Anyone else put in 5w-20 when the car calls for 5w-30? Not a deal big or not? I live in Seattle, does not get too hot probably 5-7 days of 90 degree weather in summer and that is it.

 

I doubt it'll matter for the cube. If you had an M5 I'd tell you to drain and refill.

 

no big deal

 

I think my Civic calls for 5W-20 & I've gone the other way & used 5W-30 when 20 wasn't available.
On an economy car, I doubt there is a significant issue with it.

 

you're fine!!

 

it's fine to go to a thicker oil... going to a thinner oil could have consequences.


If you're oil pressure light doesn't come on, or doesn't stay on for longer than normal when you start the car, you should be okay...


I also assume this happened in your Cube, and I assume you don't rev the crap out of the engine and drive it like it was stolen. If you're driving around normally, that should also help keep you safe.

 

 

He went to a thinner oil. The specs called for 5w-30 and he used 5w-20. At operating temperature, his oil will thin out to a 20 weight viscosity oil which is thinner than 30 weight.

But either way, it should be ok. I've heard that around the world, Honda specifies 5w-30 for their engines but then specifies 5w-20 for the US for that slight edge in fuel economy. So the two weights seem almost nearly interchangeable.

 

The crazy part is that even though weights should be 20 or 30, some oils tend to be towards the lighter side of their designation and some tend to be heavier.

I wouldn't run the oil as long as you normally would but it should be fine without an issue. Verify that there isn't any oil consumption after 2K miles to be on the safe side.

 

Only reason honda went to the 5w20 was for cafe standards. You are fine with that oil in it (unless you consume oil normally)

 

then take out the 5W/20 on purpose.

 

OP

 

that's exactly what I was saying thicker is ok. thinner, generally not. depends on driving conditions. I really wouldn't sweat about putting it in though, as long as there are no oil pressure lights turning on.

 

I use to run 20w in the winters and 30w in the summers

 

I thought you meant you're fine because running thicker is fine.

I got you now. I read your paragraph wrong.