Oil Choice For New Honda 3.5L

[JWC86]

Ok so I feel a little silly starting a "what oil" thread as I've always been in the camp of using any approved synthetic and change it often.

But having a brand new car and the fact modern engines with "tech" like DI, VCM and turbos(no turbo here) have me possibly reconsidering.

The Car:
2025 Honda Pilot
J35Y8 - 3.5L DI, No Turbo, Cylinder deactivation.
These engines aren't known to be fuel diluters or oil burners that I'm aware of.

Climate:
Northern Alberta, Canada
Winter temps can get as low as -40C/F, common winter temps around -20C/-4F
Summer temps can get to 35-40C/ 95-105F but 20-25C/68-77F is norm.

Use case:
This will be my wife's car / family wagon.
99% Short trips, she works within 5 miles of home, suburb driving speed.
Driving the kids around town, etc
2 or 3 longer road trips a year, 1200mile round trip.

Car is stored in a heated garage in the winter(20C/70F) but is outside while she is at work without the block heater plugged in so it can see some really cold starts.

Annual mileage is 6000-8000 miles.
I change the oil spring and fall so I can entertain a different oil for summer/winter but for the purpose of the thread I would rather just pick one.

Owners Manual calls for API SN 0W20

Options I've been exploring:
Kirkland 0W20 - Simple and cheap, API approved
Mobil 1 ESP 0W20 - Not API approved(only "meets or exceeds), does that matter?
VRP 0W20 - API SP

I was entertaining a 0W30 or 5W30 also, after a lot of research I'm not sure that would be best with the potential for really cold starts but I'm still very much open to the idea.

Kirkland 5W30 - Cheap, I use it in my truck so I always have lots on hand.
VRP 5W30
Mobil 1 0W30 ESP

So that's my list so far, I'm open to other options as well.

For the twice a year I'll be changing the oil the cost doesn't really matter.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Yes, I know any of them will be fine but that isn't what we do here on BITOG is it?

 

[wlk]

Out of your options M1 Esp 0w30

 

[JWC86]

Out of your options M1 Esp 0w30

I'm open to other options FYI

 

[I<3oil]

Honda only says API seal, they’re not picky like others. ESP20 is your best bet if you want to stay in grade for warranty.

 

[trd1zz]

VRP 0w20

 

[JWC86]

Honda only says API seal, they’re not picky like others. ESP20 is your best bet if you want to stay in grade for warranty.

I didn't think the ESP 0W20 had the seal, I'll have to look into that. I assumed "the seal" means approval.

 

[JWC86]

VRP 0w20

It is tempting, I have VRP 5W30 in my truck right now. I like the idea that the crankcase should stay very clean using VRP but I haven't been able to find a VOA for VRP 0W20 to see how it compares.

 

[GSCJR]

M1 Esp 0w30

+1

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Anything on that list should be fine.

During the warranty, use any synthetic 0w20. After the warranty is over, use 5w30 or 0w30.

Can you get a muzzler in Canada?

 

[JWC86]

Anything on that list should be fine.

During the warranty, use any synthetic 0w20. After the warranty is over, use 5w30 or 0w30.

Can you get a muzzler in Canada?

Can get them in Canada but they don't exist for the J35Y8 engine.

 

[Carlostrece]

There's various lines of thought (philosophies) that various people follow.

There's the "use only OEM" crowd, especially among Honda owners. There OEM Genuine Honda motor oil for that crowd. I'm sure it's good oil, but is it better for Honda? I doubt it. The OEM only view is prevalent at Honda forums, but not at BITOG. I would not use OEM Genuine Honda motor oil because it's too expensive and I don't think it's superior, though I'm sure it is good.

There's the use "only oil made for Japanese cars" crowd. For that there's Idemitsu motor oil. The Japanese oil only crowd is prevalent at Honda forums, but not at BITOG. I think this is a good option (IMO) because it's reasonably affordable, good oil, and is optimized for Japanese cars. So I'm in this camp.

There's the "use only Euro approved oil" crowd, which is prevalent at BITOG. Euro approved oil is very good, but it tends to be expensive and is unnecessary for Japanese and American cars, IMO.

Then there's the "use any good oil good that's affordable" crowd. This typically means any good oil that's affordable at Walmart, which is usually a good American oil. An example is Quaker State Ultimate Protection Full Synthetic sold at Walmart. I'm in this camp.

Then there's the "use the cheapest oil available" crowd. Examples are storebrands Walmart Supertech oil, Costco Kirkland oil, Amazon Basics oil, Oreilly oil. I think those 4 are the same oil all made by Warren, but with different storebrand labels on them. Independent tests have shown these storebrand oils to be average oils (performing average in tests). Napa storebrand oil is an exception because (according to Lake Speed Jr testing video) Napa oil scored above average in tests.

If you use the appropriate viscosity, any certified brand is fine. Choosing the best viscosity is a different topic for a separate thread.

For your Honda, I'd use Idemitsu from NAPA (or wherever) or Quaker State Ultimate Protection Full Synthetic from Walmart. Why? Because I think those are above average motor oils available for good prices.

There are also many other good, affordable oils to choose from.

Euro oils may be better, but they're unnecessary and cost more.

Those are my opinions. Others may have other opinions.

 

[Analog-1]

I'm open to other options FYI

The best option. Use what Honda recommends case closed. This is not rocket science.

 

[wlk]

Havoline Synthetic Lifelong 5w30, VRP 5w30 if you want 1 for all, QSFS Ultimate 5w30, PP Euro L 5w30, M1/Castrol 0w40

I'm open to other options FYI

 

[I<3oil]

The best option. Use what Honda recommends case closed. This is not rocket science.

So, an API seal oil?

 

[I<3oil]

I didn't think the ESP 0W20 had the seal, I'll have to look into that. I assumed "the seal" means approval.

Unsure if it does or not. I’d still use it.

 

[JimPghPA]

Do a yt video search for "pennzoil cold flow test". There a video about 21:56 long where that man with the big rough red beard does cold flow testing. Pennzoil platinum flowed the best out of all the pennzoil types he tested.

At minus 40, I would think cold flow would be at the top of the list regarding why an oil is chosen.

I don't know about other brands re cold flow. Years ago Mobil had some of the best cold flow oil. Today, I'm not sure.

 

[Nessism1]

Use case:
This will be my wife's car / family wagon.
99% Short trips, she works within 5 miles of home, suburb driving speed.
Driving the kids around town, etc
2 or 3 longer road trips a year, 1200mile round trip.

Car is stored in a heated garage in the winter(20C/70F) but is outside while she is at work without the block heater plugged in so it can see some really cold starts.

Annual mileage is 6000-8000 miles.
I change the oil spring and fall so I can entertain a different oil for summer/winter but for the purpose of the thread I would rather just pick one.

Owners Manual calls for API SN 0W20

Given the short change interval, short trip usage, I'd use whatever 0W-20 you prefer. Kirkland would be fine, as will other oils.

My suggestion to stay thin is based on the short trip usage. You could bump to 30 weight in summer, before your long trips, but I don't think it's necessary.

 

[Nuclear_42]

M1 ESP 0W-30

 

[facility1]

Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 0w-20 would be a good choice and even after break in the 5w-30 would be fine over summer months, very fine oil and is available at WM or other places, Fram ultra filters or oem.you may want to check ccs and mrv viscosity's also if comparing to other oils. pour points dont tell you everything how the oil may pump/flow in very cold situations including normal temp start up, . usually, the higher the hths can affect this too. Providing the oil blender gives the proper ccs&mrv specs.in the viscosity you chose.

 

[factorytuned2012]

Ok so I feel a little silly starting a "what oil" thread as I've always been in the camp of using any approved synthetic and change it often.

But having a brand new car and the fact modern engines with "tech" like DI, VCM and turbos(no turbo here) have me possibly reconsidering.

The Car:
2025 Honda Pilot
J35Y8 - 3.5L DI, No Turbo, Cylinder deactivation.
These engines aren't known to be fuel diluters or oil burners that I'm aware of.

Climate:
Northern Alberta, Canada
Winter temps can get as low as -40C/F, common winter temps around -20C/-4F
Summer temps can get to 35-40C/ 95-105F but 20-25C/68-77F is norm.

Use case:
This will be my wife's car / family wagon.
99% Short trips, she works within 5 miles of home, suburb driving speed.
Driving the kids around town, etc
2 or 3 longer road trips a year, 1200mile round trip.

Car is stored in a heated garage in the winter(20C/70F) but is outside while she is at work without the block heater plugged in so it can see some really cold starts.

Annual mileage is 6000-8000 miles.
I change the oil spring and fall so I can entertain a different oil for summer/winter but for the purpose of the thread I would rather just pick one.

Owners Manual calls for API SN 0W20

Options I've been exploring:
Kirkland 0W20 - Simple and cheap, API approved
Mobil 1 ESP 0W20 - Not API approved(only "meets or exceeds), does that matter?
VRP 0W20 - API SP

I was entertaining a 0W30 or 5W30 also, after a lot of research I'm not sure that would be best with the potential for really cold starts but I'm still very much open to the idea.

Kirkland 5W30 - Cheap, I use it in my truck so I always have lots on hand.
VRP 5W30
Mobil 1 0W30 ESP

So that's my list so far, I'm open to other options as well.

For the twice a year I'll be changing the oil the cost doesn't really matter.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Yes, I know any of them will be fine but that isn't what we do here on BITOG is it?

I like Hondas recommendation and following the manual