Originally Posted By: 09rexwagon
Again folks, if you go to www.m-w.com and plug in *requirement* and then *recommendation*, you'll see my point
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Anyway, people always talk about voiding their warranty with oil weights etc and it's just gibberish (they can't ever void your warranty....case by case claim denial, yes). Someone PLEASE find me a definitive case of this happening. The MMA requires that a manufacturer would have to prove that 5w20 or 5w30 caused the failure in an engine that "RECOMMENDS" 0w20. They will not be able to prove this beyond a reasonable doubt.
EDIT:
Also the k24s in the 2011 cars have not changed from a physical standpoint (ie oil galley diameters, bearing clearings, ring clearances etc etc) further emphasizing that the "recommendation" of 0w20 over 5w20 or 5w30 is because the friction reducing technologies ALLOW it, not NEED it.
Manufacturers can say to use a specific weight of oil with out supplying it. They can not however say you must use a specific brand, without supplying free of charge. The Magnuson Moss only covers brands, not specific lubrication requirements. There are some variances state by state. In Wisconsin, I can not knowingly disregard manufacturer specifications/schedules and requirements. Basically, if I run the wrong grade and my engine blows up, Honda can deny my claim. Granted, I seriously doubt running 5w-20 will ever do any harm when 0w-20 is specified. And since I am a fan of 0w-xx oils anyway, why not follow the recommendation.
The reason I know this is my friend blew up his engine (well actually spun a few bearings) with only 5000 miles on it. He had heard that "thicker is better", and decided to run 20w-50. That was fine until it got cold, and the engine started knocking. Mitsubishi had an oil analysis done and said the wrong grade was being used for the conditions. My friend had to pay for a new engine. While this is an extreme case, car companies are watching more closely that their recommendations are being followed.
Since this is my first new car, and the fact that I bought it was to not have to pay for car repair for a few years, I am going to follow the recommendations in the owners manual.
Again folks, if you go to www.m-w.com and plug in *requirement* and then *recommendation*, you'll see my point
Anyway, people always talk about voiding their warranty with oil weights etc and it's just gibberish (they can't ever void your warranty....case by case claim denial, yes). Someone PLEASE find me a definitive case of this happening. The MMA requires that a manufacturer would have to prove that 5w20 or 5w30 caused the failure in an engine that "RECOMMENDS" 0w20. They will not be able to prove this beyond a reasonable doubt.
EDIT:
Also the k24s in the 2011 cars have not changed from a physical standpoint (ie oil galley diameters, bearing clearings, ring clearances etc etc) further emphasizing that the "recommendation" of 0w20 over 5w20 or 5w30 is because the friction reducing technologies ALLOW it, not NEED it.
Manufacturers can say to use a specific weight of oil with out supplying it. They can not however say you must use a specific brand, without supplying free of charge. The Magnuson Moss only covers brands, not specific lubrication requirements. There are some variances state by state. In Wisconsin, I can not knowingly disregard manufacturer specifications/schedules and requirements. Basically, if I run the wrong grade and my engine blows up, Honda can deny my claim. Granted, I seriously doubt running 5w-20 will ever do any harm when 0w-20 is specified. And since I am a fan of 0w-xx oils anyway, why not follow the recommendation.
The reason I know this is my friend blew up his engine (well actually spun a few bearings) with only 5000 miles on it. He had heard that "thicker is better", and decided to run 20w-50. That was fine until it got cold, and the engine started knocking. Mitsubishi had an oil analysis done and said the wrong grade was being used for the conditions. My friend had to pay for a new engine. While this is an extreme case, car companies are watching more closely that their recommendations are being followed.
Since this is my first new car, and the fact that I bought it was to not have to pay for car repair for a few years, I am going to follow the recommendations in the owners manual.
