Oil weight for SuperChared Acura RSX

[WhoIsHomer]

I have an 05 Acura RSX Type S that is now supercharged at around 8PSI.
Factory recommended oil is 5w30. Should I be using a different weight of oil now that I have super charged the car?
Car is used as a daily driver (in Canada-but parked for winter)
Also, any suggestions on oil? Currently using pennzoil platinum

 

[Steve S]

How hot does the oil get. I would go up a grade.

 

[BobFout]

A high quality synthetic 5w30 would be in order. Might not go wrong with a 5w40 either.

 

[beast3300]

Shouldn't be in issue with 5w30. I used reg Pennzoil, Platinum and Ultra with no burning etc on my supercharged Regal (all 5w30). I have seen 11.4 psi before on my roots-type supercharger.

Additionally, Ultra has some kind of HTO something Honda spec in the 5w30. I think it is for high heat for a turbo Acura. I don't know alot about it.

 

[2oldtommy]

WELCOME TO BITOG! If you do some reading of the technical material here on BITTOG, I believe you will learn about flow thru bearing clearances and the cooling provided by lower viscosity oils. Prior to joining Bitog, I would have advised no less than 10w-40. I now suggest a synthetic of 5w30. Be aware that NASCAR engines are now using weights as low as 10w and below for qualifiying. PP is a good choice and has many followers on Bitog, although there are many 5w30 or 10w30 brands that will do the job.I would pick one with an HT/HS of 3.5 or greater.FWIW--Oldtommy

 

[mechtech2]

With a heavily modified engine, you should get an oil TEMPERATURE gauge.
This will tell you what oil to use.
You have to protect the engine in the worst circumstances.
A 5-20 may be just fine for 90% of street driving, actually!
But a 5-30 or 0-40 synthetic are going to be your best choices.

 

[HTSS_TR]

If you want to use dino then 10W30 because it's more shear stable, if you want to use synthetic then 0-5W40 is better.

 

[calvinnnnnnnnn]

valvoline synpower 5w30
my friends
05 rsx-s uses this oil after i recommended to him, he would not use anything else now.
kid-racing headers/intake/exhaust/k pro are his mods. sees easily over 100 redlines during its oil change intervals.

i would NOT use 5w-20 in these engines. they are known to burn oil when abused. My friends burn maybe 1/2 quart during its 4-5k oci.

 

[Audi Junkie]

The RSX-S specs 5w30, not 5w-20.


I had a Base RSX for a while, so I am familiar with the oil burning the K series can experience when pushed. You did not mention this, but I caution that it is a symptom of a too thin oil.

Lacking an OT gauge, you have no idea what is the actual visc of the oil in your engine. It needs to stay above 10cSt, about 12cSt -14Cst being ideal to cope with the added specific output of your set-up. I always say, mod the engine - mod the oil.

This graphing calc combined with an OT gauge will help you with determining the operating visc of your oil.

http://www.widman.biz/English/Calculators/Graph.html

That being said, 5w-40 at 14cSt is on the heavy end of the scale and a few oils are inbetween that and a "regular" 30 weight oil at 10cSt. Those are the Euro 30s and Mobil 1 0w-40. German Syntec 0w-30, Mobil 1 Hi-Miles 10w30 and MaxLife Synthetic 5w30 come to mind. I would start with Mobil 1 10w30 HM if you are not worried about cold performance. The 0w- oils work well below 0f.

 

[WhoIsHomer]

Thanks for the replies!
I know the k series is known for burning oil, but I've never had an issue. I don't have an oil temp gauge but may look into one

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
With a heavily modified engine, you should get an oil TEMPERATURE gauge.
This will tell you what oil to use.
You have to protect the engine in the worst circumstances.
A 5-20 may be just fine for 90% of street driving, actually!
But a 5-30 or 0-40 synthetic are going to be your best choices.


+1. Good general advise.

First, welcome to BITOG.

A freind of mine who's an Acura technician has a superchared NSX that he does track. On the street the S/C did not increase oil temp's noticeably. If you don't take part in track days with your car I think you're fine with the 5w30 PP you're using.
It's still a good idea to install one of those dual reading oil pressure/temp gauges.