Synthetic oil?

[greygoosestr8]

We just purchased a "new-to-us" 2010 EX-L with ~9K. My brother, a shade tree mechanic, insisted that we start using Valvoline synthetic motor oil in our future changes. Is there any concern with using synthetic? I thought that it may void the warranty if i didn't used the oil indicated in the maintenance schedule. Thoughts?

[RSQ Pilot]

Originally Posted by greygoosestr8

We just purchased a "new-to-us" 2010 EX-L with ~9K. My brother, a shade tree mechanic, insisted that we start using Valvoline synthetic motor oil in our future changes. Is there any concern with using synthetic? I thought that it may void the warranty if i didn't used the oil indicated in the maintenance schedule. Thoughts?

welcome to the forum...
The oil recommended in the 2009-2011 owner manuals is a detergent oil, 5-W20 grade, api rated for gasoline engines... Any dino, blend or synthetic oil meeting this rating may be used without affecting the warranty.

[rocky]

You don't have a maintenance schedule in the traditional sense. You have a maintenance minder that decides for you when its time to do any specific service. Review your owners manual for full details.

[LetsGo]

Like RSQ_Pilot and rocky have mentioned, you can safely use any conventional or synthetic oil as long as it meets the requirements in the manual. My guess is that's going to be 5W-20 API SM rated oil with the Energy Conserving label. As long as the synthetic you're using meets that, and you follow the maintenance minder for changing it, you'll be fine. I think synthetic is unnecessary personally, and would rather save the costs because I've never heard of an oil-related engine failure that was attributed to using conventional motor oil or any tangible benefits to using synthetics other than the ability to extend the oil change interval.

More important in my mind is using a decent filter. The Honda filters seem to be fine, and most of the major brands seem good, i.e. Wix, Purolator, AC Delco, Motorcraft, Napa, Bosch, STP, Mobil1, Mann, Baldwin, etc., but I've read bad things about standard Fram filters, even as far as referring to them as the "orange can of death." Whether or not those reports are justified, when those filters are cut open, they are clearly less mechanically sound than most other filters. (cardboard end caps, really?) Personally, I think the Purolator PureOne filters are a great combination of price and performance, but probably any brand name filter will do just fine for you.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.