jabinns

What do you guys think, stick with the 5w20 recommendation in the 02' CRV manual, or go with the Mobil1 5w30 synthetic (or something else)? I am having a hard time filling my new baby up with that 5w20 stuff, and want to go with the 5w30 synthetic. Should I do it, or what problems do you see coming from it?

98CoupeV6

Stick to your owners manual dude. Why wouldn't you? The 5W30 is different and will not work as well as 5W20. Don't they sell 5W20 synthetic?

jabinns

Mobil dosent. The only synthetic I could find was Amsoil, and they replied to one of my emails saying their 5w20 is not 100% synthetic. I dont care about the reduced mpg, and would rather have a little more protection, hence the mobil1 5w-30.

98CoupeV6

5w30 will give you less protection. Don't you understand? Your engine was designed for 5w20. I'm not talking about mileage, I'm talking about mechanically. I've talked to mechanics about this, and for most all Hondas synthetic is mostly a waste of money. The only Hondas I would put it in are high revving (F20C, H22A, K24A, B18C3, B18C5, B16A3) ones...like my RSX-S. Which I do.

jabinns

I guess I dont understand. I had always understood that higher viscosity oils provided more lubrication, and more drag on the engine, hence less gas mileage. Lower viscosity oils reduce drag and provide better mpg, but since they have lower viscosity, they provide less protection against friction. Maybe you could explain how 5w30 gives less protection than 5w20. How does 5w30 give less protection mechanically than 5w30? By the way, my engine is extremely high revving. 160 hp out of a NA four revs quite high. My engine hangs in the 5000 to 6000 rpm range frequently.

Screwdriver

here is a link for some facts - you decide -
http://www.performanceoiltechnology.com/ford5w20.htm

98CoupeV6

Dude, that is not high revving for a Honda. My old V6 Accord redlined at 6250. Your redlines at like 6400(I think) . Not very high at all for a Honda. Maybe if you stepped out of a Ford it is.

I suppose 5w30 will work just fine, I didn't know that. I guess I got mixed up, my bad. But synthetic is unnecessary unless you plan on keeping the car 350,000 miles. That's just what a Honda Technician friend told me and whata couple of trustworthy mechanics have told me...and they woulda loved to sell me the pricier synthetic.

ccpp

The CRVs selling in Japan can use 5w-20, 5w-30, 10w-30 and 5w-40, according to the internet version of the owner's manual. Check this out.

http://www.honda.co.jp/manual/cr-v/2...a/index.html#3

It says 5w-20 is the best for fuel economy, in case you don't understand Japanese. I believe CRVs selling in Japan has a smaller displacement (2000cc?) but it is from the same i-vtec family.

So you can safely use 5w-30 or 10w-30 even 5w-40 if you like.

2000Prelude

5w-30 will work just fine in your vehicle. There's not much difference really between 5w-30 and 5w-20. The 5w-20 is mostly a move to get a tiny bit more mpg so the car companies can reduce their CORPORATE AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY. This way they can sell more larger less fuel efficient vehicle and not be penalized by the gov't. Synthetic oil is fine for all vehicles, it gives you more protection over an extended temperature range (so you don't have to worry about severe vehicle use if you drive in traffic on 100 degree days). It also flows much better at low temperatures giving better cold starts and less wear on the engine during vehicle warm up.

the 5w-20 oil is also more expensive than 5w-30. Sure synthetic oil is more expensive, but not much more expensive than the dealer wants for their UNNECESSARY 5w-20 oil.

In my opinion, you are better off with a good quality synthetic oil, 5w-30. You will get the fuel economy benefits of the 5w-20, better engine protection at all temperature extreams, and the ability to safely go with the manufacturers extended oil change intervals. When you consider all of this along with the price of the 5w-20 oil (more expensive than 5w-30) going full synthetic is not much (if any) more expensive.