HI SPEEDR

Planning on going to Mobil 1 @ 10,000 miles.

honda606

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tritium_pie
[B]I always wait until 2 bars before putting my car in gear, ostensibly to allow the different metals to reach their normal thermal operating ranges.

Road Rage

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tritium_pie
[B]I always wait until 2 bars before putting my car in gear, ostensibly to allow the different metals to reach their normal thermal operating ranges.

honda606

Road Rage,

What type of synthetic would you recommend for me being in generally high temp areas such as Atlanta or Houston year round where I really won't see freezing temps but maybe 3-5 days out of the year?

I'm at about 9,300 miles now and plan to switch over after one more conventional oil change.

Road Rage

I thought I had already posted that - I would use Amsoil 10w30. That is what I plan top use - my car has a heated/air conditioned garage, and will sit out the winter. Never see anything remotely close to 0 degF, the lower limit for mineral 10w30.

xviper

Waiting till 2 bars before putting in gear overkill? Well, if it's not too much bother for you, the more power to ya.
As for me:
If I were to wait for 2 bars on those mornings after the car sat outside at work overnight at -25 to -30*C, I'd be sitting there for between 10 and 15 minutes. Just not reasonable. I start the car, let it run in neutral while I go out and remove the snow and ice from the glass, put the block heater cord away and get back in and go. I'll drive easy (not even slowly), shifting early till the shifter tells me things are warming up a bit. The way I look at it, if I don't wait for 2 bars in winter, I'm not going to wait for 2 bars in summer, either.

Road Rage

I misread the previous post - you should start the car, let it idle for perhaps 15-30 seconds, then drive off - long "warmups" at idle are bad, as the mixture is richer longer, the cats do not light off quickly, and the car stays in open loop longer. The fastest way to warm up the car is to run on the A/C, as the heat in the condenser will act to warm the engine faster. (Flesh can heal, metal can not). I agree with XViper - drive reasonably for the first 20 minutes will ensure a proper ewarmup and longest service life.

RazorV3

for example the weather around here is 70-80 degrees during the day. i turn on my car and wait till 2 bars and drive off, and then a couple minutes later i get 3 bars. how long should i wait till i can start engaging vtec after i get 3 bars on the temp gauge. i personally believe that waiting an additional 10-15 minutes is good enough, that is when the oil is at normal operating tempeartures. what do you guys recommend?

xviper

Honda designed the car to let you VTEC as soon as 3 bars is reached. Sometimes, you can actually do it just prior to 3 bars. If Honda thinks you can do it safely, I don't see why not.

wortham

man! i've learned so much on this thread! but i have a few questions for rage myself.

i looked at amsoil's website and i see two types of 10w30 (XL and not). what's the difference between the two? and which do you prefer (assuming that you'd still suggest 10w30 for the heat of Tucson, AZ)? also, how often would you suggest changing the oil and filter in 100 degree weather with lots of city driving?