Anyone use 5W20 oil?

Marvin · 03-14-2004, 09:09 AM

I have a 2003 Honda CRV, and they recommend you use hard-to-find 5W20 oil, supposedly for increased fuel economy. I did some web searching on this oil and there seems to be a couple of schools of thought on this. One is that the increased MPG is negligible, but the engine won't last as long with 5W20 so it's better to switch to 5W30. The people that say this usually recommend a synthetic 5W30 (esp. Mobil1 or Amsoil).

The other side says it's better to use some xW20 oil as the dealer recommends, particularly Mobil1 0W20. (I don't think they make a 5W20.) I think the rationale is that the thinner oil is needed to lubricate the smaller gaps in thsse engines, or something like that.

So I was wondering what people here that have cars for which 5W20 is recommended use, and/or what do the oil experts out there recommend?

Also, would 6K miles be too soon to switch to a synthetic oil?

Mike Lenthol · 03-14-2004, 09:13 AM

2 bottle of 0w-20 + 2 bottles of 10w-30 = 4 bottles of 5w-25. Satisfies all camps of thought heh.

03-14-2004, 11:08 AM

2003 Mustang GT owner, here. (Convertible, but that has nothing to do with engine oil...just bragging rights.

)

Anyway, I followed Ford's reccomendations from day one and went with full synthetic 0w-20. Granted, I know this is a high performance engine, so I don't mind the extra expense.

I do recall that when I was looking into these oils, Ford and Honda seem to be big on them. Asuming you are the type who keeps a little folder in the glove box that contains every service receipt on your vehicle, you probably have a compulsion to follow the manufacturer's reccomendations. I would. (And yes, I'm that compulsive.) I'd guess that a catastrophic engine failure is probably more likely for me than for you, but should something truly awful like that happen, you want there to be no argument about how you treated your vehicle.

Something to consider about Ford and Honda being full synthetic lovers: Japanese and American vehicle reliability now exceeds European vehicles, according to recent statistics. I would think that Ford and Honda are onto something. I did see some sort of Science Channel or Discovery program that talked about engine oils (maybe it was an internal combustion program...I don't remember), and they did cover full synthetics. Refined oil has some sort of large particles that synthetic oil does not. I don't remember the exact terminology, but the synthetic lubrication molecules also are of a completely uniform size, or something. Basically, full synthetic is completely made up of what makes oil good, but has none of its impurities. (I'm sure someone will have a better explanation.)

6k miles is not too early.

Bob Graz · 03-14-2004, 12:13 PM

2001 Windstar and 2002 Taurus, both call for 5W-20 so that's what I put in. I wouldn't feel bad about using 5W-30 though. My understanding is that Ford went to 5W-20 to meet federal fuel mileage requirements.

Erik.Ha · 03-14-2004, 12:14 PM

Redline makes a 5w20. Buy it online by the case... A tad more expensive, but worth it. They make great synthetic lubricants... I especially like their differential and tranny oils...

**HTF Ads**

Brett DiMichele · 03-14-2004, 10:15 PM

My car came with Mobil-1 and that's all that goes in it..

I would switch to synthetic after the initial break in
period and with the synthetic you can run thinner oils
since there is barely no chance of thermal break down and
the thinner oils can penetrate further plus they are pushed
through the system more quickly than the thicker viscosity
oils and that can be a life saver when you turn the key.

Ohh yeah and Mobil-1 rocks

Dennis Nicholls · 03-14-2004, 10:28 PM

Wal-Mart carries the Motorcraft 5W-20 in a synthetic blend for as cheap as you will find it.

brentl · 03-15-2004, 09:45 AM

I'll be changing over in a few months. It will be 1 year for my baby(civic coupe), and I'll be moving to Mobil 1 5w30 with a Honda filter.

I've heard the same Mileage story, but it'a a very minor thing. I also asked a Honda tech if it was OK to switch to the 5w30, and they said it's fine and won't affect warranty.

Hope I never find out though!

Oh, and take a look at the cutaway of a Honda oil filter, it's VERY well made.

Brent
I figure 1 year is a good break in period, and since my first oil change was free my first thought was that I'd change to synthetic on the second change. The only problem was December was too damn cold to try my first oil change on my car.

Matt Stryker · 03-15-2004, 11:22 AM

I just did my first change (6000 miles) in my 2003 Element, and went to Mobil 1 5w-30 full syn. The motor in the Element is pretty similar to the CRV (the CRV makes a bit more low end torque, the E a bit more HP).

Wal-Mart seems to be the best place to get Mobil 1, their 5 gallon jugs were around $20.

If you can find a good price on the 0W20 stuff, I'd use that. Evidently the first 2003 VTEC engines that honda made had 0w-20 on the filler cap, and they switched to 5w-20 later on. They are very insistent on keeping the break-in oil in for the first 6K though.

http://www.hondasuv.com/main2/index.php?c=1 is a good place for CRV questions. And http://www.handaaccessories.com/ is good for getting parts/accessories for cheap(er).

Quote:

Oh, and take a look at the cutaway of a Honda oil filter, it's VERY well made.

Some better than others. Some of the older filters for the Element/CRV engines were made by Fram (yuck!) and just branded Honda; the newer ones are made by Dana/Wix, and are quite good. To check, look at the business end of the filter, and you should see a diamond symbol between the holes...if you do, you have a good (Wix) filter. I bought a PureOne for mine, simply because the cost was the same as me driving to honda or getting HandA to ship me one.

Todd Hochard · 03-15-2004, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Japanese and American vehicle reliability now exceeds European vehicles, according to recent statistics.

Japanese vehicles have been more reliable than European vehicles for a long time.

I use Mobil 1 5W-30 and Purolator PureOne filters in my 2002 TL-S. I use an oversized filter (Purolator P/N 24458), instead of the smaller one specified.

My car also calls for 5W-20, but living in FL, I didn't feel it was that important. My occasional oil analysis shows no real wear, even with 8000-9000 miles between changes. I am thinking of switching to Mobil 1 0W-20 or mixing the 0W-20 and 5W-30 50/50 for my next change, just to see if I can hear/note a difference. I track my fuel mileage closely.