I've looked everywhere (including my dealer and
calling Honda America), but I can't find specs on the
Honda-brand oil.

Anyone know where I can find the datasheets?

Troy

Check the manual.. it will tell you what weight (5w-30) and the other codes
that appear on oil containers.

Mike

Troy,

Never heard of "honda brand" oil (except for motorcycles)

When you say "honda brand" oil, do you mean the stuff the dealer puts
in the cars? If so I can all but guarantee you its some national
brand oil like Quaker State or Penzoil bought in bulk.

If you mean "honda brand" as in packaged with the honda name on it
sold through the parts dept, it probably is the same type oil in a
different container with an inflated price.

Why not use semi-synthetic or full synthetic oil. They have better
properties than straight dino oil.

Just a thought.

Jeff

Troy
Are you talking about oil manufactured by Honda? When I read the manual
that what thought they meant. When I got my first oil change with my
Honda dealer...I later called them to ask what brand they used in my V
and they said Mobil One. Did I get it wrong in the manual and Mobil One
is the recommended oil. I'm not saying Mobil One is not good...far from
it. And the manual also says to change my oil every six (6) months (12
months for normal driving) and this month is when I go to the dealer to
do the next 6 month service (no. 2). Am I doing the wrong thing or do I
go by the manual?

--

Thanks for your help Troy. One more thing...used to have Castrol Blend
put in my old truck so I'm not familiar with Mobil 1. Should I ask if
my dealer if they're using a synthetic or does Mobil 1 only manufacture
synthetics.
David

I couldnt agree more about the synthetic stuff. Ive used it in all 5
of my hondas well into 150k+ miles and never had a problem or had
them ever using a drop. I usually use dino oil for about the first
5,000 and then go to synthetic. So far so good. Cant say the same
about the Saturn SL2 that I owned...

Mobil makes all kinds of oil.

Mobil-1 is what Mobil calls its full synthetic oil.

Mobil also makes a Synthetic blend oil but I dont know their name for
it. something "drive clean"

BUT in any case, if its MObil-1 it will be full synthetic and cost
about $3.50-4.00 a quart at Wall mart or pep boys.

Over here on the side of the fence which still uses "dino oil", I have had all my Honda's for 300 000Kms+ and never used synthetic, and never burned a drop...well, my '79 Accord was a bit of a self-oil-changing-type of system.
 
The price that you pay for synthetic is still higher than if you changed regular oil every 6000Kms. The quality of today's regular oil is far better than that of yesteryear.
 
Oh, and not be a smart ass, but what else do you expect from a Saturn???!!! Why do you think GM is going to use Honda engine's. Saturn has been around for almost 20 years (since 1984) and STILL does not have a reliable, quiet, powerful, four cylinder engine.
 
Jeffrey Cox

I should have clarified. It was an early SL-2. a 1992.

All the SL's Ive seen (including the 98 Sl-1 my wife had) run forever
but from 91-94 the SL-2s had valve seal problems among other things.

I ran the car mostly on the highway . Went 10,000 miles and the car
was using about 1/2-3/4 of a quart every 3,000 miles (which is when I
would change it).

switched to Mobil-1. by 17,000 the car was using a quart every
3,000 miles. Saturn showed me a tech bulletin that said this was
normal.

They had me do an oil consumption test where they fill it, and have
me come back at different mileage intervals to check the level. Still
using oil.

Had the valve seals replaced. went back to dino oil.
Oil consumption increased to 1 qt every 2,000 miles by 25,000 miles.

Saturn showed me a tech bulletin that said 1 qt every 2,000 was fine.

by 28,000 it was using 1 qt every 1,500 miles. Guess what, they
showed me a bulletin that said THAT was ok. too. I argued that I
would run out of oil before the reccomended change interval at that
rate. And asked if they had printed up the "ok to use 1 qt every
1,000 miles" bulletin yet.

By the time I got them to relent, it was using a quart of oil every
1,200 miles. I drive 3,000-3,500 miles a month so it was pretty
nerve wracking to add oil 2x a week.

They rebuilt the motor and it was still using a quart every 2,000-
2,500 miles.

I eventually sold the car.

As I said the 98 SL-1 my wife had was fine but we sold that car with
30,000 on it.

By comparison my 90 Accord EX with 117,000 uses about 1/2 quart of
oil every 3,000-5,000 miles and I am not the original owner. The car
was beat in the city by the previous owner and I now use mobil-1 in
it with no problems at all. (knock on wood).

Jeff

Mobil 1 is a synthetic. Mobil also produces petroleum based oils, but they
don't have the "1" designation. IMHO Amsoil makes the best synthetic, so
if you can find a dealer, you would be doing yourself and your CR-V a big
favor.

- Rod