Change to 5w-20 oil in 1999 V6 Accord?

[bbtaco]

I have been using mobil 1 5W-30 synthetic in our 99 V6 accord for the last 40,000 miles. It has 91,000 miles on it now. I change the oil and use a Purolator Pure one filter evey 5,000 miles. Do you think I should start using 5w-20 wt oil? That is what Honda now recommends for this engine.

[ericrwalker]

I don't think it matters much. Maybe someone else has an opinion. I was just thinking that you don't drive enough. I'm almost at 11,000 miles on my '06.

[SSMV6]

If you want to put 5w-20 in there, then feel free to do it. Honda actually reccommended 5w-30 in your engine when it was new, then several years down the line, they changed the reccomended viscosity to 5w-20. 5w-20 is a little thinner so it will give you better gas mileage (barely noticable). There is no harm in switching right now.

[bbtaco]

ericrwalker, we didn't put many miles on it until about a year ago. That's when our daughter got her driver's license. I believe she has put about 20,000 miles on it since then!

[RTexasF]

I don't see any advantage in going to 5W20 in this application. If you do your own oil changes the 5W20 will actually cost more since it's not available in jug size.

Changing M1 at 5000 miles is actually throwing out good oil with lots of life left in it but I suppose you're aware of this......

[desmonsm]

What kind of change in mpg could you expect to see if you changed from a 20 to a 30 weight, or vice-versa?
I ask this because I'm thinking about blending 3 quarts of exxon superflo 5w-20 (a pretty good cheap dino) with 2 quarts of valvoline maxlife 5w-30 (high moly content and extra conditioners) at my next oil change. 5w-20 to me just seems a little too thin, so I hope to increase the viscosity a bit by adding the maxlife. Our Honda's love the extra moly as well!

[BenjiBoy650]

Does the car burn any oil? Personally on such a high mileage car I'd probably stick with 5W-30.

I just switched from 10W-40 to 10W-30 and noticed no significant change in fuel mileage. Actually I noticed a bit of a DROP in fuel mileage, even though conditions and gas between the two changes are the same (always go to the same station, both oils got to run winter gas, same route daily, etc).

[SSMV6]

Originally Posted by desmonsm

What kind of change in mpg could you expect to see if you changed from a 20 to a 30 weight, or vice-versa?

It's not much of a difference... Maybe 1mpg tops when switching between 5w-20 and 5w-30.

[ericrwalker]

That's cool, some people love to drive (me) I am always taking long driving trips. Plus I live in the middle of nowhere so I have to drive far everywhere I go.

Originally Posted by bbtaco

ericrwalker, we didn't put many miles on it until about a year ago. That's when our daughter got her driver's license. I believe she has put about 20,000 miles on it since then!

[CA05LXDriver]

Most folks say 2% increase in fuel mileage by going from 5/30 or 10/30 to 5-20.

[bbtaco]

Well, I guess there really isn't enough difference in the two oils to matter. Since I change the oil every 5,000 miles, should I just use Dino oil? I have read that Havoline is a good Dino oil and has a good amount of Moly in it. Plus I can get a five quart jug at Wally world for about eight dollars. I think they may even have the 5w-20 available.

[hermann]

Originally Posted by bbtaco

Well, I guess there really isn't enough difference in the two oils to matter. Since I change the oil every 5,000 miles, should I just use Dino oil? I have read that Havoline is a good Dino oil and has a good amount of Moly in it. Plus I can get a five quart jug at Wally world for about eight dollars. I think they may even have the 5w-20 available.

That is what I am going to use here in a few days. I saw it also at Wally World..That and a decent filter(Purolator, Super Tech at WMart, the Honda filter available for $5 online, or a Mobil 1 filter, and your engine will outlast the rest of the car. The only exception would be super severe conditions.

[RTexasF]

Originally Posted by bbtaco

Well, I guess there really isn't enough difference in the two oils to matter. Since I change the oil every 5,000 miles, should I just use Dino oil? I have read that Havoline is a good Dino oil and has a good amount of Moly in it. Plus I can get a five quart jug at Wally world for about eight dollars. I think they may even have the 5w-20 available.

You read correctly. Were I to change back to dino oil Havoline would be the one, 5W20 or 5W30.