My oil options?

[reelman]

1st time owner...

2012 Ridgeline (aka Big Cherry) and after the 1st service I plan to change my own oil and filter...
what are the oil options as far as wt...
5W-30 Mobil 1 or reg brands or what?
only 0-20 seems a bit odd...thanx

=====
Have new gray dash mat and some Seat Shields so its looking sharp.

[laserguy]

Originally Posted by reelman

1st time owner...

2012 Ridgeline (aka Big Cherry) and after the 1st service I plan to change my own oil and filter...
what are the oil options as far as wt...
5W-30 Mobil 1 or reg brands or what?
only 0-20 seems a bit odd...thanx

=====
Have new gray dash mat and some Seat Shields so its looking sharp.

5-20 or 0-20, 0-20 for the newest models is what Honda Recommends, and I would use at least for the first 60K miles. Maybe I would not switch to synthetic until the 2nd oil change. I would use Castrol GTX, Penzoil any brand pretty much, Castrol will be my preference for conventional oil, I am sure others will say go with Mobil 1 synthetic, I use M1, there are many good oils, the thing would be to stick to the same brand and model after the 2nd oil change, I am sure others will say you can use synthetic on your 1st oil change. Filters: Honda ending on A01, wix gold or napa gold, supertech from walmart, STP made by the same co. Do not use the orange brand that starts with an F. Honda filter ending with A02 is no good don't use it

[Ourfarm09]

Originally Posted by reelman

1st time owner...

2012 Ridgeline (aka Big Cherry) and after the 1st service I plan to change my own oil and filter...
what are the oil options as far as wt...
5W-30 Mobil 1 or reg brands or what?
only 0-20 seems a bit odd...thanx

=====
Have new gray dash mat and some Seat Shields so its looking sharp.

0-20 is what a lot of manufactures are going to for fuel mileage. I'm using 5-20 mobile 1. Full synthetic. The recommended for 2011's is 5-20 but 0-20 is acceptable for all.

[Major Tom]

My 2012 Sport the dealer uses 0-20 full synthetic. I think they are using Castrol or Penzoil, the dealer used the full synthetic on the first oil change. The dealership claims full synthetic is the factory fill now. For what it is worth.

[rollinhonda]

Go by the fill cap for oil weight. I also have a bias for Castrol for dino oil. Otherwise, for syn M1 is great, and easy to get.

[chiph]

Another vote for going by the fill cap and/or owner's manual for what weight oil to use.

For warranty coverage, go with a Honda oil filter. The dealers have the A02 filter, but you might be able to find the A01 filter online (it's a better design in many people's opinion)

Chip H.

[reelman]

After 6,057 miles with 40% left on the computer I decided that since I pull a bass boat 2-3x a week and its so hot...to let the dealer do the 1st oil change ever...
Perhaps I will wait until 20% next time...so far the Ridgeline gets 2-3mpg more w/o towing and over 15mpg towing the 2012 Skeeter TZX180 loaded for a club event so that is a level above the 2007 Silverado trade in....

[speedlever]

We have it on good authority that factory fill is M1. Anything that meets the spec is good. The MM is not set for synthetic. That being said, I also use M1 5w-20. Not for extended OCIs but rather for superior cold flow characteristics.

Good info on filters above. I am partial to Wix filters (Napa gold). I fail to see how warranty could be affected by using a non-Honda oil filter.

[rollinhonda]

Originally Posted by speedlever

Good info on filters above. I am partial to Wix filters (Napa gold). I fail to see how warranty could be affected by using a non-Honda oil filter.

But dealerships will tell you that, with no substance behind it. I doubt there are many oil filters responsible for engine failures, not even Frams. Filters that were never changed regularly, or not installed correctly, yes.

[speedlever]

Never had a dealership tell me that. Then again, I've never asked.

Please show me in the warranty coverage where it requires Honda oil filters. (j/k, I know it doesn't exist).

I will have to be convinced that Honda will deny warranty coverage based on not using a Honda oil filter. Just sayin'.

BTW, Honda dealerships are not Honda. Dealerships are merely the local interface between you/me and Honda corporate. True, they have connections the average Joe doesn't have. OTOH, dealerships are not the final word on coverage either.

A better response would come from Honda corporate on warranty coverage using non-Honda branded oil filters... air filters, etc. Honda fluids may be a different story.... tranny, rear diff, etc.