In this post we walk through the most highly recommended oil to use in a Honda Accord!
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Which oil to use in a Honda Accord
The following is a quick synopsis of the best oils to use in a Honda Accord. After this list, we go through the details, these are the recommended oils:
For Accords made in or after 2011:
- Castrol 03060 GTX 0W-20 Full Synthetic
- Mobil 1 120758 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil for 0W-20
- Idemitsu Full Synthetic 0W-20 Engine Oil SN/GF-5
- Valvoline Advanced Full Synthetic SAE 0W-20 Motor Oil
For Accords made before 2011:
- Mobil 1-112798 120763 Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-20
- Castrol 03063 GTX MAGNATEC 5W-20 Full Synthetic Motor Oil, Green
- Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic 5W-20 Motor Oil
Choosing the Right Engine Oil
The Honda Accord is one of the most reliable vehicles ever built! So it is great you are taking care of it by changing the oil regularly (I recommend every 5000 miles).
The best type of oil to put in your engine depends on a number of factors. That is why I am writing this article, so you don’t have to!
At the end of the day, there are mainly 2 things you need to think about when choosing the best oil for your vehicle: mileage and climate. Even though there are a host of other things to consider, such as how you drive, what your daily drive is like, or whether your vehicle has any known problems. I’m going to assume you are a ‘typical’ driver, you live in a climate with cold winters and fairly warm summers, and the car doesn’t have major issues.
How to Change Oil in a Honda Accord?
Changing the oil in an Accord is very straightforward and takes about 20-30 minutes; most of the time is spent waiting for the used oil to drain out of the car! Please visit this post for details on changing the oil in an Accord. All you’ll need is a 17mm socket, funnel, 4.4 qts of oil, a drain pan, and an oil filter.
What Viscosity is Right for Me?
When you see the numbers on the bottle like “5W-20”, very simply, the first number corresponds to the viscosity when the oil is cold (think “W” for “winter”). The number before the “W” refers to the viscosity rating at 0°C. A lower number means there is less thickening of the oil at lower temperatures. The number after the dash (-) refers to the viscosity of the oil measured at 100°C, and is an indication of the oil’s rate of thinning at higher temperatures. Visit this post for a more detailed explanation of the SAE numbers.
Why should I use Synthetic Oil?
- Synthetic oil allows your vehicle to get better gas mileage. Since synthetic oil can be manufactured down to higher viscosity ratings than conventional oils, the oil flows more freely, allowing the engine to not have to work as hard.
- Synthetic oils can also go longer between oil changes. This not only saves YOU money, but also reduces waste.
- Synthetic oils increase engine longevity. If everything else is the same, an engine will last longer if synthetic oil is used.
What Oil is the Best Oil?
Before 2011, Honda recommended the use of 5W-20 oil in their Accords. From 2011 and onward, the recommendation changed from 5W-20 to 0W-20. The reasons for this comes down to tighter tolerances in engine manufacturing processes and fuel economy. In fact, if a vehicle will be used for towing, 5W-30 oil is recommended in order to increase the engine life.
For these reasons, the following oil types are recommended based on the year of the vehicle.
For a Honda Accord made before 2011, use this:
Mobil 1-112798 120763 Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-20
For a Honda Accord made in 2011 or after, use this:
Castrol 03060 GTX 0W-20 Full Synthetic
Why use these oils?
Read the following specifications for more information on these oils.
5W-20 Full Synthetic Oil
Mobil 1-112798 120763 Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-20 meets the following specifications:
- API SN, SM, SL (Approved by the American Petroleum Institute)
- ILSAC GF-6A (International Lubricant’s Standardization and Approval Committee)
- Prevents deposits and sludge buildup
- Formulated to improve fuel efficiency
- Supports quick cold-weather starting
- GM dexos1:GEN2 GM6094M (GM Specification)
- Ford WSS-M2C945-A, WSS-M2C945-B1 and WSS-M2C930-A (Ford Specifications)
From the spec sheet for Mobile 1 SAE 5W-20:
| Mobile 1 Full Synthetic SAE 5W-20 | ASTM Method | Result |
| Viscosity @ 100C, cSt | ASTM D445 | 8.6 cSt |
| Viscosity @ 40C, cSt | ASTM D455 | 49 cSt |
| Flash Point PMCC C, min | ASTM D92 | 234 C, min |
| Density | ASTM D4052 | 0.84 g/cc |
The following are other good 5W-30 oils to consider:
Castrol 03063 GTX MAGNATEC 5W-20 Full Synthetic Motor Oil, Green
- API SN; ILSAC GF-5;
- GM dexos1;
- Meets Ford WSS-M2C930-A, WSS-M2C945-A, WSS-M2C153-H
Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic 5W-20 Motor Oil
- FCA MS-6395
- Ford WSS-M2C945-A
- JLR STJLR. 03. 5004
- ILSAC GF-6
- ACEA A1/B1
0W-20 Full Synthetic Oil
Castrol 03060 GTX 0W-20 Full Synthetic meets the following specifications:
- API SN
- ILSAC GF-5
- Improved protection against oil ‘sludge’
- Formulated to improve fuel efficiency
- Satisfies ILSAC GF-4 standards
- Low low HTHS (High Temperature High Shear) (≤ 3.5cP)
- GM dexos1
From the spec sheet for Castrol GTX Magnatec 0W-20:
| Castrol GTX Magnatec 0W-20 | ASTM Method | Result |
| Viscosity @ 100C, cSt | ASTM D455 | 9.1 cSt |
| Viscosity @ 40C, cSt | ASTM D455 | 44.4 cSt |
| Viscosity Index | ASTM D2270 | 192 |
| Low Temp. Cranking Viscosity | ASTM D5293 | 6200 cP, max |
| Low Temp. Pumping Viscosity | ASTM D4684 | 42000 cP, max |
| HT/HS viscosity, cP min | ASTM D4683 | 2.6 cP, min |
| Pour Point (C), max | ASTM D97 | -39 C, max |
| Flash Point PMCC C, min | ASTM D93 | 200 C, min |
| Density | ASTM D4052 | 0.848 g/cc |
The following are other good 0W-20 oils to consider:
- Idemitsu Full Synthetic 0W-20 Engine Oil SN/GF-5 – 5 Quart
- API SN
- ILSAC GF-5
- Valvoline Advanced Full Synthetic SAE 0W-20 Motor Oil 5 QT
- API SN
- ILSAC GF-5
How Much Oil goes in a Honda Accord?
Honda Accords take 4.4 US Quarts when the oil is changed with a filter. Without a filter the oil quantity is 4.1 US Quarts. Check your owner’s manual for specifics.
Summary
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For Accords made in or after 2011:
- Castrol 03060 GTX 0W-20 Full Synthetic
- Mobil 1 120758 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil for 0W-20
- Idemitsu Full Synthetic 0W-20 Engine Oil SN/GF-5
- Valvoline Advanced Full Synthetic SAE 0W-20 Motor Oil
