Guys, just recently got an old clunker 05 back rollin again. No owners manual with the car and in reading Matts posted service manual is stated to change oil every 10 k and filter every 20 k in NORMAL operations. That was posted as cars in the USA as normal and HEAVY duty use to cars in Canada. Now I have always changed both at no more than 5 k as I still use dino oil. I know the new cars of today recommend syn oil and state 10 k miles as acceptable. SOOOO, is the 5w 20 weight oil shown on the oil cap supposed to be syn .......surly they don"t recommend 10k miles on conventional dino oil do they. I know syn oil is better in every way than dino oil ..........and some folks say it is good for many more miles than dino, but if you talk with ANY syn oil representive, they will tell you to follow the car manufacturers oil maintainece program. At 200 k on this motor I can not see much value in switching to syn oil at this time.....any opinions. thanks.....

 

Well with that many miles I use the strategy first 4 oil changes 1st at 500miles 2nd at 1000 miles 3rd at 2000 and final and fourth 3000 miles after these four oil changes keep the regular conventional oil at 3000 miles and you will be set. The reason behind the first quick oil changes will do is to keep the motor from inside clean. About synthetic oil you won't need it as it will cost more just keep doing the conventional oil 5w-20w sooner you change the oil the better it is for you car. Hope this help.

 

180k miles on my first civic just using conventional oil from Walmart or Sam's club every 5k miles or so.

 

that recommendation is for 5W20 dino oil for normal operation. IIRC, it's half that for severe service (like Canada).

I use dino oil, I don't mind doing 8K between oil changes and I'm at 440K kms now but I always use quality oils like Shell, Mobil, Castrol, Valvoline, Penzoil, Quaker State. i usually don't get into the high end oils like Motul Royal Purple Redline Total, etc...

 

Thanks bb, wow, just never thought I would see Honda recommending changing dino oil at 10 k ...and filters at 20 k. I remember changing oil at 3k in small and big block Chevys and it would be black......but sometimes in the Honda at 5k it is still pretty clear. May put a little more miles per change....