Oil change dilemma

[M1Accord]

I just topped off my Accord with 1 quart of 5W20 conventional oil 1.5k mile ago. It had 5W20 Valvoline synthetic for 4.5k miles and used a quart. Now the synthetic has 6k miles and the conventional has 1.5k miles. I want to do the change because I got some fresh 0W20 M1 and could use a break in gas mileage, which has been lingering around 22-24 mpg this past year. I am thinking about changing it the week after next when it's my turn to drive on a day that the DIY garage opens. I am driving tomorrow but I haven't had a chance to pick up some Honda ATF do do the change, I want to wait and do both at the same time.

The dilemma is that I still have:

a) 5 quarts of Mobil Clean 5W20 that is 2 years old
b) 10 quarts of Valvoline Synthetic 5W20, also 2 years old
c) 5 quarts of Valvoline Maxlife 5W30, 1.5 years old
d) 10 quarts of Valvoline Synthetic 5W30, 1.5 years old
e) 5 quarts of PP 5W20 about 0.5 year old
and
f) 5 quarts of random oil spread over several 5 gallon jugs I used as top-off oil. These are left over oil whenever I do the change for the Corolla, which use a little less than 4 quarts.

Do I use the stash or go for the brand new 0W20 M1? Since I don't drive as much due to carpooling, I don't think I'll change oil more than twice a year and possibly just once a year. Therefore, the 2 years old oil could be 3 years old by the time I get to them. That is with the hope I don't go picking up new oil while I lurk around Wally or AAP.

I wish my parents let me do oil change for their cars. That would really help me use up my collection and extend the life of their cars with the synthetic stuffs.

I would be nice to have another car to use the oil. Either that or have a oil heater so I don't feel so bad about changing oil often.

Another crazy thing is that I am checking out the Mobil 15W50 oil for heavy equipment and tractor trailer at Wally. They're on sale for 10 bucks a jug. That would really be nice to run that in my Corolla for a trip to Columbia SC or straight to Florida with 70-85 mph (whenever traffic cops allow) and know that the car is still well protected.

 

[crazyoildude]

15w50 in a corolla?? How about 5w30 that would be a better choice 15w50 is too thick you also want the oil thin enough to get to the overhead cam and circulate easily..

 

[chet2]

use up your stash first and dont even look at the 15-50 when you have that much oil...my .02

 

[rclint]

I agree use up the stash, cycle the older oil in first. Also a 0w-20 oil is NOT going to give you any kind of break in gas mileage. I have read many times here that such, and such oil gave better gas mileage... I have yet to see that in any of the Honda's I have driven. I also calculate mileage at every fill.. and always fill the tank every time... I guess I'm just over zealous when it comes to gas mileage !!

You may see a change in gas mileage on any OCI, however keep up with it over several tanks I think you will also see it changes every tank as well. I have seen mileage go up when going to conventional ( Havoline even) from Mobil 1 5w-20 EP which was my last oil change... This was nothing to do with the oil, just a normal variation in gas mileage. I also calculate mileage by hand (small calculator in dash) at every fill... I never trust on board computer for trending fuel economy !!

 

[KrisZ]

I agree with rclint, don't go buying 0W20 for gas mileage, where you have a stash full of quality oils, most likely your gas mileage will not change. If your gas mileage was much better in the past, I would do a tune up, clean the throttle body and run some good fuel system cleaner. Oil is definitely not the cause of bad gas mileage.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
15w50 in a corolla?? How about 5w30 that would be a better choice 15w50 is too thick you also want the oil thin enough to get to the overhead cam and circulate easily..

+1
15w50 is crazy!!!!!!!!!!.Even in Miami junge heat [with the a/c on all time] the Corolla people are running 5w30 and 5w20 for 5K miles with no issues what so ever.

 

[gfh77665]

Originally Posted By: M1Accord

The dilemma is that I still have:

a) 5 quarts of Mobil Clean 5W20 that is 2 years old
b) 10 quarts of Valvoline Synthetic 5W20, also 2 years old
c) 5 quarts of Valvoline Maxlife 5W30, 1.5 years old
d) 10 quarts of Valvoline Synthetic 5W30, 1.5 years old
e) 5 quarts of PP 5W20 about 0.5 year old
and
f) 5 quarts of random oil spread over several 5 gallon jugs I used as top-off oil.


You have EIGHT! oil changes sitting on a shelf, ageing. Use them up in order of the oldest first , and for cryin' out loud, don't buy anymore freakin' oil until you have only one change left!

 

[M1Accord]

I guess you can say I have an oil stash addiction. I had plan to buy another vehicle for the last 4 years but things change and I probably not going to make that leap anytime soon. It was going to be a big engine vehicle such as I6 4.0 liter Jeep or some monster V8. That explains the stash.

I blame AAP for running the specials that include M1 filter with their 5 quarts of oil. The filter itself is 10 bucks at Wally and 14 bucks at AAP. The total is 30 bucks for the 0W20 or 5W20 EP M1. That is hard to pass up.

Even though I moved 40 miles away from work, which used to be 1.5 miles from the apartment, I end up driving less because I am in the city now. I also carpool with 2 other guys so I end up driving only 6 times a month, and all highways. I use the Corolla for cruising around town if I am by myself and the Accord, aka Beast, if I am with family.

There is just something addicting about putting a car on a lift and pour fresh life into the engine. In my opinion, there is no such thing as changing oil too often and the only drawback is lighter wallet. Oil cleans the engine and takes all contamination out when you change it. Maybe I should try to get a part-time gig at Wally oil change place so I change oil more often.

 

[gfh77665]

Originally Posted By: M1Accord
I guess you can say I have an oil stash addiction.

There is just something addicting about putting a car on a lift and pour fresh life into the engine.

In my opinion, there is no such thing as changing oil too often and the only drawback is lighter wallet.


There is MUCH wrong with changing too often!

1) Dry starts: every time an OC is done, a dry start happens. Too many will HURT your engine!

2) Money: WAAAAY too much is wasted on too frequent OC's!

3) Wasting a natural resource: Not only using up new oil, but generating too much old for disposal!

To all: PLEASE get over the stashing-OC-OCD-addictions! They do not help, and only hurt!

 

[biodiesel]

Assuming you're now obsessed with M1 0W20 and want to stockpile, this is easy. Since WalMart will take anything back, even without a receipt, take back the jugs/quarts you have that you don't plan on using like perhaps all the Valvoline and use it as credit in exchange for the 0w20. Just make sure when you walk through the front door to get the jugs "stickered" by the attendant at the front door. Go straight to Customer Service and tell them you bought the wrong oil and would like to trade it out for the proper grade and pay the difference. Problem solved.

 

[biodiesel]

Originally Posted By: gfh77665
Originally Posted By: M1Accord
I guess you can say I have an oil stash addiction.

There is just something addicting about putting a car on a lift and pour fresh life into the engine.

In my opinion, there is no such thing as changing oil too often and the only drawback is lighter wallet.


There is MUCH wrong with changing too often!

1) Dry starts: every time an OC is done, a dry start happens. Too many will HURT your engine!

2) Money: WAAAAY too much is wasted on too frequent OC's!

3) Wasting a natural resource: Not only using up new oil, but generating too much old for disposal!

To all: PLEASE get over the stashing-OC-OCD-addictions! They do not help, and only hurt!

I completely agree with this.

I don't mind your need to stockpile so much as your attitude towards changing the oil too early. Being wasteful in any facet of life is just not a good look.

 

[ahoier]

Originally Posted By: M1Accord
There is just something addicting about putting a car on a lift and pour fresh life into the engine. In my opinion, there is no such thing as changing oil too often and the only drawback is lighter wallet. Oil cleans the engine and takes all contamination out when you change it. Maybe I should try to get a part-time gig at Wally oil change place so I change oil more often.
gfh touched on some reasons for not changing the oil so often already

But yea, I'd think, if you are changing the oil "too often" - you aren't giving the oil a chance to do it's magic; cleaning up the gunk in the crankcase...

And ya, maybe that would be a good idea, look for part time work at a garage that does oil changes

Whether it be Pep Boys, Walmart, Tire Kingdom, etc....I know WM doesn't require any ASE certs; not sure about the other two....though you won't just be doing oil changes, but also trained to fix/patch flat tires, mount/rotate/balance tires, etc....

Biodisel has a good idea

If you are wanting to go with the "new" oil that bad, just take those other un-opnened containers to WM and exchange them; tell them your wife got the wrong oil or something, and they'll take it back, as long as they still sell it...which they should. If yours doesn't allow the exchange, check another Walmart.

 

[M1Accord]

I guess I'll find a way to wipe the magic/permanent market writing off the bottles. I had them labeled with purchase date and car.

I know I am keeping the PP 5W20 because I plan on using it on the Corolla to clean up the engine a bit.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: M1Accord
the Mobil 15W50 oil for heavy equipment and tractor trailer at Wally. They're on sale for 10 bucks a jug.


Man I wish I could`ve scored that at my Walmart! I would`ve bought up their entire stock. I`ve noticed Walmart isn`t carrying any high performance oils any more. Looks like auto parts stores is the only place to get them now. There`s probably just not that much demand for that kind`ve oil as there is for gas mileage oils.

 

[gfh77665]

Originally Posted By: M1Accord
I guess I'll find a way to wipe the magic/permanent market writing off the bottles. I had them labeled with purchase date and car.

I know I am keeping the PP 5W20 because I plan on using it on the Corolla to clean up the engine a bit.


You don't have to go to all that hassle, and try to deal with returning old stuff to WM. Simply STOP BUYING OIL and in a year or two, use your stuff up. The problem will self correct in time, IF you don't slip up! Good luck!

 

[Geonerd]

First off! IMO, 6K OCI is overkill when using any sort of decent syn in an Accord.

15W-50 won't hurt anything,and is not 'crazy,' but is somewhat overkill. Freeway driving is actually rather easy on the oil, you've got moderate revs to build the oil film, and low load to stress it. If it's M1 for $10 bucks, go ahead and buy it all! It makes great top-off oil. You mention that it's truck, etc. oil - sure you don't mean 15W-40?

If your mileage sucks, change your driving habits! LOOK down the road and anticipate traffic and lights. Ease off when it becomes clear that you'll be slowing or stopping soon. Just doing this will increase your city MPG by 20~30%. Freeway mileage is best served by slowing down 5 MPH (or as much as you can stand.) Go chat with the http://www.gassavers.org/index.php crowd.

 

[M1Accord]

My gas mileage sucks because I chose aggressive tire pattern instead of the boring looking Michelin Energy. It litterally robs 2-3 miles per gallon. I drive very gentle most of the time. I only rev it to 3k-4k rpm twice a month for less than 5 seconds to give the engine a chance to use higher rpm for even wear. Since I use full synthetic, it doesn't hurt the engine at all. Otherwise, it stays below 2k rpm most of the time in order to go 50-55 mph so I don't feed the community muscles with badge.