As my title states, I`m having a hard time deciding which motor oil grade to use for my 2002 Acura RSX(base). According to my owner`s manual as well as the oil cap Acura says to use 5W-20. I have been reading though that people on CRSX with base RSXs have been using 5W-30 with no problems. I have also read on there as well as other places that 5W-20 isn`t the best motor oil for a car because it is thinner and doesn`t protect as well as 5W-30. The main reason why car manufacturers are using 5W-20 is to boost MPG ratings on the EPA.
I really wouldn`t mind using the 5W-30 if my car weren`t covered by a warranty. I still have another 2 years on it, and would really hate to void it because I used 5W-30 instead of 5W-20. I do plan on switching to Mobil 1, after reading about Amsoil oils, but I`m still unsure of the grade for the reasons I listed above. I obviously plan on keeping the car for more than 2 years, so would want the best protection for the car. I also don`t know the previous history of the car, it probably was serviced with dino oil, seeing how synthetic wasn`t required for it and it was a lease. My car is about 3.5 years old and has around 43,xxx miles on it. My biggest worry is breaking seals, resulting in me burning a ton of oil, as its a reoccuring problem I`ve read with RSXs. If in the event I made the synthetic switch, and had problems with oil burning and took it to be serviced, I`m sure they would declare it was my fault for using the wrong oil grade (5W-30).
So right now I`m totally :nixweiss over what to do. I`m not sure if I should switch to synthetic or stick with the dino, and what grade to use. Any information/advice from the oil gurus would be much appreciated. If I don`t get as much of a response I can always join BITOG and post like a total n00b over there, but I figured I ask Autopians on how they feel on the issue first.
Thanks in Advance
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