I was told to use synthetic oil only in my 2006 honda accord. Then read owner manual and it says 5W20. Is that the same thing? Are there different kinds of 5w20?

Now I am really confused. Dealer trying to sell me service plan. Says I have to pay more for the plan due to my 2006 honda accord using synthetic oil only. But owner manual says 5w20. Car has 160, 000 miles. I guess I'm trying to find out if he is just trying to make money on me, or is there a reason I should use synthetic.

That's just it...... I have no idea what type of oil has been used thus far.......just bought the car. 4th owner. If synthetic was used in past, will it hurt anything to go back to regular 5w20?

Ignore the dealer! Just use the recommended oil, or if you have no oil leaks anywhere on the engine and want to pay the extra money for synthetic then go ahead. The dealer is just looking to rape your wallet as usual.

5w20 is the weight of the oil. They make "regular" 5w20 and synthetic 5w20. Synthetic(man made) oil is jst more expensive and supposedly better quality oil. The newer model hondas all recommend synthetic oil, but my girlfriend went and got a $20 regular oil change in her 08Honda accord that recommends synthetic as well n nothing has happened. Let me mind u that they say not to switch from synthetic to regular but she did n so far so good!!