When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Enos oil? That's a bit overkill, OP. That's the type of oil you put in race cars, lol.
It wont hurt your car, but it will hurt your pocket book by the end of the day. You won't see any benefits to using it over pretty much any other oil, unless you plan on racing the living hell out of that car...
I highly recommend everyone use 0w-whatever. The 0 weight oils have the lowest viscosity out of any other oil, meaning it flows better upon start up. You're engine will likely never die using 5w-whatever, but the 0w is a better product to go with. Many manufacturers don't state to use it (in North America) because 0 weight oil is more expensive to purchase as it is a synthetic, due to it being refined to a higher degree. Some makes, like BMW, will say to use it. But for your average vehicle, 5w will be fine.
Honda started recommending 20 weight oil, to help improve fuel economy. Lower viscosity at operating temps means less friction, less heat, and better fuel economy. You can undoubtedly run a 30 weight oil and have zero issues, but there is stuff you need to consider or know about. I myself run 0w-20 in my TL and have been doing that for the last 40000km without issue.
One example- I had a 2007 Miata that spec'd FOUR different oil weights, based on the region of the world you lived in. The higher the ambient temperatures in a region, the higher the weight they called for. The Miata used the same 2.0L engine around the world. The oil for the NA market called for 5w-20. I was running 0w-40 in it, as did the previous owner, since the first oil change, for many reasons.
I see you live in Alberta Canada.. How many months per year you see 120°F outside or for you its, How many months a year you see 50°C ambient temp? Because here in So Cali its 2 full months at that temp and I can assure you 0W will be pushing it to the limit by thin out because of heat. No single Jiffy lube in its right mind will recommend 0W here, They are pushing 10W-40 instead.. I would love to live in a place where °25C is the maximum temp ever and so I can use 0W all year round..
Crabman..
Differences between 5W-20 and 5W-30 are in the TEMP RANGE which is denoted by the 20 and 30.. Not the 5W.
30 has a higher temp range than 20 and so it can protect the engine better at higher ambient temps. This is for the viscosity range obviously.. Thick or too Thin is bad for the engine..Here we dont worry ever about THICK OIL we worry about too thin.. That is why I made the comment about 20... 20 Has the LOWEST Viscosity range per Ambient temp than any other oil.
Last edited by Skirmich; Jul 11, 2016 at 04:53 PM.
Do as you see fit, skirmich. it would befit many owners to use 0w. It's never black and white and never all cars across the board in all regions. Many parts in the US never see temperatures like that. the point I'm trying to make is that some research can go a long way in determining what is best for your car.
I'll be honest, I had no clue Cali gets that hot these days. It's not a one-size-fits-all statement.
Crabman..
Differences between 5W-20 and 5W-30 are in the TEMP RANGE which is denoted by the 20 and 30.. Not the 5W.
30 has a higher temp range than 20 and so it can protect the engine better at higher ambient temps. This is for the viscosity range obviously.. Thick or too Thin is bad for the engine..Here we dont worry ever about THICK OIL we worry about too thin.. That is why I made the comment about 20... 20 Has the LOWEST Viscosity range per Ambient temp than any other oil.
You just made my point. As a consumer, you should use your knowledge to pick the best oil for you.
You clear as day are telling me that 5w30 is great for your climate. You are choosing to go against Honda's recommendation !
you guise are missing the point that knowledge holds more weight than what some one recommends.
5w-30 means that at cold, the oil will act like a 5 weight.
at operating temps, the oil will act like a 30 weight.
WHY would I, knowing this, put anything less into my engine?
supergreg, this common knowledge dates back, WAAAAAAY before Honda "recommended" 5w-20
At this point I think you're merely trolling, since you haven't addressed what we're actually talking about. Or, you misunderstand why certain oil weights are recommended for engines.
What if I told you that 93 octane was recommended but there was something better out there?
Called 100 octane .
And fuck this corn bullshit. Our fuel is mixed with ethanol. Because the gov. If we didn't have ethanol mixed in, our cars would run so much better
Oil of choice, is redline. it has a high shear high temp value, because I like to redline my car daily, and I don't want my oil to shear under high temperatures
You just made my point. As a consumer, you should use your knowledge to pick the best oil for you.
You clear as day are telling me that 5w30 is great for your climate. You are choosing to go against Honda's recommendation !
Well the whole point of the conversation was what Honda recommends.. It pushed 5W-20 by its own agenda and now they are doing the same with 0W-20..
Most of the owners will follow what Honda tells them and that is the sad true, Might give it better MPGs but it surely not what you should be using in the South States. I wish Honda made specific recommendations based on locations.
0W-20.. I remember when it was only used in the freezing states... Now Honda its pushing it nation wide.
Well the whole point of the conversation was what Honda recommends.. It pushed 5W-20 by its own agenda and now they are doing the same with 0W-20..
Most of the owners will follow what Honda tells them and that is the sad true, Might give it better MPGs but it surely not what you should be using in the South States. I wish Honda made specific recommendations based on locations.
0W-20.. I remember when it was only used in the freezing states... Now Honda its pushing it nation wide.
Sure, but you as an individual consumer can choose to use what's best for your car.
I will gladly admit, my car kills baby animals , like birds and squirrels, as it passes by. The fumes are obnoxious.
This is my choice to kill the environment .
you too can fight the government by using what ever oil you want.
So no matter how many times you bring the government back up, it doesn't matter because you own the vehicle and you can do what ever you please to said vehicle.
So what if the government says to wear seat belts?
I wish the manual was as objective as you crabman..
Always use premium-grade 5W-20...
Far from being Always use oil weight based on the temp of your city... or Use oil weight based on your personal preferences. Nope says very clearly ALWAYS USE 5W-20 and its under the "Recommended Engine Oil".
in closing; as a consumer, use your knowledge of consumable products to choose the very best oil for your needs.
a novice who doesnt know oils and their properties will be fine sticking to the recommended guidelines, as that's what its there for. it is a guideline for those who do not know their shit.
for more experienced consumers, one can choose or use their knowledge of oils and their properties to figure out what is needed out of an oil and can choose a better one than is recommended, which I have done....and you have done so as well, Skirmich.
Last edited by justnspace; Jul 12, 2016 at 08:13 AM.
No one is debating the use of SYNTHETIC vs DINO.. Its the OIL that is saying we must ALWAYS USE... And that its 5W-20 being Dino, Semi-Syn, Full Syn, Gods Blood.
They cannot prevent me to use SYNTHETIC but they are saying it must ALWAYS BE 5W-20
It even says so on the engine oil cap... That is what HONDA = Maker of the Engine Deemed that the Engine must USE.. Not that it was Synthetic Based or Dino based NOPE.. It says that its Honda Manufactured engine MUST ALWAYS USE 5W-20
Jesus Christ.
The whole point of this conversation it was not that Honda says you can use Synthetic if you want.. Honda says you must use 5W-20 regardless of what its based on...
You want to use Liquid Unobtanium? It must be 5W-20
You want to use Pterodactyl piss? it must be 5W-20
You want to use Liquid Magma? Better be 5W-20
Last edited by Skirmich; Jul 12, 2016 at 03:37 PM.
the next page over, it says... that it cannot stop you from using higher grade synthetics...
again, the WORD "recommended" means it is suitable.
it did NOT say that 5w20 is REQUIRED.
as a higher grade synthetic WILL have that same seal of approval.
SAME EXACT thing it said in the .PDF...
THE EPA CANNOT PRECLUDE YOU FROM USING A HIGHER GRADE SYNTHETIC OR ANY OTHER OIL FOR THAT MATTER
You keep using that word....
There isn't a "higher grade" of OIL WEIGHT. Oil weight is recommended based on the engine design, taking into account part clearances and flow required (especially through parts like the VTEC system). There is NO reason to change from the recommended oil weight, taking into account the temperature of your location (and again, following the manufacturer's recommendation for it). Just because an oil meets all of the required certifications does not mean you can throw whatever weight you want in there. Too low and you're going to get more wear. Too high and you're going to have more wear and issues with the VTEC system.
Last edited by SuperGreg; Jul 12, 2016 at 04:11 PM.
Quote from "nzone":
After reading this EPA letter, I will be switching to 5w-30 oil. Ford and Honda were the driving force with the 5w-20 thing. They went through hoops just to satisfy EPA by having to promote the use of 5w-20 at the "Quick Oil Change" facilities. LOL.
