What's the best weight oil? - Honda Prelude Forum

LadypreludeSI · 07-10-2002, 04:32 PM

I wonder what weight oil is the best for my car. It's a 92 Si, with just over 200k. I've been using Mobil 1 synthetic 10W30, and my b/f just told me that's the best weight oil for my car, according to sport compact magazine. I trust him, but I was reading another post that said maybe that particular weight wasn't the best. Can someone help me out?

WillHoman · 07-10-2002, 04:54 PM

Its good for around town and not long distances but if you plan on traveling use Mobil 1 10W50 (Red Bottle)

vile10 · 07-10-2002, 05:52 PM

but i believe in the honda manual it stated 5w30

WillHoman · 07-10-2002, 07:00 PM

Yeah but with 200K miles you need a thicker weight

vile10 · 07-10-2002, 07:03 PM

my car is 95k miles now, should i go thicker?

PreludesR4Speed · 07-11-2002, 03:16 AM

I have just over 140,000 miles on my lude, I used a combo of 5W30 and that Engine RESTORE stuff for my last oil change, I can definitely say that my engine is consuming much less oil now. I've also heard that lucas oil stabilizer works wonders. I would say for a high mileage engine, if you use something as thin as 5W30 use something to balance it like restore or lucas. Whatever you do, stay away from synthetic oil unless your engine has always used it!!!

Tola · 07-11-2002, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vile10
my car is 95k miles now, should i go thicker?

You're fine with 5w30. I'm almost at 140k running 5w30 synthetic all year round.

Si4WS · 07-12-2002, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PreludesR4Speed
. . .Whatever you do, stay away from synthetic oil unless your engine has always used it!!!

I switched to synthetic @ 110k and have not had a leak yet in 2k miles. Should I still be worried?

ntrddragn · 07-12-2002, 01:46 AM

i used mobile 1 synthetic 10w30. I switch at around 100K and now its 150K no problems. I also have a 92 Si.

LadypreludeSI · 07-12-2002, 03:22 PM

Thanks a bunch for the info guys. I haven't had any probs with oil leaks or anything since I bought the car 6 months ago...knock on wood. So I guess I'll stick with the synthetic 10W-30.

The Acclude · 07-12-2002, 04:02 PM

I use mobil1 15w-50...but the thicker weight raised teh oil pressure in a friends lude.

(we both have h22's)

G_Loc · 07-12-2002, 04:39 PM

im using synthetic blend 20w-50

no real leaks now since i replaced the oil pan and valve cover gaskets. but there is still one very small leak i cant find....

Brady92/4WS · 07-12-2002, 06:56 PM

i use 10w30 valvoline durablend.

Jordan_4WS · 07-12-2002, 09:10 PM

The service manual says 5w30 or 10w30. 5w30 will make the car a bit more efficient and better in the cold, but I use 10w30 because it offers a bit more protection for my motor since I run it hard and live in hot california (it was over 110 degrees a couple days this past week). I also leak soem oil through my seals, so 10w30 wont leak as much. If you do not run your motor very hard, and/or do not live in a very hot area you should run 5w30. I live in hot california, take lots of backroads, and never go to the snow, so I just run 10w30.

Jordan

NOSprelude · 07-12-2002, 11:43 PM

I use mobil one 5w-30. also, Someone mentioned using one of those "engine restore" duralube type things...I have heard that those can damage the engines of hondas...I am just curious if this is true??

Brady92/4WS · 07-12-2002, 11:58 PM

I've also heard that oil additives are bad for hondas.

Jordan_4WS · 07-13-2002, 01:43 AM

I've heard the same...

LadypreludeSI · 07-13-2002, 04:10 PM

Well, I do have a tendency to drive the car hard.

It's a lude, after all. My b/f gets onto me all the time for driving it too hard. Can't help it, though. I also live in NC, where we get a combo of weather. I try not to drive it so hard when it's hot, which it has been lately. The 10w-30 I run in it is the synthetic that is for high mileage cars, and so far, so good. Only bad thing about it is the price tag, which runs around $5 a quart. But it's for my baby, so it's worth it. Anything to make my lude last as long as possible.

Jordan_4WS · 07-14-2002, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LadypreludeSI
Well, I do have a tendency to drive the car hard. It's a lude, after all. My b/f gets onto me all the time for driving it too hard. Can't help it, though. I also live in NC, where we get a combo of weather. I try not to drive it so hard when it's hot, which it has been lately. The 10w-30 I run in it is the synthetic that is for high mileage cars, and so far, so good. Only bad thing about it is the price tag, which runs around $5 a quart. But it's for my baby, so it's worth it. Anything to make my lude last as long as possible.

I just use regular 10w30, I dont buy into the whole synthetic thing; plus my motor has some minorly leaking seals which synthetic is bad for. But yeah, as long as you dont go to the cold to often I'd run 10w30. Maybe in the winter (depending how cold it gets there) you might wanna switch to 5w30, but I dont have that problem here in Cali. I'd suggest just looking at the owners manual under oil, where they have the temperature breakdown and which oil you can use. It recommends 5w30 for all temperatures, but I dont remember what the minimum temperature it says 10w30 is ok for. You might also want to ask a local mechanic who lives in the area what he recommends. The mechanic who I occasional call for questions when working on the lude recommended me 10w30 because of the combination of hard driving and intense temperature.

Jordan

LakeMountLude · 07-14-2002, 02:12 PM

yeah i must agree that RESTORE formula is great!