It's about that time again!?!?

[Bijibo23]

Gentlemen,

First off, excellent website. I've spent a solid week here reading the fine material it has to offer.

So here's my situation...I have a 2006 Honda Civic EX 4DR Sedan with 3750 miles on it now. During the week, I drive 2 miles to work everyday and 2 miles back. On the weekends I tend to do a bit more driving.

I plan on doing an oil change @ 4000 miles. I already picked up a WIX filter based on the good things this site said!

My question to you guys...what decent 5W20 oil do you recommend for the type of driving I do? Dino or synthetic? Brand? I plan on doing a filter/oil change about twice a year based on my current mileage and keeping the car for a few years.

Thanks in advance!

 

[simple_gifts]

Motorcraft 5W-20 blend

 

[Drew99GT]

Synthetic vs. dino is purely a choice you'll have to make. The only real advantages are longer oil change intervals and better extreme cold weather performance, although 5w-20 in and of itself is very good for extereme cold, dino or synthetic.

I would use a 5w-20 dino, whichever brand you prefer or that is on sale. I particularly like Motorcraft 5w-20 myself. SM/GF-4 has really narrowed the playing field with conventional oils, so I don't really think one brand is better than another. I do think brand names are a bit better than store brands though.

 

[Drew99GT]

Is there an echo???

motor...............craft..............motor...............craft

 

[Bijibo23]

Thanks guys. So that's 2 votes for Motorcraft. What would be your second choice??

 

[Frank D]

Pennzoil.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

#1 - Pennzoil
#2 - Havoline/Chevron twins
#3 - MC

 

[Laminar Lou]

The Motorcraft oil does indeed seem to perform pretty well here.

If you are looking for a synthetic the Amsoil XL 5W20 works really well in the Honda motors. If you want something off the shelf that is good price/performance synthetic may I suggest the Pennzoil Platinum.

Whatever you do, stick with 5W20. Don't let the "thin" naysayers pull you away from what is spec'd for your car.

With those short drive times, I might lean toward the synthetic just because I feel the PP or Amsoil have a little more addpack in them to deal with fuel dilution. That is just my taste, but the Motorcraft is a fine choice as well.

Follow the OLM and sleep well at night.

 

[Johnny]

Oh what the heck, I might as well put my $.02 in.

#1 Pennzoil Platinum
#2 Regular Yellow Bottle Pennzoil
#3 Either 1 or 2 above

And along with everyone else

to BITOG

 

[ryansride2017]

How many months does it take you to accumulate 4000 miles. While I'm not a member of the 3K mile or 3 month crowd, I would change every 3K under those conditions.

 

[Mr Nice]

My wife also has an 06' Civic EX 4 door and I just use the least expensive 5w20 SM GF4 dino oil I can find.

I usually shop for closeout oil and stock up. I really don't think you could pick a 'bad' 5w20 oil.

 

[harrydog]

With all the short trips, your engine is not getting up to temperature, so I'd use something with a really high TBN that will last. I'd also make it synthetic. For the amount you drive, it could take you a year to accumulate 4000 miles!
Your situation is probably harder on oil than if you drove hundreds of miles per week.

 

[harrydog]

I just re-read your post. If you only plan to keep the car for a few years (three or four?) then it probably doesn't matter what you use.

 

[Winston]

Motorcraft oil.
Amsoil Eao oil filter changed every two years.

 

[trixman]

Those Honda motors are easy on oil usually, not unusual to see close to 10K OCIs posted here.

Having said that, I would consider the short trips and lack of use as "extreme driving".

My dad is also a short tripper He has a 2006 Corolla. He bought it 6 months ago and has only 1766 miles on it.

I use Motorcraft 5w/20 on his and recommend the same to you.

I would change it every 6 months regardless of mileage.

Take it out on the highway whenever you can to cut down on the condensation in the crankcase and exhaust system too.

and BTW

so thats x4 for MC

 

[Stainless]

Quote:

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and keeping the car for a few years.

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Sir, would you please be more specific as to what you mean by this? Do you mean, a few years, as in 3-4 years or as in 10+ years?

 

[Bijibo23]

3-4 years sounds about right.

 

[Bijibo23]

Honestly, I think it's going to come down to what AutoZone has in stock tomorrow. What happens if they have MC, PP, and Penz yellow all in stock?

 

[b-man]

Quote:

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Honestly, I think it's going to come down to what AutoZone has in stock tomorrow. What happens if they have MC, PP, and Penz yellow all in stock?

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That's easy, buy whatever's cheapest.

 

[jeremiah2360]

Terry Dyson has recommended Havoline Supreme/Chevron 5-20 for it`s similarity to Honda`s original oil specs. He also likes the original Honda filters changed every other interval(probably the new Amsoil EAO,if available). That would be enough for me and what my dad is going to do with his 07 4 cyl Accord