I could not resist anymore. 0w20 is spec for all Hondas 2001 and newer and is a premium oil. I go to the dealer and get their 0w20 bulk semi synthetic oil and its made by Conoco or Phillips which also makes Kendall. Its about 60 percent Group 3,4 and 5 and about 20 percent Group 2+ with about 20 percent additives which is the same in all oils. If you go to Kendall oil website the two semi synthetic and full synthetic has the same specs but the semi synthetic cost is cheaper. I am at 9000 miles on the oil without using a drop and still getting mid 40s mpg.

The OP should change the oil and keep an eye on the level.

MM is controlled by the ecu and what fuel air ratios, rpms, loads and idle time including cold starts effects how fast the MM goes to 0.

 

I beg to differ but the Owner's Manual for the 2007 Fit recommends the following: "Always use a premium-grade 5W-20 detergent oil displaying the API
Certification Seal".

When I take both my wife's Fit and my 2000 Accord to the dealer for oil changes they use Penzoil 5W-20. They charge extra for OW20 semi synthetic that is required in my 2013 Accord.

Thanks for the info on the MM. Glad to hear that it looks at all the parameters you listed.

 

http://www.infineum.com/sitecollecti...a%20042109.pdf

You can use either but the new 0w20 is better for the Fit. The Accord requires 5w20. They do charge extra for the bottle synthetic but they do sell 0w20 in bulk and is a semi synthetic and is spec and ordered by Honda.

I pay 39 dollars for this 0w20 oil and tire rotation.

 

I think he meant to say 2011 not 2001.

 

Dumb question, why is 0w20 better for the Fit? My 2000 Accord V6 and the Fit have always had 5W-20 oil changes since new and the Accord never uses a drop of oil between changes. Also, the oil on the dipstick on both the 2000 Accord and the Fit are amber in color between changes.

 

There is another oil you can try and its a 0w20 Mazda GF5 oil with Moly. Its about 8 dollars a quart and was made by Idemitsu oil and has a higher VI. It was made for the Skyactiv motors and a big hit on other forums.

 

Because it flows better during warm ups and because of the higher VI it does not shear like the 5w. It also needs better stocks to meet the requirements.

You could use 0w30 in the Accord but its only available in full synthetics here in the states.

http://www.pinkbird.com/news.nsf/8d7e3f1a0a36785e852576c4004b311e/cee95198e6905ef3852576c4004b92fe/$FILE/0W-20%20Time%20Has%20Come.pdf

 

I think you are right.

 

I meant to say 2001.

 

Then why is there no mention of it in the owner's manual.

 

Because it was written before the update. Its Ok to use 5w20 but its also Ok to use 0w20 in the Fit. Also the MM on the 07 is more of a mileage thing requiring the oil to be changed at 6000 miles but more is doable.

 

I am actually curious about this 0w20. Has anyone found any legitimate Honda documentation stating this? Ive always ran 5w20 on almost all my Honda's. A CL use to run 5w30 and same with a couple of Acura's I have dealt with before. Never have I seen 0w20.

 

So where is that tabulated in the MM program?
What makes you think the number of cold starts, the rpm, and idle time would be effective in measuring the condition of the oil ?
Anyone besides us run our Fit at two different conditions of loads and see if the MM registers different time to change oil ?

 

If nothing else, more cold starts means more engine wear which means more stuff in the oil/filter.

People have posted how long it took for the MM to tell them to change oil, and it's been all over the place.

 

First, lets be aware that Honda specs 0W-20 because it yields higher mpg in EPA tests and also works in engine bearings etc. All manufacturers will 'kill' for higher mpg ratimngs, especially highway because they can advertise to the uneducated buyers and deny anything when the buyer finds out the city milleage is what he's getting. We spend way too much time explaining the difference and its not 'lying' its 'puffery' allowed by law. Yes, it is.
that said it won't hurt to run 5W-30 or even 40; that depends on how hard you run the engine. Do lots of hill climbing at high loads and you better change te oil at 5000 miles no matter what the MM says. But you will get less mpg too.
And viscosity index is not a measure of shear, jusrt the thickness of the oil (and how fast it pours thy little holes) Shear is measured by counter rotating discs until the oil fails to libricate the two opposing surfaces. Synthetics do much better in that test than typical hydrocarbon or much better than naphthene based oils..
If your thing is mpg use 0W-20 if its corner-carving consider 5WS-30. Oil naturally thins with increasing tempersture so at higher temps the 30 weight will flow as well as 20W at lower temps. It just depends on the temperature of your oil and that depends on how hard its working.
cheers.
PS did you know NASCAR racers use 0W-20 or even 0W-10 in qualifying but use 10W-40 for races. You can guess why.

 

Absolutely. Last year I did a lot of long distance driving and my intervals were LONG, like 10-12k miles This year just commuting to work in traffic, intervals are around 8-9k. Sure anecdotal evidence but I know it's not just based on mileage.

From Honda:

 

0w20 is a very high quality oil and originally came in full synthetic. I've used it on and off since 2004 and had great mpg with it. Nascar and other track racers use the same weight oil either a 20 or 30 weight oil. http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/yhst-...9/m1rotech.pdf

They actually discontinued the 0w20 but still make a 0w30 and 0w50.

Like I said earlier Conoco makes a semi synthetic and I have had no problems with oil consumption and mpg even with 9000 miles on the oil.

 

Good observation. Were your LD driving at high speed, heavy traffic or light, and hills? Duration of each trip?
How long were the commutes? And again traffic conditions of the commutes and typical duration.
Its not an argument; I'm trying to see what ton look for in the MM and your observations are important.
It could be the number ofcold starts as others point out more wear occurs when the engine is started than any other time except hard running. And maybe not then thanks to small filters letting the oil pressure build quickly at staretup..
My guess is that the frequency of cold starts are part of the MM but that of course does not take into account the effect of heavy operating stress on the lube. And of course the longer an engine sits unused the more likely that the oil is diluted by water, a very corrosive condition. Water is carried into the crankcase every day due to the change in temperatures causes air to pass in and out of the crankcase. The water that coimes in with the air, particularly when its very humid, stays in the crankacse oil.

So your your subjective observations are of interest.
cheers.
Goes back to "the harder you use the engine or the less, the more you need good synthetic oil". Besides its difficult to get even 20 weight oil without being synthetic.

 

My commute is about 60 miles a day through heavy traffic, about 75% freeway in traffic and 25% on streets = evasive maneuvering, stop lights, idling, etc, so pretty rough. Also a lot of short trips for work on errands, less than a mile between start and stop.

 

0w20 is a better quality oil then the 5w20. The VI index for the 0w20 is 174 which means it has a thicker film and better strength against stear. High performance engine oil - Mobil Oil Corporation