Oil (I know it's been asked before)

[j14nsx]

I hear you, 'not another oil question'.............

Anyway, for some of us, 10w30 weight full synthetic oil is not possible to buy. I have been searching. Mobil only want to sell 0w40, Shell 5w40 and Castrol 10w60. I know a 0w oil is the same viscosity as 5w, it just has a lower pour point.

So the big question is, out of these which should I use? The car gets to the track a few times a year as well.

Oh yeah, Mobil say 0w40 is fine, no matter what your car says to use, but they would, wouldn't they? I don't know why they all insist all on these oils, I live in the UK, not northern Sweden!

( would appreciate the advice from Woodwork here especially.)

 

[Slingshot]

You can order Mobil 1 on line at ...
http://www.mscdirect.com/

Mobil 1 Synthetic Engine Oil 10W30
Order # 60002847 quantity 6


try
http://www.mscdirect.com/mscProductSearch.process?RestartFlow=t&RowsPerPage=15&searchmanufpartno=&dispmanufpartno=&operator=AND&QuickFlag=1&Merchant_Id=1&query=60002847&search_cat= 5&x=7&y=3




[This message has been edited by Slingshot (edited 20 September 2002).]

 

[Jin1976]

j14nsx

I used to live in Hatfield. I never seen NSX driven around Welwyn Garden before. Good to see there is actually one.

 

[j14nsx]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I think having to import oil is going a bit far.

So the question still remains, unanswered,I can't get 10w30, what do I use?

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by j14nsx:
I can't get 10w30, what do I use?

What does it recommend in your owner's manual? (I can't imagine that it would specify a viscosity that isn't available in your country.)

 

[Slingshot]

Here is your dilemma ...

As you know, Acura recommends API Service Grade SG (Fuel Efficient Oil: Identified by the words, “Energy Conserving II”) 5W-30 for below freezing ambient temperature ranges ( pour point -54º F/-48º C), and 10W-30 for above freezing ambient temperature ranges (pour point -49º F/-45º C).

Mobil does state their identifications should be used as guidelines only, and you should follow the viscosity grade and API service category recommendations listed in your vehicle owner’s manual.
In the U.S., Mobil 1 Tri-Synthetic Formula 10W-30 is API Service Grade SJ/CF (Higher Mileage-Vehicle Formula), and Mobil 1 SuperSyn Enhanced Fuel Economy Formula 0W-30 (Within the above API Service Classifications, Mobil 1 with SuperSyn™ 0W-30, 5W-30 and 10W-30 can be used anywhere an SAE 0W-30, 5W-30, 10W-30, 10W-40, 5W, 10W, 20W, 20 or 30 grade viscosity is recommended)
In the U.K., Mobil 1 SuperSyn European Car Formula 0W-40 (pour point is -65º F/-54º C) is designed for engines requiring API Service Grade SL, SJ or CF. (Mobil 1 with SuperSyn™ 0W-40 is formulated for newer European cars, especially those with advanced-technology, multi-valve engines. It can be used where an SAE 0W-40, 0W-30, 5W-30 or 5W-40 grade viscosity is recommended.)

Personally, I doubt if you would experience engine damage from the use of 0W-40, but to follow the Service Manual recommendation, import 5W-30 in the winter and 10W-30 for above freezing seasons.

 

[j14nsx]

Ken,

As hard as it seems to believe, yes the UK manual recommends 10w30, as does the label in the engine bay. The API quality grade is SG or SF (which is not that good).

I'm starting to think most of these oil discussions are phooey. 12 years ago when the engine was designed 10w30 was probably the best at the time. Does Honda re-evaluate what oils to use every year, when new oils come onto the market? Doubt it.

Today a synthetic can be made with a range of 10w40 (even more), maybe that just wasn't possible back then.

My Honda dealer uses Castrol GTX Magnatec 10w40 in NSXs as a norm.


I'll stick to 5w40. Thinner than 10w30 when cold, but then thins more slowly than 10w30. Hopefully the two oils (10w30 / 5w40), are more or less the same thickness at operating temp.

 

[Gerard van Santen]

I use Shell 0W40 full synthetic. And I also do several track times (NSX Trophy). No problem.

Gerard

 

[Slingshot]

Originally posted by j14nsx:
Does Honda re-evaluate what oils to use every year, when new oils come onto the market? I'll stick to 5w40. Thinner than 10w30 when cold, but then thins more slowly than 10w30. Hopefully the two oils (10w30 / 5w40), are more or less the same thickness at operating temp.

Actually, American Petroleum Institute (API) Service Categories, for gasoline engines, SH for model year 1996 and older engines, SG for model year 1993 and older engines, and SF for model year 1988 and older engines are all obsolete; they have been replaced with Category SJ in 1996 for 2001 and older engines, and most recently SL in 2001 for all automotive gasoline engines presently in use. So Honda does not update the oils.

and ...

The viscosity (ie. 0W-40) is the measure of an oil thickness and ability to flow at certain temperatures. Thinner for easy cranking in colder temperatures and thicker for satisfactory performance at higher temperatures. The 0W has the best pour rating of all the oils in ambient freezing temperatures. The 0W-40, 5W-40, 10W-40, 0W-30, 5W-30 and 10W-30 all share the same high shear viscosity rating of 2.9 at 150 C. The “energy conserving” rating applies only to SAE 5W-30 and 10W-30 grades because its use results in overall savings in fuel in the nation as a whole.

So actually the 0W-40, 5W-40, 10W-40, 0W-30, 5W-30 and 10W-30 have the same performance rating at operating temperatures. Only the 50 and 60 weights have a greater high shear viscosity rating at 3.7.

Phooey!

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by j14nsx:
The API quality grade is SG or SF (which is not that good).

Honda usually specifies the two highest API grades available at the time the car is sold. For the 2002 NSX, I'm sure they specify SJ or SL.

You can always use a higher quality grade. That's what they would specify if the car were sold today.

Originally posted by j14nsx:
12 years ago when the engine was designed 10w30 was probably the best at the time. Does Honda re-evaluate what oils to use every year, when new oils come onto the market? Doubt it.

Today a synthetic can be made with a range of 10w40 (even more), maybe that just wasn't possible back then.

No viscosity is always "best". Different viscosities are recommended for different engines - and, as you can see, even the same engine when used at different temperatures.

10W40 is not "better" than 10W30. And 10W40 was indeed widely available at the time of the NSX introduction, in conventional oil as well as synthetic oil.

Originally posted by slingshot:
So Honda does not update the oils.

Yes, they do. They change the recommended oil quality. But they still recommend 10W30 because they still feel it's the best viscosity for the NSX engine.

I'm surprised that they don't change the recommendation for the UK, though. (I'm not doubting what you say about their materials, I just find it surprising.)

 

[MvM]

J14NSX,

I could not find the 10W30 oil in the Netherlands either.
Instead, I'm using Castrol GTX Magnatec 10W40 and the engine is running fine with it. Since the average temperature is lower in the UK and Netherlands than in many US-states I think there is no problem using a good quality oili in 10W40 grade.