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  1. #1
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    What's the difference between 5W-20 and 5W-30?

    Hello guys my oil is almost due and I was wondering which Oil I should use My manual says 5W-20 but alot of people recommend I should use 5W-30 Mobil 1 Synthetic or Pennzoil Ultra/Platinum. What is the difference? Also I just need help deciding which oil is best for the car, life and performance wise. THANKS!!!!

  2. #2
    Registered User ep3demon's Avatar
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    dont listen to them your engine clearences specify 5w-20

    the numbers signify the viscosity of the a multiviscosity oil wich means that it has a thinness of 5 and the w stands for winter not weight. oil is measured by its volume ie liters/pints. wich means when the oil is cold it will be at the 5 viscosity
    after the oil is warmed up the viscosity will change to the thickness of the second number. your engine clearences are nice and tight in these newer cars wich results in less blowby and other things. unless your car severely worn out and and your clearences have increased there really is no need for you to switch.

  3. #3
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    Should I just use Regular or Synthetic 5W-20? I live in California, The Bay area so the weather is bipolar haha. What kind of oil and brand do you recommend?

  4. #4
    I'm getting COOLER! 02TWSI's Avatar
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    I use 5-30. I don't think anyone on this board still uses the 5-20 recommended.
    Last edited by zerofighter; 05-04-2009 at 03:04 PM. Reason: More recent

  5. #5
    ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ talonXracer's Avatar
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    5w20 will lead to a short engine life guaranteed !!!

    The local stealerships had alot of complaints for engine noise and abnormal wear with the 5w20 swill. They changed to recommending only 5w30 and their complaints and warranty claims dropped to nill.

    Even Honda stated the K20A3 was speced for the 5w20 swill to attain LEV status and lower the fleet average, that costs less for them in tarriffs and fines vrs replacing engines and dealing with complaints.

    Only use 5w20 swill if you enjoy engine noise and destroying the engine! There is a reason why the rest of the K's have 5w30 specd.


    Supposedly there are some 5w20's that are supposed to be as good as a 30 weight, but I have yet to see any real world corroboration of those claims.
    Last edited by talonXracer; 10-12-2010 at 06:46 AM.
    ALL advice issued with this "Disclaimer"
    Tim "the Toolman" Taylor is my HERO ! ! !

    "Labor Unions are Domestic Terrorist orgainizations"

  6. #6
    Rocking the k20a2.5 Deadphishy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ep3demon View Post
    dont listen to them your engine clearences specify 5w-20

    the numbers signify the viscosity of the a multiviscosity oil wich means that it has a thinness of 5 and the w stands for winter not weight. oil is measured by its volume ie liters/pints. wich means when the oil is cold it will be at the 5 viscosity
    after the oil is warmed up the viscosity will change to the thickness of the second number. your engine clearences are nice and tight in these newer cars wich results in less blowby and other things. unless your car severely worn out and and your clearences have increased there really is no need for you to switch.

    There is Zero difference in "spec" between the clearances of a k20a3 and a k20a2. Yet the A3 uses thinner Oil? Fleet economy is 100% the reason for a 20 grade.

    If you are worried about the Oil then use a Synthetic 5w30. They are thinner at start up then Dyno Oil.
    If you really want to run a 5w20, I would run one that has a very high zinc and prosperous count. This will improve film strength.
    Ultra/plat is a really nice, easy to find oil. The more UOI (used oil analysis) i see the more I think they are on top of the mainstream market.
    Last edited by Deadphishy; 10-12-2010 at 09:24 AM.

  7. #7
    your hero. introvert's Avatar
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    I've always went 5-30 synthetic. Decided to try 5-20 this recent change.. Do notice more engine noise when cold, but it seems quieter once idle and warmed up. It's only been a couple hundred miles, acceleration seems semi improved but that could just be a placebo effect. Fuel economy seems better.. But I'll have to wait and see. I'll definitely be going back to 5-30, though.

  8. #8
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    5-30 Pennzoil ultra synthetic is what I'm going to use for the next 3 oil change too see the result.

  9. #9
    Drift Away... Distance's Avatar
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    this is irrelevant to what the op asked but i used mobile1 5-30 for the winter and 5-40 amsoil for the summer.

  10. #10
    Site Sponsor oneglory's Avatar
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    5w20 =

    Ed~

  11. #11
    EP3 Enthusiast sippyyy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Deadphishy View Post
    There is Zero difference in "spec" between the clearances of a k20a3 and a k20a2. Yet the A3 uses thinner Oil? Fleet economy is 100% the reason for a 20 grade.
    Stock allowed rod to crank bearing clearance:
    K20A3 (Base RSX engine) 0.0008-0.0020 inch
    K20A2 (RSX type S) 0.0013 - 0.0024 inch

    Max service limit:
    K20A3 (Base RSX engine) 0.0024 inch
    K20A2 (RSX type S) 0.0028 inch

  12. #12
    Registered User McTaggart34's Avatar
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    Full synthetic Royal Purple 5-30 with lucas oil added.

  13. #13
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    Have not been here in a long time. My EP Hatch now has 189K. I think I took over it with 90K, and have faithfully been using the recommended 5w-20. In the last 8 months I have had to make routine long trips because of work, and have noted that I am burning about a quart just shy of a 1000 miles. I've used every additive there is, including high milage oil, but no change.

    As an aside, I had been getting about 25mpg till I heard a squeal, and on changing my brakes realized my calipers were pretty bad off. I changed all 4 calipers and milage jumped to 28-29 consistently.

    I do not baby this car. I drive the piss out of it routinely. Highway 80-95 when I can get away with it.

    Looks like I will have to keep it for at least another year. Besides what I read here about the 5w-30, any other suggestions.

    The autozone guy told me if if smokes under load its the rings, if it smokes going downhill under vacuum its the valves. If I gun it hard, I can see smoke with the car sitting there, but I never notice smoke when I am driving hard.

    Is it worth having the valves checked? and if need adjustment how much??

    Thanks

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by McTaggart34 View Post
    Full synthetic Royal Purple 5-30 with lucas oil added.
    I agree

  15. #15
    Registered User ninebreaker8's Avatar
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    using 5 20 will lead to cam galling, as stated by OneGlory for those of you who may not know what the picture represents

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