Sharmeenator:
I drive a 2003 Honda Civic in good condition, not my first car though. The guy I bought it from serviced the car with Total 20W 50 Engine oil which I know isn't recommended but easily available in Nigerian market. Although I used the same oil at my first servicing, but Honda recommended oil is the synthetic 5W20 or 0W20 which is costlier as you all know. I read long ago that it can be dangerous to outrightly switch from mineral oil to synthetic oil especially on older engines and engines with high mileage. My car mileage is currently around 200k.

My questions are these:

1. Should I continue with the 20W50 oil since my engine is already used to it or change to the recommended one?

2. If I'm to change to the recommended oil, should I bother about oil leakage or not and what about sludges?

3. In the market, I saw other brands of synthetic oil other than Mobil, Castrol, Total amongst other. These other brands are cheaper, but I don't know if they are good enough. What cheap 5W20 or 0W20 can you recommen

nurey:


For question 1 and 2 depends on how long the vehicle has been on 20w50 and the maintenance of the former owner. If it's a while ago just keep to 20w50 and change every 3k km or 3months which ever arrives first.

The other alternative is to open the top valve cover and see engine internals that will alley your fears and worry.

Mobil oil is not the best thing to happen after Afro as long as the oil manufacturer is well known and the oil has good reviews both online or from car experts you are good to go. I don't expect you to see soapy synthetic oil 5w20 also made in Ladipo Nigeria and believe it is a good oil

Sharmeenator:
I drive a 2003 Honda Civic in good condition, not my first car though. The guy I bought it from serviced the car with Total 20W 50 Engine oil which I know isn't recommended but easily available in Nigerian market. Although I used the same oil at my first servicing, but Honda recommended oil is the synthetic 5W20 or 0W20 which is costlier as you all know. I read long ago that it can be dangerous to outrightly switch from mineral oil to synthetic oil especially on older engines and engines with high mileage. My car mileage is currently around 200k.

My questions are these:

1. Should I continue with the 20W50 oil since my engine is already used to it or change to the recommended one?

2. If I'm to change to the recommended oil, should I bother about oil leakage or not and what about sludges?

3. In the market, I saw other brands of synthetic oil other than Mobil, Castrol, Total amongst other. These other brands are cheaper, but I don't know if they are good enough. What cheap 5W20 or 0W20 can you recommend?

Cc:
Greenh ulk
Heave nlyBang
May or555
Gazz uzz
Capta inking
Autom otive1
dipo rtivo
Ikenn a351
Larrixauto2 017
Autoj osh
Nure y

nurey:


For question 1 and 2 depends on how long the vehicle has been on 20w50 and the maintenance of the former owner. If it's a while ago just keep to 20w50 and change every 3k km or 3months which ever arrives first.

The other alternative is to open the top valve cover and see engine internals that will alley your fears and worry.

GAZZUZZ:


pour 0w40 and be happy.

Sharmeenator:


Bro, kindly shed more light on the bolded

Sharmeenator:


Baba Gazzuzz, are you for real? I detest sarcasm

nurey:


Your engine has a valve cover which has the Honda insignia and vtec, it's not a diy thing for a novice.

you have to unbolt the engine cover, plug wires then remove bolts once the valve cover is off you will see the engine internals and can determine the extent of sludge in an engine or if the engine is sludge free.

Majorly advice like this isn't given because the bond used to hold the valve cover gasket and the cover together may not be as solid as factory fitted one, so every 2 to 3 years you have to reapply cause engine oil will sip from the cracks.

uboma:




From your last paragraph, why did you even suggest that he removes the top valve cover?

GAZZUZZ:


no sarcasm involved. You vehicle is an ancestor and has no business near synthetic oils. But if u must, stick with a heavy weight

nurey:


That is a very good question.

The Valve cover job isn't a tough one really and can be done to factory spec with the right Bond which is expensive than the regular ones.

The major reason why I normally don't dish out the advice is because of "resale" when buyer comes to inspect and notice the valve cover or seals around engine has been redone before they feel engine has had a major problem. To be candid Honda engines are highly susceptible to oil seal leak from around the engine.


Also I prefer to know what's going on in my engine inorder to safe guard myself against the eventuality remember in this context I used "I" siting myself as an example also it's an advice he has to weigh the pros and cons and decide which works best for him.