This is where it sits in relation to AC condenser, mounted to brace in front. That is behind the lower bumper grill. If driving it does help bring it down with the normal airflow but even with AC on and fans going, slow traffic just not enough.
2018 Honda Pilot towing with Valvoline Restore and Protect
- Thread starter STMech
- Start date
Tranny is usually always the weakpoint on Hondas. Never had an issue with any of mine but I never really towed and I always did drain and fills with Valvoline Maxlife every 20-30k or so. I did however carry a boatload of toolboxes and tools/equipment in the back on most days. It was mostly highway driving though.
As far as the oil goes, 5w-30 is pretty standard for the J35. I even used to run some Xw-40 in it from time to time because it was hard on oil and my climate is warm. It was an 08 Pilot and its still on the road today with over 200k.
As far as the oil goes, 5w-30 is pretty standard for the J35. I even used to run some Xw-40 in it from time to time because it was hard on oil and my climate is warm. It was an 08 Pilot and its still on the road today with over 200k.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Yep, those temperatures require cooler, radiator cooler.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
I see. I mean if it is hovering around 255f, that is definitely not sufficient.
Doesn't hover there, that was peak spike very slowly dropped once on more level with air flow not as many stops. Highway drives as long as moving it slowly drops to more normal 190's but definitely takes a while. A couple stops signs and it's climbs quickly.
@STMech - do the 5W-30 Valvoline Restore and Protect, be confident, it's a good choice.
After your trip post back if you noticed anything different (I say you won't). Then you can post it back on Piloteers as we know at least one that repeatedly shares how much performance he lost and how horribly sluggish it was when he went from 0W-20 to 5W-30 and ditched very quickly. I'm not him so YMMV. In my daughters '08 CRV, using a 5W-40 diesel oil to me did feel like it lost some performance. That motor with not much HP is probably a bit tired with 248k so even a slight extra drag doesn't help to much. I replaced it with Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W-20 and it revs a bit more freely IMO.
My Pilot will stay on 5W-30 Valvoline Restore and Protect for the foreseeable future with 5k changes to get the fuel dilution out.
After your trip post back if you noticed anything different (I say you won't). Then you can post it back on Piloteers as we know at least one that repeatedly shares how much performance he lost and how horribly sluggish it was when he went from 0W-20 to 5W-30 and ditched very quickly. I'm not him so YMMV. In my daughters '08 CRV, using a 5W-40 diesel oil to me did feel like it lost some performance. That motor with not much HP is probably a bit tired with 248k so even a slight extra drag doesn't help to much. I replaced it with Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W-20 and it revs a bit more freely IMO.
My Pilot will stay on 5W-30 Valvoline Restore and Protect for the foreseeable future with 5k changes to get the fuel dilution out.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
For example 2nd generation Tundra will do 245-250 through Eisenhower tunnel here in CO. But that is towing 5,000lbs over 11,000+ft altitude. That is one without radiator cooler. Chevy with cooler will go 210f.
IMO if towing I would definitely go larger cooler behind front grille. Or is thermostat too high? Maybe they put high temperature thermostat to squeeze last drop of mpg value.
My temperature on Sequoia 2nd generation, with just heat exchanger puck goes around 215-220 in town, no towing. But bcs. I will off road this at very high altitude, I will go 11 row transmission fluid radiator cooler with all OE lines from Tundra that had that package. Goal is to keep temperature below 200f.
That Honda engine would drive to the moon at back at 3500 rpms easy. It's the transmissions that are problematic.
I know who you are talking about regarding 5W-30! Anyway, I just got a jug of Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W-30 at WM and will do the change before our trip. Our Pilot does have the Honda auxiliary ATF cooler.
The Pilot has been running great on the 0W-20, we will give the thicker oil a test.
Twin Cities, Minnesota. We’re camping along the North Shore of Lake Superior for the fall color. No real mountains, but plenty of hills from Two Harbors north.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Hills are fine. Altitude is real issue when towing as air density is low, so cooling is way less efficient.
But I would still pay attention to transmission temperature.
I know the thread is for the Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W-30 and we dove to the transmission. Do you have a scangauge or a different OBD2 plug in to setup and monitor transmission temperatures? On wife's Pilot I put a USB charge port on left side of steering wheel and a USB extension cable that goes to center console to plug in to aux port. This way I can just charge my phone or use the extension and display on radio screen/carplay.
Most of my trips I have the phone in the iOttie as shown, Pandora playing on radio from it, Waze navigation showing/speaking on car radio screen and OBD Fusion monitoring my temperatures. My VCM is still currently enabled so the cyl showing for my own reference.
@edyvw from before- Pilot from factory does not have any in radiator trans cooling, just whatever hockey puck version. Add on factory or aftermarket is only options.
I do not have a direct monitor of ATF temps. It's something that I have thought about. Have you had any luck using the Torque app? I tried to set this up way back on my 2003, but I don't think that the old Pilots were capable of linking that info.
BTW, I am going to try to attach my Valvoline Restore and Protect UOA's from Blackstone. I'm still getting used to Windows 11
The sample from 8/3/25 included about 600 miles of towing the camper, basically the same trip that we are planning in 2 weeks.
I used to use the Torque app when I had Samsung phone but when I went to iPhone I don't think it was available in app store. I've had OBD Fusion since then, I think I got the paid version, not sure if a free one. My cars all now have a VeePeak BLE+ in glove box (or plugged in) and all family has OBD Fusion on phone. My son and daughter help others with theirs.
Not hard to setup and you can pick gauge styles etc. I had to put the PID's in for transmission and one or two others. Not hard, we can help, I think I got the original details from Piloteers or Ridgeline Owners Club.
Also from all here at BITOG and my experience. Don't use Blackstone if fuel dilution is a concern and you want accurate info. Wear metals, viscosity on my tests were fine and comparable but fuel dilution was way off between Oil Analyzers and Blackstone. Oil Analyzers use gas chromatograph for the dilution. I posted one of mine in the used oil thread that had sample pulled at same time. One went to OA, one to BS. https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/blackstone-vs-oil-analyzers-pp-euro-l-5w-30-5175-miles-19-pilot-67k-miles.392379/post-7154176
Not hard to setup and you can pick gauge styles etc. I had to put the PID's in for transmission and one or two others. Not hard, we can help, I think I got the original details from Piloteers or Ridgeline Owners Club.
Also from all here at BITOG and my experience. Don't use Blackstone if fuel dilution is a concern and you want accurate info. Wear metals, viscosity on my tests were fine and comparable but fuel dilution was way off between Oil Analyzers and Blackstone. Oil Analyzers use gas chromatograph for the dilution. I posted one of mine in the used oil thread that had sample pulled at same time. One went to OA, one to BS. https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/blackstone-vs-oil-analyzers-pp-euro-l-5w-30-5175-miles-19-pilot-67k-miles.392379/post-7154176
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I wish we’d sticky a post about Blackstone…
Update to this thread:
I changed the Pilot's oil from Valvoline Restore and Protect 0W-20 to 5W-30 before our recent camping trip. We towed our 3000# trailer without incident from the Twin Cities to the Lake Superior North shore and back. About 600 miles overall. A couple of quick observations:
After using Valvoline Restore and Protect 0W-20 for the last 13,000 miles (several OC's), I did not notice any effect on MPG with the 5W-30.
The Honda Pilot has a smooth, quiet idle with the 0W-20. The idle was even more so with 5W-30 Valvoline Restore and Protect.
I met another Pilot owner at the campground, he was driving a 2021 EX-L. We compared notes on our Pilots, and he was surprised that my 2018 will regularly achieve 30+ MPG in non-towing cruise driving. He never gets above 27. I suggested that he disable the VCM, and switch to Valvoline Restore and Protect.
I changed the Pilot's oil from Valvoline Restore and Protect 0W-20 to 5W-30 before our recent camping trip. We towed our 3000# trailer without incident from the Twin Cities to the Lake Superior North shore and back. About 600 miles overall. A couple of quick observations:
After using Valvoline Restore and Protect 0W-20 for the last 13,000 miles (several OC's), I did not notice any effect on MPG with the 5W-30.
The Honda Pilot has a smooth, quiet idle with the 0W-20. The idle was even more so with 5W-30 Valvoline Restore and Protect.
I met another Pilot owner at the campground, he was driving a 2021 EX-L. We compared notes on our Pilots, and he was surprised that my 2018 will regularly achieve 30+ MPG in non-towing cruise driving. He never gets above 27. I suggested that he disable the VCM, and switch to Valvoline Restore and Protect.
Disable the VCM, keep all cylinders firing. Transmission cooler and ditch the DW1 transmission fluid if you have the six speed. I run Amsoil blue cap ATF in the 19 six speed. The engine gets Amsoil SS 0W30. I follow the olm. OCI is about 5500-6500 miles.
Yes but VRP does not have a HTHS rating of 3.5 or greater as majority of 0w40 oils do (Euro Spec). Would I use VRP as an everyday oil at a 5000 mile drain and refill oil with outstanding cleaning abilities? Yes.
Would I use it as a street/track/heavy towing oil? Personally, no.
You switch from Amsoil XL to SS? (Just noticed your signature.)