Honda Civic 2008 LX in Texas - recommendations?

[jeffason]

I'll start by answering the questions from the sticky.

1. What kind of vehicle you have
Honda Civic 2008 LX, 74k miles

2. What your owner's manual says -- not just viscosity, but certifications (look for acronyms like API SM, ILSAC GF-4, etc.) and change intervals as well
From the manual:
"Always use a premium-grade detergent oil displaying the API Certification Seal. It is
highly recommended that you use Honda Motor Oil in your vehicle for optimum engine protection. An oil with a viscosity of 5w30 is preferred for improved fuel economy and year-round protection in your vehicle. You may use a 10w30 oil if the temperature in your area never goes below 20°F ( 7°C)."

3. Where you live
Houston, TX

4. How you drive (easy? hard? fast? slow?)
I typically drive 10 over the limit. I accelerate at what I consider a "medium" rate.

5. What your daily drive is like (short trips? long trips? city? highway?)
Daily drive is 8 miles to work and 8 miles home from work.

6. Whether your car has any known problems
None

Other info:
I've searched some Honda owner forums and found some interesting articles. I took the advice of one of those articles and ran Pennzoil full synthentic 10W-20 for 12k miles. I'll be changing my oil as soon as my Blackstone UOA kit arrives (1-2 weeks) to see how it did. I mostly decided to try this configuration out because it gave a pretty long duration between oil changes. However, I'd be willing to try something else if it could improve my gas mileage. I'm mostly interested in taking care of my car as best as possible while also being economically efficient in gas and oil change costs.


Thanks for any advice!

 

[addyguy]

A 2008 Honda Civic, AFAIK, recommends 5W-20, NOT 5w30 and 10w30.

It's been like that for Honda 4-cylinders since the early 2000's...don't know WHY your manual would say otherwise...?

That is weird!

 

[Doog]

Originally Posted By: jeffason

I took the advice of one of those articles and ran Pennzoil full synthentic 10W-20 for 12k miles.

 

[sir1900]

2008s uses the oil life monitor and the recommended oil is 5W20, so there appears to be an error in the OP's post.

Go with a good quality 5W20 synthetic and follow the OLM.

 

[sir1900]

Originally Posted By: Doog
Originally Posted By: jeffason

I took the advice of one of those articles and ran Pennzoil full synthentic 10W-20 for 12k miles.

I didn't even know they made a 10W20?!?!?!?

 

[Brule]

Granted I haven't tried every oil out there in my 2003 Civic, but after 4 runs, my mpg has gone up 3.4% [29.2mpg to 30.2mpg] after changing to Mobil 1 0w30 from Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30 and other various 5w20's. [The lighter weight of the 5w20 didn't help mpg at all.]

So far Mobil 1 0w30 has been the best, and along with TropArtic 5w30 [a cheaper syn-blend] these two have made the 2.0 engine run the smoothest as well.

All engines are different so inevitably you have to get your own answers from your own experiences. I recommend you give Mobil 1 0w30 a try when you get the chance.

 

[jeffason]

@sir1900
Dangit!!!! I was trying to be so careful in my OP but made a typo. Meant 5W-20!! And I don't see a way to edit my OP

 

[jeffason]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
A 2008 Honda Civic, AFAIK, recommends 5W-20, NOT 5w30 and 10w30.

It's been like that for Honda 4-cylinders since the early 2000's...don't know WHY your manual would say otherwise...?

That is weird!


Here's a link to the PDF manual for reference: http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/om/ACV080/ACV0808OM.pdf

 

[jeffason]

So, just to be clear my last 12k miles have been running on Pennzoil Platinum, Full Sythentic, 5W-20

 

[Artem]

So why don't you follow what the manufacturer recommends (Honda).

The oil cap says to use 5w20.

The Maintenance Minder will run your oil changes from 6-8k before it reads 15% oil life left and recommends you change the oil soon.

You can either change it at 15% to get the annoying yellow maintenance wrench out of your sight, or run the oil down to 5% oil life left and change the oil (this is what Honda recommends).

The use of a good quality synthetic oil will give you additional protection and peace of mind (I personally wouldn't run conventional oil in the new-er Civics).

That's my

 

[jeffason]

Originally Posted By: Artem
So why don't you follow what the manufacturer recommends (Honda).

The oil cap says to use 5w20.

The Maintenance Minder will run your oil changes from 6-8k before it reads 15% oil life left and recommends you change the oil soon.

You can either change it at 15% to get the annoying yellow maintenance wrench out of your sight, or run the oil down to 5% oil life left and change the oil (this is what Honda recommends).

The use of a good quality synthetic oil will give you additional protection and peace of mind (I personally wouldn't run conventional oil in the new-er Civics).

That's my

I'm not entirely sure how the Maintenance Minder decides how much mileage I can get out of the oil (between 6k-8k as you say). I assumed that it was just a pre-configured static mileage that is set but maybe I was wrong to assume that. It made sense to me that if it was pre-configured then by using a better quality oil I should get more life out of it between changes? I guess with changing the oil myself I was hoping to maximize the time between changes without adversely affecting the gas mileage.

I figured if my used oil analysis checks out and I still have a decent TBN reading then I could continue the 12k intervals using higher quality synthetic?

 

[jeffason]

Thank you all for your posts, BTW. I really appreciate you taking the time to lend me your expertise

 

[Doog]

Originally Posted By: sir1900
Originally Posted By: Doog
Originally Posted By: jeffason

I took the advice of one of those articles and ran Pennzoil full synthentic 10W-20 for 12k miles.

I didn't even know they made a 10W20?!?!?!?

 

[addyguy]

Once you are out of warranty, you can extend intervals as far as you are comfortable with, you don't 'have' to follow the MM.

Honda's are very easy on oil, so most likely it will be fine, BUT checking with a used oil analysis is a good way to be sure your oil and engine can handle it.

 

[jeffason]

Originally Posted By: Doog
Originally Posted By: sir1900
Originally Posted By: Doog
Originally Posted By: jeffason

I took the advice of one of those articles and ran Pennzoil full synthentic 10W-20 for 12k miles.

I didn't even know they made a 10W20?!?!?!?

Y'all aren't gonna let me live that one down are ya?

 

[Artem]

Originally Posted By: jeffason
Originally Posted By: Artem
So why don't you follow what the manufacturer recommends (Honda).

The oil cap says to use 5w20.

The Maintenance Minder will run your oil changes from 6-8k before it reads 15% oil life left and recommends you change the oil soon.

You can either change it at 15% to get the annoying yellow maintenance wrench out of your sight, or run the oil down to 5% oil life left and change the oil (this is what Honda recommends).

The use of a good quality synthetic oil will give you additional protection and peace of mind (I personally wouldn't run conventional oil in the new-er Civics).

That's my

I'm not entirely sure how the Maintenance Minder decides how much mileage I can get out of the oil (between 6k-8k as you say). I assumed that it was just a pre-configured static mileage that is set but maybe I was wrong to assume that. It made sense to me that if it was pre-configured then by using a better quality oil I should get more life out of it between changes? I guess with changing the oil myself I was hoping to maximize the time between changes without adversely affecting the gas mileage.

I figured if my used oil analysis checks out and I still have a decent TBN reading then I could continue the 12k intervals using higher quality synthetic?


Honda's MM (Maintenance Minder) takes into account many of your driving conditions, as it counts down the oil life meter. If you do nothing but short trips around town, it will trigger in the 6k range (although I've heard of it triggering way earlier, in the 3-4k range for some Civic Si's, which get driven aggressively and see a lot of redline action).

I use my 07 Civic EX for mostly highway driving and had the MM come on after 9k once but it averages around 7-8k most of the time @ 15% oil life left. Taking it down to 5% usually adds another 1,200 miles or so, depending on your driving conditions.

I have done used oil analysis on my Civic using Mobil 1 and Amsoil "Signature Series" oils and there is plenty of life left after 10k, even 12k to go longer. Both labs that analyzed my oil suggested I go longer next time, so up to 15k is possible with synthetic oil and A LOT of highway driving. I wouldn't push it past 10k if you are mostly doing city driving, even if it's not stop and go. Run the Maintenance Minder down to 5% and call it a day.

Want to save a little money with your oil changes? Reuse the oil filter for 2x intervals, as Honda recommends we do with the Civic. I use Mobil 1 or Amsoil oil filters and run them for 2x 7,500 mile intervals in my Civic. The Mobil 1 oil filter is rated for 15k miles, and I get 15k miles of use out of it. Either take off the oil filter to drain it and reinstall, or leave it on and simple change the oil.

The Maintenance Minder confirms what I said above via the maintenance "code" that it issues every time it triggers. For example, the first oil change would only have code #1, which means to ONLY CHANGE THE OIL. The next oil change will have codes #1 & #2, which means to change BOTH OIL AND OIL FILTER. This is designed to save you money.

 

[ottotheclown]

For whatever it is worth. I have a 2009 Civic EX I switched to Pennzoil Conventional from Ultra because of my driving condition. Regardless of the olm I change oil at 4k. I do a ton of short runs. Either way I can say the Pennzoil Conventional is better than the Ultra re. start up which is a problem with this year and gas mileage. For me Pennzoil Conventional until I see a need to change. For you and your very hot climate I guess PP is a good choice for me a waste of money.

 

[aquariuscsm]

We're both here in south Texas. I'd use the thickest your manual recommends,10W30,in your favorite brand.

 

[Artem]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
We're both here in south Texas. I'd use the thickest your manual recommends,10W30,in your favorite brand.


I did back to back UOA with Mobil 1 5w30 vs 5w20 in my Civic during a HOT summer. UOA were identical. The 5w20 will protect the 1.8L 4 banger during regular use.

Now if the OP was running the car HARD on a daily basis, a 5w30 (which is what's recommended in Japan, UK, etc overseas) wouldn't be such a bad idea.

Since the OP is also focusing on gas mileage, the 5w20 will get the job done. My 07 Civic EX has 160k of 5w20 and extended oil change intervals, well past the OLM and is running perfect. I have no doubt that it will easily make it to 300k.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Do Hondas even wear out? I've never heard of anyone wearing one out.