Are you not driving an eHev CRV? You should be using a fully synthetic EO.

If I am not wrong, Honda requirement for eHev engine oil is Fully Synthetic (FS) EO. If you use semi syn, you may void the Atkinson engine warranty. (I may be wrong at that). If I am not wrong again, there is no semi at 0W20 in Honda Malaysia. So if you are using semi, you are using at least 5W30 onwards.

Technically besides saving petrol, there is a reason why most hybrids recommended 0W20 for their frequent start stop engine.

IMO, you might have wrong impression that fully syn is meant for high mileage usage only. There are many reason to choose FS even for low mileage users to protect the engine and make it last at tip top conditions over many years. All my cars, new or old are all using FS, even for a lower mileage 3K to 6K mileage change every 6 months. The engine especially its piston tends to maintain its cleanliness, piston performance at tip top conditions even after 1 or 2 decades.

FS tends to resist oxidation & sludge formation at high heat (not only high speed, but for hybrids, our start stop engine runs at high rpm frequently to charge battery unlike petrol version). This is especially important for eHev engine coz it start stop very frequently AND at high load during charging. High loads aka high rpm tends to have sudden heat spikes and FS protect engine much better than semi at that. Our hot but humid weather amplified this effect (oxidation speed at that as well). eHev or all hybrids tends to swing from cold start to high rpm and off again...FS to make a much bigger different on hybrids than NA petrol engine on this aspect.

FS stronger oil film will have less wear on pistons, valves, and bearings. Semi weaker at high loads (high rpm where Atkinson engine always do at start stop to charge battery) will shear down the lubricants much faster on those parts. eHev high load start stop during charging help reduce the wear SIGNIFICANTLY. Most damage of engine actually comes from start stop operation where metal to metal contact risk are way higher.

Semi tends to have more natural impurities from crude oil, so FS tends to be clear right out of the bottle at molecular level.
In eHev, where the engine starts and stops often with high loads to charge the battery, FS oil’s detergents are much better at keeping the internals clean with its stable base and usually better additives.

So even at low mileage of 5K for 6 months, FS perform and protect the engine better even for standard Petrol Engine but especially critical for eHev engine.

That is my 2 cents only, many others might differs in opinion but I am convinced of FS advantage over semi in our Hot and Humid weather that actually fits all severe conditions under maintenance schedule. Hybrid or petrol, it protects and clean better from all aspect that is critical for frequent high load start stop hybrids engine. IMO, savings of semi lower pricing over long terms is not worth it over the full protection that FS can do for the engine especially on long term maintenance. Of course if you use a few years, then sell the car, then it does not matter much...

This post has been edited by Cavino: Aug 22 2025, 12:02 PM

to me even for a low mileage, will go for FS as i focus on the satisfaction during drving. also opting for SS every 6 months doesnt save signification money

Not sure! When i send my car for servicing. There were options in their quotation.

My car so far only clocked 4200 km in 7 months.

1 of my car, mileage 3K++ very 6 month...I still use FS for its long term benefits to the engine protection, durability and performance. 2 other cars, 4K to 7K, change FS.

As mentioned above, advantage of FS over semi is not the mileage only. As a matter of fact, for me, the mileage is at the bottom of the FS benefits. My cars actually change FS at 6 months or 8K mileage max before degradation of the oil (oxidation, addictive start wearing out) to maintain engine tip top condition. There are so many other benefits of using FS over semi for engine long term protection, performance and cleanliness.

You are using eHev, so technically you should be using FS. I think all hybrids be it, honda, toyota, even chinese cars are using FS for hybrids due to the nature of start stop engine cycle at high loads (rpm). So technically, IMO again, FS is a must for hybrids start stop engine especially when it run at high load during cold start in the morning. That is normally the time most damage are done overtime.

So my opinion is for eHEV, please do change back to FS. For turbo FS is a must due to turbo extreme heat that uses engine oil as both lubricant and coolant.

Also options does not mean they are good, they also have option to put additional engine cleaning addictive on 2nd service aka 10K service. That is NOT a good option for a new clean engine.

This post has been edited by Cavino: Aug 22 2025, 01:30 PM

that would mean in 6 months time. i am surprised that the Service agent did not tell me that . I did my in OKR. coz my initial thought was since i need to service every 6 months and mileage is low, no point using FS.

I don't know in this case. If it is me, I waste some dough to change it back to FS ASAP. But that is me coz I am one of those crazy idiots that would pay almost 3K to tint a premium tint on a 17 years old cars...for max comfort and protection of cars...hahaha.

Again I don't know what will this do to hybrids engine if keep for 6 months, maybe nothing but for a car protection and long term performance point of view, I rather pay a couple of hundreds to lessen risk of damage or miniscule damage to engine...it is just a higher risk, not absolute tho. I am also a layman without hands-on exp...that can get things wrong with outdated info.

I am surprise the SA did not recommend FS benefits of hybrids over semi. FS recommendation over the manual is 0W20, especially for eHev. If using semi, it should be 5W30 onwards. Some high speed highway users might switch to 5W30 FS but never heard of one actually downgrade to semi. So I am technically hugely surprise you pop up this question and even using eHev at that.

Also as I mentioned, I am not sure if using SEMI will affect your engine warranty or not coz Honda expect FS for eHev...

This post has been edited by Cavino: Aug 22 2025, 02:37 PM

I have called up HM to ask them to verify with their technical ppl. waiting for their reply.

I never bothered with that until reading your post. Looking at my invoice it says 0W20 SP (4L). Am I screwed or ok?

Haha...I also never bother coz usually its a given thing especially for eHev, automatically use Fully Sync 0W20 by SC unless you insist on 5W30 FS for frequent long distance high speed highway run.

0W20 is the default Fully Syn oil lar by SC for eHev spec. No problem.

This post has been edited by Cavino: Aug 22 2025, 04:34 PM

HM confirmed that semi synthetic oil has got no issue on this 2.0 engine. . It only has to service like 5000km instead of 10000km.

Saw a recent FB post someone opted for 0W30 which was more expensive… why did they do so lol

Assume they are running very constant long distance high speed over 120km/h and above most of the time. So the want engine fluid that can withstand constant higher heat stress.

Actually if always run constant long distance high speed high way run most of time, they should have gotten Turbo version. That one already using 5W30 FS by default.

Like that up to you. Already told you the benefit of FS vs Semi on efficiency, cleanliness, oxidation, etc.
My concern is more towards the start stop engine that recommend 0W20 FS for better fluidity and faster lubrication especially at cold start.

So keep in mind the 0W20 is supposedly more fuel efficient than 5W30 in theory, so the saving of semi might not be much in term of cash direct saving, if at all on top of the FS benefits mentioned.

This post has been edited by Cavino: Aug 29 2025, 09:49 AM

All Honda turbo vehicles default to run 0w20 full synthetic

I guess I am outdated. It seems most car manufacturer defaulted to 0W20 nowadays using the newer SP grade that can withstand higher temp that comes with turbo with better fuel efficiency and faster lubrication.

Like that there is no reason to use xW30 oil for daily drive anymore unless it was used for consistent severe high performance drive.

My old honda's engines still have to use 5W30 FS tho...

Somehow if 0/5w30 good fr L15;1.5T as avoid dilution in engine as the head gasket designed too narrow and also better for older engine like 90k km above .
Also the diff between 0-20 also not much

yes, the 0w20 are the norm nowadays, thanks to more tightened emissions and FC reasons. And in the US, more cars are towards 0w16 Fully syn

just that new info, most foremen at the workshop don't have these ideas, and keep on suggesting 5w40 fully synthetic to most car users.

It's bad 40 too thick for engine components,already not suggested for the 1.5T it's up to 5-30 in manual.
Also damaging is outside foremen like to pour all 4lits oil in it regardless of the manual says usually around 3.4-3.6 liters.
I usually need to reduce it to the amount for them to another bottle,as I changed every 5k km with my 0-20w outside of SC