2003 Honda Civic, which oil?

[Stainless]

What kind of oil would you guys put into a 2003, Honda Civic, LX coupe? It has the 1.7L I-4, NON-vtec.

I am thinking one of the following 3 oils:
Mobil 1 0W-20, (can buy tons of this at local walmart)
Mobil 1 5w30, (NON-EP, just the regular 5w30)
German Castrol 0W-30, (local Auto zone has a lot in stock)

The car will be run in Ohio summers AND winters, year round. Oil and filter will be changed every 3K. (yes, I know that might be overkill, but I am a conservative fluid changer).

I know the DEFINITIVE answer is "whichever one the used oil analysis shows is better", but I would like to know where I should start, or which of those three oils I should avoid entirely.

Thank you all very much.

 

[sxg6]

Just use Mobil 1 0w-20, thats what i have in my '03 civic as well. And for what its worth, 3k on mobil 1 or GC is a huge, huge waste of money. Just thought i'd stress that even though you're already aware.

 

[Quest]

IMHO any ILSAC GL4/API SM 5W20 works well, even with conventional grade oil (GTX, Havoline, Quaker State conventional, etc.)with full confidence up to approx. 5kmiles.

If you want exotic stuff, Mobil 1 5W20, etc. should work just as well also (with synthetic one shall be able to run 8kmiles+ easily, with proper UOA done)

 

[AndyH]

None of the above...a conventional 5w-20 oil such as Havoline, Castrol GTX, MotorCraft (semi-synthetic), etc. will EASILY cover a 3,000 mile interval. No need for a synthetic oil under your usage, IMHO.

 

[Patman]

As much as I like German Castrol 0w30, I haven't been super impressed with how it's done in my wife's 2000 Civic, with the 1.6L engine. I think it's a tad thick for these engines. I would imagine her 1.6L is similar enough to the 1.7L that the two engines would share similar oil "likes and dislikes"

 

[Quest]

p.s. you do not have to be so anal about 5W20 oil (conventional, syn or semi synthetic blend) for we have sufficient UOA here to prove that even Quaker State 5w20 conventional gives outstanding UOA on HOnda engines.

p.s. My dad is also running the same 7th gen civic 1.7L and he already raked up 110,000kms to date (it's a 5.5 yr old car), with a mis-mash of Mobil 1 5w30, Quaker State 5w30 conventional, Formula Shell 5w30 (SM/ILSAC GL4), etc. and the UOA is excellent.

 

[lindermant]

I run Havoline 5W-20 with OEM Filtech filter in my 05 Civic DX, and I couldn't be happier...

http://theoildrop.server101.com/forums/s...ge=1#Post732290

just my

 

[Dave Hess]

Its a Honda, use the least expensive SM-GF4 oil you can find.

 

[Chris Meutsch]

I have the same car, 2001 version, and believe you should use the 0 or 5w-20 of your choice. Either conventional or synthetic, it's proven that at least 5k is easy on this motor per OCI.
No 30-weight, it will be a detriment to the gas mileage. And yes, I know all of you who say yeah right, but I've seen it firsthand in this engine as I used to use 0w30.

 

[Gene K]

What ever the cheapest name brand 5W-20 is. Synthetic is a absolute waste for the OCI you are discussing.

Motorcraft - ConocoPhillips
Exxon Superflo - Honda
Pennnzoil - QuakerState
Castrol GTX
Havoline - Chevron

All seem to be excellent through 5000-6000 mi.

I dont think there is a name brand I wouldnt use... Other than Valvoline All-Climate (A personal bias).

PS if forced to choose one of your three choices I would go with Mobil 1 0W-20 in that engine.

 

[Dave Hess]

Last week I was in Home Depot and they still had some 5w20 Pennzoil GF4 SM for 97 cents.
AAP has 5w20 Durablend for 95 cents.

I wouldn't spend the Xtra $$$ on synthetic for your Honda.