oil in high milage car

My wife's Accord as 90,700 miles on it. When we get the oil changed
what kind should we get? We get it changed every 3k/3months
religiously but for the last year or so I have been using the premium
oil. Should I save my money and use regular, continue the premium, or
use the high milage oil?

Thanks!!

Eddie G

 

What year is this Accord? Makes a difference.

What's "premium" oil? What brand? What viscosity?

And 90K is hardly "high-mileage", regardless of what the oil marketers
would like you to believe. I have almost 270K. *That's* more like "high-
mileage".

 

It's a 99.

Penzoil premium...don't recall the viscosity...whatever is
reccomended...5w30 maybe?

 

maybe this will help you
http://www.aa1car.com/library/API_ratings.pdf

If you change your oil religiously every 3k/3 mo. you're in great shape
so long as you use the proper API service level and a viscosity at
least close to the manufacturer's specification. I put 5W-30 weight oil
with and API SM rating into my 99 Accord.

 

Save the money. Pennzoil regular 5W30 is fine for the life
of your car, with the one caveat below about oil weight.
5W30 is the only oil my 91 Civic (178k miles) has ever used.
Pennzoil is considered a high grade oil in many people's
estimation, from my reading.

Tegger is correct that your car is not "high mileage." High
mileage to me starts around 180k miles. Even if it were, the
claims of high mileage oil sellers are dubious.

5W30 is what's specified in your owner's manual, generally:
"An oil with a viscosity of 5W-30 is preferred for improved
fuel economy and year-round protection in your Honda. You
may use a 10W-30 oil if the temperature in your area never
goes below 20°F( - 7°C)."

Also, unless your car is driven under severe conditions,
following the 99 Accord's maintenance schedule oil change
interval of 7500 miles, one year (whichever comes first) is
fine. That's Honda talking. Plenty of people follow this
routine, and their cars are fine.

Re Severe Conditions, from your owner's manual:
--- Start excerpt from owner's manual---
U.S. Owners
Follow the Severe Conditions Maintenance Schedule if you
drive your vehicle MAINLY under one or more of the following
conditions:
-- Driving less than 5 miles (8 km) per trip or, in freezing
temperatures, driving less than 10 miles (16 km) per trip.
-- Driving in extremely hot [over 90°F (32°C)] conditions.
-- Extensive idling or long periods of stop-and-go driving.
-- Trailer towing, driving with a roof top carrier, or
driving in mountainous conditions.
-- Driving on muddy, dusty, or de-iced roads.
-----End excerpt---

So see if you drive under "normal conditions" and maybe save
more money by increasing the interval. If 7500 makes you
nervous, consider 5000 miles/6 months. That's what I'm
currently doing.

If you have anyone other than the dealer do the oil changes,
buy a supply of oil pan crush washers at the dealer's and
give them to the whoever changes your oil, with instructions
to please replace the old crush washer. This will maximize
the life of your oil drain plug's and oil pan's threads.

 

Use 5W-30.

Yep. Pretty much any brand is OK. Just change it lots, and use an OEM
filter.

 

whats "premium"? mobil1?

if it doesnt burn or leak any between changes, keep doin what youre
doing, but you can probably extend it to every 5k miles.

id consider the high mileage formula if youre burning or leaking, to see
if it makes a difference.

 

that's fine. make sure you stick with a high quality brand of oil. i
tried motorcraft in my civic and the seals leaked like sieves. changed
back to castrol, it stopped leaking again.

 

90,700 miles is hardly "high mileage" on an Accord. I would recommend
looking at your driving habits, to see whether 3k/3months is really
necessary. Unless you experience "severe operating conditions" I'll bet you
could go 5k without hurting anything. I go 5k/6 months on my 1999 Civic, it
has 80k miles, the oil stays clear, and there isn't a sign of a leak or so
much as a puff of smoke.

However, when I fire it up, I drive 50 miles to the grocery store. No short
trips for me.

Earle

 

Get one that conforms to the recommendation in the owners manual. If it was
my money, I would not spend it on so called 'premium' oils. Especially since
you are changing it very regularly.