New Honda Odyssey Break In oils & OCI Questions

[Va Runner]

Just purchased a new 2008 Honda Odyssey with the 3.5 liter. Great year-end deal on a leftover '08 with 6 miles !!

Honda & the owners' manual recommends the use of 5w20 oil. I am concerned about using the 5w20 oil as I viewed them as being too light and not necessary in the mild Virginia climate. Do they provide adequate protection in the heat of Summer??

I notice in the Honda owners manual that they have an indicator that signals when to have the oil changed. In the past, I have utilized the OCI pattern of 500 / 1500 / 3000 miles on my new vehicles. I plan to do the same with my new Honda unless other "BITOGers" have reasons not to. I'll start with dino oil and change over to Pennzoil Platinum at approx 12,000 miles.

Thanks in advance for your explanations and suggestions.

 

[Johnny]

Us 5W-20 as recommended and you can do your first oil change anywhere from 1-5K and go direct to the Platinum. No need to wait until 12K. Follow the OCI, it works great.

 

[BuickGN]

We have basically the same engine. I've run it on synthetic 30wt since the second oil change. No need for a 5-20 in a mild climate. The OLM is calibrated for dino oil and the one in the TL was letting it go 10,000 miles before signaling the need for an oil change. I would run a quality synthetic and let the car tell you when to change it but it's farther than I'm comfortable with on dino.

I'm not saying the 5-20 won't work, because it will but I'm more comfortable with the 30wt, especially since the same engine a couple years back spec'd a 30wt and outside of the US the same engine specs a 40wt.

Honda break-in oil seems to have more moly. If you end up changing it early, make sure to find an oil with lots of moly.

 

[HondaMan]

Va Runner,

Search my posts has I used to own an Odyssey. We loved our van.

I used MC and PP with great results.

I ran the factory fill or quite some time and even did a UOA of factory fill. I forget exactly how long.

Honda states in your manual not to drain the factory oil until the OLM counts down all the way. If/when I buy another new Honda, I believe I will actually follow this directive exactly to the word, as 'whatever' oil they use for the factory fill, I for one feel, it is different.

 

[RTexasF]

5W20 is a well proven oil and there is no reason to question it. Your beliefs concerning "light" oil are out of date. Research on this site will get you back in the know and dash some of the old and outdated concerns.

Honda is adamant about leaving the factory fill in for at least 5000 miles or until the oil monitor gets to 15% remaining. A little time spent searching here will yield reams of information.
Why you would wait until 12K miles to change to synthetic has no rhyme or reason. Do it at the first change as indicated by the oil life monitor. I fudged and went to Mobil 1 0W20 at 3300 miles in my 2004 Honda. To date it has not used any measurable amount of oil even using annual oil change intervals.

Congrats on snaring a good buy.

 

[cheetahdriver]

honda seems to be the only mfg who really pushes leaving the original fill in for the full length, and since they are arguably the premier builder of engines on the planet, i would follow their advice (on other brands, i follow your 300/500/1000 religiously).

as far as the 5w20, use it with confidence. running a thicker oil in a honda is counterproductive, a good 5w20 with service as the indicator shows will result in the engine outlasting the body...

ps, i assume you know you have just bought one of the safest drives available, as well as one of the best?

 

[Mr Nice]

Quote:
Honda & the owners' manual recommends the use of 5w20 oil


Then stick with 5w20 oil for the entire life of that Odyssey and you will easily get 300K miles out of that engine.

And yes, 5w20 will protect your engine during the hottest summer days.

 

[BuickGN]

Originally Posted By: cheetahdriver

as far as the 5w20, use it with confidence. running a thicker oil in a honda is counterproductive, a good 5w20 with service as the indicator shows will result in the engine outlasting the body...


Please, tell me how going to a 30wt in a Honda is counterproductive in a mild climate. If you actually had any experience, you would know there was no measurable decrease in fuel economy and surprisingly the car felt stronger when in VTEC.

The engine will last a long time on 5-20 but I believe it will last even longer on a 30wt. What is so hard to understand that this engine is spec'd for a much heavier weight outside of the US. You are playing right into CAFE's game. Even in the US, the exact same engine used to be spec'd for 30wt. Again, how is a 30wt counterproductive in a Honda?

It never ceases to amaze me the suggestions on here from people that have never tried anything different.

 

[Boomer01]

If it's worth giving up your warranty, use the 30.

Otherwise, use what the Honda engineers say is fine to use, and not what others "think" or have "tried".

I use the 20 in my Honda, I used to be old school too.

 

[HTSS_TR]

For warranty, use whatever recommended by manufacture. Out of warranty, use whatever you feel most comfortable with.

 

[Mr Nice]

There is no special break in for that Honda, just drive it like a normal car that already has 50K miles on the clock.

 

[BuickGN]

Originally Posted By: Boomer01
If it's worth giving up your warranty, use the 30.

Otherwise, use what the Honda engineers say is fine to use, and not what others "think" or have "tried".

I use the 20 in my Honda, I used to be old school too.



Nothing wrong with old school when the new school isn't proven to be superior.

Do you really think if you have an engine problem they're going to deny your warranty when it's widely known many dealerships including mine use a 5-30 in everything?

Honda has approved the 20wt because it's being pushed by CAFE. The engineers have approved that it provides adequate protection. That doesn't mean it's the best for your engine.

Ignorance is bliss I guess.

 

[JHZR2]

In any climate from Maine to Florida, for the most part, operating temperature is operating temperature, so long as youre not operating with true severe conditions like super-steep mountains or trailering.

That said, 5w-20 oils are held to a higher standard in many ways, at the same time, many 5w30 oils shear to a 20wt over an OCI anyway.

Honda vehicles often recommend that the break-in oil be left in for the full amount of time. Do a search on this, and look at some of the UOAs of Honda break-in oils.

I'd suggest following the Honda owner's manual regrding break-in OCI, or at least go to 50% of what the duration should be based upon the computer. If you want to go shorter, then so be it... but id want to look for a high moly oil (i.e. havoline) to be similar to what seems to be Honda's move.

Other Honda experts may add more, but it appears that Honda desires to keep the break-in oil longer, and prefers high moly oils.

Good luck!

 

[scoobie]

5w20 oil runs better when cold, it will be significantly thinner at start up time than 5w30, which is when most wear occurs.
go to the website of the oil manufacturer that you wish to use, and compare the cold properties of 5w20 vs 5w30. the thinner oil also flows better at normal operating conditions, and with faster flow, the oil is better able to cool the engine. engine oil is extremely important for engine cooling, the 30 weight will flow slower, and the engine will not be cooled as well. also check the Interesting Articles forum on this site, and read Dr. Haas's course on oil viscosity. Most people here have discovered that Dr. Haas's conclusions have been borne out, with impressive UOA.
My vehicle is specced for 5w30, but I mix 50:50 5w20 to benefit from the thinner viscosity.

I wouldn't argue if you wanted to fortify the 5w20 by mixing it 50:50 with 5w30. however, just running straight 5w30 would be too thick in my view. And be sure to review the manufacturer's website for the ACTUAL measured viscosity, because the permitted range of 30 weight is pretty wide, and I would stay away from anything over about 10.6 or 10.8.

 

[HARTZSKY]

Honda builds the best engines in my opinion. There engineers are top notch. If they say run 5-20, uhh I run 5-20

 

[SrDriver]

We live a few miles north of the Florida line and use 5W20 year around in both our vehicles.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: scoobie
5w20 oil runs better when cold, it will be significantly thinner at start up time than 5w30, which is when most wear occurs.
go to the website of the oil manufacturer that you wish to use, and compare the cold properties of 5w20 vs 5w30. the thinner oil also flows better at normal operating conditions, and with faster flow, the oil is better able to cool the engine. engine oil is extremely important for engine cooling, the 30 weight will flow slower, and the engine will not be cooled as well. also check the Interesting Articles forum on this site, and read Dr. Haas's course on oil viscosity. Most people here have discovered that Dr. Haas's conclusions have been borne out, with impressive UOA.


Please. The difference between a 5w30 ad a 5w-20 is not in splitting hairs about cold flow and pumping at a sub-zero temperature. The differences are purely characterized with respect to operational (100C) viscosity in a 5w- vs. 5w- oil.

That said, there are a variety of reasons to run lower viscosity, and you hit on a source of some interesting points. Many of Dr. Haas's writings are oversimplified and not necessarily 100% accurate from an engineering standpoint.

 

[scoobie]

Not really JHZR2 - 5w20 is much thinner cold that 5w30 - just look at the manufacturer's data for the cold properties, such as at -30 or -35. it's also different at 100C, but those differences are slight, and again quite variable depending on the manufacturer.
that's the reason i always recommend looking at the manufacturer's data sheet before deciding.

The thinner oil pumps better at all temperatures, even in those where the owner of the New Odyssey lives.

 

[Carzzz]

i will put 5w30 once the warranty expires! Stick with quality 5W-20 for now!

 

[BuickGN]

Originally Posted By: scoobie
Not really JHZR2 - 5w20 is much thinner cold that 5w30 - just look at the manufacturer's data for the cold properties, such as at -30 or -35. it's also different at 100C, but those differences are slight, and again quite variable depending on the manufacturer.
that's the reason i always recommend looking at the manufacturer's data sheet before deciding.

The thinner oil pumps better at all temperatures, even in those where the owner of the New Odyssey lives.


What's with this ease of pumping [censored]? As long as the oil flows, pressure is nearly instant.

Most wear occurs at startup because the engine is cold, not because it takes the oil 15 minutes to flow. Again, this is a temperature issue, not a flow issue.

You need to get it out of your head that it takes more than a second to have flow throughout the entire engine.