Originally Posted By: addyguy
Originally Posted By: MajorCavalry
Originally Posted By: CATERHAM
Owner's manual calls for 5w-20 for the 3.7L, 0W-20 for the 3.5L. Not sure why.
I'd bet it's b/c they want the higher-output, higher-revving 3.7 V-6 to use the more shear-resistant 5W-20.
No, the difference won't be much, but a 5W-20 will be more shear-resistant than a 0W-20 b/c the viscosity spread is narrower.
That argument would hold if Acura specified a particular 5W-20, even a synthetic 5W-20; but the most shear prone API dino 5W-20 meets Acura's requirements. Since all 0W-20's are largely synthetic they use higher VI base stocks than 5W-20 dino's making them inherently more shear resistant. Besides the SAE maximum shear requirements are the same for both grades.