Oil change

[Bagpuss]

Oil change done today on my 2005 Jazz and I’ve used 15w40  - just found out that it should of been 10w40.
Will this damage my engine on 99000 miles?

[Jocko]

10w-40 is good down to -20°C, according to the manual supplied with my 2006. If temperature gets that low car may be slightly more sluggish to turn over when cold and mpg might drop a bit, but I wouldn't worry about it. New 10w-40 is better than old dirty 5w-30.
It is not that long ago that everyone used 20w-50 and the winters were a lot colder back then!

[Bagpuss]

So 15w40 will be ok? I was panicking that I’d have to do it all again 🤦🏻‍♀️

[JazzyB]

I just had a look in my Honda manual and that grade 15W40 is listed but not for 'European models'.

I love the way Honda state 'we recommend using genuine Honda Motor Oil' , now if you go to a Honda dealer and ask for it you will get a funny look to say the least. It doesn't exist at least not in the UK.

According to the Honda manual you can use 0W-20, 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30, 5W-40, 10W-30 & 10W-40.

I am currently using 0W-20 with no problems.

Looks like you will be doing it again........... 

[Jocko]

I just had a look in my Honda manual and that grade 15W40 is listed but not for 'European models'.

Yes, it says, "Not for European models", because parts of Europe regularly see -20°C. But we don't. And if we did, all you would experience is sluggish turn over. The 0w, 5w, 10w, 15w only refers to the cold oil lying in the sump. Once the engine gets hot it is the second number that determines the protection.

You could go to the trouble of changing it, but I certainly wouldn't. And if you do, I would leave it until the onset of winter. Doubt we will see much below -20°C this coming summer!

[culzean]

So 15w40 will be ok? I was panicking that I’d have to do it all again ‍♀️

People do worry too much about oil,  as Jocko says clean 15W40 is much better than dirty 0W20 - as I have said before I use 5W30 and the only reason I would use 0W20 is if I lived inside arctic circle.  I bet you will hardly notice any drop in MPG ( certainly not enough to warrant dumping £30 worth of hardly used oil - think of the planet ) and it would have to get very, very, very cold before you noticed any difference in starting - so just leave the oil in until next change is due.

You can get 'high mileage oil' ( does not last any longer but is higher viscosity for high mileage engines where bearing clearances may have increased and thin oil just does not give film thickness and oil pressure may be lower. At almost 100K your car probably qualifies anyway.  I wish they still fitted oil pressure gauges to cars, you could tell a lot from watching them - but Jazz does not even get an engine temperature gauge so I won't hold my breath...

[Jocko]

I use 5w-30 as my engine has done 113,000 miles, but I would happily stick 10w-40 in if it was kicking about the garage. As I said, 20w-50 was the norm, not that long ago, before the search for that extra little bit of fuel efficiency became the order of the day.
Found this on line:
Benefits
20W50 motor oil is a high viscosity oil that provides a cushioning and protects against metal-to-metal contact. It is also a more effective sealant than thinner oils. Both of these benefits extend engine life.

[Bagpuss]

Thank you all. I will stop worrying 😄 and move on to the next job - cleaning the EGR at some point before MOT - that looks like a simple enough job?

[peteo48]

I remember 20/50 - great stuff if your car was a bit knackered and thirsty on the oil. I had an Austin 1300 once that used a pint every 200 miles - with 20/50 it could do nearly 300!

[Jocko]

The original Mini Cooper did 76 miles to the pint. They reckon the door pockets on the original mini were designed to hold tins of oil.

[MartinJG]

The original Mini Cooper did 76 miles to the pint. They reckon the door pockets on the original mini were designed to hold tins of oil.

Brilliant! That must be a good one then. I had a Mini years ago and it got to the point where I had difficulty determining the main source of effusion. Let's just say it was sweating a bit....

[Brendan976]

I went to Costco to get wiper blades, I saw they had Chevron 5W/30 oil 20 litres for for about £36. This oil meets the  spec API SL recommend by Honda. Given my car is 15 years old and I change the oil once a year , although I don't do a lot of miles maybe 5000 a year that's 4 years of oil for this car.
Ben

[Jocko]

I came across a 5L container of 10w-40 semi synthetic, in my mother-in-law's garage, which I bought to fill up the mower. I brought it home with me. It will do for topping up, once I use all my residue from the annual oil change. As I have said elsewhere, my car uses oil (not a lot), and I usually have to buy a litre before the next oil change is due. This oil will do for that.

[culzean]

I went to Costco to get wiper blades, I saw they had Chevron 5W/30 oil 20 litres for for about £36. This oil meets the  spec API SL recommend by Honda. Given my car is 15 years old and I change the oil once a year , although I don't do a lot of miles maybe 5000 a year that's 4 years of oil for this car.
Ben

Once the container is opened oil does deteriorate in storage as it gets oxidised..

[sparky Paul]

Once the container is opened oil does deteriorate in storage as it gets oxidised..

If it bothered you, you could give the drum a blast of CO2 before putting the lid on, or decant the residue into sealed 5L containers.