I recently bought my first Honda... a 2000 LX Sedan F32A1 2.3 SOHC VTEC, manual shift. The handbook calls for 5W-30 API "SJ" "Energy Conserving" motor oil. I'm not yet set up to change my own oil yet, and so yesterday took it to the local Honda dealer and they used 0W-20 API "SN" oil to change it out.

Is 0W-20 API "SN" oil OK? The car has 130,000 miles on it, and the engine runs great (30-33 mpg). I don't want to screw up the engine by using the wrong oil.

 

There are many more folks on here better qualified to answer this but I'll give you my two cents:

I like the 0w20 in my 05 Accord and until recently had been using mobile 1 synthetic. i have nearly 140k miles and don't burn any oil at all (knock wood)

With 130k miles on the engine, you may find that the car tends to burn oil. If that's the case, consider using a 10w 20 as the thicker oil may be contained better by high-mileage seals.

I'm going to start doing that on my daughter's 98 accord which calls for 5w30 She burns a qt at about 2,000 miles and I was using lucas stabilizer but at $11/ qt, Im going to give this a shot and go with 10W30 If burn rate doesn't change, increasing the oil's weight will be a cheaper alternative

I just re-read your post and might have to apologize... What is "SN"? I'm not familiar with that term...?

Did I even come close to a reasonable answer?

 

Thanks for the reply FinzWake...Sounds like 0W-20 Mobile 1 has done your Accord a lot of good. I'll just wait and see on the oil consumption in mine. Pretty sure that 0W-20 is a good bit thinner that what the engine has been getting.

For a concise description of API Oil Classifications, go to

http://www.oilspecifications.org/api_eolcs.php

Thanks again.

 

my 2.3 CL has 192k miles on the original motor, and I use 10W30

 

I am currently using 10W30 on my 99 accord 4cylinder, with 138,000 miles, and it is also working great for me.

 

I use 10w30 conventional on my 97 Ex with 223,xxx.

 

too all- please see Motor Oil 101- BobIsTheOilGuy.com
read this and you'll understand why going to a heavier weight is not ideal and not corrective action for leaking or burning oil.

Op: As I recall '98-'00 is 5W-30 and '01-'02 5W-20 is recommended for the 2.3 4cyl. I always default to the factory recommended weight for my engine and climate.

 

I would run 0w30 over 5w20. I'm a long time member of BobIsTheOilGuy.

 

Huge BITOG fan here too. I highly recommend reading his oil write ups. It really helps you understand what the numbers mean and why a lot of oil advice given out is flat out wrong.