Engine oil?

[Mclaren_Honda]

I am approaching my first oil change(5000mi) and have some questions. Will my oil life display hit 0% around that time? I plan to use synthetic and could use some input. Not alot of fluids info on this site. I'm used to the VW/mercedes diesel sites with tons of that stuff. I'm looking at amsoil. A friend races hondas and uses it, I buy from him for my 300D. Somewhere I read a thread from a honda tech not to use mobile1, can't remember why. Are their any oils from Japan I should consider? Sorry, I'll shutup now.

[claymore]

Probably not 0% at only 5000. That is the trouble with oil questions in general you end up with tons of personal preferences and not much substance. Any good oil synthetic or dino will work just fine including Mobil 1. Amsoil works good and a lot of people like it and one of our members is a dealer (manxman) I'm sure he will come in to answer any questions you have on it.

[manxman]

IMO, Amsoil synthetic is better in all ways than any refined crude oil product. Amsoil has been making synthetic auto lubricants longer than any other company. There is no problem with changing to synthetic oil at any time that you want. The synthetic is not so "super slippery" that it will prevent piston ring seating or any other problems.

My '09 is 1 year old with only 4,800 miles. I just changed to Amsoil 0W20 Wt. two days ago. The oil monitor showed 60% oil life.

All of the technical reasons why Amsoil synthetics are better than their competition are clearly spelled out in side-by-side comparison charts on the Amsoil web site. The Amsoil techs. will be happy to personally answer any questions you might want to ask in a phone call.

[Norg]

I am actually running Mobil 1 and I can't say that I'm happy, the engine is a bit louder in my opinion. I guess I will give Amsoil a try, I religously change my oil every 3000 miles :D. Never let the oil indicator get lower than 60%. Am I just wasting oil?

[manxman]

I am actually running Mobil 1 and I can't say that I'm happy, the engine is a bit louder in my opinion. I guess I will give Amsoil a try, I religously change my oil every 3000 miles :D. Never let the oil indicator get lower than 60%. Am I just wasting oil?
With Amsoil, changing the oil every 3000 miles is DEFINITELY wasting oil and money. Amsoil can safely be run 25000 miles as long as you change the oil filter at about 12,500 miles (when you would normally do a complete oil change) and top up the oil to compensate for the oil loss in removing the old filter.

Now, understand, I am not telling you to run your oil for 25000 miles. Miles don't mean much- it's what happens to the engine oil during those miles that counts. Dirty air in your particular area, the ability of your personal intake system to filter incoming air properly, high temperatures, low temperatures, and the collection in the oil of condensed moisture all limit the effective life of engine oil.

But even if your personal use of the car is in the EXTREME category of wear, 3K is still too soon for a change with Amsoil synthetics in my opinion, and proved by the test data on the Amsoil web site.

My yearly mileage is fairly low compared to the average driver. But I still change my Amsoil synthetic once per year. All of my suggestions are backed up by thousand of drivers who have their synthetic oil professionally analyzed for contaminants, loss of viscosity, loss of anti-wear additives, and many other aspects of lubricating properties that have deteriorated.

By using an Amsoil Bypass Oil Filtration System, Amsoil synthetic oil can LITERALLY run forever, without changing the oil. Look up the Bypass Oil filters on the Amoil web site. I actually had the bypass filtration system on two of my trucks. But even with that extra insurance, I still changed the oil once per year. Not because of doubt, but because I just couldn't bear to NOT change the oil.

EDIT:
P.s. FWIW, with my change to Amsoil 0W20 Full synthetic a couple of days ago, my engine noise actually DECREASED. But I was not running Mobil 1- I was running the original factory fill engine oil in my new '09 Fit. The noise decrease was also noticeable when I changed the factory fill to synthetic Amsoil in m '07 Fit.

[Norg]

Thanks for the reply

[Mclaren_Honda]

Thanks everyone for all the info. Now what about filters? I read that the factory Honda ones in the US are made by FRAM, does anyone know if this is correct? If so I may use the amsoil filters.

[manxman]

Thanks everyone for all the info. Now what about filters? I read that the factory Honda ones in the US are made by FRAM, does anyone know if this is correct? If so I may use the amsoil filters.
I can't answer your question about Honda/Fram, but if you are going to use synthetic oil, the Amsoil filters are specifically made for use with synthetics.

[Norg]

I think I have a problem ever since I changed to Mobile 1 I have been hearing a weird noise. IT sounds like rocks or marbles rattling as soon as I start the engine up, I have never experienced this with any of my other cars?

[claymore]

Did you change anything else at the time?

[Norg]

Just the oil and filter and i currently have 41k

[manxman]

Just the oil and filter and i currently have 41k
Norg,

No insult intended here, but, you did remember the crush washer on the drain plug? The oil is in the engine and not on your driveway? No oil makes for a REALLY noisy engine, (but just for a little while- then it gets REAL quiet).

Your marbles rattling description sounds like a heavy engine knock, but that comes from timing problems. Nothing in an oil change should produce your symptoms. Sorry no instant solutions here. Let us know what happens, and good luck.

[Norg]

Thanks for the reply and no offense taken, but the oil levels are fine, the rattling is not loud at all its just as soon as I start the car up I hear like marbles then it goes away. I'm just going to take it to the dealer I hope its still under warranty.

[claymore]

Could it be valve clearance noise? Your getting up there a bit in mileage and the valves would be the loudest upon starting.

[Norg]

40K is up there in mileage? This car has not been off the Honda Dealer for more than 1 year and a half. I'm going to wait until I can take it to the dealers thanks guys.

[Mclaren_Honda]

Well, first oil change at 5300mi. 60% on the oil life readout. I used Royal Purple 5w-20. Their was one surprise. I told the tech to save the factory filter for me, it said Filtech-Assembled in USA. What, do they make them here and ship to Japan for installation? Looks like the Honda OEM filter saga continues.