synthetic oil for B16A
CRX586
07-10-2002, 06:22 PM
I'm being told that I should start using synthetic oil with my b16a. Other than the added cost, any drawbacks to using this over traditional oil?
Moppie
07-11-2002, 03:42 AM
More oil leaks.
Being thinner any leaks are likely to get worse, and you might find some new ones will show up.
I use Penzoil 10W-30 in mine and it seems to run perfectly.
Being thinner any leaks are likely to get worse, and you might find some new ones will show up.
I use Penzoil 10W-30 in mine and it seems to run perfectly.
CRX586
07-11-2002, 04:27 AM
Well should I ignore the advice of the swap shop and stick with traditional oil? That synthetic stuff is costly! I heard it leaks even out of its own bottle...
Do you get better performance from synthetic?
Do you get better performance from synthetic?
Moppie
07-11-2002, 04:34 AM
If the shop sells you the oil then they make money of it, and will certianly be selling it at a price signifcatly above retail, so no matter what they recomend buy it else where.
As for what to use, its really up to.
Synthetic will provide better lubrication, and might give you an extra 1hp at the crank. It will last longer, and in new car I have to say I would recomend it over mineral oil.
However, your B16a is not a new engine, it already got a few Ks under its belt in Japan, and will be starting to show its age. While synthetic oil won't do it any harm, I dont personaly think it will do anything better than a cheaper mineral oil will.
If you can afford the synthetic then go for it, but stick with it.
If you can only afford the mineral then sweet as, buy it and worry more about what the extra power is doing to your tyres and brakes. :D
As for what to use, its really up to.
Synthetic will provide better lubrication, and might give you an extra 1hp at the crank. It will last longer, and in new car I have to say I would recomend it over mineral oil.
However, your B16a is not a new engine, it already got a few Ks under its belt in Japan, and will be starting to show its age. While synthetic oil won't do it any harm, I dont personaly think it will do anything better than a cheaper mineral oil will.
If you can afford the synthetic then go for it, but stick with it.
If you can only afford the mineral then sweet as, buy it and worry more about what the extra power is doing to your tyres and brakes. :D
EF6_CR-X
07-11-2002, 05:50 AM
Originally posted by CRX586
I'm being told that I should start using synthetic oil with my b16a. Other than the added cost, any drawbacks to using this over traditional oil?
If it was serviced by Honda in Japan then it will have run on the one type of Mineral oil for its entire life to date.
Here are the oils Honda Japan have http://www.honda.co.jp/parts/hop/oil/next01.html
The synthetic oil will provide better protection depending on what you do with it, but a regular change of mineral oil will be just as good.
Also an importnat point Moppie has raised about the oil seal issues, It is very much a gamble as to whether it will leak or not, Synthetic oils have a much stronger detergency than mineral oils, so the small amount of crap that may be holding a seal happily together will be dislodged by the synthetic. Maybe 2-3/10 times it will leak.
I use Mobil 1 at the moment, and the reason was lots of short trips where the car didn't really get to get up to full operating temperature for a long amount of time. I can't see any problem with going back to a mineral oil if you decide not to use the synthetic, although it is recommended to stick to a certain brand of oil to maintain detergent compatabilty. (not that I can claim to have done this.:uhoh: )
Anyway in the states, isn't it common practice to change every 3000miles? if you do that with a mineral oil or a part synthetic oil, the engine will be more than fine.
I'm being told that I should start using synthetic oil with my b16a. Other than the added cost, any drawbacks to using this over traditional oil?
If it was serviced by Honda in Japan then it will have run on the one type of Mineral oil for its entire life to date.
Here are the oils Honda Japan have http://www.honda.co.jp/parts/hop/oil/next01.html
The synthetic oil will provide better protection depending on what you do with it, but a regular change of mineral oil will be just as good.
Also an importnat point Moppie has raised about the oil seal issues, It is very much a gamble as to whether it will leak or not, Synthetic oils have a much stronger detergency than mineral oils, so the small amount of crap that may be holding a seal happily together will be dislodged by the synthetic. Maybe 2-3/10 times it will leak.
I use Mobil 1 at the moment, and the reason was lots of short trips where the car didn't really get to get up to full operating temperature for a long amount of time. I can't see any problem with going back to a mineral oil if you decide not to use the synthetic, although it is recommended to stick to a certain brand of oil to maintain detergent compatabilty. (not that I can claim to have done this.:uhoh: )
Anyway in the states, isn't it common practice to change every 3000miles? if you do that with a mineral oil or a part synthetic oil, the engine will be more than fine.
CRX586
07-11-2002, 06:09 AM
Hey guys, thanks for the info... I've tried to educate myself as much as possible with my car/new engine. Hopefully someday I've have the time and space to work on it myself...
Setanta
07-11-2002, 07:41 AM
I always use synthetic - for one reason, mineral oil is crap.
Mobil 1 5-50 is the oil I general use, but I'm currently giving Honda's 10-30 "Type-R" oil a go. First impressions are good, it has held its colour well after a 900km high speed trip to Victoria and hasn't burnt (despite the engine having 219,500 kilometers on it. The engine does seem to rev a little more freely than with the Mobil 1 - although this might be the result of me reading that on the packaging.
My SiR's B16A has zero oil-leaks from using synthetic, again on an engine that should really be on its last legs after the milage (and the way I rev the shit out of it), but is still going strong.
It was also a lot cheaper - the guy at honda originally quoted me 58 bucks Australian, but dropped it to 34... he likes the SiR :p Compared to 48 for the mobil 1 I'm happy so far - I'll see how it goes at the next oil change - about 4 weeks away given the kilometers I rack up on the car.
Did I mention that mineral oils are shit? :p
Mobil 1 5-50 is the oil I general use, but I'm currently giving Honda's 10-30 "Type-R" oil a go. First impressions are good, it has held its colour well after a 900km high speed trip to Victoria and hasn't burnt (despite the engine having 219,500 kilometers on it. The engine does seem to rev a little more freely than with the Mobil 1 - although this might be the result of me reading that on the packaging.
My SiR's B16A has zero oil-leaks from using synthetic, again on an engine that should really be on its last legs after the milage (and the way I rev the shit out of it), but is still going strong.
It was also a lot cheaper - the guy at honda originally quoted me 58 bucks Australian, but dropped it to 34... he likes the SiR :p Compared to 48 for the mobil 1 I'm happy so far - I'll see how it goes at the next oil change - about 4 weeks away given the kilometers I rack up on the car.
Did I mention that mineral oils are shit? :p
Moppie
07-11-2002, 10:05 PM
Originally posted by Setanta
Did I mention that mineral oils are shit? :p
Why?
Did I mention that mineral oils are shit? :p
Why?
Chhuong
07-12-2002, 03:41 AM
Setanta, 1 question, why are you using such a thick ass oil??? 5-50 to me is way to thick even if you are in aussie!!
Setanta
07-12-2002, 08:16 AM
Simple question, simple answer. Anything thinner screws up VTEC activation in my experience. Not to mention the fact that Honda recommends 10-30 for VTEC engines here and my mechanic says the Mobil 5-50 is good stuff too.
Longer answer: Our temperatures can vary from -2 in winter to 43 degrees+ in summer (I'm talking Celsius here). Get the oil too thin and you are stuffed on a bad day.
Moppie: In all the cars I've owned (lost count now), the ones using mineral oil have generally required more oil changes and their engines have died very early on (200000+ kms). Cars I've run on synthetic have fewer issues with dirty oil after 5000kms and have lasted a lot longer. No scientific evidence - just my experience that mineral is not as gentle on the engine as synthetic :)
Longer answer: Our temperatures can vary from -2 in winter to 43 degrees+ in summer (I'm talking Celsius here). Get the oil too thin and you are stuffed on a bad day.
Moppie: In all the cars I've owned (lost count now), the ones using mineral oil have generally required more oil changes and their engines have died very early on (200000+ kms). Cars I've run on synthetic have fewer issues with dirty oil after 5000kms and have lasted a lot longer. No scientific evidence - just my experience that mineral is not as gentle on the engine as synthetic :)
Chhuong
07-12-2002, 07:28 PM
OH wow, i never knew that your weather varied that significantly. Well whatever works for ya.
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