New to me Honda Pilot

[Pmgo4th]

I just got a 2008 Honda Pilot with 40,000 miles on it. I was going to use a Napa gold filter and wolfs head 5w20 at 5k changes. We use that combo in my shop on all the newer fords. I cant find any UOA on wolfs head here but do you think that is a good choice? I'm not a fan of syn oils and the price is about as low as you can get here.

 

[FirstNissan]

Any Dino at 5k is going to be fine. I'm. Huge fan of Pennzoil conventional however of Valvoline conventional. What's your driving style and miles per year?

 

[The Critic]

If the engine has VCM, I would do it every 3,000 miles. Search on this site on oil cooking issue with the VCM-equipped 3.5s.

 

[Pmgo4th]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
If the engine has VCM, I would do it every 3,000 miles. Search on this site on oil cooking issue with the VCM-equipped 3.5s.

Is the VCM you talked about the V-tech engine? If so Im not sure. I know from the honda forum that folks who go by the OLM that they service between 7.5-10k. I got this for my wife to replaced a suv that blew up the engine. So long oil changes are not in its future at all. I like 5k changes but if time and money allowed I'd still do them at 3k.

 

[bepperb]

That's a nice low mile find.

The Honda Wix filters are good, they are really well made and their only real downside is media area, but at 5000~7500 mile OCI that won't be an issue (Honda rec is every other change or 15,000 miles which might be a different story). J series is pretty robust and should run on any oil, and any SN rated oil should do 5000 miles.

I assume the oil cooking is this:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2683081&page=1

 

[tommygunn]

Originally Posted By: Pmgo4th
Originally Posted By: The Critic
If the engine has VCM, I would do it every 3,000 miles. Search on this site on oil cooking issue with the VCM-equipped 3.5s.

Is the VCM you talked about the V-tech engine? If so Im not sure. I know from the honda forum that folks who go by the OLM that they service between 7.5-10k. I got this for my wife to replaced a suv that blew up the engine. So long oil changes are not in its future at all. I like 5k changes but if time and money allowed I'd still do them at 3k.


VCM = Variable Cylinder Management, cylinder deactivation. Runs on only 3-4 cylinders under a light load, to save gas.

 

[Hokiefyd]

If doing 5k mile OCIs, and especially if it has VCM, I'd use a quality synthetic oil. 0W-20 is a great all-weather oil in your climate. I have nearly the same engine in a 2005 Acura MDX and use 0W-20 year-round. I have Pennzoil Platinum 0W-20 in it right now, but prefer Mobil 1's 0W-20 by a slight margin.

Also, keep the transmission fluid changed with a quality Honda-compatible fluid (Honda DW-1, Castrol Transmax IMV, Valvoline MaxLife ATF, etc).

 

[gfh77665]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
If the engine has VCM, I would do it every 3,000 miles.


Correct! Heed this advice.

 

[gfh77665]

3000 with conventional, 5000 with syn for a Honda VCM.

 

[Pmgo4th]

I have looked at the engine again tonight and all it says on the cover is 3.5l Vtech. How do I tell if it has a VCM engine.

 

[yesthatsteve]

Originally Posted By: bepperb

I assume the oil cooking is this:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2683081&page=1


That's the one!

Originally Posted By: Pmgo4th
I have looked at the engine again tonight and all it says on the cover is 3.5l Vtech. How do I tell if it has a VCM engine.


2WD Pilots used VCM starting in 2006; AWD models used it starting in 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_Cylinder_Management

Regardless, a semi-regular mix of city/highway driving should be fine at 5k OCI. The coking issue cropped up in the thread above with near-exclusive highway driving & long OCIs on dino (but following the OLM). According to PQIA, Wolf's Head looks like a good value oil, and should serve you well under normal driving conditions.

 

[asharris7]

Originally Posted By: bepperb
That's a nice low mile find.

The Honda Wix filters are good, they are really well made and their only real downside is media area, but at 5000~7500 mile OCI that won't be an issue (Honda rec is every other change or 15,000 miles which might be a different story). J series is pretty robust and should run on any oil, and any SN rated oil should do 5000 miles.

I assume the oil cooking is this:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2683081&page=1



Honda filters are NOT Wix. They are either Filtech or Honeywell. A01-A02.