01 Civic W/160K Miles- Suggestions?

[Striker]

Hi guys-

Just got myself a descent looking two door 01 Civic Coupe w/160K miles.

The manual calls for 5W20 and i wanted to check in here and make sure if I should go on with the 5W20 or step up to 30wt based on the high mileage?

Does this Honda 1.7L prefer a specific type of oil? Synthetic, or a high mileage blend?

 

[oiltard]

Is it the D17A2 with the VTEC (US model EX, Canadian Si), or the D17A1 without (US LX, DX, VP, not sure Canadian)?

Also, is it an automatic or manual? Crossing your fingers on your behalf it's the manual, because the automatics those years had a high incidence of catastrophic transmissions failures.

I have a 2005 EX D17A2 automatic. I recently posted 2 used oil analysiswith Royal Purple 5W20 SM formulation, one for about 5k and one for about 6k OCI. They were good, but not flawless reports. Definitely nothing to indicate that the oil was too light though. You can get ridiculous fuel economy (I beat 40 mpg often in the warm months with an automatic) on this generation of Civics if you drive them right.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2504849#Post2504849
(link if you want to take a peek).
Enjoy and best of luck!

 

[david_ES2]

5w30 not needed, use any well known sm/sn 5w20 or 0w20 with confidence.

Im currently using pennzoil ultra 5w20 on my d17a2, runs nice and smooth.

 

[Striker]

The car is auto with a newer transmission put in it. (Unit had 45K miles) when it was replaced.

I wanted the stick, but for the price I got the car, I couldn't resist.

 

[FastGame]

You live in Canada and you can get the Toyota/Honda 0W-20 oil cheaper than us in the USA, that oil is very good. If you have leaks and or oil consumption then try one of the High Mileage oils.

Do you know what oil was used before you got the car ?

 

[oiltard]

I think the Canadian version of the Honda 0w20 is better than the US version. Isn't it a Petro-Canada product vs. our Conoco Philips? I'd definitely consider that if you can get it reasonably.

 

[Corvette Owner]

My son has a 2001 Civic EX and we used 5W-20 semi-synthetic Ford Motor oil until we could get Mobil 1 5W-20. He has over 140K miles on it.

Since your car is an automatic, don't forget to do 50% changes of ATF (all you can drain out). We use OEM Honda ATF.

Great cars, run forever.

 

[Striker]

5w20 was previously used, based on the couple of the receipts i've seen.

 

[cancov]

Originally Posted By: oiltard
You can get ridiculous fuel economy (I beat 40 mpg often in the warm months with an automatic) on this generation of Civics if you drive them right.

I'll post my MPG data from my '01 Civic EX, Coupe, 5-speed, later.

 

[oilmaven]

I bought a 2001 Honda Civic LX sedan new in 2001...had the 5 speed manual. I only owned the car for a year and the drive train was great and it would get 40+ mpg on the highway. Notable problems were a weak heater (could barely get any air through the floor vents), weak a/c (dealer couldn't find anything wrong)and some front suspension issues (new ball joints and struts installed before 20K miles). Another complaint was the bouncy rear suspension which I believe Honda addressed by 2003 or so. I wasn't thrilled with the car but it was the first year for that model. Road construction was heavy that year (I lived in metro Detroit at the time) and the commute home with the constant 1-2, 2-1 upshifts and downshifts got tiresome...that was my last new car with a manual (now I could deal with one).

 

[oiltard]

Originally Posted By: cancov
Originally Posted By: oiltard
You can get ridiculous fuel economy (I beat 40 mpg often in the warm months with an automatic) on this generation of Civics if you drive them right.

I'll post my MPG data from my '01 Civic EX, Coupe, 5-speed, later.


I look forward to it. I know there are people out there who regularly get 50+ in the manual version. My best tank in the auto is just over 46, on a long, mostly flat, highway trip. The OP can definitely save himself some money on gas if he drives his new car intelligently.

Or he can drive it like it's stolen and still probably beat 30 mpg.

 

[bustednutz]

I bought my dad a 2000 civic lx last year with 160k. He just changes his oil every 3k miles on it. He's old school with the 3k changes. Thats fine by me. Just uses dino and he drives it like a little old man as well. Car is almost to 200k with not a single problem.

 

[oiltard]

Originally Posted By: bustednutz
I bought my dad a 2000 civic lx last year with 160k. He just changes his oil every 3k miles on it. He's old school with the 3k changes. Thats fine by me. Just uses dino and he drives it like a little old man as well. Car is almost to 200k with not a single problem.


2001-2005 were the 7th generation of the Civic
1996-2000 were the 6th generation. I had one. They were tanks.

 

[Striker]

The car is pretty good- I took the car home for $2100 bucks, which by Canadian standards is pretty darn good!

It needs strut mounts as it sounds like the car is going to fall apart every time i hit a bump.

So the mpg on the manual vs 5 speed isn't that drastic, or is it? For my oil, I think Honda recommends every 7,000km's if i recall correct. Am I safe just going with any synthetic in a 5W20 that's on sale?

 

[oiltard]

This car is super easy on oil. Put a good synthetic 0w20 (Caterham says the Honda 0w20 Syn in Canada is still Idemitsu made, or the Toyota stuff is even lighter) and a decent filter, and you can go 16000 km. It's out of warranty.

 

[cancov]

I actually thought I had more data than this.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?...;hl=en_US#gid=0

 

[Striker]

Should I try a 5W20 with a "high mileage" formula- or stick to a conventional 5W20?

 

[eagle23]

Originally Posted By: Striker
Should I try a 5W20 with a "high mileage" formula- or stick to a conventional 5W20?


I'd take a look underneath. If no visible leaking, use a regular 5w20. If it leaks, you'll find out and can change to the HM if you want.

FWIW I found the Mobil 1 High Mileage tended to leak a lot but that may be just that specific vehicle.

 

[Norm Olt]

Originally Posted By: Striker
The car is pretty good- I took the car home for $2100 bucks, which by Canadian standards is pretty darn good!

It needs strut mounts as it sounds like the car is going to fall apart every time i hit a bump.

So the mpg on the manual vs 5 speed isn't that drastic, or is it? For my oil, I think Honda recommends every 7,000km's if i recall correct. Am I safe just going with any synthetic in a 5W20 that's on sale?



Yes. Yes, you are.

Cheers!

p.s. Please forgive me being repetitive, again...

 

[LeakySeals]

Mobil 1 High Mileage stopped weeping from valve covers on both Toyotas, and a weeping oil pain on the Camry. Cleaned them up really good too! Lowest is 5w30 though.