Ok my next oil change is coming up in another 1k miles for my 04 Civic. I have several options to choose from. First option is to use the several quarts of the German Syntec 0w-10, but I was affraid it my might be too thick for my 1.7 liter engine. Opinions on that? Or should I run a thinner oil with a quart of Syntec? Since I only do my own oil changes on my car I have to use the Syntec in my car in some shape. Then I also have several quarts of Pennzoil Platinum 5w30. And my third option is to use the half quarts of different brands of leftover oils and run it for 3k. If I'm going to use the Syntec or the Platinum I will run 5k+ miles. Right now I've been running the oils for 5k which usually equates to six months. Thanks
Syntec 0w-30 in a Civic?
- Thread starter asiancivicmaniac
- Start date
- Status
I believed I just saw somebody did run GC 0w30 on Honda Civic 1.7L and It has not caused any problem. I also use the 2004 Civic. I used Mobil 1 5W-20 + Valvoline Synpower Oil Treatment(VSOT). I mixed almost 7 oz of VSOT into the Mobil 1 and I have no problem with the thickened oil. I do lots of food delivery. There is another 1300 miles left before I change the oil. Usually, I do 5000 mi OCI on Civic. Also, tomorrow I will grab some GC 0w30 at the Autozone to try out too. I 'll try to find where I found the "running 0w30 in civic."
Have a good day
Have a good day
- Joined
- May 27, 2002
- Messages
- 653
asiancivicmaniac,
I'm not a fan of mixing oils, but that's just me, since I'm not a chemist, nor a tribologist. Others seem to do it and get no ill effects.
My two new '06 Civics have the factory fill 5W-20 in them and I'm wondering if that might be why they vibrate more at idle than did the Sentras my wife and I have been accustomed to. I found 21 qts. of GC Sytntec (0W-30) at a local AZ and purchased all of it. I've never used GC but I think that when I do the oil changes this is the time to try it and see.
Also, I see I'm getting 34.3mpg around town, so I'll have the opportunity to see how much this affects fuel economy, if any. My previous experience with 5/10/15W-40 in the Sentra I drove gave slightly better mpg than did the 5/10W-30s I'd been using. That's just my experience and I know it doesn't match the experiences of others.
I'm not a fan of mixing oils, but that's just me, since I'm not a chemist, nor a tribologist. Others seem to do it and get no ill effects.
My two new '06 Civics have the factory fill 5W-20 in them and I'm wondering if that might be why they vibrate more at idle than did the Sentras my wife and I have been accustomed to. I found 21 qts. of GC Sytntec (0W-30) at a local AZ and purchased all of it. I've never used GC but I think that when I do the oil changes this is the time to try it and see.
Also, I see I'm getting 34.3mpg around town, so I'll have the opportunity to see how much this affects fuel economy, if any. My previous experience with 5/10/15W-40 in the Sentra I drove gave slightly better mpg than did the 5/10W-30s I'd been using. That's just my experience and I know it doesn't match the experiences of others.
Triple_Se7en
$50 Site Donor 2024
Use the weights/viscosities prescribed in your owners manual until the warranty expires.
Afterwards, the 0w30 would be real nice for your climate.
Afterwards, the 0w30 would be real nice for your climate.
If you want to go the xw-30 route, I would vote for the Mobil 1 10w30, 10.2 cST at 100C, and its a thin 30 with no viscosity improvers. I think the GC is too thick and will lower performance and fuel economy.
The other option mentioned before is spiking a 5w-20 with VSOT or Schaeffer's #132 Moly EP. I have used the Motorcraft 5w-20 with #132 in the wife's Odyssey with no loss in fuel economy.
The other option mentioned before is spiking a 5w-20 with VSOT or Schaeffer's #132 Moly EP. I have used the Motorcraft 5w-20 with #132 in the wife's Odyssey with no loss in fuel economy.
5w20 viscositys are specially formulated for Ford/Honda. I would recommend that. I used the Mobil 1 0w20 and 5w20. If you decide to stay with conventional oils, my personal choice is the ExxonMobil Superflo 5w20, but in truth any of the brands (made to Ford/.Honda specs) 5w20, will be fine, buy on price would be my 3rd move after the above choices.
So since you mentioned Castro, it has a 5w20.
some others:
Motorcraft, Havoline, Chevron, Pennzoil, Valvoline, Mobil, etc.
and I have probably left out some other mass marketed flavor fav's.
Not so mass marketed: Amsoil, Schaffer's, Redline, Elf, Motul. etc.
So since you mentioned Castro, it has a 5w20.
some others:
Motorcraft, Havoline, Chevron, Pennzoil, Valvoline, Mobil, etc.
and I have probably left out some other mass marketed flavor fav's.
Not so mass marketed: Amsoil, Schaffer's, Redline, Elf, Motul. etc.
Then I guess you better get the engine really clean.
I've run mostly xW20's but some xW30's in my CRV. I never noticed a difference.
But take this advice w/ a grain of salt b/c none of us know what we are talking about since we aren't the service tech at the Honda dealer.
I've run mostly xW20's but some xW30's in my CRV. I never noticed a difference.
But take this advice w/ a grain of salt b/c none of us know what we are talking about since we aren't the service tech at the Honda dealer.
I do not believe there is any difference between the civics that previously required 5w30 and the newer ones that require 5w20. The good folks at Honda (as well as Ford) decided that they could eek out a few more MPG with 5w20 so thats what they recomend. Using a Xw30 should not have any ill effects on your Honda. Having said that it also appears that the newer 5w20's are decent oils.
I do not believe using any viscosity over another will void your warrenty. Using an oil that does not meet the API requirements called for in your owners manual would however. I'm not sure that Cast 0w30 has the "starburst" on it, does it? If it doesn't and your car calls for it, then you may have a warrenty problem. However the chances of anyone being able to prove that and the chances of you having an oil related major breakdown are very small.
German Castrol Syntec may be a great oil, but it seems to me that there are lots of oils at 1/2 the price that will protect ones car just as good given the OCI's one is required to follow while under warrenty. Motorcraft semi-synthetic 5w20 or 5w30 comes to mind.
I do not believe using any viscosity over another will void your warrenty. Using an oil that does not meet the API requirements called for in your owners manual would however. I'm not sure that Cast 0w30 has the "starburst" on it, does it? If it doesn't and your car calls for it, then you may have a warrenty problem. However the chances of anyone being able to prove that and the chances of you having an oil related major breakdown are very small.
German Castrol Syntec may be a great oil, but it seems to me that there are lots of oils at 1/2 the price that will protect ones car just as good given the OCI's one is required to follow while under warrenty. Motorcraft semi-synthetic 5w20 or 5w30 comes to mind.
A slightly thicker oil won't do any damage to your engine.
You might experience some fuel economy degradation and or/and the way it builds up the revs. The differences will be minimal and mostly based on your perception anyways.
There is no way to say for sure if and how your particular engine would react to this particular oil without actually trying it.
GC would work fine in the hot climate.
BTW I don't like mixing oils too and would advise against that.
[ January 07, 2006, 01:02 PM: Message edited by: vad ]
OK change of plans, right now I'm thinking of running a 5w-20 or 5w30 conventional or blend oil for 5k and doing an UOA and for the oil change after that I will use the Pennzoil Platinum and do an UOA on that to see which is better. Oils I have in mind are: Pennzoil, Castrol GTX, Havoline, Mobil, Superflo, Motorcraft, Durablend, and Supertech. I am open to suggestions of other brands of oils in the above viscosities as long as I can find them locally and they are a dino or a blend. Now I just need some of your time to vote on which oil I should use. I know the general reply would be "any of those will work fine", but there are so many choices and it's hard to pick. Thanks.
P.S. I might just save the Syntec for after warranty or attempt to use it in my mom's Camry. Too risky to use it during warranty after reading several people's posts.
P.S. I might just save the Syntec for after warranty or attempt to use it in my mom's Camry. Too risky to use it during warranty after reading several people's posts.
I just assumed it a given, but as you know higher moly content is preferred in the Honda engines. That might be one parameter. One research angle might be to check and rank order the candidates/ VOA's based on this parameter (among those that are important to you.) If longevity is important (5k oci's is truly not long) check to see used oil analysis to see TBN consumed per 1,000 miles.
I stated my prefences in a prior post.
I stated my prefences in a prior post.
I don't want to go past 5k for two reasons. First, my car doesn't see trips any longer than 10 miles each way and it seldom reaches highway speeds. Second, I enjoy changing my oil. Maybe when I get older and have less time on my hands then I'll do 10k oci's. Ruking, you suggested Superflo,do you know if the Mobil Clean 5000 is an identical version of the oil? Thanks for you input.
Superflow gallons can be found on sale for $5 at AZ every now and then.
does anyone know who makes the Honda branded motor oils?
- Joined
- May 27, 2002
- Messages
- 653
asiancivicmaniac,
"P.S. I might just save the Syntec for after warranty or attempt to use it in my mom's Camry. Too risky to use it during warranty after reading several people's posts".
It's perfectly fine for you to use or save the Syntec. What is important is that you make your choice. I don't push one over another.
Somebody's post has nothing to do with, and does not affect, your warranty.
.........
"P.S. I might just save the Syntec for after warranty or attempt to use it in my mom's Camry. Too risky to use it during warranty after reading several people's posts".
It's perfectly fine for you to use or save the Syntec. What is important is that you make your choice. I don't push one over another.
Somebody's post has nothing to do with, and does not affect, your warranty.
.........
So you're saying that if an oil related problem ever arises under warranty, Honda won't be able to blame it on the use of a wrong viscosity oil? It's not that I don't want to make my own choices but I hate to make uneducated ones and be foolish. I'm not very experienced with dealing with warranty stuff since this is my first car so I want my experience to be as smooth as possible.
If an engine problem arises, chances are, that it will not be oil related and the dealer will have no reason to ask for the oil records.
Even if the problem is somehow oil related, the dealer will be interested in seeing the receipts proving that you did change the oil regularly, at the factory recommended intervals.
He won't pay any attention to the oil's grade or brand.
Even if the problem is somehow oil related, the dealer will be interested in seeing the receipts proving that you did change the oil regularly, at the factory recommended intervals.
He won't pay any attention to the oil's grade or brand.
On the back of the Honda oil container it says Exxon so I would guess it's Exxon superflo. I have an 06 Civic and The factory fill does have alot of moly in it ... might be due to the assembly oil. The manual states to not change the factory fill until the "oil life computer" says to. Then I'm going to use Havoline 5w-20, which has a HIGH moly content, and change it when the oil life is down to 25%. This should get me to when I trade it for a 2010 Civic with no problems. In my 03 F-150 5.4L with 39K has been on Mobil 1 5w-20 since new with 5K oci but I have now seen the light and it too will be getting Havoline 5w-20 at 5K oci ... I'm tired of wasting money and buying into the hype!!!!
OK, since there was only a few suggestions, I looked in the used oil analysis section to choose an oil. Since I only saw one Quaker State 5w-20 used oil analysis I was thinking maybe I'll use that and see how it fares since QS seems like one of those not so talked about oils.
- Status
Similar threads
