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2008 Honda Accord EX-L v-6

I live in Ga. My car has 78,000 miles on it. Recently the Vcm has been more noticeable kicking in and out. I have Also been burning more oil. I was using Motorcraft synblend 5w-20 motor oil.
Recently it was recommended to try Mobile 1, 0w-40 European Formula engine oil.

I have just done a 500 mile road trip with the Mobile 1. The VCM seems much more consistent and the engine is smooth and quiet and mpg is unchanged.

I like the way it runs. Am I making a mistake with this oil in my car?

Thanks in advance.

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1 thought on “2008 Honda Accord EX-L v-6”

  1. Freeautomechanic

    For those readers that don’t know:
    VCM – Variable Cylinder Management

    As for the difference in oil. The engine was designed to perform best using 5w-20. The first number being the temperature of the winter grade oil (Xw-XX) and the last number being Thickness of the oil.

    Thicker or heavy viscosity oils will take longer to flow through the orifices in an engine and end up in higher number ranges such as SAE 50 or SAE 60 for example. If an oil flows through faster being thinner/lighter then it will wind up in a low number range such as SAE 10 or SAE 20 for example.

    I can’t tell you how many times I have heard someone, usually an auto mechanic, say that they wouldn’t use a 5W-30 motor oil because it is, “Too thin.” Then they may use a 10W-30 or SAE 30 motor oil. At engine operating temperatures these oils are the same. The only time the 5W-30 oil is “thin” is at cold start up conditions where you need it to be “thin.”

    The lower the viscosity, the more wear will inevitably occur. This is why it is best to use the proper oil viscosity recommended by the auto manufacturer as it will protect hot and at cold start ups. Obviously a 10W-10 motor oil won’t have the film strength to prevent engine wear at full operating temperature like a 5W-20, 10W-30 or 5W-30 motor oil for example.

    I think it is an improvement to use a full synthetic over a “Blend” but I would stick with the 5w20 which is also available from Mobil 1.

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