5W20 Oil for 2005 Honda Element

Does anyone know why Honda recommends 5W30 weight of oil. When I went to
have the oil changed the guy who has been doing the changes told me that
this would be a special order.

What if any are the implications of using plain old 10W30 weight oil.

 

i believe the thinner weight helps to achieve the higher gas mileage.
i am not sure of the implications of using the heavier oil.
poor gas mileage, slower to rev, etc.?

kinda weird that it (5w20) would be a special order. it is specified
in quite a few fords and most late model hondas that i am familiar
with.

bob z.

 

Robert Brennan, wrote the following at or about 8/25/2006 1:38 PM:

Just guessing but my thought would be that since Honda designed the
engine, they just MIGHT know what is going to prove best overall in
lubricating it, giving the best performance, etc.

This guy who changed your oil and told you that 5W30 would be a "special
order," did he give you a kiss when he did you or just take your money
and promise to call you in the morning?

Better to ask what the implications of using a lube store that didn't
try to rip you off (if you can find one<g>)

Stop by a Farm & Fleet/Fleet & Farm, Tractor Supply Co, or any other
place you can buy oil by the case. Take a gander at the tremendous
price difference between 5W30 and 10W30 in the same grade/brand. You'll
be amazed.

 

No I did not give him any money, although he did offer a kiss.... smartass

 

thank you, I too do not know the implications of using heavier weight oil.

 

If you are not going to do it yourself and are not going to use a Honda
dealer than at least have all of your work done by a shop which
specializes in Hondas and/or Japanese cars. 5W-20 is specified by
Honda, Ford and others mostly for maximum fuel economy. However, ANY
shop which says that 5W-20 is a special order item or (5W-30, your post
is confusing) does not know what they are doing.

10W-30 is an antiquated specification which is called for in very few
modern production North America applications.

John

 

Thank You

 

I agree that 5w-20 oils are by and large great oils though I I do believe
the push is for nothing but better fleet, CAFE statistics. We can evidence
this by looking at non-USDM oil recommendations for exactly the same
powertrains. I run 5W-30 year round in the Mid-Atlantic and I bet I'll
never encounter an oil related engine failure. If I reverted back to 5k
mile oil changes, I would not hesitate to run a name brand 10w-30 in the hot
months and 5w-30s in the winters.