Razr2

I just got home from getting an oil change at Honda. They had a coupon out for a $9.99 oil change, since the dealership just opened a week ago and they want customers.

Well anyway I got home and read the printout. They used 5w20, but I've always used 5w30 and I think that's what's reccomended. Any idea why they did this? Is it bad for the b16 and can it cause any damage?

Thanks.

B18C5-EH2

I *think* 5W20 was the "recommended" oil weight for the 2000 Civic Si, but I prefer 5W30 anyways.

I can look up the recommend SAE viscosity in the All Data program on the PC here at work.

Be right back.

Razr2

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C5-EH2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I *think* 5W20 was the "recommended" oil weight for the 2000 Civic Si, but I prefer 5W30 anyways.

I can look up the recommend SAE viscosity in the All Data program on the PC here at work.

Be right back.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Awesome, let me know. Forgot to mention it was a 00 Si, but I see that you are 1 step ahead of me.

B18C5-EH2

Well this is why I said *think* - recommended engine oil is 5W30, not 5W20.


Although honestly it won't hurt the engine to run a slightly thinner viscosity this one time, it doesn't bode well for a dealership that is trying to gain new customers.

I'd call them up and let them know that a mistake was made. Whether you want them to rechange the oil and put the correct 5W30 in is your call.

I'd guage the service guy's attitude and if he is a dick I'd make a big deal about it and demand the correct oil be put in. If he's really nice and apologetic maybe just ride the 5W20 this time, or see if they might offer to rechange it, or give you another coupon and make sure next time it's 5W30.

CRX Toad

It won't hurt it but as said above I would gauge there interest and level of detail to the situation. I THINK the newer vehicles are running the 5w20. It isn't going to hurt anything to run that but I would let the dealership know.

mrfett3463

I cant remember what year it started but the newer honda's do run 5w20. I used to change oil (at a very popular place) and it always made the customers mad cause we had to charge more for it cause we only had it in bottles on the shelf inside not on tap.

B18C5-EH2

I used to run 5W20 oil in my wife's B16A2 (same engine as your 99-00 Si) for a while because I was getting it for free, and it never ran noticably different. I drove that car for years after switching back to 5W30 and when we sold that car the engine ran amazingly well - did NOT burn oil smoke, etc.

Trust me you'll be fine.

...but again see how the service department wants to handle the situation. You are obviously distressed by the 5W20 deal, so see how well they handle it.

EFbomb

I worked in a parts department at the local honda dealer when they changed oils.

everything uses 5w-20 now. they even said its ok to use in any civic/accord/odyssey/pilot/cr-v, even if it was supposed to have 5-30 from the start.

Only engine that gets different oil are the S2000

I dont know about the K series, but i believe those are 5-20 also. those came around after i left that place.

raphael

5w30 for my d16y8

EG2Driver

it says 5w20 on my intake sticker. Check the manual, its most likely 5w20.

ekb16

iTrader: (1)

thats what they make me use at my dealership 5w20 for all 96+civics and 5w30 for 95 and eariler...if you really want you can go back and tell them you wanted 5w30 and they will most likey change it out..some lady did that b4 in a 98 civic and i had to change it out bcuzz its all about makin the customer happy

Razr2

Well I just called them up and they said that it was infact filled with 5w30 and the reciept/printout says 5w20 by default since that's what most cars use. I don't know if I should believe it, but I guess the 5w20 won't do much harm.

Is there anyway of knowing if they put the 20 or 30 in? Any signs or something distinct about one or the other?

CRX Toad

I would just leave it alone. It would be very hard to prove what they put in there.

sleepyH22

i run 20-50 in the summer in my h22a1...10-30 in the winter.

LOL..sounds crazy huh? no worries, my dad is a mechanic and my engine is a lil beat and needs the thicker oil.

5-20 is like water if u ever notice...it would kinda scare me to use 5 20 in anything i have

EFbomb

its not going to matter dude, especially in your climate. dont worry about it, and just change it yourself nextime if it really bothers you.

now if they would have put in like 20w-50 or straight 30 weight or something retarded, then ya i'd probably do something about it. even if they used 10w-30, still not going to matter much.

I run Mobil 10w-30 syn in my turbo'd b16, works great.

B18C5-EH2

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sleepyH22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">LOL..sounds crazy huh? no worries, my dad is a mechanic and my engine is a lil beat and needs the thicker oil. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Think of it another way - if the thicker oil is supposed to help keep oil burning/leaking to a minimum because it's that much thicker, what do you think about it being thicker and it needing to lubricate parts with very tight tolerances? Personally I don't like the idea of something that thick trying to squeeze in between very tight areas like bottom end bearings, etc. etc.

Also in colder weather I'm not comfortable with thicker oil making up to the cylinder head/camshaft quickly enough. I mean in reality we're not taking crazy differences in thickness, but still. Honda recommends 10W30 and 5W30 for a reason, don't they?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">5-20 is like water if u ever notice...it would kinda scare me to use 5 20 in anything i have</TD></TR></TABLE>

No 5W20 isn't like water - that's be 0W20 for the Hybrids.



People can argue/speculate all they want to, but I've ran 5W20 in a B16A for a while (at least a year) and it never had any issues whatsoever. for the other 4 years I drove it it was 5W30.

I always tell customers that "high mileage" and thicker oils are a just a ploy - if the engine smokes/leaks then just keep adding the correct weight oil to it until you're ready to replace/rebuild the engine.

Eran

iTrader: (1)

5W20 is what's recommended for almost ALL B/D/H motors. I used to have a copy of the TSB they put out ....

crazyguy

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Eran &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">5W20 is what's recommended for almost ALL B/D/H motors. I used to have a copy of the TSB they put out ....</TD></TR></TABLE>
and K series too.. 5w~20w oil is recommended for my friend's 06 accord and my wife's 04 crv both euipped with k24a engines. and i use 5w~30w oild for my jdm 2nd gen b16a engine..

Eran

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by crazyguy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
and K series too.. 5w~20w oil is recommended for my friend's 06 accord and my wife's 04 crv both euipped with k24a engines.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I wish my parts guy would give me the old ink blotter they had that shows all the model years and what oil they recommend ... I know they have a new one.

Razr2

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Eran &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">5W20 is what's recommended for almost ALL B/D/H motors. I used to have a copy of the TSB they put out ....</TD></TR></TABLE>
Did they recently change it, because my manual and oil cap say 5w30.

Also, when I check my dipstick should it be RIGHT between the 2 dots (middle)? Or can it be at the top of the second dot?

Eran

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Razr2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Did they recently change it, because my manual and oil cap say 5w30.

Also, when I check my dipstick should it be RIGHT between the 2 dots (middle)? Or can it be at the top of the second dot?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, it has changed since the vehicle was manufactured. It wasn't super recent though, maybe a couple years.

Razr2

Okay and how about the level on the dipstick? Right around the top dot fine?

Eran

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Razr2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Okay and how about the level on the dipstick? Right around the top dot fine?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep, the top dot is "full".

B18C5-EH2

5W20 is recommended by honda to get that extra bit of gas mileage from their vehicles. I mean I've got a chart that shows oil viscocity recommendations by year and make of the cars (the other guy reminded me of this) on a huge-*** mouse pad/desk pad and it actually does say 5W20 goes for all sorts of hondas that originally took 5W30, but the funny part is is specifically lists the 99-00 Civic Si completely separate from all other 96-00 Civics (that are listed as 5W20) and it specifically calls for 5W30 on the chart.



Again I think we're going overboard here - the weight difference between 5W30 and 5W20 is minimal.

Razr2

I also noticed that the oil level is a bit less than 1/4'' over the 2nd dot. Is this bad? I know it's supposed to be between the two dots.