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Re: Engine oil grade for 98 Accord
"eh" <eh@nospam.com> wrote in message news:DOcQc.48$vV.57@news.oracle.com... > Dear experts, > > I have a 98 Accord that has 80K on it. Last week > I went an independent deader to get my oil changed. > The technician told me that I should be filling 10-30 > or 10-40 oil since my car has a lot of mileage on it. > He said these oil protects older engine better. > The car manual specified to use 5-30 and nothing > else. Is the technician right? No. |
Re: Engine oil grade for 98 Accord
"eh" <eh@nospam.com> wrote in message news:DOcQc.48$vV.57@news.oracle.com... > Dear experts, > > I have a 98 Accord that has 80K on it. Last week > I went an independent deader to get my oil changed. > The technician told me that I should be filling 10-30 > or 10-40 oil since my car has a lot of mileage on it. > He said these oil protects older engine better. > The car manual specified to use 5-30 and nothing > else. Is the technician right? No. |
Engine oil grade for 98 Accord
Dear experts,
I have a 98 Accord that has 80K on it. Last week I went an independent deader to get my oil changed. The technician told me that I should be filling 10-30 or 10-40 oil since my car has a lot of mileage on it. He said these oil protects older engine better. The car manual specified to use 5-30 and nothing else. Is the technician right? Thanks, Eugene |
Re: Engine oil grade for 98 Accord
On Wed, 4 Aug 2004 14:42:42 -0700, "eh" <eh@nospam.com> wrote:
>I have a 98 Accord that has 80K on it. Last week >I went an independent deader to get my oil changed. >The technician told me that I should be filling 10-30 >or 10-40 oil since my car has a lot of mileage on it. >He said these oil protects older engine better. >The car manual specified to use 5-30 and nothing >else. Is the technician right? You should always follow manufacturer's recommendations. However, the manufacturer may not include all of the information about oil choices in the owner's manual, so you may want to check with a dealer. The dealer will have more extensive information about oil choices that, I bet, include the conditions under which 10W 30 oil might be a better choice (high temperature, severe service, etc.). As a general rule, the lower viscosity oils give slightly better fuel mileage. Honda engines regularly clock over 200K miles with appropriate care, so 80K may not be a "high mileage" engine. Modern oils are so good that there is little reason to change based on age of the engine. Assuming high quality oil. (And, for what ever it's worth, every mechanic I know uses Castrol GTX in their own car. That's also what my Honda dealer uses at oil changes.)) On the other hand, as far as I know, there would be no problem substituting 10W 30 for 5W 30, especially if the ambient air temperature is high enough, as for example right now in Austin, Texas, where we are flirting with 100 degree days. It is my understanding that 10W 40 oils should not be used under any circumstances. To get that large viscosity range, oil manufacturers have to add "viscosity improvers." These are various polymers that stay balled up at low temperature but unwind and tangle together at high temperature. When they tangle together, that raises the viscosity of the oil. If that sounds like it might be bad for your engine, you should know that experts also think it might be bad. Anyway, that's what I was told. Elliot Richmond Freelance Science Writer and Editor |
Re: Engine oil grade for 98 Accord
On Wed, 4 Aug 2004 14:42:42 -0700, "eh" <eh@nospam.com> wrote:
>I have a 98 Accord that has 80K on it. Last week >I went an independent deader to get my oil changed. >The technician told me that I should be filling 10-30 >or 10-40 oil since my car has a lot of mileage on it. >He said these oil protects older engine better. >The car manual specified to use 5-30 and nothing >else. Is the technician right? You should always follow manufacturer's recommendations. However, the manufacturer may not include all of the information about oil choices in the owner's manual, so you may want to check with a dealer. The dealer will have more extensive information about oil choices that, I bet, include the conditions under which 10W 30 oil might be a better choice (high temperature, severe service, etc.). As a general rule, the lower viscosity oils give slightly better fuel mileage. Honda engines regularly clock over 200K miles with appropriate care, so 80K may not be a "high mileage" engine. Modern oils are so good that there is little reason to change based on age of the engine. Assuming high quality oil. (And, for what ever it's worth, every mechanic I know uses Castrol GTX in their own car. That's also what my Honda dealer uses at oil changes.)) On the other hand, as far as I know, there would be no problem substituting 10W 30 for 5W 30, especially if the ambient air temperature is high enough, as for example right now in Austin, Texas, where we are flirting with 100 degree days. It is my understanding that 10W 40 oils should not be used under any circumstances. To get that large viscosity range, oil manufacturers have to add "viscosity improvers." These are various polymers that stay balled up at low temperature but unwind and tangle together at high temperature. When they tangle together, that raises the viscosity of the oil. If that sounds like it might be bad for your engine, you should know that experts also think it might be bad. Anyway, that's what I was told. Elliot Richmond Freelance Science Writer and Editor |
Re: Engine oil grade for 98 Accord
Who do you believe? The engineer from Honda or a simple
technician? To have credibility, the tech better have science facts to support his speculation. No solid facts neither based upon science nor supported by numbers? Then he is probably promoting junk science. This is not just how one selects motor oil. Some are so foolish as to believe the junk science reasoning from mouthwash manufacturer such as Listerene and Scope. If their reasoning was correct, then Vodka is a better mouthwash and is superior to a tooth brush with fluoride toothpaste. Where is the science that says mouthwash is so effective? Same mythological reasoning. Consult Honda. If the tech says otherwise then hold his feet to the fire. Either he will provide those facts (an honest man) or he will get emotional (symptoms of a myth purveyor). eh wrote: > Dear experts, > > I have a 98 Accord that has 80K on it. Last week > I went an independent deader to get my oil changed. > The technician told me that I should be filling 10-30 > or 10-40 oil since my car has a lot of mileage on it. > He said these oil protects older engine better. > The car manual specified to use 5-30 and nothing > else. Is the technician right? > > Thanks, > Eugene |
Re: Engine oil grade for 98 Accord
Who do you believe? The engineer from Honda or a simple
technician? To have credibility, the tech better have science facts to support his speculation. No solid facts neither based upon science nor supported by numbers? Then he is probably promoting junk science. This is not just how one selects motor oil. Some are so foolish as to believe the junk science reasoning from mouthwash manufacturer such as Listerene and Scope. If their reasoning was correct, then Vodka is a better mouthwash and is superior to a tooth brush with fluoride toothpaste. Where is the science that says mouthwash is so effective? Same mythological reasoning. Consult Honda. If the tech says otherwise then hold his feet to the fire. Either he will provide those facts (an honest man) or he will get emotional (symptoms of a myth purveyor). eh wrote: > Dear experts, > > I have a 98 Accord that has 80K on it. Last week > I went an independent deader to get my oil changed. > The technician told me that I should be filling 10-30 > or 10-40 oil since my car has a lot of mileage on it. > He said these oil protects older engine better. > The car manual specified to use 5-30 and nothing > else. Is the technician right? > > Thanks, > Eugene |
Re: Engine oil grade for 98 Accord
"Elliot Richmond" <xmrichmond@xaustin.xrr.xcom> wrote
> On Wed, 4 Aug 2004 14:42:42 -0700, "eh" <eh@nospam.com> wrote: > > >I have a 98 Accord that has 80K on it. Last week > >I went an independent deader to get my oil changed. > >The technician told me that I should be filling 10-30 > >or 10-40 oil since my car has a lot of mileage on it. > >He said these oil protects older engine better. > >The car manual specified to use 5-30 and nothing > >else. Is the technician right? > > You should always follow manufacturer's recommendations. However, the > manufacturer may not include all of the information about oil choices > in the owner's manual, so you may want to check with a dealer. The > dealer will have more extensive information about oil choices that, I > bet, include the conditions under which 10W 30 oil might be a better > choice (high temperature, severe service, etc.). I don't want to be too caustic; rather, I want to present another point of view re going to the dealer. The dealer's time is money. Given what I think is a high turnover of technicians and service managers in the business, and how busy dealer service departments are, I wouldn't count on many dealers fielding this question with integrity or expertise. They might have a correct answer, but from too much bad work by dealers, I wouldn't rely on them as being "expert." Now maybe Elliot has a dealer whom he really trusts. But I've worked with a few dealers and found it's a roll of the dice as to their people's competence. Last time I called the dealer for some basic parts information, as an aside to my query some yahoo there told me the crankshaft bolt was left-hand threaded. Wrong. Thank god I knew better and just ignored this gross mistake. In order, go to 1. the owner's manual 2. service manuals such as Helm or Chilton's 3. the newsgroups 4. the Google search engine 5. other resources suggested by the newsgroup 6. the dealer Weigh all the information and come to a decision I don't buy the technician's cousel at all, based on reading over the years. Caroline 1991 Honda Civic LX, 155k miles, Pennzoil 5W-30 always, 40+ mpg 3/4 of the year. |
Re: Engine oil grade for 98 Accord
"Elliot Richmond" <xmrichmond@xaustin.xrr.xcom> wrote
> On Wed, 4 Aug 2004 14:42:42 -0700, "eh" <eh@nospam.com> wrote: > > >I have a 98 Accord that has 80K on it. Last week > >I went an independent deader to get my oil changed. > >The technician told me that I should be filling 10-30 > >or 10-40 oil since my car has a lot of mileage on it. > >He said these oil protects older engine better. > >The car manual specified to use 5-30 and nothing > >else. Is the technician right? > > You should always follow manufacturer's recommendations. However, the > manufacturer may not include all of the information about oil choices > in the owner's manual, so you may want to check with a dealer. The > dealer will have more extensive information about oil choices that, I > bet, include the conditions under which 10W 30 oil might be a better > choice (high temperature, severe service, etc.). I don't want to be too caustic; rather, I want to present another point of view re going to the dealer. The dealer's time is money. Given what I think is a high turnover of technicians and service managers in the business, and how busy dealer service departments are, I wouldn't count on many dealers fielding this question with integrity or expertise. They might have a correct answer, but from too much bad work by dealers, I wouldn't rely on them as being "expert." Now maybe Elliot has a dealer whom he really trusts. But I've worked with a few dealers and found it's a roll of the dice as to their people's competence. Last time I called the dealer for some basic parts information, as an aside to my query some yahoo there told me the crankshaft bolt was left-hand threaded. Wrong. Thank god I knew better and just ignored this gross mistake. In order, go to 1. the owner's manual 2. service manuals such as Helm or Chilton's 3. the newsgroups 4. the Google search engine 5. other resources suggested by the newsgroup 6. the dealer Weigh all the information and come to a decision I don't buy the technician's cousel at all, based on reading over the years. Caroline 1991 Honda Civic LX, 155k miles, Pennzoil 5W-30 always, 40+ mpg 3/4 of the year. |
Re: Engine oil grade for 98 Accord
"Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote
> "Elliot Richmond" <xmrichmond@xaustin.xrr.xcom> wrote > > On Wed, 4 Aug 2004 14:42:42 -0700, "eh" <eh@nospam.com> wrote: > > > > >I have a 98 Accord that has 80K on it. Last week > > >I went an independent deader to get my oil changed. > > >The technician told me that I should be filling 10-30 > > >or 10-40 oil since my car has a lot of mileage on it. > > >He said these oil protects older engine better. > > >The car manual specified to use 5-30 and nothing > > >else. Is the technician right? snip > I don't buy the technician's cousel at all, based on reading over the years. Hmm. I googled: {oil viscosity engine older car} Some sites do say that, at some point in an "older" car's life, switching to a higher viscosity oil, particularly in the summer, might be prudent. Criteria are as one would expect: Higher oil consumption than early in life, for example. |
Re: Engine oil grade for 98 Accord
"Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote
> "Elliot Richmond" <xmrichmond@xaustin.xrr.xcom> wrote > > On Wed, 4 Aug 2004 14:42:42 -0700, "eh" <eh@nospam.com> wrote: > > > > >I have a 98 Accord that has 80K on it. Last week > > >I went an independent deader to get my oil changed. > > >The technician told me that I should be filling 10-30 > > >or 10-40 oil since my car has a lot of mileage on it. > > >He said these oil protects older engine better. > > >The car manual specified to use 5-30 and nothing > > >else. Is the technician right? snip > I don't buy the technician's cousel at all, based on reading over the years. Hmm. I googled: {oil viscosity engine older car} Some sites do say that, at some point in an "older" car's life, switching to a higher viscosity oil, particularly in the summer, might be prudent. Criteria are as one would expect: Higher oil consumption than early in life, for example. |
Re: Engine oil grade for 98 Accord
"Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote in message news:a2jQc.11499$Jp6.8631@newsread3.news.atl.earth link.net... > "Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote > > "Elliot Richmond" <xmrichmond@xaustin.xrr.xcom> wrote > > > On Wed, 4 Aug 2004 14:42:42 -0700, "eh" <eh@nospam.com> wrote: > > > > > > >I have a 98 Accord that has 80K on it. Last week > > > >I went an independent deader to get my oil changed. > > > >The technician told me that I should be filling 10-30 > > > >or 10-40 oil since my car has a lot of mileage on it. > > > >He said these oil protects older engine better. > > > >The car manual specified to use 5-30 and nothing > > > >else. Is the technician right? > > snip > > > I don't buy the technician's cousel at all, based on reading over the years. > > Hmm. I googled: {oil viscosity engine older car} Some sites do say that, at some > point in an "older" car's life, switching to a higher viscosity oil, > particularly in the summer, might be prudent. Criteria are as one would expect: > Higher oil consumption than early in life, for example. Yeah, maybe. But the tech said 10-30 instead of 5-30.....so he's claiming the car needs thicker oil when *cold*, and the same viscosity when hot. And that's a little....odd. |
Re: Engine oil grade for 98 Accord
"Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote in message news:a2jQc.11499$Jp6.8631@newsread3.news.atl.earth link.net... > "Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote > > "Elliot Richmond" <xmrichmond@xaustin.xrr.xcom> wrote > > > On Wed, 4 Aug 2004 14:42:42 -0700, "eh" <eh@nospam.com> wrote: > > > > > > >I have a 98 Accord that has 80K on it. Last week > > > >I went an independent deader to get my oil changed. > > > >The technician told me that I should be filling 10-30 > > > >or 10-40 oil since my car has a lot of mileage on it. > > > >He said these oil protects older engine better. > > > >The car manual specified to use 5-30 and nothing > > > >else. Is the technician right? > > snip > > > I don't buy the technician's cousel at all, based on reading over the years. > > Hmm. I googled: {oil viscosity engine older car} Some sites do say that, at some > point in an "older" car's life, switching to a higher viscosity oil, > particularly in the summer, might be prudent. Criteria are as one would expect: > Higher oil consumption than early in life, for example. Yeah, maybe. But the tech said 10-30 instead of 5-30.....so he's claiming the car needs thicker oil when *cold*, and the same viscosity when hot. And that's a little....odd. |
Re: Engine oil grade for 98 Accord
"Steve Bigelow" <stevebigelowXXX@rogers.com> wrote
> "Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote > > "Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote > > > "Elliot Richmond" <xmrichmond@xaustin.xrr.xcom> wrote > > > > On Wed, 4 Aug 2004 14:42:42 -0700, "eh" <eh@nospam.com> wrote: > > > > > > > > >I have a 98 Accord that has 80K on it. Last week > > > > >I went an independent deader to get my oil changed. > > > > >The technician told me that I should be filling 10-30 > > > > >or 10-40 oil since my car has a lot of mileage on it. > > > > >He said these oil protects older engine better. > > > > >The car manual specified to use 5-30 and nothing > > > > >else. Is the technician right? > > > > snip > > > > > I don't buy the technician's cousel at all, based on reading over the > years. > > > > Hmm. I googled: {oil viscosity engine older car} Some sites do say that, > at some > > point in an "older" car's life, switching to a higher viscosity oil, > > particularly in the summer, might be prudent. Criteria are as one would > expect: > > Higher oil consumption than early in life, for example. > > Yeah, maybe. > > But the tech said 10-30 instead of 5-30.....so he's claiming the car needs > thicker oil when *cold*, and the same viscosity when hot. ? I don't understand your inference that the tech is saying something about the engine's needs when it's cold. Aside: Like every auto oil web site I've seen, in this thread I'm taking "thicker" to mean "more viscous." "Thicker" does not refer to density in this context. Water is more dense but less viscous than 5W-30. Yada yada big deal, I know. > And that's a little....odd. If the tech had said this, then I would agree. A car generally needs lower viscosity oil when cold, and higher when hot. But barring any specific car age issues, I understand 5W-30 is fine for a very wide temperature range for your typical car built at least after 1990 and maybe going back even further. The oil experts can elaborate as they wish... |
Re: Engine oil grade for 98 Accord
"Steve Bigelow" <stevebigelowXXX@rogers.com> wrote
> "Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote > > "Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote > > > "Elliot Richmond" <xmrichmond@xaustin.xrr.xcom> wrote > > > > On Wed, 4 Aug 2004 14:42:42 -0700, "eh" <eh@nospam.com> wrote: > > > > > > > > >I have a 98 Accord that has 80K on it. Last week > > > > >I went an independent deader to get my oil changed. > > > > >The technician told me that I should be filling 10-30 > > > > >or 10-40 oil since my car has a lot of mileage on it. > > > > >He said these oil protects older engine better. > > > > >The car manual specified to use 5-30 and nothing > > > > >else. Is the technician right? > > > > snip > > > > > I don't buy the technician's cousel at all, based on reading over the > years. > > > > Hmm. I googled: {oil viscosity engine older car} Some sites do say that, > at some > > point in an "older" car's life, switching to a higher viscosity oil, > > particularly in the summer, might be prudent. Criteria are as one would > expect: > > Higher oil consumption than early in life, for example. > > Yeah, maybe. > > But the tech said 10-30 instead of 5-30.....so he's claiming the car needs > thicker oil when *cold*, and the same viscosity when hot. ? I don't understand your inference that the tech is saying something about the engine's needs when it's cold. Aside: Like every auto oil web site I've seen, in this thread I'm taking "thicker" to mean "more viscous." "Thicker" does not refer to density in this context. Water is more dense but less viscous than 5W-30. Yada yada big deal, I know. > And that's a little....odd. If the tech had said this, then I would agree. A car generally needs lower viscosity oil when cold, and higher when hot. But barring any specific car age issues, I understand 5W-30 is fine for a very wide temperature range for your typical car built at least after 1990 and maybe going back even further. The oil experts can elaborate as they wish... |
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