5w30 instead of 5w20 - bad idea?

bemused · Oct 8, 2006

This has probably been discussed here ad nauseam but I couldn't find it during a search. I have a simple question, if an engine is spec'd for 5w20 would running 5w30 in it be a bad idea?

The background to this question is this, we had a '99 4cyl. Accord that had oil and filter change every 5K (Havoline and Pureone). I bought a bunch of Havoline 5w30 oil at a good price last year and was slowly working through the batch. About a month ago the Orkin man decided that my wife was a pest and tried to exterminate her, she was lucky but the car wasn't. We have just bought a 2003 4cyl Accord which calls for 5w20 but I still have enough 5w30 left for about 3 oil changes.

Unlike some I have no problems using 5w20 but I don't really want the oil I have to go to waste. I was planning on using up my stock and then switching to 5w20. This car has 49K on it and has no manufacturers warranty left to cloud the issue.

Nickdfresh · Oct 8, 2006

I doubt it would be a problem using 5W-30 in that application. But I'd wait until the summer comes around again to be safe. For the cooler months, I'd pick up some 5W-20 Motorcraft at Wally-World.

simple_gifts · Oct 8, 2006

Quote:

engine is spec'd for 5w20 would running 5w30 in it be a bad idea?

no.

sxg6 · Oct 8, 2006

5w-30 would work just fine. No worries at all regardless of whether it's summer or winter.

Nebraskan · Oct 8, 2006

I agree with Nickdfresh, you should wait for summer to put in that 5W-30. It's the top end weight that will be the issuse, not really the bottom end, but because you are using basically the 5W regardless of the top number, the oil will be more flowable at the lower start up temps on the 5W-20 over the 5W-30. They may have had something in mind when they specified that 5W-20 oil. More than likely it has to do with the oil pump, pressure pop-offs and the like.

Also do a good read at this site, also linked by one of the administrators, to Motor Oil by AE Haas. http://63.240.161.99/motoroil/index.html

Nebraskan · Oct 8, 2006

BTW, if no one has mentioned...

JohnBrowning · Oct 8, 2006

You are fine it will not hurt anything at all. Dealerships do this all of the time. Fast oil change places do this as well. Many members on this site do this. So go ahead and use up the rest of that 5W30 and sleep well at night!

JohnBrowning · Oct 8, 2006

You also do not need to wait for warm weather either. You can run this 5W30 in winter no problem!!!! If it makes you feel better I usualy run 5W40 dureing the winter and it gets in to the -20°F. My car is a 2003 Camry with a very complex engine. It does just fine! Right now I have M1 TSUV 5W30+ 3/4 quart of straigth 50-60 weight oil as a carrier for some beey additives. It is already getting down to freezeing and below in the evening and I have no problems!

Ron AKA · Oct 8, 2006

Not sure what part of the US you are in, but in the more northern areas the cold/cool weather performance of the 5w20 is better. The gas mileage will be slightly better regardless of weather. So I think the advice to use it up during the summer is good. But in any case I would use it, and not give it away.

Auto-Union · Oct 8, 2006

Buy some Havoline 5w-20 and mix in a lil 5w-30 in until summer then run the 5w-30.

aztec12 · Oct 8, 2006

why not mix 5w30 and 5w20 havoline 50-50 till is all gone.

Papa Bear · Oct 8, 2006

Send the suspect oil up here to .ca and I will run it in my 4 cyl Accord to see if it will work well.

BrianWC · Oct 8, 2006

Oh you people....it's 5W30, not paste......I have had to run a lot of 30 weight in my CR-V due to a general lack of avilibility of 5W20 down here when I first got it four years ago....

I know, my winters are not cold but c'mon, it's 5W30 were talkin' 'bout here....

Greggy_D · Oct 8, 2006

Quote:

Oh you people....it's 5W30, not paste......I have had to run a lot of 30 weight in my CR-V due to a general lack of avilibility of 5W20 down here when I first got it four years ago....

I know, my winters are not cold but c'mon, it's 5W30 were talkin' 'bout here....

Agreed. The 5w-30 will be fine, even in the winter.

bar1 · Oct 9, 2006

2. that. 5W-30 is what that engine calls for here in Europe and it should be fine in the US too

UncleS2 · Oct 9, 2006

5w30 Havoline? That's excellent oil, & it's already paid for. Run it & don't worry.

m2200b · Oct 9, 2006

These are the same Honda motors. Run 5w-30 summer and winter unless you're in the far north. I haven't seen a Havoline or Chevron UOA that wasn't a 20 after 1500 miles anyway so you'll be Honda spec for more than 1/2 your OCI anyway.

JohnBrowning · Oct 9, 2006

These 5W20 Nazi's need to get a life!!!!The down side of the internet is that anyone can post a reply. Never mind common sense, life experince, hands on experince, or tech. knoldge of the subject matter. I am glad this site is only about oil I would hate a medical information site if it was like this site!!!

I belong to one site that does not allow direct posting. You submit your post or reply and a moderator has to ok it or edit it before it gets posted. This allows them to filter out nut case's giveing out really really bad advice!!! To date I have not been censored even when I have been a bit critical of the site. I am not saying I would want that to happen here at this site but sometimes it would be nice!!!

When did 5W30 become a thick oil canidate??????

Bill in Utah · Oct 9, 2006

Quote:

5w30 Havoline? That's excellent oil, & it's already paid for. Run it & don't worry.

Ditto!

Bill

Ron AKA · Oct 9, 2006

John, I'm not sure anyone is suggesting 5w30 is a bad oil, just that 5w20 is better, and it may be a consideration to use 5w20 in the winter and use up the 5w30 during the summer. That will certainly give you a benefit in the winter, and possibly a lesser benefit in the summer - but not enough to ever buy 5w30 again.

5w30 instead of 5w20 - bad idea?

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