I use 0w-30 amsoil synthetic oil right now on the advice of a mechanic friend of mine. He says even though my car asks for 5w-30, that because the synthetic oil doenst burn away as fast, that it would be better for me to use the thinner 0w-30. Is he right about this or should i switch back to 5w-30? On the same note, i've heard different opinions about whether to use 5w-30 or 10w-30 oil for the tranny(one honda dealer told me 530 and the other said 1030). I have 5w-30 synthetic asmoil right now. Is this ok or is it better for the tranny to use 10w-30? Thanks for the input ahead of time!

 

i want to try 20-50..i burn oil like a refinery terrorists set on fire.

 

Do you burn a lot of oil using what your are using? Is your motor built or stock? How hard do you drive your car? Does it get cold/hot where you live?

My engine is pretty much stock other than the simple bolt ons (cai, h, e) and I use 10w30 mobil1 synthetic. I used to use 5w30 mobil1 but it was too thin for me, so I moved up.
You said you started out with 0w-30 and then now you're using 5w-30? Stick with one viscosity and if you're using 5w30, don't go back and use 0w-30, just stick with 5w30. "Is this ok or is it better for the tranny to use 10w-30?" <--- there are only two types of tranny fluids...conventional and synthetic...I don't believe there are different viscosity ratings for tranny fluids.

 

Do you have a turbo? 20w50 is thick as hell...if you use it and you have no turbo or any type of FI, then you'll hurt your engine more than helping it. Before you revv the **** out of the car..it is always a good idea to warm it up. My friend burns oil like crazy because he doesn't warm his car up before he drives it, now he's having problems with the engine.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by khalal538 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do you have a turbo? 20w50 is thick as hell...if you use it and you have no turbo or any type of FI, then you'll hurt your engine more than helping it. Before you revv the **** out of the car..it is always a good idea to warm it up. My friend burns oil like crazy because he doesn't warm his car up before he drives it, now he's having problems with the engine.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes, i am turboed. im running 10w40 and i am burning it up.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by khalal538 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You said you started out with 0w-30 and then now you're using 5w-30? Stick with one viscosity and if you're using 5w30, don't go back and use 0w-30, just stick with 5w30.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I said i'm using 0w-30 right now and was wondering if that's too thin and if i should move up to 5w-30.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by khalal538 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> "Is this ok or is it better for the tranny to use 10w-30?" &lt;--- there are only two types of tranny fluids...conventional and synthetic...I don't believe there are different viscosity ratings for tranny fluids.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The tranny uses just plain motor oil so yes, there are diff viscosity ratings. The thing that confused me was that one honda dealer told me to use 10w-30 and another honda dealer told me to use 5w-30. So i'm wondering what you guys think is best. i'm using amsoil synthetic 5w-30 right now.

 

10w30 0w30 is too thin

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by khalal538 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">10w30 0w30 is too thin</TD></TR></TABLE>

what about for the tranny?

 

honestly... i think you should use honda mtf. I would still stick with manufacture recommendations. i mean if there is nothing wrong with your tranny and you want to keep it for long stick with honda. if you've got grindage that might be an exception to try other fluids. im using gm synchro mesh on mine... when i used synthetic mobil 10 30 for temporary i had slight 5th gear grinds.

 

oh and for oil weight... i think it depends on the driver if you drive hard bump it up to 5/30.

i tried 0/30 and its too thin for me. stick with 5/30 or 10/30... cold weather 5/30 warmer go with 10/30

 

That amsoil is some very slick oil and is a very good oil but since your running boost i would defenently go thicker. I use 10w30 synthetic mobil 1 but im N/A , so if i were you i would try a 20w50 like redline or the amsoil if its hevely modded but if not you could use some 10w30

 

dude.. guys.... http://www.bobistheoilguy.com
they have a very VERY big forum on truck and car oils. Read up on what the forums, figure out what the 'w' means

As you read around the forums there, you will come to realize that
A) the W rating means the cold start flow characteristics, which is only a factor when, well, starting in the cold (w meaning "winter", seriously, its not rocket science).
B) Thin oils protect just as well as thick oils, there are MANY threads on bobistheoilguy, UOAs make it very clear (used oil analysis)

When you say that 0-30 is too thin, and 5-30 works better, you really dont know what the hell you're talking about.
When you recommend a 50 weight oil, you dont know what the hell you're talking about....
0w oil will reach the parts that need it on cold days quicker, it flows better in the cold. as your motor warms up to operating temperatures, supposidly, all 0w30, 5w30, 10w30 WILL PERFORM THE SAME IN TERMS OF VISCOSITY (i say supposidly is because the viscosity ratings differ slightly from brand to brand)

So yes, 0w30 or 10w30, after 10 minutes and the car is warm, they are the same 30 weight oil...

read up... dont go with a 50 weight oil.... you'll see really high oil pressure and it wont be protecting any better. Just go with a decent brand oil with a good addative package, and get some UOAs, then change the oil as frequently as they recommend. If you're burning a lot of oil, ditch the synthetic to save for the rebuild. A "high mileage" oil like valvoline maxlife has had some success with the H series crowd...

Getting back to answering the original question, use honda MTF for the tranny, there are addatives in the honda MTF that conventional motor oil doesnt have. And no, your friend is unfortunately misinformed about the weight of oils, stick with 0w30 for the winter, and 5w30 for the summer if you wish. Like I said above, the w number is not a factor at operating temperatures. If you are going through a lot of oil, I would suggest switching back to conventional oil, possibly giving maxlife/high mileage formulas a shot. Go get a oil analysis done, its $20, well worth your while, you can get the extraction kit for free, and send it in at http://www.blackstone-labs.com/ its highly recommended that you give it a shot... you can make back the $20 in the long run when they tell you your oil is good for 5000 miles...


Modified by lenn at 11:57 PM 3/23/2005


Modified by lenn at 12:03 AM 3/24/2005

 

and that is what i call "the break down."

nice oil post lenn.

 

wow thx lenn atleast he knows what he is talking about

i worked at a "oil change" shop for around 3 years so i got some input on this topic.. pretty much what lenn says is correct. 0 5 or 10 doesnt really matter THAT much except for the start and the first couple minutes.. if u live in a cold climate (like me, canada) 0w30 makes sens in the winter because the majority of engine wear is gona take place right when you start it. the 0w30 will reach the top end faster and protect beter when it is cold, especially durring thoes freezing starts.

i always laugh at the people that come in with that super thick oil in their honda and its clanging, knocking and making all thoes bad noises. the usual answer is "but the guy down the street at walmart told me that 20w50 was ok for my engine!" i wonder why they put the 5w30 on the cap?

anyway gl.. (good post lenn)

 

well the user manual suggests 10-30W... and user manuals are always right, so i stick to 10-30W... well their right.... if u want to actually drive the car

 

humm thats werid my 01 says 5w30 right on the cap..... but regardless of what the owners manual says i would still stick with 5 because since its USUALLY cold here i need it to be thin enough for the start, that 10w30 wouldnt do me any good... after the first few min the 5 or 10 doesnt matter anyway like i said befor. i would MABY use 10w30 if it was actually warm here, but its not

 

I'm using AMSOIL 0w30 right now also. This oil should be used in cold climates like we have here in Canada during the winter. This is not an oil that you put in your car if it is warm where you live.

 

My car gets stored in the Winter, and I do use a little oil, even after the rebuild, so I went with the AmsOil 10w40, and it doesn't use as much.