04 lx 31k miles, it says use 5w 20 is that honda oil, and what about using synthetic oil any thoughts

 

You can use any 5W20 oil. You're not restricted to a Honda name, dino or synthetic is your choice.

 

I agree with RTEX........

you might want to use 5w-30 or 10w-30 in the summer time especially if you live in a hot climate

 

Yeah 5w-30 seems to work great at all tempertures. Both cold and warm.

 

Tell us where you live; I think the climate makes the biggest difference when making this decision.

 

His profile lists Illinois as his home state.

 

The 20 weight oils are holding up extremely well even in V-10 trucks towing a load constantly. One vehicle on Bobistheoilguy has over 200,000 miles using 5W20Motorcraft (a synthetic blend)exclusively with no engine repairsonly normal maintenance. They have proven themselves so don't be afraid to use them when called for by the manufacturer.

Pennzoil Platinum full synthetic has proven to be an excellent product in all weights. If you're considering synthetic this isa top choice. It's less $$than Mobil 1 and every bit its equal.

 

I am a big believer in synthetic oil and have been using Mobil 1 and Mobil 1 filters for over 10 years. I especially like the Mobil 1 filters because they filter down to 10 microns.

That being said, I believe that if youre only planning on keeping your car for 100,000 miles or so then synthetics arent worth the investment.

Conventional oil is much better than it was just 10 years ago and protects very well and while synthetics do protect better, I dont think youd start to see a difference until 150,000+ miles.

I have always changed my own oil but since this is the first car Iveowned since 1995 and I cant crawl under it andIve learned my lesson about trying to keep cars for 20 years, Ill be getting all my servicing done atmy local Honda's Express Service department. $26 for a complete oil change and youre out in 30 minutes. Best of all, if you ever have any warranty issues, they cant blame it on shoddy maintenance because theyre the ones that did all the work.

So bottom line, Im of the opinion that if youre planning on keeping your car for $200,000+ miles then synthetics are a very good investment (and dont forget agood filter, oil is only as clean as the filters ability) but if youre one that changes cars every 5 years, its just not worth it.

 

Wal-Mart Supertech 5w-30 and Supertech Oil filter. oil change for under $10 and works great.

 

I have been useing synthetic oils in all my motor vehicles like my ATV , four stroke snowmobile, and now the honda accord. I will be useing 5w-30 synthetic in the brands that come on sale at my Canadian Tire store or at Wal Marts.I will be doing my own oil changes.I like the shell rottela syn.oils and use them in my atv and snowmobile in the 0w-40 grade. In my car I will be useing quakerstate syn. or formula 1 or whichever is on sale at the time.How about oil filters what brand do you use.My car is still on waranty for another year so mybe I should go oem oil filters.