Weigh-In on oil weight
03-25-2014, 05:32 PM
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Weigh-In on oil weight
1998 Civic EX stock 16Y8, 150K miles, Manual Tran.
I know this subject has been posted before but I am dense and need yaw's (you all's) advice. My sweet ride has been burning oil a little more than I would like, but probably not excessive for year,mileage and Vtec. I've only used 10w/30 oil since I purchased it 3 years ago, but to help slow the burn I decided to go with 15w/40 when I changed it (and filter) out last Friday.
We took it on a 3 hour (one-way) trip over the weekend and it ran fine. Also, the oil level didn't appear to go down at all after the return trip. I've read that one reason an older civic engine last so long is because it does burn oil instead of burning up piston rings..true or not I do not know?
I also used 4 quarts instead of 3.5 quarts when I did the recent oil change. I figured the extra .5 quart would burn off by the end of our trip, but it didn't. To this point there's no noticeable difference in the way it runs currently compared too how it ran since I purchased it three years ago. I am concerned the extra oil may add compression to engine and cause potential oil leaks, so I will drain that off soon.
All input appreciated.
I know this subject has been posted before but I am dense and need yaw's (you all's) advice. My sweet ride has been burning oil a little more than I would like, but probably not excessive for year,mileage and Vtec. I've only used 10w/30 oil since I purchased it 3 years ago, but to help slow the burn I decided to go with 15w/40 when I changed it (and filter) out last Friday.
We took it on a 3 hour (one-way) trip over the weekend and it ran fine. Also, the oil level didn't appear to go down at all after the return trip. I've read that one reason an older civic engine last so long is because it does burn oil instead of burning up piston rings..true or not I do not know?
I also used 4 quarts instead of 3.5 quarts when I did the recent oil change. I figured the extra .5 quart would burn off by the end of our trip, but it didn't. To this point there's no noticeable difference in the way it runs currently compared too how it ran since I purchased it three years ago. I am concerned the extra oil may add compression to engine and cause potential oil leaks, so I will drain that off soon.
All input appreciated.
03-25-2014, 05:39 PM
#2
Re: Weigh-In on oil weight
Never overfill the engine with oil. It can cause oil frothing that starves the engine of oil and lowers oil pressure.
150K miles on engine - How much oil do you lose/burn in 5K miles?
150K miles on engine - How much oil do you lose/burn in 5K miles?
Last edited by Former User; 03-25-2014 at 06:05 PM.
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10-12-2014, 01:04 PM
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Re: Weigh-In on oil weight
This thread is a few months old. Im sure the OP did what he was going to do...but incase anyone else is looking for info:
Honda just went to 0W20 in like 2012 or so, IIRC. I don't know if they use that in every car that comes through the dealer for oil service, though. They may only use it on newer cars.
In 2000, it was still 5W30 in their pumps. 5W20 came around sometime later as a majority spec oil. I think they still had 5W30 in the pumps for certain dealers, though.
Honda was spec'ing 5W30 and even 10W30 in certain engines until 2012 (2009 for 10W). I would hate to hear a S2000 that got filled up with 0W20, for example.
OP's engine is going go start burning way more than 1.5 qts every 5k miles if he starts using 15W40.
1.5qts/5k miles is nothing to be concerned about. I would just use 5W30. 10W30 isn't thicker at operating temp than 5W30. It's just thicker between start up and operating temp. You want a thin oil for start up. But you want it to retain thickness as it warms up.
The 1st number is where the oil starts out 5W/10W. The 2nd number is a meaure of viscosity retention. A 5W30 will act like a 30 grade oil would act at 200 something F. Same with a 10W30.
10W30 does have less tendency to shear since there are less additives in conventional 10W30 vs. 5W30. And if you're leaving it in there for 5K + miles, it does matter...a little. Plus it can really only get down to 10W straight when it's done shearing. Again...this matters more for conventional oil left in the crank case for a VERY long mileage interval.
Just run a 5W30. Add oil when you need it.
Honda just went to 0W20 in like 2012 or so, IIRC. I don't know if they use that in every car that comes through the dealer for oil service, though. They may only use it on newer cars.
In 2000, it was still 5W30 in their pumps. 5W20 came around sometime later as a majority spec oil. I think they still had 5W30 in the pumps for certain dealers, though.
Honda was spec'ing 5W30 and even 10W30 in certain engines until 2012 (2009 for 10W). I would hate to hear a S2000 that got filled up with 0W20, for example.
OP's engine is going go start burning way more than 1.5 qts every 5k miles if he starts using 15W40.
1.5qts/5k miles is nothing to be concerned about. I would just use 5W30. 10W30 isn't thicker at operating temp than 5W30. It's just thicker between start up and operating temp. You want a thin oil for start up. But you want it to retain thickness as it warms up.
The 1st number is where the oil starts out 5W/10W. The 2nd number is a meaure of viscosity retention. A 5W30 will act like a 30 grade oil would act at 200 something F. Same with a 10W30.
10W30 does have less tendency to shear since there are less additives in conventional 10W30 vs. 5W30. And if you're leaving it in there for 5K + miles, it does matter...a little. Plus it can really only get down to 10W straight when it's done shearing. Again...this matters more for conventional oil left in the crank case for a VERY long mileage interval.
Just run a 5W30. Add oil when you need it.
Last edited by B serious; 10-12-2014 at 04:20 PM.
10-12-2014, 04:18 PM
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Re: Weigh-In on oil weight
Additives meaning viscosity modifiers. That's what breaks down when you're shearing down an oil all the way to it's singular viscosity weight.
The addtives in multi viscosity conventional oil (viscosity modifying additives) give them their ability to "act" like a 30 grade oil at operating temp...instead of behaving like a 5W oil....which would be like water at that temp.
More of a gap between weights means more visosity modifyers. 5W30 has more of those than 10W30.
This is my understanding. Am I incorrect?
The addtives in multi viscosity conventional oil (viscosity modifying additives) give them their ability to "act" like a 30 grade oil at operating temp...instead of behaving like a 5W oil....which would be like water at that temp.
More of a gap between weights means more visosity modifyers. 5W30 has more of those than 10W30.
This is my understanding. Am I incorrect?
10-12-2014, 05:01 PM
#11
Re: Weigh-In on oil weight
Ah, that makes sense. You're saying 1+1+1+1=4, and my brain was looking for the 2+2 of it. I'm not going to say you're definitely right or definitely wrong, but logically, it makes sense, and BTOG seems to agree with at least your premises. Regardless, though, if you're following proper oil change schedules, and using oil that you didn't pick up at the quick-e-mart, that should never be a problem.
10-13-2014, 03:47 AM
#12
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Re: Weigh-In on oil weight
Ah, that makes sense. You're saying 1+1+1+1=4, and my brain was looking for the 2+2 of it. I'm not going to say you're definitely right or definitely wrong, but logically, it makes sense, and BTOG seems to agree with at least your premises. Regardless, though, if you're following proper oil change schedules, and using oil that you didn't pick up at the quick-e-mart, that should never be a problem.
IIRC, most threads referencing Honda Civics there show owners manual that spec 5W-20 for a Civic after 2001... 5W-30 before it. They *MAY* have back-spec'd them all to the 0W-20, since BITOG talks about how the 0W number has nothing to do with the SAE rating for viscosity, (the second number..) Many on there advocate a 0W, and as long as minimum oil pressure is maintained, you should be goof to go. Some question that, but.. largely, people report no issues with the thinner oil.
BITOG is awesome.
I personally put some 0W-20 in mine, as I understand my engine to be from a 2000 in a 1995 car. That doesn't matter, however...
Will post more later, I have to return to work now
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