Hi, first time poster.
I've searched the forum and don't really find mention of this car. I just got 2000 Acura RL that's been on the road for 4.5yrs. It has 88000KM and has only used regular oil. Changes were done at the dealer.
Before I got this car my old Acura had oil changes every 3 months with regular oil. I'm not so inclined to be able to do the changes myself so I go to the oil changers 3 blocks away.
It's difficult to decipher what Acura Canada recommends as to when to change oil. On their website they suggest 3months/6000km. In the manual it says 6months/6000km for severe conditons. I don't think I'm so severe, as I don't see them mentioning in the manual about using severe if in Western New York, Michigan, etc. They are just as severe as me in Toronto. Nevertheless, I figure "severe" is the right thing to go by. I drive about 800KM/mth and mostly city.
I'm thinking of going to synthetic oil and changing it every 6 months. Mid April, put in 5w30. Mid October, put in 0w30. I'd save a few bucks with the two less changes but, better than that, I'll enjoy the benefits of synthetic oil.
Is this a good course of action to take? Is the current mileage an issue to consider? Is there anything else I should consider? Like brand of oil. What about filters? I'm in Canada so finding Mobil or Pure one filters will be difficult at best, if not out of the question.
Oh, one other thing. Also confusing me in the manual is this:
Oil; 4.6L including filter, 4.3 without filter. What is the difference? They sell jugs of 4.4L . Do I buy that or that and 1 extra bottle to be safe?
Thanks
[ March 05, 2005, 02:18 AM: Message edited by: totalstu ]
I've searched the forum and don't really find mention of this car. I just got 2000 Acura RL that's been on the road for 4.5yrs. It has 88000KM and has only used regular oil. Changes were done at the dealer.
Before I got this car my old Acura had oil changes every 3 months with regular oil. I'm not so inclined to be able to do the changes myself so I go to the oil changers 3 blocks away.
It's difficult to decipher what Acura Canada recommends as to when to change oil. On their website they suggest 3months/6000km. In the manual it says 6months/6000km for severe conditons. I don't think I'm so severe, as I don't see them mentioning in the manual about using severe if in Western New York, Michigan, etc. They are just as severe as me in Toronto. Nevertheless, I figure "severe" is the right thing to go by. I drive about 800KM/mth and mostly city.
I'm thinking of going to synthetic oil and changing it every 6 months. Mid April, put in 5w30. Mid October, put in 0w30. I'd save a few bucks with the two less changes but, better than that, I'll enjoy the benefits of synthetic oil.
Is this a good course of action to take? Is the current mileage an issue to consider? Is there anything else I should consider? Like brand of oil. What about filters? I'm in Canada so finding Mobil or Pure one filters will be difficult at best, if not out of the question.
Oh, one other thing. Also confusing me in the manual is this:
Oil; 4.6L including filter, 4.3 without filter. What is the difference? They sell jugs of 4.4L . Do I buy that or that and 1 extra bottle to be safe?
Thanks
[ March 05, 2005, 02:18 AM: Message edited by: totalstu ]