Honda Car Forum

"E. Meyer" <e.meyer0SPAM@ieee.org> wrote in message news:<BC635DC8.5021A%e.meyer0SPAM@ieee.org>...
> On 2/21/04 8:11 PM, in article edUZb.32720$Xp.137125@attbi_s54, "Steve"
> <abc@123.com> wrote:
>
> > My 2003 HX coupe (CVT trans.) calls for 5W-20 motor oil. It says so in the
> > owners' manual and there's a sticker right on the engine block that says
> > "5W-20".
> >
> > I'm due for an oil change but none of the places around me have 5W-20 --
> > they all tell me just to use 5W-30 (which is all anybody around here seems
> > to stock).
> >
> > Q: Why does the HX coupe w/CVT call for 5W-20 (instead of a more "common"
> > weight) ?
> >
> > Q: If I use 5W-30 (instead of 5W-20), what are the consequences?
> >
> >
> >
>
> Every car I've ever owned had a table in the owners manual that showed what
> weight oils could be used for various ambient temperature ranges. Have they
> stopped putting this in the book? If its in there, I'll bet 5w-30 is on it.

Honda has typically said 5W-30 and 10W-30 for the past however many
years. Then they recommended 10W-30 for a few unique engines such
as the NSX or the S2000. I also had the salesperson go over the
manual and recommend 20W-50 and/or 10W-40 - esp if it starts using
oil.

That being said, other manufacturers owners manuals have a table,
then additional recommendations based on ambient temps or extreme
duty. I remember the manual for my dad's '96 Buick Regal recommended
synthetic 5W-30 for subzero climates. I heard GM later added 0W-30
to the list of cold weather oil. My new Subaru owner's manual has
a list of 5W-30, 10W-30, and 10W-40 as recommended weights. Then a
separate section recommends 30wt, 40wt, 10W-50, 20W-40, or 20W-50
for extreme temps or towing.

"Bebop" <SP@M.com> wrote in message news:1g9qm17.11ipp6xyv99gaN%SP@M.com...
> y_p_w <y_p_w@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > The strange thing about Motorcraft 5W-20, is every
> > place I've seen it, the price is substantially higher than the other
> > Motorcraft oil weights - like $1.81/qt vs $1.20/qt for 5W-30. The
> > cheapest 5W-20 oil I've seen is Coastal (at AutoZone).
>


It takes a blend of Synthetic and Dino motor oils to meet Motorcrafts specs
for the 5W-20, so it is priced higher because the mfg. cost is higher.

I would NOT look for the cheapest 5W-20 to put in my new car HELLO!

John

E. Meyer <e.meyer0SPAM@ieee.org> wrote:

> Every car I've ever owned had a table in the owners manual that showed what
> weight oils could be used for various ambient temperature ranges. Have they
> stopped putting this in the book? If its in there, I'll bet 5w-30 is on it.

it's 5W-20 at all temperatures for most of the Hondas.

John Horner wrote:

> "Bebop" <SP@M.com> wrote in message news:1g9qm17.11ipp6xyv99gaN%SP@M.com...
>
>>y_p_w <y_p_w@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>The strange thing about Motorcraft 5W-20, is every
>>>place I've seen it, the price is substantially higher than the other
>>>Motorcraft oil weights - like $1.81/qt vs $1.20/qt for 5W-30. The
>>>cheapest 5W-20 oil I've seen is Coastal (at AutoZone).
>>
>
>
> It takes a blend of Synthetic and Dino motor oils to meet Motorcrafts specs
> for the 5W-20, so it is priced higher because the mfg. cost is higher.
>
> I would NOT look for the cheapest 5W-20 to put in my new car HELLO!

I wasn't really suggesting that anyone go out and use an off-brand.
I don't think I've ever tried an off-brand motor oil before. However -
Coastal was the first off-brand 5W-20 I've seen.

From what I understand, the Motorcraft 5W-20 is a very good product,
regardless of who makes it for Ford.