Dealer Service Oil Change - Wrong Oil??

[Space Panda]

My insight has just come back from the dealer after it's 36,000 mile service and the invoice reads that 10w/40 oil has been put in.

Going from the manual, it is recommended that 0w/20 oil is used, and from reading various websites, it is clear that there is a hug difference between theses oils, and it already appears to have an effect on performance (10-15% drop in mpg on a flat journey home from the dealer).

I have searched the forums, although oil is too short a word to bring back any results (3-15 characters apparently), and I have some questions?

- Is 10w/40 engine oil just standard, run of the mill, civic/jazz/accord oil that the dealer has used?
- What effect will I see from running using 10w/40 oil?
- Is it worth changing the oil myself asap?
- What's the best 0w/20 oil for the insight?

Any information would be useful.

Thanks

Space Panda

Oh....ps. if there's anyone out there who works for Honda - why is it always so problematic getting insights serviced at main dealers? This is the third dealer I've tried and all seem to treat the insight as a strange civic and never listen when you ask them to ensure they are getting the right parts.

[budomove]

the 10w part just means it will take longer to heat up, but 40 weight is way too heavy, and I would have them change it asap. dunno what kind of problems it might cause, but the engine tolerances are tight in this engine, and the 40 is too thick. The tech who did it should be fired.

[boogetyboogety]

Take it back NOW to those clueless idiots and tell them you want the oil drained immediately, the correct oil installed, have them return the less-than-half-full left-over container of the 0w20 oil our cars take as required by Honda (that ensures they're putting the right kind in, since it takes 2.6 quarts), and berate them for not having the common sense to look up the requirements of the unique vehicle you own and is to be intelligently and accurately serviced by them.

If they tell you they have already put the right oil in, and their computer doesn't allow for a different weight printout on their invoice, tell them "nice try," and demand the above... and this time, you'll watch them do it, period. If they refuse, ask for the head service advisor or manager, whip out your cellphone, tell him/her you will call American Honda (800-999-1009) and ask for Customer Service, and ask the head service advisor of your dealership to explain to their Honda people why they don't know what to do with your Honda. Ideally, on speakerphone. And while you listen in.

And tell them to stay the heck away from your tires, they almost always put 32#s of pressure in all four corners, which will drive your mileage down as surely as if they tied a cinder block to the rear end of the car with a rope and allowed it to drag behind...

Don't take any crap from them, it's YOUR car, and it needs to be maintained professionally by people who know your car's requirements... which should be them, shouldn't it?

[boogetyboogety]

Ooops, I just noticed you're on the right side of the pond... the UK phone for Honda should be 01753 590760... or maybe 0845 200 8000... good luck!

[red1dr]

Check your owner's manual. Mine says 0-20W is preferred but 5-20W (or maybe it was 5-30W?) may be used if 0-20W is not available. 10-40W is too viscous, will affect your mpg and might harm the engine.

Consider bringing along 3 qts (0r 3 liters) 0-20W (synthetic if you can get it), watch them put it in, and demand that they refund ALL your money from the previous oil change as compensation for making you run back and forth.

[The Citrus Smoothie]

I would get the oil changed as soon as possible. Go the Parts Desk at the dealership and get them to order it in first. In case you do not have it to hand, the Part Number should be H0823199951HA for a 1 litre bottle, you need three of these and they should use about 2 and a half litres of it. I would be tempted to stand over them while they change it....

[budomove]

Originally Posted by The Citrus Smoothie

I would be tempted to stand over them while they change it....

x2


frank

[dberns]

Originally Posted by boogetyboogety

And tell them to stay the heck away from your tires, they almost always put 32#s of pressure in all four corners, which will drive your mileage down as surely as if they tied a cinder block to the rear end of the car with a rope and allowed it to drag behind...

Just as a side note regarding tire pressure:

I recently had an independent shop put on my two new Potenzas. I told the tech the pressure was supposed to be 45 PSI.

When they handed me the car back, the tires were all at 38.

I grumbled a bit (gently... they're a good shop) and the actual tire worker came out and said he had looked at the door sticker.

I couldn't really complain after that....

[Space Panda]

Originally Posted by dberns

When they handed me the car back, the tires were all at 38.

I grumbled a bit (gently... they're a good shop) and the actual tire worker came out and said he had looked at the door sticker.

I couldn't really complain after that....

Thank you all for your replies. This has made me quite angry. It is my car and when I pay £200 for a service at an approved Honda dealer, I expect them to use all the Honda recommended parts, including the oil. Saturday morning I rang the dealer and had a bit of a rant. Here are some of the lines I was given;

"The oil type recommended in the manual is just a recommendation"
"10w/40 is good oil and your car will run fine"
"0w/20 is more expensive for not that much difference" - But Honda recommend it and I'd pay for it!
"Honda UK recommend that we use 10w/40 in all Petrol cars that we service"

So this is similar to what dberns says above - Honda UK are not considering the uniqueness of the Insight as part of it's servicing policies and guidance to dealerships - what can we do about this??

As it was Saturday there were no technicians working and so nothing could be done before Monday.

I spoke to another neighbouring Honda dealership who told me that although they are recommended by Honda UK to use 10w/40 in all Petrol cars, they appreciate that the Insight is different and would only use 0w/20. They offered to change the oil for me, but at £55 plus VAT (£65)!

If nothing positive comes from the first dealer, I'll do the oil change myself (give me something to do next weekend) - I'll just use a different dealship from now on. I just have no idea what to do with the old 10w/40 oil I'll drain out.....maybe I'll sell it back to the dealership at the price they charged me for it!

Thanks again!

[red1dr]

Take a look at your owner's manual. It probably says 0-20W. This will give you ammunition in discussing things with the dealer.

Also, it may be more fruitful to move up the chain of command and speak with the general manager of the dealership rather than the service department. I've had problems with dealerships twice over the years and this usually worked better than going round and round with the service department.

One compromise might be for the dealership to agree to replace the oil and filter at no charge with 0-20W that you buy and pay for. And for them to agree to let you watch!!

My local dealership told me that they had Mobil 1 synthetic oil for my Insight, but when I got there it turned out to be 5-30W. They told me that they "could not get" 0-20W synthetic. I popped over to a local auto parts store, bought some Mobil 1 0-20W, brought it back, and they put it in. A bit of a hassle but worth it.

P.S. You should also ask to see a printed version of this Honda UK recommendation that they quote. It might refer to current production petrol Hondas. Since the Insight has been discontinued, it is NOT a current production model.