wtk engine oil

[jack hammer]

hi, i doing a research project for my hydrostatic class an would like to know what are SAE viscosity grades for motor oil be used in trinidad persently? any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Big Z]

Motor Oil Wiki

We pretty much use everything that is available except for 20 body oil. (Not to be confused with 20W)

[jack hammer]

so we use SAE 0w,5w,10w 20w,25w and SAE 30,40,50,60?
y don't we use SAE 20?

[Big Z]

newb!!! Shoulda spelt it out for ya. Sorry.


Single grade engine oils.
30, 40, 50, and 60

Multi-grade engine oils
0W30, 5W30, 10W30
0W40, 5W40, 10W40, 15W40
0W50, 5W50, 15W50, 20W50
5W60, 25W60

I think I have covered all the engine oils that are popular in Trinidad.
Soon we will be moving to 0W20 and 5W20... but not yet.

[CD4Accord]

Actually, factory fill on nearly all new Honda is 5w-20

Classic does oil changes using Total 5w-40 therafter though

[EVA Unit-01]

^^^erm, isn't 5w20 kinda thin for our climate? and who does use those *W60 oils???

[Big Z]

^^^erm, isn't 5w20 kinda thin for our climate?

My apologies in advance for using for using your statement as a reference.
It is exactly for this antiquated thinking that we are still using 20W50 in this country.
20W50 is way too thick for modern cars.
Almost every Honda with a failed VTEC solenoid is due to the wrong oil, eg 20W50 or 15W40.
Guess what responsible for the Toyota sludging issues (beside not changing oil)? Give up? 20W50. I have seen the sludge in an NZE Corolla using 5W50 Castrol Syntec.

As I have said before, and highlighted by CD4Accord, 5W20 is factory fill from Japan.
NOW, HONDA JAPAN SENT THE CAR TO TRINIDAD WITH 5W20.
In other words, Honda Japan is saying that their vehicle can works quite happily with 5W20.


You have no idea how difficult it is to convince people to use the correct oil for their vehicle
Sometimes I just give up and sell them what they want.

[slow323]

on my two civics a pcb and a pcm registration classic uses 10w-30 in both, 5w-40 probably they now started using that grade

[ek4ever]

Big Z I understand the message you're trying to get across but maybe the manufacturers are adding to the confusion. If I look at the manual for my Civic... using the average daytime temperature (34 degrees C)..... a 20W50 oil is recommended.

I think the confusion arises when Honda, for example, specs a 5W20 or 10W30. What ppl have to realise is that these are considered fuel efficient grades....reduces drag within the engine to boost fuel economy.

In the end regardless of what you may think is suitable....the best bet is to follow the owner's manual.

[Big Z]

the best bet is to follow the owner's manual.

This is totally true.

But your interpretation of 20W50 being the correct oil is quite wrong.
You will also see 15W40, 10W30 and maybe 5W20 all listed right next to 20W50, and covering a larger temperature range.
The thinner oil will lead to:

1. Less sludging issues.
2. Higher efficiency - better gas milage, more power, less heat.


Again I point out that its hard to beat 20W50 out of the Trini mindset.

[ek4ever]

^^^I will double check that

[CD4Accord]

We really should move this to the oil viscousity discussion that was raging a few months ago..

All these topics have already been covered quite deeply..

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=285915&hilit=oil+viscousity

Read and learn, read and learn.....

[ek4ever]

I checked my owner's manual...for an ambient temp of 34 deg Celsius the recommended weight is 10W40, 15W50 or 20W50. The 10W30 and 5W30 is not recommended for the B16A for ambient temp over 0 degrees Celsius

[Big Z]

Case closed. See image below.
Extracted from the Honda Civic 1996-2000 Service Manual.
I have a sale on 5W30 Schaeffer.

[ek4ever]

^^hmm...that's different from my manual. See what I mean by confusion from the manufacturers?

On my chart the arrow for the 5W30 starts at 0 Celsius and goes left

[Alpha_2nr]

We really should move this to the oil viscousity discussion that was raging a few months ago..

All these topics have already been covered quite deeply..

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=285915&hilit=oil+viscousity

Read and learn, read and learn.....

One thing I should have mentioned in my posts in that thread that while thinner oils are more "economy promoting" / "energy conserving", technically, a loss of shear viscosity/lower viscosities could lead to a little more wear.

It's a trade off in a manner of speaking....as "too thin" (I hate that terminology btw) an oil could theoretically be detrimental to your engine. Too "thick" of an oil also accelerates sludge buildup, which is bad

[Chemical]

yep however too "thick" also puts additional strain on the oil pump, oil scraper on the cylinder walls, dissipates heat longer, takes longer to flow to critical moving parts @ start up etc. Really 50 body oil is used for turbo / supercharged engines. Hell factory fill in a Corvette / Caddy is 10W 30 !!

[CD4Accord]

As I said, nothing in the US comes factory fill with anything heavier than 10w-30.....


Trust me, the weather is more extreme here..... Cold and Hot and people wouldnt think about throwing the 20w-50 and other such crap that we use on everyday engines...

Anyway, this has all been discussed before in the aforementioned oil viscousity thread