Oil Thread on DriveAccord.net will make you cringe

[randomhero439]

I stumbled across this page. Eventually (page 4) the dumb guy gets put in his place

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showthread.php?t=11791

Quote:
not unless ur climate is VERY cold... go with the manufactures specs... the 0 is the weight of the oil cold... 0 weight is almost like water... it doesnt have the viscosity to hold ur engines components on the cushion of oil that they need... since u do live in mass and it does get decently cold in the winter... u can run 0-30 during the coldest part of the winter... then run the spec (im guessing 5-30) during the summer

 

[KD0AXS]

There's garbage like this all over on the Internet. Just the other day I came across a guy that thinks he's doing his engine huge favors by running full synthetic oil, and he insists on changing it every 3 months and only puts on about 1500 miles. Trying to tell them otherwise is like pulling teeth, they just say "it's cheap insurance". I wouldn't exactly call a 1500 mile OCI on full synthetic "cheap" insurance.

 

[KD0AXS]

Oops, double post.

 

[Coprolite]

It would be cheap insurance if the guy misses an oil change for some reason.

When I compare oil price to fuel and bank payments, it is "cheap".

 

[raffy]

What I find interesting in that thread, though, is the claim that the Accord calls for 5W-20 in the US and apparently 5W-40 in Europe and Japan. They were assuming that the engine is basically the same. Can anyone verify or deny this with solid evidence? I think that was the basis of the OP's post in that thread, so I wouldn't be too hard on those folks, although they did make some really dumb statements about oil viscosities. So the question is, are the engines the same? The 5W-40 might be for a diesel engine as opposed to gas; I've seen a few diesel powered Toyotas and Hondas in Europe, which we have none of here in the USA.

 

[GearheadTool]

Originally Posted By: randomhero439
I stumbled across this page. Eventually (page 4) the dumb guy gets put in his place

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showthread.php?t=11791

Quote:
not unless ur climate is VERY cold... go with the manufactures specs... the 0 is the weight of the oil cold... 0 weight is almost like water... it doesnt have the viscosity to hold ur engines components on the cushion of oil that they need... since u do live in mass and it does get decently cold in the winter... u can run 0-30 during the coldest part of the winter... then run the spec (im guessing 5-30) during the summer

Every "mechanic" i have talked to echoes this. One even has misspelled woring on the side of his shop.

The thing is, nothing ever goes wrong and the customers swear by the advice.

This is why we get so many miseducations about motor oil. I was even able eo educate a consumer in the Walmart oil isle for her Ford Explorer, to buy 5-30 in winder.. she was going to go 10W-30 or 10W-40, i explained that "they would work, yes, but 5w30 would work better if everything in the engine is ok."

 

[Rolla07]

Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
There's garbage like this all over on the Internet. Just the other day I came across a guy that thinks he's doing his engine huge favors by running full synthetic oil, and he insists on changing it every 3 months and only puts on about 1500 miles. Trying to tell them otherwise is like pulling teeth, they just say "it's cheap insurance". I wouldn't exactly call a 1500 mile OCI on full synthetic "cheap" insurance.


Its not about price. thats plain wasteful and bad for the environment. and wont do anything for his car. all one has to do is direct him to this forum to read uoa's. its not just about money all the time...

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
There's garbage like this all over on the Internet. Just the other day I came across a guy that thinks he's doing his engine huge favors by running full synthetic oil, and he insists on changing it every 3 months and only puts on about 1500 miles. Trying to tell them otherwise is like pulling teeth, they just say "it's cheap insurance". I wouldn't exactly call a 1500 mile OCI on full synthetic "cheap" insurance.



Originally Posted By: Coprolite
It would be cheap insurance if the guy misses an oil change for some reason.

When I compare oil price to fuel and bank payments, it is "cheap".


If he missed an oil change it would still be only 6 months/3000 miles on the current interval. Unless it's a vehicle that has special requirements, even conventional oil can easily do that with plenty of room to spare.

But if you feel that using overpriced oil and changing it out at 1500 mile intervals is cheap insurance, by all means knock yourself out. I'll continue to use a conventional and change it every 6 months (regardless of mileage). I'll agree with KD0AXS-it's foolish and a complete waste.

And no, I'm not foolish enough to be wrapped up in bank payments, and my daily driver is pretty fuel efficient so I'm not concerned about fuel costs.

 

[GearheadTool]

I successfully converted a family member to the 5k OCI, as well as 5w30 motor oil. They still think Synthetics will RUIN an engine, yes, RUIN it.

I even talked this person out of a "relapse" to RUN to the dealer and NOT EVEN DRIVE THE CAR because it was a week past a three month change......................................................

Matter of fact, let me go check up on that oil level. I topped up a quart for this person.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: Coprolite
It would be cheap insurance if the guy misses an oil change for some reason.

When I compare oil price to fuel and bank payments, it is "cheap".
+1 It doesn't do any harm.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: Rolla07
Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
There's garbage like this all over on the Internet. Just the other day I came across a guy that thinks he's doing his engine huge favors by running full synthetic oil, and he insists on changing it every 3 months and only puts on about 1500 miles. Trying to tell them otherwise is like pulling teeth, they just say "it's cheap insurance". I wouldn't exactly call a 1500 mile OCI on full synthetic "cheap" insurance.


Its not about price. thats plain wasteful and bad for the environment. and wont do anything for his car. all one has to do is direct him to this forum to read uoa's. its not just about money all the time...
It won't hurt the car. Better than throwing in a bunch of rebranded paint thinner "additive" .

 

[FowVay]

I had to replace the oil pump in my 1997 Nissan cheapy pickup truck at 239,000 miles. After going inside of the engine and seeing the dirt that wasn't visible through the valve cover I am wishing that the oil had been changed more frequently over the past 16 years. Nissan says to change it at 3750 miles for severe service. This will be my interval going forward.

Sure, maybe having a quarter of a million miles on a engine isn't what most people consider the norm but once it's worn out it's too late to look back and say that I shouldn't have done those 10,000 mile drain intervals.

A ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: raffy
What I find interesting in that thread, though, is the claim that the Accord calls for 5W-20 in the US and apparently 5W-40 in Europe and Japan. They were assuming that the engine is basically the same. Can anyone verify or deny this with solid evidence?


Well, it's the "same engine", though I don't know if any internals are different.

This has been a personal interest of mine as of late. For instance, if you look up a 2008 Honda CR-V on ExxonMobil's (XOM's) US site, it recommends either 0W-20 or 5W-20. We all know that nearly every Honda in the US has called for a 20 grade of some kind since over a decade ago. But if you look up a 2008 Honda CR-V "2.4 Petrol" on XOM's UK site, it recommends 0W-30 or 5w30. It's "the same" 2.4L 4-cylinder engine that we have here, though again, I couldn't prove that anything is or is not different inside.

Some Acura 3.5L engines in the UK, according to XOM's UK site, truly do call for a 0W- or 5W-40. Our Acura MDX calls for 5W-20. "Same" 3.5L V-6 engine.

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Synthetics/Mobil_1_Wear_Prevention.aspx

XOM apparently ran M1 5w30 in a 2010 Accord LX 4-cylinder for many miles and measured wear. Why 5w30? This car calls for 5W-20 in the US. Is it because it calls for 5w30 everywhere else in the world? I think that's a rhetorical question, but I'm not sure.

 

[KD0AXS]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Originally Posted By: Rolla07
Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
There's garbage like this all over on the Internet. Just the other day I came across a guy that thinks he's doing his engine huge favors by running full synthetic oil, and he insists on changing it every 3 months and only puts on about 1500 miles. Trying to tell them otherwise is like pulling teeth, they just say "it's cheap insurance". I wouldn't exactly call a 1500 mile OCI on full synthetic "cheap" insurance.


Its not about price. thats plain wasteful and bad for the environment. and wont do anything for his car. all one has to do is direct him to this forum to read uoa's. its not just about money all the time...
It won't hurt the car. Better than throwing in a bunch of rebranded paint thinner "additive" .


I know it won't hurt anything, but it's amazing the misinformation that's out there is so bad that we have people dumping synthetic oil with 1500 miles on it.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: raffy
What I find interesting in that thread, though, is the claim that the Accord calls for 5W-20 in the US and apparently 5W-40 in Europe and Japan. They were assuming that the engine is basically the same. Can anyone verify or deny this with solid evidence?


Well, it's the "same engine", though I don't know if any internals are different.

This has been a personal interest of mine as of late. For instance, if you look up a 2008 Honda CR-V on ExxonMobil's (XOM's) US site, it recommends either 0W-20 or 5W-20. We all know that nearly every Honda in the US has called for a 20 grade of some kind since over a decade ago. But if you look up a 2008 Honda CR-V "2.4 Petrol" on XOM's UK site, it recommends 0W-30 or 5w30. It's "the same" 2.4L 4-cylinder engine that we have here, though again, I couldn't prove that anything is or is not different inside.

Some Acura 3.5L engines in the UK, according to XOM's UK site, truly do call for a 0W- or 5W-40. Our Acura MDX calls for 5W-20. "Same" 3.5L V-6 engine.

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Synthetics/Mobil_1_Wear_Prevention.aspx

XOM apparently ran M1 5w30 in a 2010 Accord LX 4-cylinder for many miles and measured wear. Why 5w30? This car calls for 5W-20 in the US. Is it because it calls for 5w30 everywhere else in the world? I think that's a rhetorical question, but I'm not sure.


Good post.

 

[ag_ghost]

Two of the most ignorant "contributors" to that thread haven't posted since the middle of 2009 and 2008...
Kevin

 

[rjundi]

Still using the 3k-4k OCI with dino here on my wife's 2005 Legacy GT(turbo) wagon. Subaru actually spec'ed 7500 miles with dino 5w30 but reverted to 3750 miles a year in.

No engine/turbo issues for me in 8years/146,000 miles. My car is known to have oil failure in the turbo btw due to clogging of a screen.

 

[Coprolite]

Pop, you don't have to jump down a guy's throat for playing devil's advocate. I stick to the manual for my OCI due to warranty. On the old car, that would be twice a year as do you. I would really only have to change it once a year at the rate I was accumulating miles. In my post, I was simply making an observation that not everyone's paradigm is the same and that oil cost is not high on everyone's list of priorities.

I still maintain that fuel still trumps oil costs in pretty much any commercially available passenger vehicle. I am not saying that it isn't a factor. Some people like to keep newer cars and don't mind using available credit. That is their choice.

For me, personally, synthetic is a value proposition. The cost differential between synthetic and conventional when done DIY is minimal. Synthetic+good filter(DIY) is on par with conventional quickie lube, so it provides a good value for me. When compared to the value of my time spent changing the oil, cheaping out on the supplies doesn't make sense to me.

Finally, the synthetic safety margin is particularly important on vehicles that use OLM or MM. Who knows when the manufacturer will change the OLM programming? Please note that I didn't bother to read the other thread. I am sure that the observations that these guys were absurdly wasting resources is probably accurate. I did find it interesting that my generic observations were attacked so strongly when you don't know what my lifestyle is like or why.





Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit


If he missed an oil change it would still be only 6 months/3000 miles on the current interval. Unless it's a vehicle that has special requirements, even conventional oil can easily do that with plenty of room to spare.

But if you feel that using overpriced oil and changing it out at 1500 mile intervals is cheap insurance, by all means knock yourself out. I'll continue to use a conventional and change it every 6 months (regardless of mileage). I'll agree with KD0AXS-it's foolish and a complete waste.

And no, I'm not foolish enough to be wrapped up in bank payments, and my daily driver is pretty fuel efficient so I'm not concerned about fuel costs.