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View Full Version : Mixing mineral and synthetic engine oil = okay or bad?


m0nk3y
05-08-2007, 11:41 PM
Currently in my DC5, the previous owner had filled up the engine oil with the OEM Honda FEO oil that they use during their services up to 50000kms. Now if i ever need to top up my oil, is it safe to mix the Honda FEO oil (which IIRC is mineral) with another oil which is synthetic (castrol/motul/watever)? FEO is 10w-30, so synthetic will be the same too. or just top up with mineral 10w20 from another brand like castrol?

also, does Astoria Honda let us bring our own oil so we dont use FEO? id like to bring in som synthetic oil to my next services.....itll be dealer services for awhile, cara is still under warranty for 3 more years
aaronng
06-08-2007, 12:03 AM
When you call to book your service, tell them you are bringing your own oil. You can do so without voiding your warranty.

As for topping up, I'd just use a similar mineral to top up. Either FEO ($30 per bottle) or Castrol Magnatec 10w-40 ($27) You can top up with synthetic but no point wasting your expensive new bottle of synthetic.
m0nk3y
06-08-2007, 10:13 AM
ah cool thanks

i heard some honda dealers are fussy about bringing in your own oil, i hope Astoria isnt like that, since its the closest to me
aaronng
06-08-2007, 12:45 PM
Well, when you call to book, they will tell you yes or no. If they say no, go to another dealer. Yfin has written to Honda Australia asking about using aftermarket oil, and they said it won't void warranty as long as you use a better oil than Honda FEO. Heck, my dealer in Sydney used to put Castrol Magnatec in from their drum!
m0nk3y
06-08-2007, 12:54 PM
ah sweet thanks

now to look for some 10w30 or 10w40 oil - its all about price. so long as its around the same price as FEO i'll be happy.
DLO01
06-08-2007, 12:54 PM
Its your car, put any oil you want in it. :thumbsup:

I would never mix oils. :thumbdwn:
m0nk3y
08-08-2007, 09:35 PM
Well, when you call to book, they will tell you yes or no. If they say no, go to another dealer. Yfin has written to Honda Australia asking about using aftermarket oil, and they said it won't void warranty as long as you use a better oil than Honda FEO. Heck, my dealer in Sydney used to put Castrol Magnatec in from their drum!

well a mate thinks they will just pour out your stuff and put in their own....though i dont think so, coz that would cost them money anyway....:confused:
aaronng
08-08-2007, 10:12 PM
well a mate thinks they will just pour out your stuff and put in their own....though i dont think so, coz that would cost them money anyway....:confused:

Yeah, it'll cost them money. When I book, I ask them how much the service will be with my own oil. Then when I drop the car off, I reconfirm that with the service advisor on paper (they have it printed on the service invoice that I brought my own oil) taking my car in. This way, they have no choice but to give me that $40 discount if they use my oil or not. So yes, this way it'll cost them money not to use my oil. :)
m0nk3y
08-08-2007, 10:16 PM
nice idea there!

either they lose money using their own oil, or dont use any oil at all and damage the engine....lose lose for them not to follow our orders! :)
m0nk3y
08-08-2007, 10:22 PM
how much is FEO at the dealer anyway? sub $30?
Lude23
08-08-2007, 10:28 PM
i paid $27.85 for a 4L bottle last week.
m0nk3y
08-08-2007, 10:36 PM
ah cool

now to see if i can find some synthetic oil for around that price :)

havoline was like $28 from bigW i think
aaronng
08-08-2007, 11:33 PM
ah cool

now to see if i can find some synthetic oil for around that price :)

havoline was like $28 from bigW i think

I don't think it's the full synthetic for $28. That's probably the semi-synthetic.
m0nk3y
08-08-2007, 11:36 PM
I don't think it's the full synthetic for $28. That's probably the semi-synthetic.

semi-synthetic is still slightly better than FEO

http://caltex.com.au/products_oil_detail.asp?id=266

premium plus at bigW - synthetic i belive
aaronng
09-08-2007, 12:22 AM
From the base number in the specs of Premium Plus on their website, I doubt it is a full synthetic. The base stock is a mineral oil. It could be semi-synthetic (which is a mineral oil with synthetic additives).
m0nk3y
09-08-2007, 01:48 PM
like i said, semi synthetic is still better than FEO....
aaronng
09-08-2007, 04:50 PM
like i said, semi synthetic is still better than FEO....

Not necessarily. To me, a semi-synthetic is the same as a mineral. The base stock is still mineral. There are crappy semi-synthetics out there that are worse than FEO. ;)
TheGoodDeal
10-08-2007, 08:05 PM
i paid $27.85 for a 4L bottle last week.

Last few month ago I bought 5L bottle FEO for around $30. Did Honda change bottle size and pump up the price??