Oil for Acura TSX

[ruralcarrier]

First post here so be gentle. Great forum. I have read for many months but just registered.

Just purchased a 2006 Acura TSX 2.4L. Previously owned 2 Infiniti G-20's but went with the TSX after the most recent G-20 was totalled. I have had great success with regular Pennzoil in other GM vehicles (4 well over 100,000 and one almost 300,000) and am considering using Pennzoil Platinum in the TSX. OCI would be about 3750 after the initial factory fill. Will use Honda or NAPA Gold filters. Mileage per year will be about 20,000+.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. Is the Pennzoil Platunum a good choice or is there something else I should consider?

Thank you.

 

[427Z06]

Good choice and a great value. Does that vehicle have an OLM?

 

[greenjp]

If you're going to stick with a 3,750 OCI, I wouldn't bother with the Platinum. Just use the conventional in the appropriate weight.

At 20k+ per year, that has you doing an oil change every two months. And I imagine racking up many of those miles on the highway? I'd suggest using the Platinum and running a longer OCI. Maybe change out the factory fill, do a couple of 3-4k runs of the conventional, then run the Platinum for 6k and get an analysis.

jeff

 

[ruralcarrier]

Sorry, but what is OLM?

 

[ruralcarrier]

Thanks. Highway miles would be about 50%+. I have seen some really good deals on the Platinum so that came into consideration also.

Do you agree with leaving the factory fill for the first 7500? I have followed this and really have concerns over it but that is what Honda/Acura says to do. Something about an internal coating of the engine?

 

[benjamming]

OLM = Oil life monitor
Surely that car has one. I would leave the factory fill oil in until it shows at least 25%.
You should be able to do 5k mile OCIs with PP & not break a sweat.

 

[ruralcarrier]

Ok, got it. Yes, it has that. Shows a % of oil life left. It has about 1500 on it now and showed about 80% the last I looked.

Trying to catch onto the lingo here.

 

[427Z06]

If you use Pennz Plat, just change it when the OLM light comes on, which IIRC, is when 15% of the oil life is left if it was dino.

 

[Donald]

What is the factory suggestion for an oil change? On our 2005 MDX is 7500 unless severe conditions, then its 3750. Does the vehicle take 5W20?

 

[ruralcarrier]

5W30 is recommended and the owners maunal basically says to follow the OLM. Dealer suggests 7500 OCI. Probably ok but that makes me a little nervous, hence, the 3750 figure I mentioned.

 

[Donald]

The OLM is conservative. Use a good oil and go 7500.

 

[Auto-Union]

Considering you WANT to change oil often, here are the oils I'd use:
Havoline or Motorcraft at 5000-6000 miles
Pennzoil Platinum at 6000-8000 miles.

Change intervals based on time is a good way to go and what I do on my Acura that sees 30k a year.
I change every 3 months which is 7500 miles. If you need 7500 miles intervals for warranty, (mine is 10k) I suggest going the full 7500 miles with good synth oil. Any lower interval than that begs for Conventional or Blend. I just picked up a lot of PP for my car and Clean 7500 (closeout at Advance Auto) for my wife's CRV. I changed out my original fill for high-moly Havoline at 2500 miles. Past 5000 on FF is pointless...imo.

 

[427Z06]

Quote:

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5W30 is recommended and the owners maunal basically says to follow the OLM. Dealer suggests 7500 OCI. Probably ok but that makes me a little nervous, hence, the 3750 figure I mentioned.

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You trust Acura enough to buy one of their vehicles, now you're going to ignore their advice given in the manual and listen to any old yahoo on the internet?

http://www.acura.com/index.aspx?initPath...nceMinderSystem

 

[ruralcarrier]

Just asking for other opinions. I am not totally comfortable with 7500 OCI, no matter who built the vehicle.

 

[Auto-Union]

What about the fact Mobil makes their oils with a miles-specific warranty? Honestly, from someone else with a 2006 Acura, 7500 miles is a breeze. That's 3 months for me, I can't imagine doing it evry 2 months....6X a year!? Consider at least 6000 for a starting point.

 

[Cicero]

I have a OLM on an Civic Si. I had just gone to 60% at 2,180 miles when I changed FF oil. Seems to me one could go anywhere from 4,000-7,500 miles using any good conventional oil before 15% on the OLM. So, why not use PP or any good syn and let the OLM decide when to change it? I wish I had more experience with the OLM to make a better recommendation, but I imagine the OLM will decide your oil is still good well past 3,750 miles. I'm guessing my OLM would have left my Honda's FF in for somewhere around 5,000 miles. Still shows 60% and I'm at 2,800 miles.

5,000-6,000 miles on PP seems ideal to me and I'm going to let the OLM signal when to drain ANY synthtic I decide to use regardless of the miles on the OD. If conventional oil, I'm changing at 3,000 and ignoring the OLM.

 

[Laminar Lou]

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Just asking for other opinions. I am not totally comfortable with 7500 OCI, no matter who built the vehicle.

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I hear you, but I would poke around a little more on this forum before you dump that oil at 3750Mi. Check out the Used oil analysis section and you can see oils that are making it to 10K with no problems. If you want to be absolutely sure, have a UOA done yourself. For the price it costs to change you oil you can see for yourself if the oil will go the distance (and I think most of us here would agree that it can - trust the OLM).

Acura is pretty adamant about leaving that factory fill in until the OLM tells you to dump it. It's in your manual, it's on the website, and I bet your dealer would tell you the same thing.

But in the end it is your choice. Personally, I find that I learn the most in life when I am not in my "comfort zone".

 

[Al]

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Just asking for other opinions. I am not totally comfortable with 7500 OCI, no matter who built the vehicle.

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My son has 57K miles on his 04 Acura. Highest OCI has been 9.5K miles on Syn and 8.7K miles on dino. This is a superb engine. It turns a 30 wt. into a 20 wt. in a short period of time but it doesn't seem to matter. Believe me 7500 miles on this oil with even dino is no big thing.

If you do an OCI you will see. Great car...wish I could aford one.

 

[427Z06]

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...and I bet your dealer would tell you the same thing...

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If they're like most stealers...er'...dealers, take what they say with a grain of salt unless it's in the owner/service manual or a Acura Tech Bulletin.