5W-30 vs 5w-20 oil
 

I know the manual says to use 5W-20 but I recall reading an old post by someone who said they went to the acura website and it had updated news about using 5W-30 instead of 5W-20...

Something about b/c the car is harder to start with 5W-20 b/c its thicker... ?? something like that...

Does anyone know if this is true?

I dunno about the oil....but everyone tells me to use 10w-30...is that good for the TL-S? or should I stick with what he says 5w-30? bleh.....

If you go to anything but 5w 20 your mpg will drop.

What about synthetics? 5W-30 is the closest match Mobil1 makes. Would that be OK?

well i have been running 5w-30 for about a month now... i personally like either vavoline synthetic or penz oil synthetic..but mobil one is also very good... changing from 5w-20 to 5w-30 is not enough to change your gas milage actually since i changed to synthetic mine has went up a few miles per tank... i believe that amsoil and maybe redline are the only people that carry a synthetic 5w-20 but there might be more than that.... i believe that weight system is broken up like this 5w is the weight of your oil when you first start your car then the 20 or 30 is the weight of the oil after it heats up.... i know that the acura dealer here in jax showed me that oil they use and it is 5w-30...

So 5w-30 is the good way to go?

What about using 10w-30? I'm using that right now on my Accord V6 and it seems fine....horrible gas milage..but i think it's due to the fact that I need a tune up.

SO 5W-20 IS THE THINNEST OIL PERIOD??? I KNOW SOME RACING OILS ARE JUST 20 OR 5W-0 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I NEVER REALLY UNDERSTAND OIL TYPES :confused: MAYBE RR CAN GIVE US SOME TECHNICAL INFO CUZ MY FIRST OIL CHANGE IS COMING UP TOO!

The correct oil is:
 

5W-20 - - - only use 5W-30 as a last resort or as temporary. Most new car dealers do not stock this oil, you should buy a case and take them the 5qts (4.6qts) you need for the oil change...they will give you credit for the oil (well, most dealers do)

If you do not use the 5W-20, you will suffer
1. less gas mileage
2. more wear
3. less horsepower

The Acura rep says, that Honda actually wants to use 0W-20 in their SLEV vehicles,,,but that oil can not be produced in large enough quantities.

The most important qualities you should look for in a conventional oil is the:
1. Flashpoint
2. Viscosity Index

Simply go online,,,to get the stats on the oil,,,,for those oil companies that do not give the stats online,,,simply email them and they will give up a fact sheet

DO NOT USE 10W-30, in your TLS, even thought that is what a lot of dealers use!

Hope that helps
:D

I have a question regarding Redlines 5W-20. I was just getting to order them so I looked up their part number on their web site. All I could find was 5W-20 in their "Racing" formula.

Thats not what I should use I believe as race oils usually don't have the essential additives/formula for use in a everyday car. I know Road Rage uses 5W-20. I e-mailed Redline for an answer but I didn't get a reply yet. Anybody have any info on this?

Thanks.

I went through the exact same thing as you did but took it a step further and called them by phone. the 5w20 engine oil just isnt up on their website yet since its new (well...not really...but whoever is in charge of their website is just too lazy to update).

I just went to the Acura Owner Link thing and it says that Acura now recommends 5W-30.

I don't get it...the CL-S manual says 5W-30 for the same exact engine. I'm guessing it would be OK to use 5W-30. I'm going in for my first oil change on the 27th...I'll see what they use.

Thanks, now I just need to get the product number so the store don't wind up ordering me the Race formula. I'll call them tomorrow.

Where's the Acura Owner's Link? Is that on the Acura homepage?

"Owner Link" is incorrect, look to the manual or the "Oil Cap" on your particular car. Better yet call customer service at Acura and ask them.

Remember that 5W-30 is an older specification, Honda/Acura would only change to the 5W-20 as it became very available during the last year. They (the manufactor), actually want to use 0W-20 if it was readily available.

Here we go again...really, there has been so much posted on this topic that is senseless to try and recoup it all here.

Just a few clarifications:
1) Viscosity index and flashpoint are not the major indicators of oil quality - just as in people, base stocks count for a lot. One can add polymerics to make a high VI, but one cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
2) TBN is a very important indicator of initial additive quality, and wear and tear of the oil in the real world. Some oils, including two I have had analyzed (Neo and Red Line) maintain their high inititial TBN's longer than others. This bodes well for extended drain intervals.
3) Shear strength (ability of oil to maintain its intergrity when under pressure) is important - most mineral oils and syns are just so-so here, so you do not see it mentioned much. RedLine, NEO, and Motul with esters do very well. Shear forces exist in the cam lobe and ring to cylinder interfaces
4) I say again - esters are the best lubes when properly formulated
5) And when Honda (Comptech) goes racing its Integras and NSX's, guess what is in the crankcase? Yup, RL. That is good enough for me, though it hurts my wallet.;)

I'm currently using 5w-30 Mobil1 Synthetic and have actually gained about .5mpg since the switch about 4k miles ago. In addition, I agree with everyone above... Acura changed the recommended oil from 5w-20 to 5w-30 about 2 months ago, so it's a fairly recent change. In addition, the CL-S has always required 5w-30, even the 2002 does, and since they're the same engine it leads me to believe that 5w-30 is fine.....

In case it was said already, the higher the number, the thicker the oil, generally speaking.
The use of 5W-20 is most certainly about fuel economy. Lighter oils are easier to pump. As a secondary concern, on startup, the lighter oil will pump through the engine more quickly, lubricating the top end more quickly. Newer engines run insanely tight tolerances, and as such, are getting to the point where they almost "demand" a lightweight oil for proper lubrication.

I use 5W-30 Mobil1, as it is readily available. I've considered Redline's, but since I've never had an engine wear out or seize on me yet (and I've built a few), I haven't felt the need to change, due to the cost.

In the winter up north, if you want to use a synthetic, go to 0W-30 from Mobil1. It's available, even here in FL, at Wal Mart.

Todd

Yeah, I actually noticed the 0w-30 a few days ago getting oil for my Accord. Well I have a question. Would it be wise to use 5w-30 instead of 5w-20 if you drive the car aggressive? or is actually better to use 5w-20? Since I'm getting a new car, i'll be taking it to Acura to oil changes in the beginning...do they use 5w-20?

It is not just about mpg - there is also the issue oof pumpability, or how fast the oil can be pumped through the engine. This affects oilo temp and engin e cooling capability. That is why I use a 20 w for viscosity, but the best synoil for shear strength, additive quality, and base stock: RedLine.

Re: The correct oil is:
 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by WalkThisWay
[B]5W-20 - - - only use 5W-30 as a last resort or as temporary. Most new car dealers do not stock this oil, you should buy a case and take them the 5qts (4.6qts) you need for the oil change...they will give you credit for the oil (well, most dealers do)

If you do not use the 5W-20, you will suffer
1. less gas mileage
2. more wear
3. less horsepower

How can 5W-30 cause more "Wear?" That doesn't make sense.

The more wear would be a theoretical more. In practice, I don't think it would pan out.
Over the years, I've noticed that most syn oils "feel" much thinner, and pour much easier, than their dino counterparts. If I were to put a dab of 5W-30 dino oil in one hand, and 5W-30 syn in the other, the syn feels thinner, and more slippery. As I have done this, I have no qualms about using syn 5W-30 in place of dino 5W-20. In practice, in the engine, they are probably very close in flowability, even the viscosity indicates otherwise.

Another point that I was considering- how many people are going to be keeping their cars long enough for any of this to make a difference? Do you think that by using $8/quart oil, you will:
1. Prevent engine seizure.
2. Significantly reduce engine wear.
3. Significantly improve gas mileage.
4. Significantly improve horsepower.
If you intend on keeping the cars 4-5 years, and 60000 or so miles, then it really doesn't matter what you use. The next owner may want to thank you (probably not, the way many beat on their cars), but for the length of time that most here apparently want to own this car, what's the point? I don't think there's any real benefit.

I plan on keeping my car 10+ years, so the long term reliability is a concern to me. Syn oil is cheap insurance.

Todd

Acura's latest recommendation
 

As mentioned by few of the members, I found the following information from Acura's Owner Link. This is in the preventive maintenance section under Service/Maintenance:

"Choosing a Motor Oil
Acura recommends using a 5W30 motor oil year-round. Lighter oils flow easier once the cold engine starts, bringing vital lubrication to moving parts."