Oil Change question for 30HP Honda 4 stroke

[Fisherpete]

So I did my first oil change on my own today, and all went well, except for one thing... AFTER finishing, I noticed in the manual that the recommended oil weight for my motor is 5W30. The Honda Dealership gave me 10W30, this is what they gave me when I told them my motor model, and that is what I put in today... is this still OK? I know with cars you often put 10W in the summer, 5W in the winter. Grrr, hope I don't have to do it again... not a huge deal, but messy and annoying... Anyone know?

 

I also changed the oil filter, 3 spark plugs, fuel filter and lower unit fluid (which still looked perfect). All went well, it just took me 5 times longer than it probably should have. Ready to fish!

Edited April 14, 2008 by Fisherpete

[irishfield]

I run 10w30 in my 25 Honda from the time it goes in at ice out 'till it gets pulled out in late October.

[Fisherpete]

*PHEW* Good enough for Wayne, good enough for me! Thanks for the superfast response.

[Bernie]

I ran 5w30 synthetic in my 130 Honda Pete. The 5w designation gives it a little better flow when cold. The 30 w Is its resistance to thinning hot. It will be fine.

[irishfield]

No starting or running issues Pete.. even in the snow ! If you're really gonna extend your season into the late fall 5w might be worth a drain and fill at that time.. and the few hours you put on then will leave the oil good for 2009 season.

[Bernie]

Its been 4 years since I ran the Honda but I think it called for 10w 30 then. I just wanted a little bit more cold protection as the first trip often still had ice on the lake and the last trip was freezing up again.

[irishfield]

DANG Pete.. I lied to you. Just pulled my service reports for the past 3 years and it's been getting 15W40 at each oil change. It's all Temagami Marine uses in the smaller stuff. Like I said.. no issues, but maybe I'll supply my own 2 litres of oil this fall when I have them rack the boat.

Edited April 14, 2008 by irishfield

[Bernie]

15w 40? seems a little heavy...U have one of them diesel Hondas?

[tschirk]

Make sure you replace both nylon washers on the lower unit plugs when you do a fluid change (My Honda BF90 has them & I assume smaller Hondas are the same). Also there is an aluminum washer on the oil drain plug that should be changed every few oil changes.

 

Cheers,

Ted

[irishfield]

15w 40? seems a little heavy...U have one of them diesel Hondas?

 

You know Bernie.. the funny thing is the Esso XD3 bottle actually specs out it's uses for Diesel engines.. as when I grabbed all the supplies for doing the top/bottom oil changes on my Mercs.. I found this is what I was given for my 9.9 kicker. So I grabbed my merc booklet and it shows 10W30 for ALL temps and 25W-40 for everything above 4*C... so 15W40 should be just fine for the season and it meets the specs in the booklet. I'll change it to 10W30 before I start my late fall fishing. though I think.

 

Also my 25HP is pushing a Steel work boat... so the 40 weight is probably a good idea...although something in the 10W or 5W would be better on them COLD days.

[Bernie]

I was just surfing and found on the 15 and 20 HP Hondas they call for 10w30 or 10w40. I don't often work on the outboards anymore so I get out of the loop on some details. It seems to me in this climate that Honda recommends 10w30. A hard working engine in warmer waters may be better off with the 10w 40.

[irishfield]

I know my 5HP Honda specs out 10W30 as I read the label on it this afternoon while checking on my motorhome for any wintering issues.

[Bernie]

What I have found strange in the motor oils specs recently is the fact that there are several automotive companies that are requiring 5w20 weight oils.

So all the stuff that I was taught in the past about multi-grade oils being better was hogwash? So why are they going to a lesser range of multigrade? Emissions is the only answer from my suppliers. Have heard many different ideas why, but nothing concrete.

[irishfield]

Only way they can get the revs up is to keep the oil THIN!

[Bernie]

Are they sacrificing the durability of the engines in our vehicles to satisfy emission standards or is there another reason?

The engines they are recommending this 5w20 in are not necessarily hi-revvers.

No one I have talked to in the oil industry seems interested in talking about it at length.

CONSPIRACY!

[irishfield]

Probably Bernie... my F150's amongst them. Backwards to what I always was taught and believe in for a hard working vehicle.

[glen]

Ted my honda has rubber o rings on all the oil fill bolts. No washers. It calls for 10W30. Follow your manual.

 

I am sure it will be fine with the 10w30 till your next change.

Edited April 14, 2008 by glen

[Fisherpete]

Yeah, when I did the lower unit there were just small rubber O-rings on the two bolts, but I had bought some of those Honda nylon washers, so I put them on, with the small O-rings afterwards.