Oil Recommendation 2007 Civic Si Sedan

Schiddy · Dec 21, 2015

1. What kind of vehicle you have
2007 Civic Si Sedan 2.0liter 6speed 97000 miles

2. What your owner's manual says -- not just viscosity, but certifications (look for acronyms like API SM, ILSAC GF-4, etc.) and change intervals as well
5w30 Changed with valvoline synthetic every 5k at valvoline quicklube place

3. Where you live
New England

4. How you drive (easy? hard? fast? slow?)
Medium I guess. Pretty easy but will commute at 75-80mph for 60 miles a day. Vtec rarely.

5. What your daily drive is like (short trips? long trips? city? highway?)
75% highway, 25% city

6. Whether your car has any known problems
Had the car for 3 years, always lost 1/4 to 1/2 court every 5k oil change. After starting new job and commuting 60miles a day the last few months, I went for an oil change and the level was just below the dipstick! The oil light was NOT on. I had the oil changed and monitored. When I check the next 1k miles I had burned 1 quart! After topping off with M1 5w30 for another 1k, I only lost 1/4 a quart. I want to switch over to doing the oil changes myself and possibly send in a sample next change. What synthetic oil should I use?

Delta · Dec 21, 2015

Might be a candidate for T6 5w40, or a 0w40. Highway normally leads to a little oil burning. How many miles on the car?

Schiddy · Dec 21, 2015

97000 miles.

slacktide_bitog · Dec 21, 2015

Your Civic has the maintenance minder, which calculates the appropriate OCI based on your driving conditions. Simply change the oil when it tells you to.

You can use any 5w30, synthetic or dino, for the full interval recommended by the MM.

There's nothing wrong with Valvoline synthetic, and Napa often has their house brand synthetic on sale a few times a year. Napa Synthetic is rebranded Synpower. So if you like it, keep on using it.

Maxlife, also made by Valvoline, would also be a good choice. Specifically designed with high mileage in mind. It might help with the oil burning.

Mr Nice · Dec 21, 2015

Any 5w30 syn oil.

Rolla07 · Dec 21, 2015

No leaks? Just burning it? Thats what you need to find out first. Not sure if it has a PCV valve, another thing thats cheap to replace. The Mobil 5w30 is a good choice, continue with that and see how it goes. Find out why level was so low before masking it by changing oil.

Schiddy · Dec 21, 2015

No leaks that I can find so far. I'll have to Google pcv valve as I don't know how to check that. No spots in the garage but noticed the oil filter had an oil stain on the bottom of it but didn't look like an active leak.

HTSS_TR · Dec 21, 2015

Civic SI with manual transmission turning over 4,000 RPM at 80 MPH, this fairly high RPM will consume some oil in a fairly high mileage engine.

I would try high mileage 5W30(syn or dino) in the next oil change to see if after 2-3 OCI's with high mileage oil the consumption is stopped or reduced.

Yes, check the PCV to make sure it works well, if not replace it with OEM.

dgunay · Dec 21, 2015

You should find the reason behind the oil consumption. 1k to 1 quart is extremely high. Start with the PCV valve first. It is very cheap and easy to change.

PCV was the first thing that I changed right after I bought mine. I've put about 75k miles and it literally has zero oil consumption (6000 mile OCI) no matter what you put in it or how you drive it.

If it doesn't work, you'd try a thick xw30, or xw40.

SatinSilver · Dec 21, 2015

Usually the internal spring breaks around 60k mark with the oem pcv valves. Replace with another oem version.

I solved a consumption issue with a 99 Accord 4cyl by doing the above and topping off with a quart of Maxlife. I caught it early on which I think makes a difference.

SLCraig · Dec 21, 2015

I would keep using the Valvoline synthetic. You can do more than 5K easily, my maintenance minder goes off at around 7K miles on average usually, that's when I change mine.

crazyoildude · Dec 21, 2015

i could be wrong but im pretty sure that cars oil cap calls for 5w20 however many use 5w30 as well

crazyoildude · Dec 21, 2015

Actually the 2.0 uses 5w30 if i remember correctly.

Islandvic · Dec 21, 2015

What does the Valvoline Quick Lube charge for full syn oil change and filter, if you dont mind me asking?

If you try a different oil, will you be performing oil change yourself, or at a service facility?

If you like the service given at the Valvoline Quick Lube, I would ask for their Valvoline MaxLife Synthetic-Blend (red bottle) 5w-30. Then monitor oil level on dipstick every other fuel-up.

If you are able to change oil yourself, if a Wal-Mart is available, try the MaxLife or Pennz Platinum High Milage Synthetic 5w-30. I wouldn't bother with the M1 High Mileage because it is only rated API SL. The SL rating itself isn't bad, but it is a pre-2007 spec and possibly harmful to your '07 spec catalytic converter if your engine burns a lot of oil and used over a period of time.

If you have access to Auto Zones, they are having a synthetic oil clearance on slow moving and soon to be discontinued SKU's for $2/qt.

Some of them include M1 0w-30 AFE & 5w-40 Euro, Castrol Edge Gold Bottle 5w-30 and Edge Black Bottle 0w-30, and Pennz Platinum 5w-30. I would use any of those in your Si. At $2/qt they are a steal, especially if you are having to add oil that the engine consumes during the OCI.

Let us know what you decide .

YouTube will have video on remove/replace PCV. Quick Lube place prob charge $50 or more for parts and labor when you can get it done for under $10 and 10 minutes of your time.

iluvhonda · Dec 22, 2015

1qt to 1k miles on a VTEC motor is within norm range.

dgunay · Dec 22, 2015

Originally Posted By: iluvhonda
1qt to 1k miles on a VTEC motor is within norm range.

Service manual doesn't say anything about oil consumption "norms".

1qt to 1k miles is not normal, especially if it's daily driven and rarely hit vtec, as OP mentioned. You don't even have to change the oil. Just top it off every 1k and you're good to go.

K23Turbo · Dec 22, 2015

Used to have the same car and model year. Have run M1EP, PP, and they worked great as expected. The car seem to like the Kendall Blend and full synthetic as well.

flatlandtacoma · Dec 22, 2015

Originally Posted By: Schiddy
No leaks that I can find so far. I'll have to Google pcv valve as I don't know how to check that. No spots in the garage but noticed the oil filter had an oil stain on the bottom of it but didn't look like an active leak.

PCV valve is circled on the left. Yours will have a hose between the two circled connections. It's not easy to check without removing it. If you remove it you might as well replace it.

If the oil is going through your PCV, switching to HM oil won't change anything.

Merkava_4 · Dec 22, 2015

Originally Posted By: flatlandtacoma
PCV valve is circled on the left.

What size socket fits on there ? I'm guessing 17mm.

flatlandtacoma · Dec 22, 2015

Sounds right. Would have to be a deep one if you use a socket.

Oil Recommendation 2007 Civic Si Sedan

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