Honda Car Forum

The technical manual for Honda Element recommends to use 5w20 oil
engine.
I would try to use 5w50 Castrol synthetic engine oil. Is that OK to
substitute 5w20?

Thanks,
Chris

I think you might only notice a difference in very cold weather. The
5W20 might allow the engine to crank faster...

Professor
www.telstar-electronics.com
Got LEDs?

On 7 Jun 2005 06:00:30 -0700, "Professor" <briangriffey@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:

>I think you might only notice a difference in very cold weather. The
>5W20 might allow the engine to crank faster...
>


Why would that be since they are both 5W oils??

There has been a ton of debate on the 5W20 v 5W30 at
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com

"Chris" <criro1961@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
news:iq1ba1t7jghmja6md7ajopcpgqg0dir2gs@4ax.com...
> The technical manual for Honda Element recommends to use 5w20 oil
> engine.
> I would try to use 5w50 Castrol synthetic engine oil. Is that OK to
> substitute 5w20?
>
> Thanks,
> Chris

Do you already have the oil? If so, use it. If not, I'd stick with 5w-30
year round or 10w-30 for the warmer months and 5w-30 for the colder months.
I know the concensus is pretty good regarding the 20 weight oils but I'll
stick with the other grades if not for better availability and value, for
better long term protection.

Well, I'm confused...

The original poster said 5W-Fifty, everyone else is talking about
5W-Thirty.

Fifty is an invitation to damage and a warranty denial IMO.

> The original poster said 5W-Fifty, everyone else is talking about
> 5W-Thirty.
>
> Fifty is an invitation to damage and a warranty denial IMO.


I would never pick the fifty weight for a honda unless it was on its last
leg and burned a quart a week. But I probably also wouldn't waste it if I
came upon it somehow, especially now in the summer. Viscosity at operating
temperature is not that far apart.

On 7 Jun 2005 13:20:02 -0700, jmattis@attglobal.net wrote:

>Well, I'm confused...
>
>The original poster said 5W-Fifty, everyone else is talking about
>5W-Thirty.
>
>Fifty is an invitation to damage and a warranty denial IMO.


My error on that.

So, getting back to the original point, I would not put 5W50 in a
Honda -- only 5W20 or 5W30.

Chris wrote:
> The technical manual for Honda Element recommends to use 5w20 oil
> engine.
> I would try to use 5w50 Castrol synthetic engine oil. Is that OK to
> substitute 5w20?

um... no. 5w30 is the furthest id feel safe going.
>
> Thanks,
> Chris