How bad is it to use 5w20 in an h22a? Would it be absolutely terrible for the motor? Is it okay to use it rarely? Thanks for info

 

I don't know about "how bad"... but the question should be *why* would you even be considering that choice? Unless you live in a very cold area...

On the contrary, using a thinner oil in a hot place will cause your oil to thin out, and shear because you're not using it in it's optimal operating conditions.

 

I went to the dealer to get my oil changed and they used a 5w20 instead of the 5w30 like I asked them to. I was wondering if its okay to just use the 5w20 until my next scheduled oil change.

 

Yeah - you can use it before your next oil change.......

Its not like its going to be *** cold in california - i say you can go for it..........

But don't plan on running it for the rest of the life of the prelude. Gota get oil to all of the necessary parts.

The viscosity of the oil is very important........

As you know, the oil is under pressure - too high of a pressure will turn the oil into a mist.......(you know how you use a water hose)........

Use the handle just right, and you get a nice stream......thats what you want.

Just watch your oil pressure..........using that kind of oil isn't TOO bad, but you don't want it to turn into a mist - remember.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Gen5lude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I went to the dealer to get my oil changed and they used a 5w20 instead of the 5w30 like I asked them to. I was wondering if its okay to just use the 5w20 until my next scheduled oil change. </TD></TR></TABLE>

it should be ok, though, i'd ask them to change my oil for free to the correct spec oil, a) because they're the ******* honda dealer and they should know better, b) because i bet if the engine failed at some point down the line, and they knew you had 5w20 in there for a few thousand miles they'd blame you for using the wrong oil and c) it's a little too thin for my tastes.

 

think 10w30 is to heavy? thats what i have always used.. maybe should i switch?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BB4vTak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">think 10w30 is to heavy? thats what i have always used.. maybe should i switch?</TD></TR></TABLE>

10w30 is fine. unless you live in a colder climate (where i'd go with 0w30 or 5w30), 10w30 and 5w30 are pretty much the same thing to your engine.

also, though a 60 weight oil might be TOO thick, i'd rather go thicker than thinner--running a 40 weight would be preferable to running a 20 if for some reason u couldn't use a 30.

Though i don't know, there can be anywhere up to 3 different weights of oil in my crankcase, depending on how long the original oil has been in there, what oil's lying around in my garage that i used to top off the crankcase, or what's at the gas station. it's usually mobil 1 (5-30, 10-30, 0-40)

 

So is there any benefit for using 10-40 vs 5-30, I live in So Cal, and it rearly gets cold here altho it does ruteniely get hot. My step dad keeps telling me that 5-30 is too thin and he recomends 20-50 which I think is too thick. Any advice?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bad-monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it should be ok, though, i'd ask them to change my oil for free to the correct spec oil, a) because they're the ******* honda dealer and they should know better. </TD></TR></TABLE>

 

mkazm83: The first number only describes the ease with which the engine will turn over with that particular oil. Usually, lower W number is for colder weather. Although I believe that 20W is rather high for anywhere, 10W30 (which is what Honda recommends) should be just fine for you.

20W50 seems quite thick, but hey, if it's 90+ degrees all the time, and you're racing your car to school/work every day... you could give it a try.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CluelessDrac &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">mkazm83: The first number only describes the ease with which the engine will turn over with that particular oil. Usually, lower W number is for colder weather. Although I believe that 20W is rather high for anywhere, 10W30 (which is what Honda recommends) should be just fine for you.

20W50 seems quite thick, but hey, if it's 90+ degrees all the time, and you're racing your car to school/work every day... you could give it a try.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah, the 1st # is the oil's cold weight or viscosity measure before the oil gets to operating temperature, the 2nd is the oil's viscosity when it's up to temp.

0w30 is thinner than 10w30 when the temperatures are low, therefore it flows better before the engine heats up at the cost of low temperature protection. at operating temps they have the same viscosity.

running 20w50 is a bit of overkill for the street. i MIGHT run a 50 weight if the car saw track conditions for an extended period of time (say a 3 hour enduro). still i think i'd rather run a 40 weight.

 

As noted above thinner oil shears, Im concerned about 5-30 shearing at higher rpms. Im wondering if swiching to a higher weight would protect the motor better, or if its just an old wives tale. Why isint it a good idea to run a 20-50 (for example) in a daily driver.

 

Thanks for all the info. I have another question...do you guys think my engine can get damaged from using the 5w20? Is there a very high chance for damage to happen? I'm actually in the east coast right now. And where i am at, the days are still relatively warm (low to mid 80s) and the nights and mornings are fairly chilly. I don't drive my car hard nor do I drive much or for long durations since I'm in class most of the day. Thanks for all the help

 

Don't worry. Your engine won't get damage by using 5W-20 oil. Although it is too thin but it's okay. Just use it for now. Switch to 30 for your next oil change.

 

I think you're going to be fine with 5W-20, and the engine won't be any the worse for wear.

I think the only reason 5W-30 is reccommended for the H22 is that was the state of the art thin oil when the engine was developed. Now that lubricant technology is much better, and a well additized 5W-20 is as good as 5W-30, you are seeing the thinner oils gain in popularity. The bottom line is that Honda guarantees the H22 with 5W-30, and there is practially no horspower to be gained from using 5W-20... so why take the chance. If the engine were developed (bearing clearances, oil flow, pressure, etc....) to use 5W-20, then that would be the spec to use. However, it isn't, so just use the 5W-30.

 

jsut beat the livign **** out of it and hope you spin some bearings, then have honda buy you a new motor,

 

for the h22a1 Honda recommends 10w30 oil.
for the h22a4 honda recommends 5w30 oil.
in eithre case i would go back to the honda delare nad have them change it since the thinner oil is designed for engines with tighter clearances (aka NEWER engine designs).
At teh very leastr i would have the honda dealer make note on your service record that they incorrectly supplied the 5w20 motor oil for your engine. IF it was me though I would deamnd that they replace it at no charge for the correct oil. If your engine is somewhat worn oil pressure may be way too low and lead to increased wear, thinner oil will not protect your engine the way the oil it was designed ot use will.

 

Use 5W30 for the H22a4. Honda tests the **** out of there engines with it. The engine has to run test cycles WAY harder than any of us drive on the street and track.

20W50 will just kill your gas milage.

 

Not true, I run castrol 20w-50 in my GE block and I get excellent gas mileage!