Phoenix, AZ - 115F Temps - Honda CRV 1.5 Turbo Engine

[barkingspider]

Easily 10w30

 

[factorytuned2012]

I know Honda recommends OW-20 for the 1.5 Turbo engines in the Honda CRVs. Being located in Phoenix, AZ, where outside temps hit 115F and pavement temps exceed 140F+. Would it be okay to run a 5W-30 synthetic oil like Pennzoil Platinum or Valvoline? The OW-20 seems to thin for this type of climate.

Does ambient temperature matter? The engine still operates within a specified range.

 

[twX]

Does ambient temperature matter? The engine still operates within a specified range.

An engine's coolant temperature is well regulated, but the oil temperature is not, even if the engine has an oil cooler. Ambient temperature can affect oil temperature quite a lot.

 

[factorytuned2012]

An engine's coolant temperature is well regulated, but the oil temperature is not, even if the engine has an oil cooler. Ambient temperature can affect oil temperature quite a lot.

0w-20 could withstand temperatures of 400+

 

[wemay]

The difference between a 20 and 30 ILSAC motor oil is minute. You'll be fine with either. But if you're set on thickening up because you're convinced ambient heat is more than the recommended viscosity can handle, consider a Euro 5w30, 0w30.

 

[97prizm]

I know Honda recommends OW-20 for the 1.5 Turbo engines in the Honda CRVs. Being located in Phoenix, AZ, where outside temps hit 115F and pavement temps exceed 140F+. Would it be okay to run a 5W-30 synthetic oil like Pennzoil Platinum or Valvoline? The OW-20 seems to thin for this type of climate.

I'd go Royal Purple 10-40. Had great results with my Mazda rx-7

 

[kschachn]

0w-20 could withstand temperatures of 400+

Withstand it how? That would be some seriously low HT/HS. Not something I’d want in my engine.

 

[Plumb Bob]

A few previous threads on this oft-asked question:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/hot-ambient-temps-and-engine-oil-question.180281/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/does-ambient-air-temperature-matter-or-not-for-oil.160299/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/oil-temperature-versus-ambient.247232/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/oil-viscosity-ambient-temperature-relationship.210129/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/grades-for-high-ambient-temperature-locations.151825/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/why-does-the-high-ambient-temperature-matter.231326/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/ambient-temperature-vs-engine-temperature.10616/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/oil-weight-and-ambient-temperatures.233545/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/thicker-oil-for-hotter-ambient-temp-why.273035/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/how-does-high-ambient-temperature-affect-oil.85142/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/does-ambient-air-temp-matter-that-much-for-weight.9656/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/at-operating-temp-why-does-outside-temp-matter.193826/

You neglected La Crème de la crème

Viscosity Grade recommendation for Death Valley

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

An engine's coolant temperature is well regulated, but the oil temperature is not, even if the engine has an oil cooler. Ambient temperature can affect oil temperature quite a lot.

Assuming the OP's vehicle uses an oil/coolant heat exchanger like most modern vehicles, the temperatures of oil and coolant are typically quite close together.

 

[Brian123]

I'd go Royal Purple 10-40. Had great results with my Mazda rx-7

Royal Purple, great looking bottle, I have always wondered how long the Purple Color of the Oil stays Purple after you have driven it for a while.
Is it 10 miles or 100 miles.
I just got to do it, drain my old Oil, add 6 quarts of Royal Purple, and just look at my Dipstick and see Purple. I will need to take a picture of the Dipstick. No need to drive the car, because in 20 miles the Purple Color will be gone, why can't the color be Purple for the whole entire OCI.

 

[twX]

Assuming the OP's vehicle uses an oil/coolant heat exchanger like most modern vehicles, the temperatures of oil and coolant are typically quite close together.

Heat exchangers do help, but they still don't regulate the oil temperature nearly as well as the coolant temperature is regulated. The oil/coolant heat exchanger on my Subaru keeps the oil temperature within 10°C of the coolant temperature in normal driving in normal weather, but it's still possible for it to get 30°C hotter than the coolant with hard driving in hot weather.

 

[Patman]

Royal Purple, great looking bottle, I have always wondered how long the Purple Color of the Oil stays Purple after you have driven it for a while.
Is it 10 miles or 100 miles.

When I used RP about 15-20 years ago I recall that it didn’t even show up as purple on the dipstick when I checked it after idling the engine for 20-30 seconds after the oil change

 

[factorytuned2012]

Withstand it how? That would be some seriously low HT/HS. Not something I’d want in my engine.

 

[kschachn]

View attachment 236535

Yeah not all at the same time. Heat protection doesn’t mean simultaneous wear protection. Physics still matters.

Not everything you read in marking materials is universally true in every way that it is stated.

 

[Brian123]

When I used RP about 15-20 years ago I recall that it didn’t even show up as purple on the dipstick when I checked it after idling the engine for 20-30 seconds after the oil change

I will just have to buy a quart of Royal Purple and get a Shot Glass and pour in the Oil and just leave it on my desk. I do have a Royal Purple Oil filter sitting on my Desk, nice Color.

Patman, my Purple Dream has been shattered as far as the Purple Color of the Oil, but I will always have my Purple Oil Filter, I am looking at it now, and it is still and will always be Purple.

 

[srfdude]

Ambient temp means virtually nothing. What matters is oil temp.

I have to disagree here. In any sort of normal climates, what you say is true. I have an old dodge truck thatI put an oil temp gauge in years ago. While living in Phoenix, the oil temp absolutely rose higher in the summer than the winter; the water temp was on the high side of boiling, and the oil got HOT.

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

I have to disagree here. In any sort of normal climates, what you say is true. I have an old dodge truck thatI put an oil temp gauge in years ago. While living in Phoenix, the oil temp absolutely rose higher in the summer than the winter; the water temp was on the high side of boiling, and the oil got HOT.

In what way does your old Dodge truck compare to the OP's modern vehicle?

 

[pettrix]

Will run the 5w-30 Valvoline synthetic and a Wix filter.

I know it's another topic all together but are the head gaskets an issue with the 1.5 turbo engine in the CRV?
I read running HIGHER OCTANE fuel (91) will help with potential head gasket issues.

 

[kschachn]

Will run the 5w-30 Valvoline synthetic and a Wix filter.

I know it's another topic all together but are the head gaskets an issue with the 1.5 turbo engine in the CRV?
I read running HIGHER OCTANE fuel (91) will help with potential head gasket issues.

Really. Another strange issue that’s trying to be mysteriously connected to the octane rating of the fuel.

 

[srfdude]

In what way does your old Dodge truck compare to the OP's modern vehicle?

Really? my "old Dodge Truck" running on gas and lubed with oil is somehow radically different from a newer car with a turbo yet? New car oil doesn't get hot, stays magically cool under all conditions? I think not.