Umm, isn't the M1 thinner at lower temps?
can't stand it -dumping Mobil 1 at 1000 miles
- Thread starter dinosauract
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Let me appeal to the scientist in you then. Looks are WAY deceiving, epecially as it applies to today's oils: especially Group IV PAO's. So a key here is the management of expectation/s. If anything the oil turning color is the indication the oils' formulation is in fact doing its job. If there is any time and real reason to do a used oil analysis/'s it is starting now!!
Mobil 1 0w20/5w20 is probably one of the better oils you can run in a Honda Civic. BUT, if you need to assuage that pit in the stomach feeling and decide to go back to conventional oil, it would be hard to go wrong with any of the top 10 (and I am leaving out inadvertently a few good ones) 5w20 Honda/Ford specified oils:
1. Honda OEM
2. Motorcraft
3. ExxonMobil Superflo
4. Havoline
5. Texaco
6. Chevron
7. Castro
8. Valvoline
9. Mobil
10.Quaker State
But truly even if you go back to conventional the recommendation is still the same, it is better to have the used oil analysis information at hand.
As for the increase noise, it is really the sound of LESS friction. I frankly embrace it and recommend you do also.
I have a 2004 Honda Civic going on 23,000 miles. I did the recommended Honda 10,000 mile OCI with oem fill (conventional). So as the logic goes, if anyone would get BLACK oil, a 10,000 mile OCI should be able to blacken it!!??. (oil was dark, but still brown) At that time, I went to Mobil 1 0w20, 3.2 qts. (oil was brown) At 20,000 miles I changed the filter stayed (with another 3.4 qts of) Mobil 1 0W20 (oil was still brown) . The only reason I am doing these short 10,000 mile OCI's is because it is still under warranty to 36,000 miles. After that, I have no concerns about running 15,000 to 20,000 mile OCI's. I also realize most folks think that is falling off the flat earth kind of action/s.
[ December 19, 2005, 12:21 PM: Message edited by: ruking77 ]
Mobil 1 0w20/5w20 is probably one of the better oils you can run in a Honda Civic. BUT, if you need to assuage that pit in the stomach feeling and decide to go back to conventional oil, it would be hard to go wrong with any of the top 10 (and I am leaving out inadvertently a few good ones) 5w20 Honda/Ford specified oils:
1. Honda OEM
2. Motorcraft
3. ExxonMobil Superflo
4. Havoline
5. Texaco
6. Chevron
7. Castro
8. Valvoline
9. Mobil
10.Quaker State
But truly even if you go back to conventional the recommendation is still the same, it is better to have the used oil analysis information at hand.
As for the increase noise, it is really the sound of LESS friction. I frankly embrace it and recommend you do also.
I have a 2004 Honda Civic going on 23,000 miles. I did the recommended Honda 10,000 mile OCI with oem fill (conventional). So as the logic goes, if anyone would get BLACK oil, a 10,000 mile OCI should be able to blacken it!!??. (oil was dark, but still brown) At that time, I went to Mobil 1 0w20, 3.2 qts. (oil was brown) At 20,000 miles I changed the filter stayed (with another 3.4 qts of) Mobil 1 0W20 (oil was still brown) . The only reason I am doing these short 10,000 mile OCI's is because it is still under warranty to 36,000 miles. After that, I have no concerns about running 15,000 to 20,000 mile OCI's. I also realize most folks think that is falling off the flat earth kind of action/s.
[ December 19, 2005, 12:21 PM: Message edited by: ruking77 ]
If this is your first run of synthetic it will clean things some and dirty up quicker, but you probably should run it longer than 1000 miles. Put a few drops on a white file card (or similar) and let it spread out and soak in. As long as there is not a deposit in the center (darker center is normal) or heavy ring around the center, you probably are OK. Post a photo of the blot and folks here will give opinions/advice. I would think the oil is still good. I remember the first full load of synthetic (Synpower) got pretty dirty in 1800 miles in the Aerostar and I changed it out, but that was free oil (great deal about 2 years ago). If your oil proves to be still servicable, a half bottle or so of Valvoline Synpower Oil Treatment would thicken it up some and hopefully quiet the noise.
Just wouldn't have thought there was much to clean out with only 10k on the motor. I'll try the blot test. I may go ahead and stick it out to a normal OCI. But I think I may go back to dino at that time.
My wife's caravan has 17k on it (3.8 V6). It's gotten a steady diet of synthetic blend (exxon Dino + m1 syn) after 2 Dino break-in changes, starting around 3500 miles. For the winter, I put in 4 quarts of Mobil 1 0w20 + 1 quart of GC 0w30. That was about 1500 miles ago. Yesterday I checked the level and to my surpise , the oil was very dark. This surprised me, especially with only 17k miles on it and the quality of the oil I've been using and the 3-4k OCIs I've been following. The Van is running great. It's quiet and really seems to like this mix. I'm going to run this 5-6k miles and not worry about the darkening.
JHZR2
Staff member
Let the used oil analysis speak for themselves...
You didnt trust the Honda engineers on the 10k OEM fill... don't trust the M1 engineers that they make a good oil... I'm not sure youll trust much. NOT a bad thing, but why not use some standard metrics to see what's right/wrong for your driving style and profile?
I doubt the engine was being cleaned much at 10k... how much heavy footed driving do you do?
Try a used oil analysis read by Terry... all answers will be found.
JMH
You didnt trust the Honda engineers on the 10k OEM fill... don't trust the M1 engineers that they make a good oil... I'm not sure youll trust much. NOT a bad thing, but why not use some standard metrics to see what's right/wrong for your driving style and profile?
I doubt the engine was being cleaned much at 10k... how much heavy footed driving do you do?
Try a used oil analysis read by Terry... all answers will be found.
JMH
When my wife first got her used Grand Am with 29k on it a few years ago, the first few oil changes (5k OCI) with Mobil 1 got dirty real quick but then it got better. It also came with a magnetic drain plug and with each Mobil 1 oil change there was less metal on the magnet until there was virtually none. Other people have said that their engines were louder with Mobil 1, I've not noticed this myself, but maybe try another brand of synthetic and see how it goes.
I've been reading these posts and must comment my self. When i switch to M1 on my 97 accord, the engine idled loudly. After 10k miles, switched to Havoline, to my surprise, engine is quieter. The noises can be irritating. I was going to switch to synthetic on my 06 truck but now im not so sure.
Dinosuaract,I made the switch from Mobil 1 5w20 to Motorcraft 5w20 syn-blend and Wix filter for a 2003 Honda Accord 2.4 with no regrets.The engine performs fine and I enjoy the money saved.
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