Your technician is wrong. This was a standard practice many years ago
when engines were constructed to loose clearances.

The engine has small passages to distribute oil to where lubrication is
required. These oil passages have been sized to distribute oil flow
approriately with the correct weight oil. If you use a thicker oil, the
oil will flow through the smaller passages slower, thus providing less
or no protection. This will especially be a problem on cold start.

Use the manufacturers recommended oil weight. A synthetic such as mobil
1 or amsoil of the correct weight will extend your motor's life.

Also, change the oil (and filter) at 3000 miles. Extended oil changes
are poor economy because engines are much more expensive than oil.

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

 

Your technician is wrong. This was a standard practice many years ago
when engines were constructed to loose clearances.

The engine has small passages to distribute oil to where lubrication is
required. These oil passages have been sized to distribute oil flow
approriately with the correct weight oil. If you use a thicker oil, the
oil will flow through the smaller passages slower, thus providing less
or no protection. This will especially be a problem on cold start.

Use the manufacturers recommended oil weight. A synthetic such as mobil
1 or amsoil of the correct weight will extend your motor's life.

Also, change the oil (and filter) at 3000 miles. Extended oil changes
are poor economy because engines are much more expensive than oil.

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

 

Um, the reason that Honda and other manufactures recommend thinner oils
is for improved gas economy period.

ANY engine that has more than 100K requires a higher viscosity rating.

And, if you're gonna change oil every 3K, it's a waste of money if
you're using a quality oil such as Castrol or Valvoline when 5K is fine
and even 7.5 K is ok.

Now, if you use crappy stuff like Penzoil, Quaker State and most store
brand stuff, you better make it 2.5K on the changes.

A note on synthetics... My opinion that it is a waste of money for
engine lubrication because of suspended particles typical of internal
combustion engines. OTOH, synthetics in transmissions, differentials,
power steering is truly a smart move.

JT

(Who has been fiddlin' with infernal comustion engines for nearly fifty years...)



John wrote:
>
> Your technician is wrong. This was a standard practice many years ago
> when engines were constructed to loose clearances.
>
> The engine has small passages to distribute oil to where lubrication is
> required. These oil passages have been sized to distribute oil flow
> approriately with the correct weight oil. If you use a thicker oil, the
> oil will flow through the smaller passages slower, thus providing less
> or no protection. This will especially be a problem on cold start.
>
> Use the manufacturers recommended oil weight. A synthetic such as mobil
> 1 or amsoil of the correct weight will extend your motor's life.
>
> Also, change the oil (and filter) at 3000 miles. Extended oil changes
> are poor economy because engines are much more expensive than oil.
>
> 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

-

 

Um, the reason that Honda and other manufactures recommend thinner oils
is for improved gas economy period.

ANY engine that has more than 100K requires a higher viscosity rating.

And, if you're gonna change oil every 3K, it's a waste of money if
you're using a quality oil such as Castrol or Valvoline when 5K is fine
and even 7.5 K is ok.

Now, if you use crappy stuff like Penzoil, Quaker State and most store
brand stuff, you better make it 2.5K on the changes.

A note on synthetics... My opinion that it is a waste of money for
engine lubrication because of suspended particles typical of internal
combustion engines. OTOH, synthetics in transmissions, differentials,
power steering is truly a smart move.

JT

(Who has been fiddlin' with infernal comustion engines for nearly fifty years...)



John wrote:
>
> Your technician is wrong. This was a standard practice many years ago
> when engines were constructed to loose clearances.
>
> The engine has small passages to distribute oil to where lubrication is
> required. These oil passages have been sized to distribute oil flow
> approriately with the correct weight oil. If you use a thicker oil, the
> oil will flow through the smaller passages slower, thus providing less
> or no protection. This will especially be a problem on cold start.
>
> Use the manufacturers recommended oil weight. A synthetic such as mobil
> 1 or amsoil of the correct weight will extend your motor's life.
>
> Also, change the oil (and filter) at 3000 miles. Extended oil changes
> are poor economy because engines are much more expensive than oil.
>
> 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

-