OCI Opinions

[silverbullet]

Hello All,

My wife calls me crazy for obsessing over motor oil. More so since I can't make up my mind on which way to go regarding oil choice and OCI. Anyone else here obsess about motor oil?

First of all, I think I might just stick with Mobil 1 for my oil. I'm not considering dino or blends since that's just a choice I narrowed it down to. Mobil 1 has worked well for me for many years and miles.

I need opinions for the following two scenarios:

1) Mobil 1 5w30 for 5000 miles OCI.

or

2) Mobil 1EP 5w30 for 7500 miles OCI since it has a more robust additive package.

Choice #2 actually is cheaper (2 oil changes vs. 3 oil changes every 15K)

Honda Accord (2002 V6). Daily driver mainly city with stretches of backroads/country side about 32 miles per day. Probably rack up about 900-1000 miles/month.

Honda CRV (2005 2.4L). Daily driver mainly city. About 12 miles per weekday but is our main car for the weekend city/highway trips. About 1000 miles per month.

I know 5000 or 7500 miles may be overkill for this oil but I'm more concerned about moisture/contaminants in the oil that may form due to the cars (mainly the CRV) not getting hot enough during the weekday commute.

Also, is 7500 miles too much for the tiny Honda OEM oil filter for?

Opinions? Please no recommendations for other synthetic or dino oils.

Thanks.

 

[TxGreaseMonkey]

Yes, lubricants are a keen area of interest of mine. I'd vote for option #2, using a premium filter.

 

[The Critic]

EP 10w-30 with a PureOne Filter for 7500 mi. OCIs. The small oil filter size problem can be helped by using a premium filter such as an M1 or PureOne.

 

[Mr Nice]

Get a bigger oil filter (Purolator 24458, Wix 51347, Wix 51344).

 

[Dagwood]

I would use Mobil 1 5w30 and change the oil twice a year. (with your mileage that would be approx. 6,000 miles) And I believe the OEM filter would be just fine for that interval. When I only drove 12,000 miles a year that is what I did. I changed the oil every April 1, and October 1.

 

[mikemc]

I'm with Dagwood on this one. Of the choices you offered, Regular M1 5w30 twice a year in the spring and fall. I still think that's a really short interval for full syn, but I will respect your obsessing.

 

[texasproud]

Mobil 1 E/P with MI filter changed annually.

 

[martyi]

Don't worry about the filter size as long as it is a Honda Filtech or Nippon (stay away from the Honda Fram). Since you don't want to hear about Havoline, use whatever synthetic you want with FP60 and LC20 and OCI by the OLM. If you don't have an OLM, every 7000 miles or so.

 

[1999nick]

Aren't those ignorant Honda engineers recommending a filter change every 20,000 miles now? And an oil change every 10,000? Except, of course in those models that have an OLM.

By the way, does anyone on this board have a Honda with the OLM, and, if so, when does it usually the need for changing?

 

[The Critic]

quote:

---

By the way, does anyone on this board have a Honda with the OLM, and, if so, when does it usually the need for changing?

---

Don't have one myself, but most people on the 3rd Generation Acura TL board are going 5500-7000 miles between an oil service.

[ December 30, 2005, 03:01 PM: Message edited by: Michael Wan ]

 

[Tones]

Your logic does not make sense if you are changing the oil just to get contaminants out. If you feel that you can go 7500 miles, use plain jane Mobil 1 for 7500 miles. The Honda filter will do fine.

 

[grbr95]

I'm so obsessed with motor oil that I've been told by someone in this forum to start taking a cab and let the cabby worry about which oil to use. So, I started taking cabs, but I'm still concerend about which oil choice the cabby is making. I'm still torn as to whether or not I should use a cab that runs on Valoline, Castrol GTX or Havoline. Anyone have a suggestion? This is so important to me, and such a life changing issue.

LOL

 

[thooks]

With Honda's reputation of the last 25 years, plus the fact that they are an engine company first, I wouldn't call them ignorant.

I own a 2005 and a 1995 Honda Accord EX, both with the VTEC engines. The 95 was bought in September and I could tell that maintenace wasn't the previous owner's strong point. The inside of the engine was very nasty. With several oil changes and some MMO during the past 5,000 miles, I have the engine cleaned out. I have to say I am impressed with Honda, atleast this one, with the abuse it has taken.

Our new Accord has 6200 miles on the odometer and is on it's 4th oil change and it was Mobil 1. It was changed at 3500 miles and will stay in until 10k. I will continue with 7,000 mile OCI with lab testing.

I will agree that 20k miles on a filter is too much. I wouldn't be afraid of 10k oil changes with 7+ mile one-way trips.