1st Honda. What oil will work best? (2011 CRV)

[Chris B.]

Hey guys I just bought my 1st Honda, a 2011 CRV EX 4WD. I bought because I want a reliable car and I keep hearing the CRV is one of the best! So far I like it a lot!

What oil shows low wear in these engines? I have always been a Castrol fan because I had 2 engines on Castrol that Blackstone Labs stated were the lowest wear engines of their type they had on file(Chevy 350 V8 on GTX 5w30 and a Volvo T5 on German Castrol). I also heard not to dump the Honda factory fill early which I like to do. I have always dumped the factory fill at 1,000 miles and again at 3,000 miles to aid in break in and my many UOA's showed extremely low wear in all my engines.
The owners book states in the 1st 600 miles do not excellerate hard or break hard and change the oil when the computer says to. Does Honda use a special break in oil? What is everyones's thoughts on changing the oil early vs. leaving it in for a full OCI? Never used a 20w oil so I need to get up to speed on it. Thanks for any help!!!

 

[MaximusD]

Don't believe that a special break in oil is used. Pretty sure it's just the standard 0w20 Honda oil. For some reason, engineers found that leaving the FF in for the entire OCI reduces oil consumption later down the road. Have no idea why, I just build 'em. I'd use the AFE Mobil 1 0w20 or just go to a Honda dealer for oil. The price on the OEM oil is actually very comparable to what's available after market. ~$6/qt if memory serves me.

 

[Chris B.]

Originally Posted By: MaximusD
Don't believe that a special break in oil is used. Pretty sure it's just the standard 0w20 Honda oil. For some reason, engineers found that leaving the FF in for the entire OCI reduces oil consumption later down the road. Have no idea why, I just build 'em. I'd use the AFE Mobil 1 0w20 or just go to a Honda dealer for oil. The price on the OEM oil is actually very comparable to what's available after market. ~$6/qt if memory serves me.

Do you have a link at all to where I can read about what the engineers found on leaving the factory fill in for a full OCI? Thanks!

 

[Indydriver]

Here's everything you'd ever want to know and then some.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/i-want-to-change-my-oil-in-my-honda-cr-v.167627/

Congrats on the CRV. I took a good look at it at our auto show and it looks to give a lot for the money. I am interested in your feedback as to whether or not 185hp is enough power for this vehicle. Personally, I'd love to see Honda drop their 240hp turbo in this vehicle (but then I guess that would make it an Acura).

 

[Chris Meutsch]

185hp is PLENTY. I have a 2005 and I only have 160ish and it's enough for me and still gets 24-26mpg. I also wish they'd put that 240 turbo into it but it would be a rocketship.

As for oil, I am a diehard on PP 5w20 which would work just fine in your car calling for 0w20. It's hard to find PP 0w20 retail, you may have to order it special.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I have an '08 which is supposed to take 5W-20, but I'm now using the Mobil 1 AFE 0W-20 in it. The engine purrs nice and quiet on this oil, quieter than any of the oil I've used in it so far. Mine has the 166 hp version of the engine and it has plenty of get-up for my needs. I average 24-25 mpg on my daily commute.

My in-laws bought a 2011 shortly after we bought our 2008 and the driving dynamics of the engines are very similar, even though theirs technically has 14 more horsepower (180). With the 2010+ engines, the peak horsepower is 180 hp @ 7,000 rpm. With the 2009- engines, it's 166 hp @ 5,600 rpm. So although the horsepower peak is higher, it's also at a higher rpm. In everyday driving, they're very similar.

I do prefer the 2010+ engines because they have the 3-lobe VTEC system where you get an extra kick at 4,800 rpm. The 2009- engines have the 2-lobe "VTEC-E" system, which doesn't have the same high-rpm kick that the 3-lobe system has.

 

[matrass]

I have a 09 CRV and I have been using PP 5-20 in the summer and M1 0-20 in the winter. if you could find the M1 0-20 at a descent price it should be perfect for your ride. from what others have said the Honda 0-20 oil is some good stuff as well. they would be my 2 choices for your CRV. as far as the CRV itself ,I am happy with mine and would change anything on it.

 

[JOD]

It does use a special break-in oil, higher moly and boron, lower viscosity. If you wanted to change it early, Toyota 0W20 or Honda 0W20 in SM would be the closest. The Honda part# is 08798-9037. Personally, I'd leave it in for a minimum of 75% of the MM unless I changed to one of those 2 oils, and even then I'd go to 50%.

As far as "which oil", I think Toyota's 0W20 is probably the best option out there for that car if you can get it at a reasonable price (I've found local dealers selling it for around $5.50 a qt). Truth be told though, that engine isn't picky. Any discussion about oil and the CRV is just theoretical waxing, it'll run a long, happy life on anything changed at a reasonable interval. The car has solid lifters...it's a very oil-tolerant design.

If you want to over-maintain the car, I'd probably be more inclined to service the ATF and rear differential fluids early, since it's well-demonstrated that those fluids get most of their contaminants very early in life.

 

[Chris B.]

Does Wal-Mart have the 0w20 Mobil 1? Has this shown low wear in UOA's posted in the UOA forum? Anyone know about Castrol's 0w20 offerings? Many thanks guys!

 

[Chris B.]

Originally Posted By: Indydriver
Here's everything you'd ever want to know and then some.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/i-want-to-change-my-oil-in-my-honda-cr-v.167627/

Congrats on the CRV. I took a good look at it at our auto show and it looks to give a lot for the money. I am interested in your feedback as to whether or not 185hp is enough power for this vehicle. Personally, I'd love to see Honda drop their 240hp turbo in this vehicle (but then I guess that would make it an Acura).


Thanks!!!!!