How thoughtful of you to assist your friend! You are wise to ensure that the car is using the appropriate oil. Your engine’s performance may suffer if you use the incorrect one.
A synthetic SAE 0W-20 grade oil is required for a Honda Civic. Keep in mind that synthetic oils have a lower viscosity than conventional oils because the Honda Civic engine is designed to operate optimally with them.
Utilizing the proper engine oil is crucial because it helps your car with a number of tasks:
- Your engine stays cool thanks to oil. The proper oil transmits heat and energy in a way that ensures it is spread uniformly throughout the engine, preventing any one part from overheating.
- Oil lessens friction in the working parts of your car. The oil offers a barrier that prevents parts from rubbing against one another as it coats the parts. Metal parts will rust and wear down more quickly without oil or the incorrect oil.
- Oil, especially synthetic oil, which is free of contaminants, aids in keeping your engine clean. To prevent particles from adhering to your engine parts and being transferred to the oil filter, the oil keeps the particles suspended inside of it. Detergents that separate, degrade, and neutralize minerals and other possible engine contaminants can also be found in synthetic oils.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for how frequently to replace the oil once you’ve selected the proper oil. One approach to increase the lifespan of your car is to adhere to the suggested maintenance schedule.
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In This Article...
Do Honda Civics require synthetic motor oil?
- Where You Live: Because synthetic oil is considerably more adaptable than conventional oil in extremely cold and thin air, it works best if you live in a hot, cold, or high altitude climate.
- Your engine’s age and condition: Synthetic oil contains uniform molecules, which makes it more likely to pass through engine rings and cylinder walls. You should continue using conventional oil if your engine is already prone to leaks and/or excessive oil usage. Why spend more money on synthetic oil if it would merely leak out more quickly?
- How You Drive Your Civic: Even in stop-and-go traffic, do you frequently idling your Civic? Don’t be natural. It’s because air flow is necessary for your engine to stay cool. Synthetic oil, as opposed to regular oil, might aid in keeping your engine cool while it is idle. If you utilize your Civic for activities other than commuting, like racing, synthetic oil is a wonderful alternative because it provides greater protection.
- How Frequently You Drive Your Civic: If you don’t drive your Civic very often, synthetic oil will benefit you because traditional oil has a tendency to degrade quickly, even when not being used, whereas synthetic oil will last over time.
Which motor oil is recommended for Honda?
Honda Genuine Motor Oil is made especially for your car because it satisfies American Honda’s strict engineering requirements. These requirements are on par with or better than many traditional fluids’ normal industry performance specifications. Honda Genuine Motor Oil, tried and true by American Honda’s Research & Development team, aids in keeping your Honda in line with its factory specifications.
Honda Genuine Motor Oil, offered and accessible at Honda dealers, is advised by American Honda. If conventional motor oil of a premium grade or an ultimate full synthetic mix is used instead of Honda Genuine Motor Oil, it must have the necessary viscosity grade listed in your Owner’s Manual. Additionally, the oil must be marked with an API Certification Seal, which certifies that it complies with the most recent API requirements and that it is energy-efficient. Oil additives are not necessary and are not advised; using them could have a negative impact on the durability and performance of your car’s engine.
For a list of fluids recommended by the manufacturer, please refer to your owner’s manual’s Recommended Engine Oil.
Do Hondas require 100% synthetic oil?
According to Mel Yu, a car analyst for Consumer Reports, Honda is not alone. About 70% of new automobiles for the 2019 model year come with 100% synthetic or mixed oil.
Although some companies, like Honda, don’t specifically ask for synthetics in their engines, Yu notes that the low-viscosity lubricants those engines need are only available in synthetic form. Some companies employ “synthetic mix oil,” which combines synthetic and conventional oils. Blends are far less expensive but don’t offer all the advantages of synthetics, he continues.
Additionally, a lot of places that replace oil also sell synthetic oil as a substitute for regular engine oil.
The 2018 National Oil and Lube News annual study, according to Will Hixson, spokesman for the Automotive Oil Change Association, reveals that more than half of car owners select synthetics or synthetic mixes when they get their oil changed.
Does using synthetic oil make sense? The decision to is a good one, but only if your car has particular requirements.
Synthetic motor oil has some benefits over regular motor oil. They are intended to be more successful at:
preventing oil deterioration, allowing it to last longer than regular oil
Does using synthetic oil matter?
Yes, synthetic oil is superior to regular oil for engines. While conventional oil, or mineral oil, can provide enough lubrication, it cannot match the overall engine protection and performance offered by synthetic oils.
When opposed to the less refined base oils used in conventional oils, synthetics use higher grade base oils, making conventional oils:
- Less stable chemically
- faster to degrade and lose protective properties
- easier to oxidize and acidify
In general, full synthetic motor oils outperform traditional and synthetic blend motor oils in terms of engine protection and performance. The sophisticated complete synthetic motor oils from Mobil 1TM are precisely developed with an additive system that offers performance advantages over conventional and synthetic blend oils by:
- minimizing wear
- safeguarding against extreme temperatures
- preventing oil deterioration
- preventing sludge and deposit accumulation
Therefore, all of the chemistry that is developed in a lab has a significant impact on the road.
Your Owner’s Manual
Although it’s really easy, owners manuals are frequently disregarded. To find out the appropriate viscosity of the motor oil you should use, always consult your owner’s handbook. Use the 0W20 and 5W20 variations interchangeably, depending on the weather, if they are both on the list.
Location
Given that both 0W20 and 5W20 motor oils operate in much the same temperature range, it is critical to think about where you will be using the car. The operating temperature range for synthetic oil is -40C to 20C for 0W-20 and -35C to 20C for 5W20 (5W20 synthetic oil). Being aware of these facts means two things:
- If you reside in a region with extremely low temperatures, such as Alaska or Maine, it is preferable to use 0W20 oil.
- In places like Florida when the temperature is above 20C/68F, you cannot use either 0W20 or 5W20.
Viscosity
The motor oil will flow more smoothly the lower the number is. At beginning temperatures, a 0W20 will be more fluid than a 5W20, but both will function similarly at normal engine operating temperatures. Keep in mind that engine oils naturally become thinner during heating and thicken while cooling.
Quality Testing
Any oil brand with the appropriate viscosity grade and the API donut symbol is acceptable. The oil has passed the testing required for SL service, as indicated by the starburst sign.
The API donut indicates that your motor oil passed the current SL service rating test after being tested by the American Petroleum Institute. ACEA (Association des Constructeurs Europeens d’Automobiles) is the counterpart of API in Europe.
Manufacturer Requirements
If your vehicle is substantially loaded, the machine designer would typically advise using an oil that has a high viscosity and is heavy like honey. However, if it moves quickly, a lubricant that can move out of the way and then move back in is preferable.
Fuel Economy
Despite the fact that both 5W20 and 0W20 (0W20 synthetic oil) can be used at 20C/68F, 0W20 is thinner than 5W20 at cold engine temperatures, particularly in the initial minutes after starting your automobile. Because it gives the car slightly higher fuel economy than the 5W20, new models specify it. The 0W20 model satisfies a turbo-diesel engine’s requirements as well.
Is 5W30 a viable alternative to 5W20?
Yes. Using an oil with a greater viscosity, like 5w30, won’t cause short-term damage to your engine. To create uniform criteria for achieving realistic fuel efficiency and engine operating conditions, automakers collaborate closely with industry oil specialists like the SAE. These guidelines enable automakers to use particular oil grades and viscosities to achieve MPG and engine life objectives. The SAE claims that using low viscosity engine oil to increase fuel efficiency not only reduces frictional loss of the engine oil seal but also has no performance flaws.
Even though there are few practical differences between 5w30 and 5w20 in terms of fuel economy and engine wear, utilizing the recommended oil grade could void your powertrain warranty if the manufacturer. However, if your warranty is no longer valid, you can use any oil without any problems.
While using a thicker oil, such as 5w30, won’t cause your engine any short-term harm. It is advised that you, whenever feasible, abide by manufacturer recommendations.
Is Honda engine oil required?
Do you have to use fluids from the Honda brand? Yes is the clear-cut response. Corrosion is the key, and Honda fluids are the best fluid to reduce corrosion and keep your Honda dependable.
What brand of oil is Honda?
According to a recent announcement from Phillips 66 Lubricants, the firm has inked a contract to keep producing and providing service-fill lubricants to the American Honda Motor Co. (AHM) through 2019.
As a result of the arrangement, Phillips 66 Lubricants will continue to be the sole supplier of engine oils, lubricants, and other essential fluids to dealers across the United States under the Honda and Acura brands.
Bryan Faria, manager of finished lubricants at Phillips 66, stated that “our association with the team at AHM has been highly effective over the past years, thanks in large part to our shared commitment to developing high-performance branded oil that complements the quality service that their dealerships provide.” We appreciate the partnership and are happy to support AHM for the ensuing four years with our premium lubricants and first-rate services.
Phillips 66 Lubricants and AHM started working together in late 2010 when the business started distributing its lubricant goods to Honda and Acura stores in the United States.
As one of the biggest finished lubricant producers in the country, Phillips 66 Lubricants produces and distributes high-quality base oils and complex formulas under the Phillips 66, Conoco, 76 Lubricants, and Kendall Motor Oil lubricant brands.