Which engine oil?
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Honda-Tech Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 223
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Which engine oil?
Hello all,
I use 5W-30 oil for my 96 Civic EX that’s closing in on 200,000 miles. Which specific brand and type of oil would you use i.e. synthetic, synthetic blend, high mileage or conventional?
I appreciate your feedback.
I use 5W-30 oil for my 96 Civic EX that’s closing in on 200,000 miles. Which specific brand and type of oil would you use i.e. synthetic, synthetic blend, high mileage or conventional?
I appreciate your feedback.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,843
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From: san diego, ca
Re: Which engine oil?
I use Walmart conventional 5w30 Chevron or super tech its like $12 for 5qrts. As long as you keep an eye on the oil level and change it every 2500 to 3k miles you will be fine. No need for synthetic. Use OEM oil filters though! AutoZone sells them.
Hysterically Calm
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,439
Likes: 597
Re: Which engine oil?
It depends on how much oil your car consumes. If you go a full oil change duration (3000 miles/5000 kilometers) then you can go full synthetic and do the 10,000 Kilometer or 15,000 kilometer oil change intervals.
I just rebuilt my motor and my consumption is almost none existent. Once I hit my 5K KM mark I will drain the conventional I went with for first sill after break in and switch to my preferred Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic 5w30 and I will do 20,000 KM oil change intervals. I change the filter every 10K. This reduces my cost overall even though the oil cost more initially.
Testing showed that the full synthetic had properties of brand new conventional motor oil off the shelf after 20,000 KM. So simply, I'm draining it when it's as good as brand new conventional.
That's my habits.
Now if the car is consuming oil, I do the cheapest conventional 5w30 and buy 2 5-liter jugs. One for the oil change and the other to continually top up between the 5K intervals. In that case I change the oil filter every 5K KM.
I tend to us AC Delco (GM) oil filters. Their pro series has great filtration characteristics and they claim the nylon core is stronger than the metal core filters. They are now known as AC Delco Gold filters.
https://www.acdelco.com/parts/filters/gold-oil-filters
I just rebuilt my motor and my consumption is almost none existent. Once I hit my 5K KM mark I will drain the conventional I went with for first sill after break in and switch to my preferred Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic 5w30 and I will do 20,000 KM oil change intervals. I change the filter every 10K. This reduces my cost overall even though the oil cost more initially.
Testing showed that the full synthetic had properties of brand new conventional motor oil off the shelf after 20,000 KM. So simply, I'm draining it when it's as good as brand new conventional.
That's my habits.
Now if the car is consuming oil, I do the cheapest conventional 5w30 and buy 2 5-liter jugs. One for the oil change and the other to continually top up between the 5K intervals. In that case I change the oil filter every 5K KM.
I tend to us AC Delco (GM) oil filters. Their pro series has great filtration characteristics and they claim the nylon core is stronger than the metal core filters. They are now known as AC Delco Gold filters.
https://www.acdelco.com/parts/filters/gold-oil-filters
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 223
Likes: 2
Re: Which engine oil?
Thanks!
Unfortunately, I haven’t changed the oil in a few years, over which time I’ve put only about 6,000-7,000 miles on the car. At this point, all I’ve done is top off the oil when it got low. FWIW: I’m currently using Castrol GTX conventional.
As for the filters, I already bought 6 from Honda, so I’ll be set there, for a while.
Unfortunately, I haven’t changed the oil in a few years, over which time I’ve put only about 6,000-7,000 miles on the car. At this point, all I’ve done is top off the oil when it got low. FWIW: I’m currently using Castrol GTX conventional.
As for the filters, I already bought 6 from Honda, so I’ll be set there, for a while.
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