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using car engine oil in honda

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Old 11-30-2006 | 08:03 AM
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Default using car engine oil in honda

a friend of mine has a 2006 honda rubicon 500, he is thinking about running car engine oil in it instead of the honda oil. Is this a good idea, or is he nuts.

 
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Old 11-30-2006 | 09:47 AM
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Default using car engine oil in honda

This article outlines nicely why you DO NOT want to run car oil, even in your car:

http://www.thumperfaq.com/oil.htm

You can't go to far wrong picking an oil that is motorcycle specific, API SG/JASO MA. My personal preference is Maxima. They have an inexpensive petroleum oil, a synth blend, and full (ester based!) synthetic. http://www.maximausa.com/
 
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Old 11-30-2006 | 10:59 AM
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Default using car engine oil in honda

How man people on here own a Ferrari? I don't. I own a 97 Ford F-150 that is pushing 163K miles while running oil designed for automotive engines. I also put 224k miles on a 87 Nissan truck running oil designed for automotive use. So I don't buy that statement about not running automotive oil in your auto.

Just don't run an oil that is labeled "Energy Conserving" in the round donut label on the back. Whatever oil you use, keep it changed often.
 
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Old 11-30-2006 | 11:36 AM
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Default using car engine oil in honda

Why are people so scared to spend a few dollars to buy the right oil vs ruining a 3 or 4 thousand dollar engine. By the best oil you can and sleep good at night. Listen to Rangerrecon about oil.
 
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Old 11-30-2006 | 11:38 AM
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Oil products with the energy conserving symbol will reak havoc on the clutches. I have used oil products that did'nt have the symbol and the clutch still slipped as well.....but usually you will be fine using a product without the energy conserving symbol. I agree Maxima is some of the best stuff out there (among others), but lets be realistic....is $10 per quart cost effective? Will it double or triple engine life? Because when the engine finally needs rebuiilt I will have enough money in oil changes to do just that....rebuild the engine potentially several times.
 
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Old 11-30-2006 | 11:52 AM
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Default using car engine oil in honda

Originally posted by: garyc660R
Oil products with the energy conserving symbol will reak havoc on the clutches...
Very true, but he has a Rubicon with the auto hydromatic transmission. No clutches in a Rubicon, right? If the owners manual tells you to use an oil without moly, I would do so. Why risk it?
 
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Old 11-30-2006 | 01:15 PM
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Default using car engine oil in honda

I respect rangerecon's view's and opinions on oil and like posted above, not everyone can afford 10 dollar a quart oil if they change it once a month. My opinion, and it's shared by members of an oil forum, is that for over the counter oil that is readily available, Shell Rotella in either dino or synthetic is a good oil for atv use as well as motorcycles.
I run the Shell Rotella synthetic in my Yamaha 650 motorcycle after using other brands of oil, both dino and syn and it works better in my bike than any other oil I have used. By that I mean it shifts without "clunking". The Yamalube oil that the dealer put in it at at last service lasted about 300 miles before the annoying clunk came back. I changed it to the Shell and it now has over 1000k miles on that change and is still shifting silky smooth.

I know all engines are not created equal as well as trannys that share the same oil with the engine. But I know what works for me and that the statement about using a high dollar oil in a Ferrari might be a good thing. If you can afford to pay over 100k for a car, use the best oil in my opinion. But for us folks that don't have access to a high dollar oil, we buy what we can get. Whatever oil you use, just keep it changed and stay away from car oils that are labeled energy conserving.


 
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Old 11-30-2006 | 01:56 PM
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Default using car engine oil in honda

I presume that the owner's manual recommends Honda GN4 or HP4??? GN4 is a basic budget priced petroleum oil, and HP4 is a more pricey synth blend (with a fair bit of ester in it, based on the smell). Honda oils use to be API SG, and at one time I did use, like, and recommend HP4. However, they are now SL which means the add pack (high pressure additives) has been downgraded (no doubt to keep the price competitive), so I now look elsewhere.

My problem with Rotella has always been that it is not SG either (so it cannot have as robust an add pack), and PAO's (like Mobil 1 and Amsoil) and the Esters (like Maxima Extra and Motul) have better chemistries.

If I just wanted a basic budget priced petroleum oil, Maxima Premium would be my choice. Maxima oils have the best add pack in the business!
 
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Old 11-30-2006 | 02:47 PM
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Default using car engine oil in honda

Originally posted by: PaulH
Originally posted by: garyc660R
Oil products with the energy conserving symbol will reak havoc on the clutches...
Very true, but he has a Rubicon with the auto hydromatic transmission. No clutches in a Rubicon, right? If the owners manual tells you to use an oil without moly, I would do so. Why risk it?
Beleive it or not, there is a wet clutch in the rubi. Dont use an oil with moly in the motor.
 
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Old 11-30-2006 | 02:54 PM
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Default using car engine oil in honda

Just how much pressure does a quad produce? I have seen Ford's Powerstrokes produce over 3000psi on the high pressure oil system and Rotella T was made for them. I have worked at Ford dealerships for a long while and my experience with oil is there are some cheap ones you want to stay away from, but for the most part, if you change regularly, you should have no problems. Also, I have seen several syth. that would not run in a Powerstroke that said they were design for them.
 


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