noob needs oil advice

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motorjon68

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Feb 16, 2013
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Location
Milford, Ohio
Just bought a 2002 Honda CR-V. It only had 64k miles!
Manual says 5W-20 detergent API.
I live in greater Cincinnati, Ohio
I drive approximately 60-70 miles stop and go daily.
I drive fairly hard.

I'm buying my 16yr old a used car soon. In the past I paid for Amsoil changes. Given that costs (insurance and maintenance) have just jumped, I'm looking to save money. Going to start crawling under cars again. Based on multiple searches, seems like PP or QSUD. Your input is most welcome.

As an aside, I've used Rotella T6 in dry clutch motorcycles. Thought about it too. Was concerned about the fact that it's 40 vs 20 wt.
Thx, Jon
 
Originally Posted By: motorjon68
Just bought a 2002 Honda CR-V. It only had 64k miles!
Manual says 5W-20 detergent API.
I live in greater Cincinnati, Ohio
I drive approximately 60-70 miles stop and go daily.
I drive fairly hard.

I'm buying my 16yr old a used car soon. In the past I paid for Amsoil changes. Given that costs (insurance and maintenance) have just jumped, I'm looking to save money. Going to start crawling under cars again. Based on multiple searches, seems like PP or QSUD. Your input is most welcome.

As an aside, I've used Rotella T6 in dry clutch motorcycles. Thought about it too. Was concerned about the fact that it's 40 vs 20 wt.
Thx, Jon


If you still want to use Amsoil become a preferred customer and that will bring you oil change cost down a lot if you are not already a preferred customer.

If you want to stay on the synthetic route QSUD at walmart is the best everyday price route but look for sales. But with your driving habits I would spend some money and invest in a couple of Used Oil Analysis to hone in your Oil Change Interval for your car it may save you a lot of money in the long run.
 
Last edited:
Keep using the AMSOIL and just buy the XL or OE line, both are excellent products and IIRC, the OE will be cheaper than the other oils you mentioned.
 
What kind of interval are you planning? If 5000 miles the Quaker state green bottle or penn yellow bottle would be fine and are always on sale somewhere. Valvoline and castrol gtx are always a good bet too.
Pennzoil platinum is one of my favorite reasonably priced oils as is qsud. Either or is great and should be able to run 7500-10000 miles in your Honda.
I too like Amsoil but cost vs extended interval,plus the uoa required to ind out how far you can extend the interval isn't worth the expense or trouble.
I also love red line but its cost prohibitive.
Of the 2 syn choices you provided either or will be great.
 
I'd like to run at least 5k OCI if not more. I like the idea of synthetic oil. I'm also almost 1/2 of 90 yrs old. My mechanics swear by Amsoil. I'm hoping the Honda reduces the visits.
 
Not sure what Honda recommends for that year and model but if it's 7500 mile OCI, then that works out to twice per year at your rate.


PYB GF5 & a Pure One filter in Spring and Fall will serve you well and cost about $40-45/yr.
 
Pennz Platinum, find it on sale and stock up. Can last a long time in most engines, great at keeping engines clean, and economical (Walmart runs it for around $20 on sale in some places)
 
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Keep using the AMSOIL and just buy the XL or OE line, both are excellent products and IIRC, the OE will be cheaper than the other oils you mentioned.


He is looking to save money. There is nothing inexpensive about Amsoil. Especially when you can get QSUD for $.20/qt. with the rebate.
 
Originally Posted By: Clevy
What kind of interval are you planning? If 5000 miles the Quaker state green bottle or penn yellow bottle would be fine and are always on sale somewhere. Valvoline and castrol gtx are always a good bet too.
Pennzoil platinum is one of my favorite reasonably priced oils as is qsud. Either or is great and should be able to run 7500-10000 miles in your Honda.
I too like Amsoil but cost vs extended interval,plus the uoa required to ind out how far you can extend the interval isn't worth the expense or trouble.
I also love red line but its cost prohibitive.
Of the 2 syn choices you provided either or will be great.


+1
 
+2

I drive the same daily miles you do except my coworker drives every other week. So I make ~5500 mile oil changes every 6 months. If you would like the luxury of 6 month oil changes you'll have to run the synthetic, and have the oil tested for contaminants.
 
Originally Posted By: MikeySoft
I had good luck with 5w20 PP in my 2003 Accord. My sig below has a link to several UAOs to help you see how good it is in a Honda.


Very cool! I think we have the same motor. Mine's a stick too.
 
I would run whatever major-brand 5w20 that is on-sale with a quality oil filter (Honda OE, Wix Premium, PureOne) and change it every 5000 miles. Per the Honda O/M, you can go up to 1yr/10k on the proper-spec 5w20 conventional under most driving conditions.

Spend the money that you would otherwise spend on synthetic on replacing the driveline fluids and setting aside an emergency fund for the a/c compressor in case it grenades.
56.gif
 
Originally Posted By: motorjon68
Originally Posted By: MikeySoft
I had good luck with 5w20 PP in my 2003 Accord. My sig below has a link to several UAOs to help you see how good it is in a Honda.


Very cool! I think we have the same motor. Mine's a stick too.
Glad I could help.

Some of the people who favor QSUD were very adamant that I should use QSUD in one of my other threads. I think my UOAs speak louder.
 
Originally Posted By: motorjon68
Just bought a 2002 Honda CR-V. It only had 64k miles!
Manual says 5W-20 detergent API.
I live in greater Cincinnati, Ohio
I drive approximately 60-70 miles stop and go daily.
I drive fairly hard.

I'm buying my 16yr old a used car soon. In the past I paid for Amsoil changes. Given that costs (insurance and maintenance) have just jumped, I'm looking to save money. Going to start crawling under cars again. Based on multiple searches, seems like PP or QSUD. Your input is most welcome.

As an aside, I've used Rotella T6 in dry clutch motorcycles. Thought about it too. Was concerned about the fact that it's 40 vs 20 wt.
Thx, Jon


PP would be my choice.

Welcome.
 
You have to decide whether your going to use synthetic or dino.
Then narrow your choices.

If you chose synthetic? You can pick and chose from any so call synthetics at WM--> M1-PP-PU-QSUD-Valvoline-Castrol-->{All are very good oils.} All these oils can go past 5K mile OCI. Think about going 7K to 10K miles to justify the extra cost over dino.

If money is of no matter? At least take your OCI to 5K miles and have piece of mind you can go further if you forget or don't have any spare time to change your oil at that 5K mile mark.


Your other option is a semi-synthetic or dino oil. Any popular name brand oil will do fine. Most popular is Pennzoil-Mobil-QS-Valvoline-Castrol--> You know this already! Change the oil around the 5K mile mark. If you go a little past it will not hurt anything.

The Mobil Super 5000 has Titanium and Sodium additive package which has put up wear numbers equal to Pennzoil Ultra. Via UOA @ half the cost. Just something to look into and think about.

Just don't skimp on filters. Use the OME Filters.

Good luck in your Quest! It all boils down to the fatness of your wallet and what makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.
 
Originally Posted By: -SyN-
You have to decide whether your going to use synthetic or dino.
Then narrow your choices.

If you chose synthetic? You can pick and chose from any so call synthetics at WM--> M1-PP-PU-QSUD-Valvoline-Castrol-->{All are very good oils.} All these oils can go past 5K mile OCI. Think about going 7K to 10K miles to justify the extra cost over dino.

If money is of no matter? At least take your OCI to 5K miles and have piece of mind you can go further if you forget or don't have any spare time to change your oil at that 5K mile mark.


Your other option is a semi-synthetic or dino oil. Any popular name brand oil will do fine. Most popular is Pennzoil-Mobil-QS-Valvoline-Castrol--> You know this already! Change the oil around the 5K mile mark. If you go a little past it will not hurt anything.

The Mobil Super 5000 has Titanium and Sodium additive package which has put up wear numbers equal to Pennzoil Ultra. Via UOA @ half the cost. Just something to look into and think about.

Just don't skimp on filters. Use the OME Filters.

Good luck in your Quest! It all boils down to the fatness of your wallet and what makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.


That methodology is kinda backwards. First you need to find out if your vehicle needs anything specific,like some form of special spec requiring a certain type of oil. If there is no outstanding special circumstance then decide how often you want to get under the car. If 5000 miles is your preference(I like 5000 mile intervals because it gives me a chance to look things over) then buy a conventional in the correct grade and carry on.
If you want to extend the interval to 10000 or more miles then look into a synthetic.
I like 0w grades for winter due to our extreme cold here however once the weather warms I use conventional oils.
People think synthetics are magic and extend engine life,they don't. Synthetic oils for the most part last longer in service compared to their conventional counterparts.
I will go out on a limb here and say that using a conventional vs a high priced syn for 5000 miles that there will be little to no difference in wear metals.
Except in the most extreme circumstances of course
 
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