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 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 2011 or newer:

For Honda Accords made in 2011 or later, Honda recommends 0W-20 motor oil. These are the top picks, in order:

  1. Mobil 1 Extended Performance Full-Synthetic 0W-20
  2. Castrol Edge Advanced Full-Synthetic 0W-20
  3. Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full-Synthetic 0W-20
BrandMobil 1CastrolPennzoil
Link
Mobil 1 Extended Performance
Full-Synthetic 0W-20

Castrol Edge Advanced
Full-Synthetic 0W-20		Pennzoil Ultra Platinum
Full-Synthetic 0W-20
Weight0W-200W-200W-20
APIAPI SNAPI SNAPI SN
ILSACILSAC GF-5ILSAC GF-5ILSAC GF-5
Density (g/cc) 15C0.8390.8560.839
Flash Point (C)235220224
Viscosity (100C) cSt8.68.68.8
Viscosity (40C) cSt44.949.3546.3
Viscosity Index173161172
HT/HS Viscosity (cP, min)2.7—2.6
Spec SheetMobil 1 Spec SheetCastrol Spec SheetPennzoil Spec Sheet
Comparison Table for 0W-20 Engine Oil – Full Synthetic

For Accords made in 2010 or earlier:

For Honda Accords made in 2010 or earlier, Honda recommends 5w-20 motor oil. These are the top picks in order:

  1. Mobil 1 Extended Performance High-Mileage Full-Synthetic 5W-20
  2. Castrol Edge Advanced Full Synthetic 5W-20
  3. Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic 5W-20
BrandMobil 1CastrolPennzoil
Link
Mobil 1 Extended Performance High-Mileage
Full-Synthetic 5W-20

Castrol Edge Advanced Full Synthetic 5W-20Pennzoil Ultra Platinum
Full-Synthetic 5W-20
Weight5W-205W-205W-20
APIAPI SLAPI SNAPI SP-RC
ILSACILSAC GF-5ILSAC GF-5ILSAC GF-6A
Density (g/cc) 15C0.8560.8560.840
Flash Point (C)244217207
Viscosity (100C) cSt8.68.88.8
Viscosity (40C) cSt50.148.048.0
Viscosity Index150166164
HT/HS Viscosity (cP, min)2.72.64–
Spec SheetMobil 1 Spec SheetCastrol Spec SheetPennzoil Spec Sheet
Comparison Table for 5W-20 Engine Oil – Full Synthetic

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.

Concerning mileage, an important factor is also the age of the vehicle in terms of how many miles are on the car. “High Mileage” is considered 75,000 miles or more, which to a Honda owner, actually isn’t that much! It is pretty common to see Honda Accords with well over 250,000 miles, still going strong! The reason that high mileage motor oil can be important is because of the specific formulation of additives. The additives for high-mileage vehicles are designed to restore the shape and pliability of engine seals bringing new life to those that may have hardened over time. High-mileage oils also tend to be toward the higher range of viscosities within each specification to account for increased tolerances that may exist in vehicles that are older and have experienced more wear.

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.

changing oil in a Honda Accord

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?

  1. 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.
  2. Synthetic oils can also go longer between oil changes. This not only saves YOU money, but also reduces waste.
  3. 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 in 2011 or newer, use this:

Mobil 1 Extended Performance Full-Synthetic 0W-20

For a Honda Accord made in 2010 or earlier, use this:

Mobil 1 Extended Performance High-Mileage Full Synthetic 5W-20

Why use these oils?

Read the following specifications for more information on these oils.

0W-20 Full Synthetic Oil

Mobil 1 Extended Performance Full-Synthetic 0W-20 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 HTHS ((≤ 3.5cP)

From the spec sheet for Mobil 1 Extended Performance Full-Synthetic 0W-20:

Mobil1 EP 0W-20 ASTM Method Result
Viscosity @ 100C, cSt ASTM D455 8.6 cSt
Viscosity @ 40C, cSt ASTM D455 44.9 cSt
Viscosity Index ASTM D2270 173
     
     
HT/HS viscosity, cP min ASTM D4683 2.7 cP, min
Pour Point (C), max ASTM D97 -54 C, max
Flash Point PMCC C, min ASTM D93 235 C, min
Density ASTM D4052 0.839 g/cc

The following are other good 0W-20 oils to consider:

5W-20 Full Synthetic Oil

Mobil 1 Extended Performance High Mileage Full-Synthetic (5W-20) meets the following specifications:

  • API CF (Approved by the American Petroleum Institute)
  • ILSAC GF-6 (International Lubricant’s Standardization and Approval Committee)
    • Prevents deposits and sludge buildup
    • Formulated to improve fuel efficiency
    • Supports quick cold-weather starting

From the spec sheet for Mobil 1 Extended Performance High Mileage Full Synthetic SAE 5W-20:

Mobil 1 Extended Performance High Mileage Full Synthetic SAE 5W-20 ASTM Method Result
Viscosity @ 100C, cSt ASTM D445 8.6 cSt
Viscosity @ 40C, cSt ASTM D455

50.1 cSt
Flash Point PMCC C, min ASTM D92 244 C, min
Density ASTM D4052 0.856 g/cc

The following are other good 5W-20 oils to consider:

Castrol Edge Advanced Full Synthetic (5W-20)

  • API SN SN/PLUS
  • ILSAC GF-5;
  • GM dexos1 Gen 2
  • ACEA A1/B1
  • Meets Ford WSS-M2C930-A, Meets Ford WSS-M2C945-A
  • GM – 6094M

Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic (5W-20)

  • API SP-RC
  • API SP
  • Chrysler MS-6395
  • Ford WSS-M2C945-A, Ford WSS-M2C945-B1
  • ILSAC GF-6A
  • ACEA A1/B1

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

Thanks for reading this post and thanks for visiting PracticalMechanic.com!

For Accords made in 2011 or newer:

For Honda Accords made in 2011 or later, Honda recommends 0W-20 motor oil.

  1. Mobil 1 Extended Performance Full-Synthetic 0W-20
  2. Castrol Edge Advanced Full-Synthetic 0W-20
  3. Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full-Synthetic 0W-20

For Accords made in 2010 or earlier:

For Honda Accords made in 2010 or earlier, Honda recommends 5w-20 motor oil.

  1. Mobil 1 Extended Performance High-Mileage Full-Synthetic (5W-20)
  2. Castrol Edge Advanced Full Synthetic (5W-20)
  3. Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic (5W-20)