And if so, will it be noticable? Anyone experimented with this before? I've been using 10W-30 in my VX forever, but am now curious to try 5W-30.

Leaving on a 5,000+ mile warm weather trip next week, looking forward to some tremendous tanks

 

vxmike,
I've recently done it in the corolla, due to changing conditions i cant really say it helps, i'm mainly looking toward a better winter.
Cheers,
Steven

 

What's a VX?
Is it Toyota, Honda? Other?
Is it a hybrid?

I guess I could Google it to learn what a VX is.
But, being a hybrid forum, you should include more information.

 

It's a type of Civic. There are a couple in the nonhybrid database: https://www.greenhybrid.com/compare/...nonhybrids.php

 

Kenny,

Sorry, it's the Civic VX which was manufactured from 92-95. It was the first Honda car to utilize the lean burn technology to achieve amazing gas mileage. Yes, us VX guys lean burn in our ten year old cars!

The Civic VX can achieve substantial tanks -- my personal best is 73mpg and I consistently achieve 60+ on the freeway when it's warm enough to lean burn. Can't wait until I can afford an Insight, but for now it works great for me.

Curious about different oil weights to try and do even better.

 

Hi VXmike:

___It is not just viscosity on the label but the real item to look for is kinematic viscosity at 100 degrees C. This is the true measure of how much particular oil will help or hinder your fuel economy. I don’t believe your VX would have been spec’ed for 5W-30 way back then but if it was, might I suggest a few quarts of Mobil1 5W-30 Synthetic on your next change? There isn’t an oil brand or type you can find with a lower kinematic viscosity at that weight and it is better for your car if you extend oil changes (7,500 miles max) and for cold starts in particular. It will not however pay for itself in $’s saved at the pump given the small increase in fuel economy you should receive while using it. Longevity wise … There are a heck of a lot more cars running 200,000 miles + under regular oil’s vs. 200,000 + on Mobil1 Synthetic so don’t think it will add much on the longevity front either.

___As a hypermiler, Mobil1 Synthetic and its best in class kinematic viscosity for a given weight goes in all my cars and trucks. That includes 0W-20 in the Insight and 5W-30 in the Corolla, MDX, and Ranger.

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

 

VXMike,
I noticed you said something about lean burn going away at lower temperatures, may i suggest a radiator block and a warm air mod. Allot of the Insight guys are using them to great effect.

Wayne,
Were do you find the information about the kinematic viscosity for oils? My last change had 5W-30 Castrol GTX.

 

Hi Steve:

___For Mobil1 Synthetic as well as some of the other Synthetic’s competitors, you can pick the various attributes right off the manufacturer’s web sites. If you cannot find a particular oils kinematic viscosity at both 0 and 100 degrees C from the manufacturers website, hit BITOG or use Google. Here are the two most well known synthetic manufacturer’s kinematic viscosity numbers for you to compare too.

Kinematic Viscosity of Mobil1 SAE 0W-20 (ASTM D-445)
cSt @ 40 degrees C = 43.0
cSt @ 100 degrees C = 8.4

Kinematic Viscosity of Amsoil SAE 0W-30 Amsoil (ASTM D-445)
cSt @ 40 degrees C = 56.9
cSt @ 100 degrees C = 11.2

Kinematic Viscosity of Mobil1 SAE 5W-30 (ASTM D-445)
cSt @ 40 degrees C = 53.0
cSt @ 100 degrees C = 9.9

Kinematic Viscosity of Amsoil SAE 5W-30 Amsoil (ASTM D-445)
cSt @ 40 degrees C = 63.4
cSt @ 100 degrees C = 11.7

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net