1997 Honda 2.3L Oil Advice

[Oldswagon]

My mother recently got a '97 Accord with a 2.3L 4cyl engine. The car has about 62K miles on it and has had regular 6000km (3700 mile) oil changes from the Honda dealership since new (it was a one owner car). The car is on a fresh oil change now, using whatever bulk dino the Honda dealer uses. The car also has one free oil change from Honda.

After the free oil change, I am going to do the oil changes on the car, but I am not sure what oil to use. I want to use a synthetic and perhaps a one year change interval since the car will likely see no more than 6500 miles per year. I also was thinking of running a bottle of Auto-RX through the car before switching to synthetic. However, I will wait until after winter, and probably run it on the free dino oil change from the dealer.

The car will be used for mostly short trips in the city. It will also get used in winter temperatures at least as cold as -30F.

So far my thoughts are to use GC or maybe Mobil 1 5W30. I could also use an Amsoil product, since I can now get that at Canadian Tire, but I don't have any experience with this oil. I don't want to use any mail order oil.

Any advice is appreciated. My cars are all V8 RWD american vehicles, so this is not up my alley.

 

[Al]

Mobil 0W-30, GC, Amsoil all good choices. AutoRx also good. I wold suggest an oil analysis before going the full year OCI.

 

[Ray H]

I would suggest pulling the valve cover to inspect the upper end. If the engine's as clean as I suspect it is, twice-yearly oil and filter changes with any quality 5W-30 or 5W-20 conventional* will do just dandy on this lightly stressed motor. (especially considering Canuck winters and your mother's likely short trip usage)

*now that ConocoPhillips' brands, Motorcraft, and perhaps, Mobil Drive Clean, are semi-syns in their GF-4/SM configuration. Even Havoline and Chevron Supreme would be candidates.

[ November 03, 2004, 09:15 PM: Message edited by: Ray H ]

 

[Oldswagon]

Thanks for the advice on the oils. I think right now I may be leaning towards GC, since Mobil 0W30 isn't available in this area. Plus, this is the stuff I am using in another vehicle I maintain, so it will simplify my oil buying.

I am sure a dino would work okay with bi-annual changes, but I think with the short trips and extreme temperatures this car will see, I'd prefer to use a synthetic.

Any other advice from others is appreciated. Other Honda owners please share your experiences as well.

 

[mike1qaz]

The 2.3L started in '98 I believe. Yours is probably a 2.2L 4cyl.

 

[Palut]

quote:

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Originally posted by mike1qaz:
The 2.3L started in '98 I believe. Yours is probably a 2.2L 4cyl.

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Stock '97 U.S. Accords would have the 2.2L (F22B1), but starting around '94, Preludes had 2.3L 4's (H23A1). They were pretty similar to the 2.2L, but with a different cylinder head and DOHC as opposed to the F22's SOHC. I believe the cylinder sleeves were also made of different material, and there are probably some other differences I don't know about. Anyways, it's very popular with the tuner crowd to drop an H23A1 into a 94-47 Accord. In addition, in Japan and I believe in Europe, an Accord type-R was sold that had the Prelude's 2.3L 4 cyl. engine.

 

[Palut]

I have a '95 Accord with the 2.2L V-TEC engine, and have been running M1 5W-40 in it. I have done a UOA that showed good wear, except for high lead and copper. That doesn't look like the oil's fault however, and that's discussed in that thread. The thick oil didn't hurt my gas mileage at all though.

 

[Oldswagon]

Sorry for the mistake, the car does have the 2.2L. Like I said, I don't have any experience with Honda's and I took the dealer's word that it was a 2.3L. He must have been thinking of the later models, or maybe he just didn't know what he was talking about (imagine that?)

Palut, thanks for the link to the UOA. That will be helpful in me trying to make my decision.

 

[drive it forever]

I owned a 96 honda civic hx. 1.6L vtec-e. Bought new. used mobil1 5w30 in it at 4k intervals until i sold it to my friend with about 141k on it. Drove it hard, red-line'd it all the time (computer shut down fuel injectors about 200 rpm's past tach indicated redline). Drove it like this everyday, did 125mph in it once. The car to this day, does not burn oil, never had an engine problem, and is at over 200k now. I wish i never sold the car for my problamatic 02' nissan sentra ser specv.