Hello. I would like some opinions on the oil change interval on one of my vehicles. I have a 96' Prelude VTEC that takes 10w30 oil. The manufacturer recommends oil change intervals of 7500 miles or 6 months. Since I bought the car back in 2006, I've only put around 10,000 miles on it. I just changed the oil (Peak Synthetic)at the beginning of December and I'm positive I'm not going to drive more than 7500 miles in it for the entire year. Should I stick with an oil change at 6 months or can I push it to an oil change at the end of the year? Thanks!
Oil change interval
- Thread starter termigator
- Start date
- Status
There is no reason why you cant go at least one year before changing your oil. I have been doing 15,000 OCI for the last ten years.
Since your running synthetic, do 7500 or 1 year.
Why not use the specced 5w30, since your using synthetic.
Why not use the specced 5w30, since your using synthetic.
Originally Posted By: randomhero439
Since your running synthetic, do 7500 or 1 year.
Why not use the specced 5w30, since your using synthetic.
What's "specced 5w30"?
Honda does recommend 5w30 for temps below freezing, but I live in Florida and the temps here rarely go below 30. I would love to use 5w30 (I have around 75 quarts of Valvoline Synpower 5w30 stocked up for another vehicle), but I'm not sure if it would protect the engine better at start up (my main concern) compared to 10w30.
Since your running synthetic, do 7500 or 1 year.
Why not use the specced 5w30, since your using synthetic.
What's "specced 5w30"?
Honda does recommend 5w30 for temps below freezing, but I live in Florida and the temps here rarely go below 30. I would love to use 5w30 (I have around 75 quarts of Valvoline Synpower 5w30 stocked up for another vehicle), but I'm not sure if it would protect the engine better at start up (my main concern) compared to 10w30.
Originally Posted By: termigator
Originally Posted By: randomhero439
Since your running synthetic, do 7500 or 1 year.
Why not use the specced 5w30, since your using synthetic.
What's "specced 5w30"?
Honda does recommend 5w30 for temps below freezing, but I live in Florida and the temps here rarely go below 30. I would love to use 5w30 (I have around 75 quarts of Valvoline Synpower 5w30 stocked up for another vehicle), but I'm not sure if it would protect the engine better at start up (my main concern) compared to 10w30.
"Specced 5W30" means "according to the manufacturer's specifications." 5W30 oils weren't quite as robust as 10W30 when your Honda was built, but lubrication has come a long way since then.
5W oils typically provide better startup protection than 10W oils. Not always, but usually. Your Synpower stash will be GREAT for a 1-year OCI in your application.
Originally Posted By: randomhero439
Since your running synthetic, do 7500 or 1 year.
Why not use the specced 5w30, since your using synthetic.
What's "specced 5w30"?
Honda does recommend 5w30 for temps below freezing, but I live in Florida and the temps here rarely go below 30. I would love to use 5w30 (I have around 75 quarts of Valvoline Synpower 5w30 stocked up for another vehicle), but I'm not sure if it would protect the engine better at start up (my main concern) compared to 10w30.
"Specced 5W30" means "according to the manufacturer's specifications." 5W30 oils weren't quite as robust as 10W30 when your Honda was built, but lubrication has come a long way since then.
5W oils typically provide better startup protection than 10W oils. Not always, but usually. Your Synpower stash will be GREAT for a 1-year OCI in your application.
Use your 5W30 synpower, change the oil once a year or every 7500 miles and your engine will far outlast the rest of the car. Just make sure you keep checking the oil level.
So, I can just use 5w30 as long as it's a reputable synthetic?
Originally Posted By: yesthatsteve
5W oils typically provide better startup protection than 10W oils. Not always, but usually. Your Synpower stash will be GREAT for a 1-year OCI in your application.
Totally agree.
5W oils typically provide better startup protection than 10W oils. Not always, but usually. Your Synpower stash will be GREAT for a 1-year OCI in your application.
Totally agree.
Originally Posted By: termigator
So, I can just use 5w30 as long as it's a reputable synthetic?
This applies to conventional only: Reason 10w30 is recommended is because it breaksdown to a 10 grade. If the oil breaks down sooner than expected, its better to have a 10 grade than a 5 grade. Now in winter, this added breakdown "protection" is forfeited for easier startup and less wear. Honda has always and still does recommend conventional
For synthetics, this is not the case. Synthetic never really breaksdown like conventional, additives just wear out. So with synthetic, use the lowest starting grade specced. In your case its 5w30
So, I can just use 5w30 as long as it's a reputable synthetic?
This applies to conventional only: Reason 10w30 is recommended is because it breaksdown to a 10 grade. If the oil breaks down sooner than expected, its better to have a 10 grade than a 5 grade. Now in winter, this added breakdown "protection" is forfeited for easier startup and less wear. Honda has always and still does recommend conventional
For synthetics, this is not the case. Synthetic never really breaksdown like conventional, additives just wear out. So with synthetic, use the lowest starting grade specced. In your case its 5w30
Last edited:
So, I just got back a reply from an Amsoil technical advisor I emailed last Friday and he pretty much said the same thing everybody said here. I can just use 5w30. I had actually just bought 10 quarts of Castrol Edge with Titanium 10w30 at Advance Auto (couldn't resist the sale!). After hearing from the Amsoil guy and reading the replies here, I just returned the 10w30 and exchanged them for 5w30. Thanks for the inputs!
Originally Posted By: Oldasco
Holy mackerel termigator, you've already got 75 quarts of Valvoline Synpower 5w30, why are you buying more oil when you have more than you need already? Waste not, want not!
I just can't pass up a good deal. About 2 or 3 years ago, Advance Auto had a BOGO for the Synpower. Regular price was between 6 & 7 dollars. Since I thought BOGO's for synthetic oil was extremely rare, I though I'd stock up. I actually started with close to 100 quarts. I've done 4 oil changes on my other car (08' IS350. 2 oil changes a year). You probably think I'm crazy (my wife definitely does!), but I also have 114 quarts of 5w20 oil (30 qts. of Havoline conventional at $2.45 clearance price at Advance, 77 qts. of Peak Synthetic at $2.99 clearance at Advance and 7 qts. of Motorcraft Synthetic Blend at $3.50 from Walmart). The 5w20 goes a lot quicker because my wife puts around 26,000 miles a year on her Accord (07' V6. It currently sits at 125,500 miles and will be needing an oil change in the coming week.
Holy mackerel termigator, you've already got 75 quarts of Valvoline Synpower 5w30, why are you buying more oil when you have more than you need already? Waste not, want not!
I just can't pass up a good deal. About 2 or 3 years ago, Advance Auto had a BOGO for the Synpower. Regular price was between 6 & 7 dollars. Since I thought BOGO's for synthetic oil was extremely rare, I though I'd stock up. I actually started with close to 100 quarts. I've done 4 oil changes on my other car (08' IS350. 2 oil changes a year). You probably think I'm crazy (my wife definitely does!), but I also have 114 quarts of 5w20 oil (30 qts. of Havoline conventional at $2.45 clearance price at Advance, 77 qts. of Peak Synthetic at $2.99 clearance at Advance and 7 qts. of Motorcraft Synthetic Blend at $3.50 from Walmart). The 5w20 goes a lot quicker because my wife puts around 26,000 miles a year on her Accord (07' V6. It currently sits at 125,500 miles and will be needing an oil change in the coming week.
Originally Posted By: jegs
Wow.
You should see my wax/sealant collection.
Wow.
You should see my wax/sealant collection.
"""For synthetics, this is not the case. Synthetic never really breaksdown like conventional, additives just wear out. So with synthetic, use the lowest starting grade specced. In your case its 5w30"""
WHAT THE ?
This is entirely false information!
Ever seen M-1 0-40 viscosity after 5K tough miles?
WHAT THE ?
This is entirely false information!
Ever seen M-1 0-40 viscosity after 5K tough miles?
Originally Posted By: steve20
"""For synthetics, this is not the case. Synthetic never really breaksdown like conventional, additives just wear out. So with synthetic, use the lowest starting grade specced. In your case its 5w30"""
WHAT THE ?
This is entirely false information!
Ever seen M-1 0-40 viscosity after 5K tough miles?
I guess i've been lied to by many people on this site...
"""For synthetics, this is not the case. Synthetic never really breaksdown like conventional, additives just wear out. So with synthetic, use the lowest starting grade specced. In your case its 5w30"""
WHAT THE ?
This is entirely false information!
Ever seen M-1 0-40 viscosity after 5K tough miles?
I guess i've been lied to by many people on this site...
Originally Posted By: steve20
"""For synthetics, this is not the case. Synthetic never really breaksdown like conventional, additives just wear out. So with synthetic, use the lowest starting grade specced. In your case its 5w30"""
WHAT THE ?
This is entirely false information!
Ever seen M-1 0-40 viscosity after 5K tough miles?
What about it? I use it in my Jeep for 15,000 miles.
"""For synthetics, this is not the case. Synthetic never really breaksdown like conventional, additives just wear out. So with synthetic, use the lowest starting grade specced. In your case its 5w30"""
WHAT THE ?
This is entirely false information!
Ever seen M-1 0-40 viscosity after 5K tough miles?
What about it? I use it in my Jeep for 15,000 miles.
Yeah so. What about it? I use it for 15,000 miles in the Jeep. Has not giving me any problems.
- Status