Use Only New GF-4 Standard
Engine Oil

There’s a new performance standard for engine
oil: GF-4. It was jointly developed by automotive
and oil experts, and it represents a significant
performance upgrade and improvement in fuel
economy. GF-4 engine oils must pass grueling
tests totaling over 500 hours. On top of this,
Honda Genuine engine oils are also tested to
ensure specific compatibility with Honda vehicles.
GF-4 engine oil is compatible with all current and
earlier model year Honda cars and trucks. It also
provides these added benefits:
• Improved oxidation resistance (reduced
thickening of the oil)
• Improved deposit protection and better wear
protection
• Better low-temperature performance over the
life of the oil
• Environmental protection by extending the life
of emissions systems
While Honda has upgraded its engine oil to GF-4,
other brands may not yet be at this new standard.
Keep in mind you must use Honda Genuine
engine oil for all warranty repairs. If you use some
other brand of oil for non-warranty repairs, make
sure that oil meets the GF-4 standard. We
recommend you stop using non-GF-4 engine oils
and check with your supplier that you’re
purchasing GF-4 oil.
Engine oil produced after April 1, 2005, that meets
the GF-4 standard, must post this starburst
certification mark on the container:
Always look for this mark;

some oil container
labels won’t specifically refer to GF-4.

Mobil 1 says "ILSAC GF-4" so I guess that is that for me :)

Was this directed towards the dealers? In my experience, Hondas dealers don't choose to use Hondas Oils as their first choice, but rather, other cheaper bulk oils which have a greater profit margin.

SM/GF4 conventional oils in general have used better base oils (group3) to pass some of the gf4 tests and reduced the zinc and phospherous in the anti-wear additive package to increase the life of emmision system components (cat converter). They replaced these with increases in moly and/or boron and calcium, amongst others, in the new anti-wear additive packages.

SM/GF4 oils have been available in my area on store shelves for months now. Some even have enough Group 3 that they are marketed as synth-blends now. Conoco/Phillips, makers of Phillips Trop Artic and Motorcraft products, marks their 5w20, 5w30, and 10W30 labels as synth-blends and they are available in Dollar Tree stores for a buck a quart.

I'd like to see a few UOAs on these new oils. Increasing the life of the cats is a good thing as long as it doesn't come at the expense of engine longevity.

Was this directed towards the dealers? In my experience, Hondas dealers don't choose to use Hondas Oils as their first choice, but rather, other cheaper bulk oils which have a greater profit margin.



my dealers gets upset at me everytime i bring my own oil in. i ask them why. and they say because they actually make the effort to stock genuine honda oil and they make a point to show to their customers the brand new case of honda genuine motor oil they put in the car.

anyhow i know fer sure Curry honda at chicopee mass makes it a point to use genuine honda oil.

my dealers gets upset at me everytime i bring my own oil in. i ask them why. and they say because they actually make the effort to stock genuine honda oil and they make a point to show to their customers the brand new case of honda genuine motor oil they put in the car.

anyhow i know fer sure Curry honda at chicopee mass makes it a point to use genuine honda oil.

That's a great dealer ya got there, stick with em! Every Honda dealer around here uses "premium Kendall motor oil" and advertises it like it's Mobil 1.

That's a great dealer ya got there, stick with em! Every Honda dealer around here uses "premium Kendall motor oil" and advertises it like it's Mobil 1.

they took 30 minutes to move my car from the service line to up in the air, cos they were really really really careful in not bottoming it out or scraping. the guy used shop towels on the lift to not scratch/put undue pressure on the sideskirts.. :thumbsup:

i know others wouldnt give two hoots and would just drive in and lift up and not bother if things break or what not. :thumbsdow

Where my prince works they use BULK HONDA oil. The only other one they've used was Castrol, also in bulk.

Another shop worked at briefly during a strike, used bulk Penz... he changed HIS oil at work once & it burned that stuff SOOOO BAD! He changed it again real quick! Went back to Castrol.

Honda corp. often does this kind of informational thing to their people. I just thought some of you might enjoy seeing that the corp. makes an effort... whether or not the individual dealers do.... :dunno:

Another shop worked at briefly during a strike, used bulk Penz... he changed HIS oil at work once & it burned that stuff SOOOO BAD! He changed it again real quick! Went back to Castrol.


Just so nobody takes the statement out of context and gets the idea that Pennzoil is bad, it's typical for an engine to use more oil when you change brands or flavors. No offense to the prince but he might not have added as much oil as he originally thought when the oil was changed or had a small leak from the filter, etc.

... it's typical for an engine to use more oil when you change brands or flavors.

Why? Where does it go? What does this say about wear patterns and engine life if you don't stick with one brand?

I swear against Quaker State with my life. When I first bought the car that was what it had in it, and it burned a quart in 1500 miles. 18K and several oil changes later, now using Castrol GTX 10W-40, no oil consumption.

We'd had the other negative experiences from Penz in Hondas... I have no idea why.

The car I'm referring to in the post was an '82 Accord HB. That poor thing went through a lot! It had been burning some oil, but when the Penz was put in, it was as if it had no rings left! When he put the Castrol back in, it went right back to burning a little. It wasn't leaking oil, it was burning it...right past the rings!!

Later it was completely rebuilt & lasted several more years.

That poor little thing limped home after the water pump decinergrated on the freeway once! He got it home by shutting it off & doing a lot of coasting! :lmao: it made it without cooking the engine! :thmsup:

It had been burning some oil, but when the Penz was put in, it was as if it had no rings left! When he put the Castrol back in, it went right back to burning a little. It wasn't leaking oil, it was burning it...right past the rings!!

Doesn't this imply a difference in viscosity, film thickness, or some other basic oil characteristic that is not brand-dependent? Can anyone take this beyond the anecdotal level and offer a plausible cause-and-effect explanation?

Benji, that's really thick oil for your I-4, do you race?

It wasn't spec-ed for your model year, but the same engine in 2001 specs 5W20. I believe Honda back-speced it for all 6th Gens.

I ran Pennz 5W20 for the first 10K (It was the first and only 5W20 available in my area back in early '01). Since 100K I'm back using it again and still no leaks or consumption. It's a pretty stout little oil, even though it has a viscosity of ~8.5 @100C.

Anyone else ever drain their oil right after cruising the interstate? That 5W20 is scary thin. If it ever starts to leak or show consumption, I'll probably skip 5W30 and go to 10W30, especially if it's summertime.


Bulk oil, I don't use anyones bulk oil. LOL

I don't race, I just figure that I like the extra protection. I had been running 5W30 before and it seemed okay, but it never seemed to run real nice. Now with 10W40 I feel that it's running better and not consuming as much oil. Don't get a VTEC hesitation kick much anymore either, much less than the 5W30.

The reasoning behind me not putting much weight (no pun intended) into what Honda specs is because of that mid-cycle change in recommendation. The engine didn't change, but all 01-02 were ULEV. It leads me to think Honda made the change for emissions and fuel economy, and I've seen evidence of that. Since I can't trust that 5W20 is good for my car, I don't think running 5W30 is a must either. We'll see. I don't think it's gonna be an engine killer either way, just lets me sleep easier :)

Princess,

What grade was the Pennzoil & what grade was the Castrol?

For the most part he only uses the recommended... whatever it is. We live in a "mild" enough climate that there's not been many variations. Different one than we use now, but I have no clue (caps are different colors now).... when it's time to buy more I always have to ask. It's a mental block! :dunno: I do remember conversations about using a different numbered one when we've had a very worn out engine & were getting ready to rebuild it, I think to make it go a bit longer.

Sorry I know I sound pretty dippy on this, but when I was buying it....it was by the case. (He was doing sidework) I bought cases of the orange caps & black caps the most. I think it's the gray caps now.... I've been away from it for nearly 4 years now... please forgive!

Resurrecting an old thread here I found using the search. Didn't want to create a new one...

I called my local dealer to get pricing on a couple of service items. Out of curiosity, I asked him what brand of oil they used, and he said Mobil 1. I went "wait a minute, doesn't the owner's manual itself say to use Honda Genuine Oil?" (I don't use this, by the way. I was just appalled at his answer.) The guy says "Honda does not manufacture oil." So I ask him if what he meant to say that they use Mobil 1, which perhaps is basically the same as Honda Oil?? (implying that Mobil 1 is their supplier :dunno:). He replies, yet again, that Honda does not make oil. So what the heck is the stuff they sell behind the counter in the gray bottles with the blue cap? Is this guy full of BS?

I have never been a believer in using OEM oil, as long as it has the API starburst. However I do believe in ATF-Z1, but after this conversation, should I be worried? What's next, ATF-Z1 is actually a rebranded Royal Purple, or something?

Hondas oil is a Honda blend produced by Mobil but its not Mobil 1, its not fully synthetic, Mobil 1 syth. is available through Honda, 05W20-MB1-000. I read this and I confuse myself.
Z1 is Z1, thats all Id use in my car.

Hondas oil is a Honda blend produced by Mobil but its not Mobil 1, its not fully synthetic, Mobil 1 syth. is available through Honda, 05W20-MB1-000. I read this and I confuse myself.
Z1 is Z1, thats all Id use in my car.
Come to think of it, he did not say Mobil 1, just Mobil. Thanks for the reply! Now I know...