Rant: You work where.. and how many years do you have experience do you have?????

[The Stigenator]

Last night my gf and I were hanging out with this guy that we knew in JC. I proposed this because this guy has not been leaving her alone, always wanting to hang out with her, so I said fine, lets all hang out together. That way he can ah heck off and I havent seen this guy in like 8 years.

Anyway he gets into my car (2009 Acura TSX), impressed and then first thing asks are you using synthetic, and I said, frankly I dont know what is being used because the dealer takes care of it, but most likely it is regular oil or semi-synth. Then he rants off that Synthetic is a waste of money.

Then he asks how many miles I got, and I said almost 60K, and then he says I need to put 10-30 in my car after I cross 60K. I told him, my car as per the manual and Honda engineers its 5W-20, he of course had to toot that he has been working with cars for 5 years and he knows better.

I then said I do need an oil change, so I need to make an appointment with the dealer soon, of course he is like 'you shouldnt take it to the dealer, they charge so much... ', and of course i am like 'well, i take it there cause its under dealer care from Acura' (though I probably dont have to take it there anymore). I explained the guy that when you buy a luxury car, its nice to take it to the dealer, they treat you well. Its a pleasure taking it to the dealer.

Of course he wouldnt let the whole 10W-30 business, he brought up that I should change my oil every 3000 miles and was on me because I said its about 7500 miles since my last change (I am almost due, i am at 30%, change at 15%).

So my gf kinda stepped up and said, well obviously for us saving money is not an object and it goes to the dealer. So he kinda shut up.

So what does this guy do that makes him eminently qualified to comment on my car. Is he ASE certified, is he an automotive engineer, has be rebuilt engines...... nope.. he works at Kragen as a parts guy.

What does he drive??? umm an old acura legend, one of the early acura legends. Your car probably can use 10W-40 but mine stays factory.

Seriously.. and then he wanted to drive my car, i flat out said no.. what a loser.


Cliffs:
Met a friend from 8 years ago (Junior College)
Mentions I shouldnt be using Synthetic in my car... (2009 Acura)
Mentions I should be using 10W-30 after 60K miles in my car (Acura states 5W-20)
Mentions I shouldnt take my car to the dealer
Mentions I should do oil changes every 3000 miles (MID usually goes at 7500 miles)

Said loser works at Kragen, is not an automotive engineer, or ASE certified mechanic, but a parts guy.
Said loser wanted to drive my car... I said NO.

 

[wirednuts]

run what you are supposed to. if honda says 5-20, use that. anything thicker will just burn more gas and could even cause problems. my truck has 210k miles on it and i still use the ford advised 5w30. to go from 5w20 to 10w30 is a big difference too. your friend is an idiot.

7500k between changes is a good bit but still fine. if its synthetic you can go around 10k. if anything just get the filter changed every 3k, but even that wont matter much. engines with efi and o2 sensors can make a world of difference on cleanliness... oil just doesnt get that dirty anymore like it did in pre-90's cars.

again, your friend is a knob.

 

[coxmaster]

7500k between changes is a good bit but still fine. if its synthetic you can go around 10k. if anything just get the filter changed every 3k, but even that wont matter much. engines with efi and o2 sensors can make a world of difference on cleanliness... oil just doesnt get that dirty anymore like it did in pre-90's cars.

Yeah, sounds like your friend is just an idiot. Ignore him

 

[The Stigenator]

oh he is an idiot, that is for sure.. its funny how he was trying to show 'upmanship' with me. I wish I had asked him what the 10W-30 numbers mean, it would have been priceless to hear his explanation.

 

[JonathanYoung]

If he knew anything at all, he'd tell you that Honda/Acura is now running 0w-20 with our cars (I'm also 2009 TSX). And, of course, always follow the MID, not 3000 miles.

 

[LTC8K6]

run what you are supposed to. if honda says 5-20, use that. anything thicker will just burn more gas and could even cause problems. my truck has 210k miles on it and i still use the ford advised 5w30. to go from 5w20 to 10w30 is a big difference too. your friend is an idiot.

7500k between changes is a good bit but still fine. if its synthetic you can go around 10k. if anything just get the filter changed every 3k, but even that wont matter much. engines with efi and o2 sensors can make a world of difference on cleanliness... oil just doesnt get that dirty anymore like it did in pre-90's cars.

again, your friend is a knob.

Ford changed a lot of engines to 5W-20 via a TSB.

 

[skyking]

Short story about oil weight. I have a 98 camry, it says 5w30. at about 110K I get a wild hair and toss in 10w40. I had another 10w40 vehicle and was just plain lazy about going to get the right oil.
3000 miles later it develops a sticky lifter, tick tick tick.
Herp-a-derp, I put the right oil in.
About 2000 miles later, tick is gone. Fast forward to today, car has 200K and still no ticks.
Use the right oil

 

[The Stigenator]

If he knew anything at all, he'd tell you that Honda/Acura is now running 0w-20 with our cars (I'm also 2009 TSX). And, of course, always follow the MID, not 3000 miles.

I am a little weary of running 0-20 with so.cal heat, it might be better for northern latitudes where its colder but for regular 100F + in the summer I'd take the extra 5 protection that it offers.

By the way do you remember when the coolant is to be changed, I see no mention of it in the Acura service manual.

 

[mwmorph]

I am a little weary of running 0-20 with so.cal heat, it might be better for northern latitudes where its colder but for regular 100F + in the summer I'd take the extra 5 protection that it offers.

By the way do you remember when the coolant is to be changed, I see no mention of it in the Acura service manual.

The issue is clearances and oil passage sizes. In a engine with tight machining, with thicker oil you may not get enough flow to areas like the piston rings and valves.

IIRC, the TSX coolant is 10 years 120k miles then 5 years 60k miles after that with approved Acura coolant. It also mentions an annual check on fluid condition and then change if a visual inspection shows issues. It seems extremely long, but that's what Honda/Acura is saying since about 2004.

 

[wirednuts]

Yeah, sounds like your friend is just an idiot. Ignore him

what, youve never went seven million miles between changes? you must be doing it wrong

 

[wirednuts]

Ford changed a lot of engines to 5W-20 via a TSB.

yeah but for those it was more about improving fuel mileage.

 

[3chordcharlie]

yeah but for those it was more about improving fuel mileage.

Why would Ford care about improving mileage on vehicles that have already been sold and 'counted' for fleet purposes?

I mean, I'm not saying they didn't...

 

[Pacfanweb]

Why would Ford care about improving mileage on vehicles that have already been sold and 'counted' for fleet purposes?

I mean, I'm not saying they didn't...

They didn't, it was about emissions.

 

[jlee]

Reminds me of when some kid working at an Autozone insisted that my 1986 MR2 in the parking lot was a Fiero...even after I told him quite clearly that it wasn't.

 

[3chordcharlie]

They didn't, it was about emissions.

I meant if they changed it via TSB, then they were already 'in the wild' and I can't see how Ford would get any (regulatory) credit for the change.

 

[Throckmorton]

Ford changed a lot of engines to 5W-20 via a TSB.

Who benefits if their engines start showing signs of excessive wear at 150k instead of 200k?

 

[3chordcharlie]

Who benefits if their engines start showing signs of excessive wear at 150k instead of 200k?

Volkswagen?

 

[Vette73]

I meant if they changed it via TSB, then they were already 'in the wild' and I can't see how Ford would get any (regulatory) credit for the change.

Could be the Gov tested them and came back to Ford and said your numbers don't line up. Many numbers that car makers give out are done by their own people. So Ford could have come back and said opps it was supposed to have 5w20 and now they line up enough.

5w20/0w20 was never about engine specs it was about meeting gas milage and emission standards in the US. The SAME motors used by honda and many others in other countries still list 5w30.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Could be the Gov tested them and came back to Ford and said your numbers don't line up. Many numbers that car makers give out are done by their own people. So Ford could have come back and said opps it was supposed to have 5w20 and now they line up enough.

5w20/0w20 was never about engine specs it was about meeting gas milage and emission standards in the US. The SAME motors used by honda and many others in other countries still list 5w30.

Now I get it.

 

[ShawnD1]

I am a little weary of running 0-20 with so.cal heat, it might be better for northern latitudes where its colder but for regular 100F + in the summer I'd take the extra 5 protection that it offers.

Unless you're towing stuff, they should run about the same temperature in all regions. I live in a cold region, and the radiator fan turns on and off all the time in summer; in winter it never turns on. In a warmer region, it would just stay on all the time.

 

[bryanW1995]

Could be the Gov tested them and came back to Ford and said your numbers don't line up. Many numbers that car makers give out are done by their own people. So Ford could have come back and said opps it was supposed to have 5w20 and now they line up enough.

5w20/0w20 was never about engine specs it was about meeting gas milage and emission standards in the US. The SAME motors used by honda and many others in other countries still list 5w30.

I can't tell you how I know this, it's just one of things that you pick up around a dealership, but I can you that it's absolutely true. The manufacturer can sell a lot more cars at 30mpg than 29, they'll do a lot to ensure the highest possible mgp from govt ratings, and lower weight oils net you better fuel economy. And I always went 7500 miles at least, and sometimes as many as 12 or 13k miles, between oil changes in my m5. I just got it changed whenever the computer told me to. I dogged the shit out of that car for ~ 80k miles and never had an issue, so I guess that was a good guide to use.

Just talked to our parts guy, he said that we 100% go by whatever is on the fuel cap because "it can change the fuel economy otherwise". Most common here is 5w20, though 10w30 is used quite a bit still as well (probably in older vehicles). He also mentioned that our diesel trucks use 15w40.

 

[Rezist]

7500 miles seems like a lot to me, but I'm pretty far north in Canada and the cold does a number on the engine oil. I'd still change between 5,000-6,000 miles, also I examined the oil I pulled out of my civic after the computer said 15% and found it looks very dark/dirty. I try now to change at 30%.

I did follow the minder to the T for the engine break in.

 

[jlee]

7500 miles seems like a lot to me, but I'm pretty far north in Canada and the cold does a number on the engine oil. I'd still change between 5,000-6,000 miles, also I examined the oil I pulled out of my civic after the computer said 15% and found it looks very dark/dirty. I try now to change at 30%.

I did follow the minder to the T for the engine break in.

You can't tell oil's condition by its color. If you want to see how your oil is holding up, a used oil analysis is the way.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

7500 miles seems like a lot to me, but I'm pretty far north in Canada and the cold does a number on the engine oil. I'd still change between 5,000-6,000 miles, also I examined the oil I pulled out of my civic after the computer said 15% and found it looks very dark/dirty. I try now to change at 30%.

I did follow the minder to the T for the engine break in.

If the oil is doing it's job it should look dark/dirty when the oil change reads a lot higher than 30%...

 

[MrWizzard]

Meh, don't worry about it.

Take advice people give you in real life like advice people on the Internet give. Most don't know what they are talking about.

Including me.

So maybe you shouldn't take that advice..........