil, but as it was just a year I did the change rather than waiting for 0%.

 

The TL says to do the change at 10% oil life left as a saftey margin incase you forget or are busy and run over.

 

 

Well, I'm still not convinced from Castrols website, because Castrol is not fully synthetic like Amsoil and Mobil 1 is, so maybe switching within in their lines its safe. But I'm not 100% sure now whether it will be safe or not to revert back, so I guess I retract my statement. However if it were me, I'd be running synthetic. I don't really care enough to go out and bring out facts to this argument, because its just not that important to me so therefore I'll be incorrect!


And the argument between conventional and synthetic can be had all day, and if its better or not, I guess its a personal decision. I'm running Amsoil and won't have it any other way for a 30k car. Especially when all it's costing is another $30 bux and I can double my oil change interval, it equals out anyways.

To me its amazing how technology has come such a long way since cars were first built but for some reason people still stick to their guns when it comes to oil and think its the same as it was in 1950. Everyone should educate themselves as to whether or not dump synthetic or not.

 

Um... i think admin should really really make a post to ask everyone who has oil question go read Road Rage's post 1st.

From lots of educated source, including Road Rage (not blind guessing or myth from friends)

1)Today's dino or syn blend oil is so good that for 5000- 6000 miles OCI (oil change interval)which is about most people get using MID, using dino or syn blend oil makes great sense. If you change oil at 3k and using synthetic, it's a waste of $ and most important earth's resources! I know people can always pull the logic like "It gives me a peace of mind; synthetic oil seems like a cheap insurance; you spend 35K on a car and you will be cheap on oil? "

2)There are lots of property to be called a good oil, MOBIL 1 IS NO WHERE near a best oil, so does Royal Purple. In comparison, particularly Havoline's synblend has higher flash point than MOBIL1, will we say Havoline is better than MOBIL1, probably not. But the best Dino/ synblend oil would be on par to those mid tier synthetic.

3)Switching to dino from synthetic is fine generally (99.9 % of case). The only reason switching from synthetic to dino MAY cause a problem.... this is probably too technical, if you wants to know again check Road Rage's post.

4)The best advantage of those synthetic outside is extended OCI, not necessarily protection. It's a hard fact that synthetic does not offer the kind of wear protection for very short trip, like 2-3 miles short trip that engine oil won't even reach operating temperature compare to dino oil. Dino oil actually perform better here, YES you heard it right, because those additives in syn oil need to reach a higher temperature to work. And when the temperature gauge reach a little under half, this is coolant only, not the engine oil, oil actually needs longer time to reach operating temperature.

5) Just some recommendation: Good non-synthetic oil: Havoline (used to be Chevron supreme), Motorcraft synblend (walmart has it for $12.5 5 Quart), Pennzoil regular (<--- yes unbelievable right?) I forgot another ROad rage mentioned. I did not pull these oil out of my a$$, they have been proven by UOA and virgin oil test.

Seriously peoples, i think most people worry too much about their engine (especially oil), and forget the tranny, don't forget what "powertrain" includes.
Just like what Spoons' CEO said on Vtec club:
Engine has coolant to cool down components, filter to remove junk, and oil pump to make sure proper oil pressure is maintained. In comparison most tranny has none of these, okay BMW turbo has oil cooler, not our TL, basically our tranny just sit and bath in the oil.
I rather save the extra money and spend on other service. Yeah some people keep using 89 instead of 91 and insist in using synthetic.
After all it's your money and your car. Hope this writing helps.
Yeah talking of Road Rage, i miss him, PMed him, see if he responds.

 

synthetic I think is the safer way to go especially in the summer time depending on the climate you live in

 

Hahah, that is so true. I work part-time at mr. lube and people will pay 90 bucks for synthetic oil, but wont pay 90 bucks for a tranny or coolant service.

 

wrong...

 

the answer to your questions is you have no way of knowing without having the oil tested...that cost money...change the oil to whatever oil you want and that is it....everything else is opinion and opinions are like aholes....everyone has one...

 

Pretty good. Haven't heard that one in a while.