Oil Choice For New Honda 3.5L

[JWC86]

Wow, lots of great info here guys, thanks very much. I don’t have time to respond to some of the individual replies currently but I will come back and do so later.

Currently I’m liking the idea of just running VRP 0W20 since it is API aprroved.

My wife picked the car up today while I was working. They did the usual “dealership experience(BS)” where they introduce you to the service department. One of the advisers told my wife that she would need to have it serviced there or the warranty would be void. She knows better and told him I would be doing the oil changes myself. He then told her that I would have to use OEM filters or it would void the warrenty for sure. Then she asked which it was? Does she have to have it serviced there or just use Honda filters to which he replied she should probably just have it serviced there so it’s recorded in their system. If it isn’t in there system she would be denied warranty. At this point she was done with his BS and just left.

So now I will have to take a copy of the Canadian Consumer Protection Act to them and explain that they cannot deny warranty for DIY service as long as I have proof it was done(receipts and records kept) and that I use OEM approved oil.

So not the start I was looking to have with this service department but that’s the way it goes I guess.

 

[Carlostrece]

OEM Genuine Honda motor oil is made by Idemitsu. It's the same motor oil, but it's cheaper when purchased with Idemitsu name on the bottle. Rockauto, NAPA and some other autostores sell Idemitsu oils. Oreilly does not.

OEM Genuine Toyota motor oil is made by Mobil (according to Lake Speed Jr). At least for Toyota oil sold in USA. It might differ elsewhere in the world. As far as I know, all Toyota oil is synthetic oil. It's Mobil 1 oil in a Toyota bottle. You can buy the same oil for less money by buying Mobil 1 from Walmart.

I'm not suggesting anyone needs to limit themselves to those car brand OEM motor oils, but if you want to stay with them, then I suggest buying them from lower cost sources as I described.

 

[cheesepuffs2]

OEM Genuine Honda motor oil is made by Idemitsu. It's the same motor oil, but it's cheaper when purchased with Idemitsu name on the bottle. Rockauto, NAPA and some other autostores sell Idemitsu oils. Oreilly does not.

OEM Genuine Toyota motor oil is made by Mobil (according to Lake Speed Jr). At least for Toyota oil sold in USA. It might differ elsewhere in the world. As far as I know, all Toyota oil is synthetic oil. It's Mobil 1 oil in a Toyota bottle. You can buy the same oil for less money by buying Mobil 1 from Walmart.

I'm not suggesting anyone needs to limit themselves to those car brand OEM motor oils, but if you want to stay with them, then I suggest buying them from lower cost sources as I described.

As mentioned here in this thread, and what I believed to be true for a long time too, is that Honda OEM oil at least for the US market is sourced from Phillips 66. Do you have anything citing it's by Idetmitsu now?

Also, TGMO is produced by Mobil but VOA shows that it is not the same as Mobil 1 in a different bottle.

 

[Carlostrece]

As mentioned here in this thread, and what I believed to be true for a long time too, is that Honda OEM oil at least for the US market is sourced from Phillips 66. Do you have anything citing it's by Idetmitsu now?

Also, TGMO is produced by Mobil but VOA shows that it is not the same as Mobil 1 in a different bottle.

Idemitsu defineately makes Genuine Honda oils (motor oil, ATF, PSF, gear oil, etc). I know that because it's common knowledge at a Honda forum I belong to and because when I downloaded Honda PSF & ATF data sheets I saw the Idemitsu logo and name at top left corner of the Honda PSF & ATF data sheets. Also, see the Youtube video in the next post about Honda motor oil.

As for Mobil making Toyota oil... AFAIK Genuine Toyota motor oil and Mobil 1 use the same base oils. You might be correct in saying the additive package is somewhat diiferent. For the sake of discussion, let's assume the additive package is different. So what? Different does not mean it's better or worse. It means a different approach was used. Both approaches can be good. Do you think Toyota knows more about making oil than Mobil does? Mobil made the Toyota oil with the additives that Toyota requested. If Toyota and Mobil 1 oils have some differences in additives, I'm equally confident in both brands of oil. Also, having the same or very similar base oils would make them similar. I have equal confidence in both, but M1 costs less at Walmart.

 

[Carlostrece]

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

M1 FS 0w40. It literally satisfies 95%+ recommendations for certifications or approvals for gas vehicles. If you want “fancy”, use one of the ESP line offerings.

 

[rstcso]

Currently I’m liking the idea of just running VRP 0W20 since it is API aprroved.

You can sleep good at night with this choice.

My wife picked the car up today while I was working. They did the usual “dealership experience(BS)” where they introduce you to the service department. One of the advisers told my wife that she would need to have it serviced there or the warranty would be void. She knows better and told him I would be doing the oil changes myself. He then told her that I would have to use OEM filters or it would void the warrenty for sure. Then she asked which it was? Does she have to have it serviced there or just use Honda filters to which he replied she should probably just have it serviced there so it’s recorded in their system. If it isn’t in there system she would be denied warranty. At this point she was done with his BS and just left.

So now I will have to take a copy of the Canadian Consumer Protection Act to them and explain that they cannot deny warranty for DIY service as long as I have proof it was done(receipts and records kept) and that I use OEM approved oil.

Honda's MyGarage allows you to enter all self-service work you've done on your vehicle. So does Carfax. You can upload receipts, put in notes, etc. I now makes entries in both and also started keeping a three-ring binder with all the purchase receipts and any other data I want to preserve. When you take your Pilot into the dealer for service and they pull up the service history, all your entries will be there for them to see in all their glory.

In regards to self-service Carfax entries, this is what Carfax says about visibility to others.

"When log in to CARFAX Car Care, you can add your own service records, including records for services that you've completed yourself. Simply click on the "Add Service Record" button in your Service History. However, this information will not be included on the CARFAX Vehicle History Report."

Congratulations on your new Pilot. My wife is loving it more each time she drives it.

 

[factorytuned2012]

I can’t argue with you about that. Pilot brakes are not very good. It’s a heavy SUV, and the OEM brakes could be better.

Semi metallic up front can give that extra bite

 

[factorytuned2012]

It may matter by region where manufacturers source their oil from. Nissans made in the states had gotten Exxon Mobil oil in the past and from some digging Japan built engines get idemitsu/eneos. If I’m wrong feed me the correct beans I’m always willing to learn something. So some Hondas may get ConocoPhillips some idemitsu and rumor maybe Mobil factory fill.

 

[Analog-1]

onda recommends only using OEM Genuine Honda fluids, including OEM Genuine Honda brand motor oil of X viscosity. Are you saying to use that brand and viscosity, or are you say to use that viscosity in whatever brand?

Yes if Honda recommends a 0w/20 than use a known decent 0w/20 oil it don't have to be Honda oil. I have seen many many Hondas with 300.000 to 400.000 miles on them all using 0w/20 there entire life with no issues related to oil.

 

[JWC86]

You can sleep good at night with this choice.


Honda's MyGarage allows you to enter all self-service work you've done on your vehicle. So does Carfax. You can upload receipts, put in notes, etc. I now makes entries in both and also started keeping a three-ring binder with all the purchase receipts and any other data I want to preserve. When you take your Pilot into the dealer for service and they pull up the service history, all your entries will be there for them to see in all their glory.

In regards to self-service Carfax entries, this is what Carfax says about visibility to others.

"When log in to CARFAX Car Care, you can add your own service records, including records for services that you've completed yourself. Simply click on the "Add Service Record" button in your Service History. However, this information will not be included on the CARFAX Vehicle History Report."

Congratulations on your new Pilot. My wife is loving it more each time she drives it.

Great info about the My Garage, I will do that for sure!

 

[melk]

A somewhat higher HT/HS and the proven performance of the approvals the oil holds. But that may or may not matter.

Thanks. That actually puts my mind at ease about using VRP as my standard oil across the fleet.

 

[rstcso]

Thanks. That actually puts my mind at ease about using VRP as my standard oil across the fleet.

I wish I hadn't overthought my oil choices, having gone the boutique route. VRP would most likely have been my choice and 5k OCI, regardless if the OLM showed 60% remaining.

 

[kschachn]

Thanks. That actually puts my mind at ease about using VRP as my standard oil across the fleet.

Sure, it is an API SP licensed oil. If that's appropriate across the fleet then there's no reason not to use it.

 

[trd1zz]

Nothing is wrong with OEM Genuine Honda oil. As I said earlier, it's good oil, but I don't think it's superior oil, and it does has a high price. The price is my issue with it. It costs more, but I don't think the extra cost is justified.

That said, it's a good oil if you want to use it, and if the price is acceptable to you.

Understood, so your reason not to use it is cost. Wanted to make sure there wasn't any quality issues being seen with the OEM Genuine Honda oil.

 

[trd1zz]

OEM Genuine Honda motor oil is made by Idemitsu. It's the same motor oil, but it's cheaper when purchased with Idemitsu name on the bottle. Rockauto, NAPA and some other autostores sell Idemitsu oils. Oreilly does not.

OEM Genuine Toyota motor oil is made by Mobil (according to Lake Speed Jr). At least for Toyota oil sold in USA. It might differ elsewhere in the world. As far as I know, all Toyota oil is synthetic oil. It's Mobil 1 oil in a Toyota bottle. You can buy the same oil for less money by buying Mobil 1 from Walmart.

I'm not suggesting anyone needs to limit themselves to those car brand OEM motor oils, but if you want to stay with them, then I suggest buying them from lower cost sources as I described.

I buy Toyota Genuine motor oil by the 6 quart case online from my local Toyota dealer for in store pickup. The price is like $24 for the case (5w30). Stock up during a 25% off sale and it's less than $20 / 6 quart case. Can you find Mobil 1 that cheap? Not to mention the Toyota Genuine motor oil is not the same as Mobil 1 formula.

 

[rstcso]

Understood, so your reason not to use it is cost. Wanted to make sure there wasn't any quality issues being seen with the OEM Genuine Honda oil.

I would think if there was a problem with Honda oil, Honda dealers wouldn't be using it. Then again, their bulk tanks may be refilled regularly from "Joe's Custom Blended Motor Oil & Salvage Yard". No offense to the Joes out there.

 

[trd1zz]

I would think if there was a problem with Honda oil, Honda dealers wouldn't be using it. Then again, their bulk tanks may be refilled regularly from "Joe's Custom Blended Motor Oil & Salvage Yard". No offense to the Joes out there.

Honda dealers are selling it, but the techs are more than likely not using it on your car when it's serviced. Who knows what their bulk stock actually is.

 

[Nessism1]

It may matter by region where manufacturers source their oil from. Nissans made in the states had gotten Exxon Mobil oil in the past and from some digging Japan built engines get idemitsu/eneos. If I’m wrong feed me the correct beans I’m always willing to learn something. So some Hondas may get ConocoPhillips some idemitsu and rumor maybe Mobil factory fill.

Some years back I knew some guys working at Nissan's Decherd engine plant. I forgot where they sourced the oil, but I do know that they occasionally changed based on price. Contract comes up, out for bid, lowest bidder wins.

Even further back, before Nissan sold oil to dealers/customers, Nissan-Japan insisted that all Nissan branded oil must have some specific additive. This must have been early 1990's, or so. The special additive had to be imported, adding extra cost to the oil. That didn't last long; the formula was switched to something more easily sourced in the states. Maybe Honda and Toyota are more picky than Nissan, insisting on specific additives? I seriously doubt either imports oil, though.

 

[rstcso]

Even further back, before Nissan sold oil to dealers/customers, Nissan-Japan insisted that all Nissan branded oil must have some specific additive.

Authorized VW/Audi 508.00/509.00 spec oils have a blue dye, and perhaps other markers which can be found in testing (so I read on the internet).