Oil For Accord ?

Hello:

Have an Accord, 6 cyl, 2005.

Manual says to use 5W 20 oil, a bit surprisingly.

How critical is this ?

If I use, due to 5W 20 not being available, e.g., 5W 30, or 10W 30, any
potential problems ?

Thanks,
Bob

 

Late-model Hondas specify this. It's a part-synthetic. It's for fuel
economy.

Mmm...not very.

5W-30 is fine. You could even use something like straight synthetic, like
Mobil 1. 5W-20 is becoming more common though, with most places now
stocking it.

 

Not all 5W-20 is synthetic blend, is it?

I've seen Mobil 1 5W-20 before but it is still not common here in the
Baltimore area. Still see the 10W30 everywhere.

-Dave

 

I thought it was. That's how they can maintain film strength with such a
low viscosity.

It doesn't get that cold where you are, does it? If it's regularly above
freezing, you can use 10W30. 5W-30 is really only for places that get very
cold temperatures, like my area. We can see as low as -20F.

However, your car is probably intended to use GF-4 oils (your manual should
say), so make sure the 10W-30 you buy complies with the GF-4 standard (read
the label). GF-4 engines have different camshaft coatings than engines
intended for GF-3.

 

Hello again,

Much thanks for replies and help.
A bit confused on this.

Are you folks saying that the 5W 20 that Honda says to use Must be (all)
Synthetic only ?

Or is 5W 20 that is not synthetic, just the regular stuff, is O.K. ?

I read somewhere that they should not be mixed, so really confused.

Thanks again,
Bob

 

You can use ANY 5W-20. It's ALL part-synthetic. That's why it's more
expensive.

If the ambient temperature in your area does not get down to freezing, you
can use ordinary non-synthetic 10W-30. If it does, use ordinary 5W-30
during those periods.

You can mix them, too. They are ALL compatible, provided you are mixing
GF-4 with GF-4.

Check your Owner's Manual to see if your engine requires oil that's GF-4
certified. If so, make sure the 10W-30 or 5W-30 you buy says that on the
rear of the label. 5W-20 will be GF-4 in any case.

 

I do believe Mr. TeGGeR has it right. 5W-20 oils are all partly
synthetic.

The Mobil 1 stuff (at various times 0W-30, 5W-30, 10W-30) I pour into
my Hondas is all GF-4.

If you find GF-4 natural oil in 5W-30 or 10W-30 just follow TeGGeR's
suggestions re. temperatures.

 

Just regular oil is ok. Regular 5W20 cost the same as regular 5W30.

If it is synthetic, it will say synthetic on the bottle.

 

That 5W-20 is only Honda’s way to squeak out an extra ½ MPG or so. You &
your engine will never feel the difference.