Oil choices for new 2012 Acura TSX 4cyl

[dadoph]

Hello all - just purchased a new (6000k miles) 2012 Acura TSX w/4cyl engine. One of the first things I did was to go to the owners manual to see the maintenance schedule. Well, apparently there isn't one (?) However, there is a maintenance minder system in the supposed to tell you what needs to be done at the appropriate time, oil changes included. Interesting. At any rate, the car calls for 0w-20 oil which I gather means synthetic only.

So, looking for recommendations on what to use. I've traditionally used Valvoline conventional (via the VIOC shops around here) in my other cars. Would like to stick with something that is readily available. Meaning a Valvoline, Mobile 1, national brand product just so that I know that it is readily available.

So, to answer the standard questions:

1. What kind of vehicle you have = 2012 Acura TSX 4 cyl.
2. What your owner's manual says -- not just viscosity, but certifications (look for acronyms like API SM, ILSAC GF-4, etc.) and change intervals as well = 0w-20 API premium grade
3. Where you live = Central Kentucky
4. How you drive (easy? hard? fast? slow?)= fairly average, no hot-rodding. Mostly in town, occasional road trips
5. What your daily drive is like (short trips? long trips? city? highway?) = about 20-30 miles per day, suburban commuting.
6. Whether your car has any known problems = none that i know of.

Thanks!

 

[Oil Changer]

Toyota 0W-20 SM or SN
Eneos 0W-20 SM or SN
Sustina 0W-20 SN

 

[dave123]

QSUD 0W20 Fram Ultra or BD+
M1 0W20 Fram Ultra or BD+
use OLM for oil change intervals

 

[dparm]

Honda's own 0w20 is pretty good.

 

[Bandito440]

My local WM has Pennzoil Platinum 0w-20 in the 5-qt jugs. I got some of that for a friend's Subaru. Combine that with a PureOne filter and you're good to go.

 

[Artem]

Whatever 0w20 grade oil is on sale at the time of (or when you come across a good deal for a future) oil change.

No need to order boutique oils

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Honda's own 0w20 is pretty good.

There is a synthetic blend 0w20 from Honda and a full-synthetic 0w-20. I do not know if I would trust the synthetic blend version past 5-6k.

 

[JustinC25]

Congrats on your new Acura.
My Recomendations are as follows:

Penzoil Platinum 0w20
or
Quaker State Ultimate Durability 0w20
or
Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0w20
All available at walmart for $25.00 or less for 5 qt jugs.
Purolator classic oil filter also available at Walmart for less than $3.50

Ignore the OLM, Honda OLM's are known for crazy long intervals.
Simple 5k Service interval, Oil Change Tire Rotation.

This is what I do in my wife's Camry, and no problems.
It's cheap too at less than 30 bucks every 5k.

 

[Indydriver]

I think you'll find Honda 4 cyl engines go 7500-8000 to get the MM down to 15% and lower. Our 6 cyl 2011 Accord took 6300 to get to 10%. I did a UOA on the FF and based on that, I wouldn't take it past 5000 on the first OC if I were to do it again. Then, I'd just follow it making certain to check your oil level once per month.

I bought a couple of changes worth of Honda Genuine Full Syn along with OE filters and drain plug gaskets but I also have PP, M1 and TGMO in my garage that I wouldn't hesitate to use. Stick with a full syn 0W-20.

Enjoy your TSX. MT I hope?

 

[bourne]

Mazda , Subaru , Honda and Toyota has all specd 0w20 for at least one of their models and have an OE fluid available. My advice, call all the above said dealerships and see who gives u the best deal if you bought bulk. Toyota dealer around me sells their 0w20 for anywhere between 5-6 USD a qt. If this doesnt work, then Pennzoil platinum would be my first choice followed by Quaker state ultimate durability and Synpower from Valvoline. For filters , P1 is my first choice

 

[Oil Changer]

Indy and I same to be in agreement with many things involving these vehicles. Ignore the MM and change your oil every 5k with a quality 0W-20 (Toyota is my preferred) and your Acura will outlive your interest in performing proper maintenance.

 

[Gebo]

You want opinions, here's mine. I'd use Aucura's/Honda's own oil and their own OEM filter as long as it is made by Filtech. The Acura oil I buy in VA is made by Kendall at this time. My Acura dealer full synthetic oil is labeled "Acura" and the partial synthetic is labeled "Honda" and both are in Kendall plastic bottles.

As I researched their OEM oils, my parts guy got this a email from a formulation guy in Acura. I wanted information on their 5W-30 Honda/Acura oil. This makes an interesting read and is for information purposes only.

Quote:
The Honda and Acura Ultimate Full Synthetic 5W30 meets Honda's very stringent HTO-06 requirement. This HTO-06 test is a high temperature deposit test modeled to simulate deposits that occur in the bearing of a turbo charger and the test has had more than 100 candidates fail and many of the products and been manufactured from a variety of base oils; the product is question was tested and rated with a very high passing rating.

If the oil which you are comparing to the Acura UFS 5W30 does not have the Honda HTO-06 approval please do not use in the turbo versions of the RDX; and as I own a 2008 RDX AWD Tech package; I am sensitive to such concerns.

This product was approved by Honda because of it performance. The formulation is base oil and additives and I do not have the authority to share our formulations by email.
End Quote

Notice I didn't mention what viscosity I would use and in doing so you may have an idea I lean to the more conservative, i.e., heavier side.

If I had to choose between Valvoline and Mobil as you suggested in your post, I'd use Valvoline.

 

[Oil Changer]

Your post is non-sensical. The OP does not have a turbo and the manufacturer specifies the use of 0W-20. 5W-30 with the HT0-06 is meaningless. What is the point of your post?

 

[Oil Changer]

OP:

I missed it the first go-around; 6000 miles? Change your oil now with a name brand 0W-20.

 

[Gebo]

Originally Posted By: Oil Changer
Your post is non-sensical. The OP does not have a turbo and the manufacturer specifies the use of 0W-20. 5W-30 with the HT0-06 is meaningless. What is the point of your post?


I apologize, you must have missed this statement in my post:


"This makes an interesting read and is for information purposes only."

Just trying to give information about Acura/Honda OEM oil. That's all.

 

[dadoph]

6000 miles. It's an Acura Certified Pre-owned. Maintenance Minder says oil life is currently at 100% so i am assuming that it was serviced before putting it on the lot.

Back in the day, I did do all routine maintenance on my vehicles, mostly because they were a lot easier to work on and I didn't have the funds to pay someone else. I could certainly do that on this vehicle, but the realities of full time work and raising 3 kids doesn't leave a lot of time for this. I don't mind taking the vehicle somewhere for routine service, though i normally do simple things like air filters myself.

Planning to visit the dealership this week to talk to them about maintenance, service records, etc. and find out what oils they use. A lot of shops in this area tend to use Valvoline as their house brand, as Valvoline is headquartered here in Lexington and there are VIOC shops all over the place.

I'm sure some of the boutique oils mentioned above are quite good, but as I said in my original post I'd like to use something that is readily available at national retailers whether they be places like Walmart or auto parts stores. May end up trying to find a shop that would let me provide the oil and filter and just pay them for the labor.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Oil Changer
Indy and I same to be in agreement with many things involving these vehicles. Ignore the MM and change your oil every 5k with a quality 0W-20 (Toyota is my preferred) and your Acura will outlive your interest in performing proper maintenance.


I also agree with this. 0W-20 is not expensive when bought in 5-quart jugs, you can get a good filter (Purolator) for cheap, and 5,000 mile OCIs are just too easy. I do 5,000 mile OCIs with both of my Hondas, and will be using Pennzoil Platinum 0W-20.

 

[JustinC25]

The dealership should be willing to use your Oil and filter.
You could also look for an quality independant shop, preferbly a Honda/Acura specialist. You could check the mechanics files at
cartalk.com for unbiased mechanic reviews in your area.

Just doing a quick search there I found this shop:

Alpine Imports
429 Codell Dr, Fayette, KY 40509, us
(859) 269-4411

They have positive reviews that seem to show they specialize in Honda's.

 

[Zako2]

I would have probably used any "off the shelf" synthetic 0W20 oil sold at parts stores such as Mobil 1, PP or PU. Get Toyota 0W20 if you want to spend a bit more on a good product. However, I wouldn't mind using even major brand API SN 5W20 conventional, synthetic, or blend, specially during summer, if I happened to have that in my stash. Honda's 2.4L engine is one of the best designed and built 4-cylinder engines that seems to be easy on the oil. One of my favorite UOAs is the 8,000 mile UOA using NAPA conventional (supposedly VWB derivative produced by Ashland) in an Accord:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1415449

 

[dadoph]

Dropped by the dealer yesterday and asked about their oil change service. About $40. Said they use Honda brand oil, made by Conoco - Phillips. 0w-20 Synthetic blend.