[BLCKFLSH]

My owner's manual says 3,750 miles (severe) and 7,500 miles (normal). The owner's manual also says that you can use synthetic oil, but NOT TO EXTEND THE INTERVAL. I do a lot of short trips, and change it at 5,000 miles. I use synthetic, because I think it's better oil, not to extend the change interval.

Using a synthetic oil does not mean you can extend the change interval.

 

[1-Old-Man]

First off let me tell you all that I have never bothered to look at the manual to see what oil change interval Honda recommends. I have another way, a much better way to my way of thinking, of determining what my oil change interval should be. I have my oil tested. I use Blackstone Labs and about half of the time I change oil I take a sameple and send it in.

Now, as it turns out they changed the oil and filter in my Honda before I bought it so I haven't done a test on its oil yet, but I have done several in a row on my old (gave it to my son) Acura, with the 3.2L V-6, J30 Engine. I used Mobile-1, full synthetic, High Milage formulation in that car exclusively. I was changing it at 5,000 mile intervals but on the last change I let it go to 10,000 miles. Blackstone had something to say about that. My last report came back with excessive levels of both iron and aluminum in the oil, also a lingering problem with sodium which we've been watching for quite a while and appears to be a leak of coolent, very very slow. In the end they told me to back it down to 8,000 miles and all should be well.

That was based on my typical driving. If you do oil tests, and you have to do it more than once, you too can build a history and get real information that is of value in making the decision on your change interval. And what is the alternative? Well, you could take the advice of someone who lives a thousand miles away from you, had entirely different driving habits, and uses different products in their car than you do - yeah, that would be a great idea, wouldn't it?

Blackstone labs: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

 

[RinconVTR]

I have done UOA's on all my Honda's since 2004.

V6's should never go beyond 7500. 5-6k is good and often thats actually what the MM's will deem time to change also.

i4's can easily go 10k on ANY oil if its mostly highway miles, but as a standard in my 04 I let the 7-7500 mile idiot light be my reminder.

FYI - There is ZERO difference in UOA's between Dino and Synthetic. Not only have I learned this as a fact with my own paid for UOA's, but also Blackstone makes the same statement on their own web page.

That said, I do on occasion run Synthetic, but never 100%. I will mix the same brand name, 3qt Dino and 2 qts Synthetic. There is no issue doing so, and all the OEM's will verify if you look. Not to mention...again...I've done plenty of UOA's.

 

[BLCKFLSH]

What do you guys know about this lab, that you trust whatever they say about your used oil? They could be throwing your sample in the trash, and sending you one of their many fake analysis reports. I will change the oil in my J30 every 5,000 miles, and take my chances with that.

 

[1-Old-Man]

What do you guys know about this lab, that you trust whatever they say about your used oil? They could be throwing your sample in the trash, and sending you one of their many fake analysis reports. I will change the oil in my J30 every 5,000 miles, and take my chances with that.

This has to be the silliest responses to a posting I've ever seen related to engine oil changes. You besmirch a company you very clearly know absolutely nothing about Yea, they are a bunch of charlatans, just scheming to commit fraud on an interstate level and do it for a couple of decades. Get a life, everyone is not a thief, everyone is not out to screw you.

 

[BLCKFLSH]

This has to be the silliest responses to a posting I've ever seen related to engine oil changes. You besmirch a company you very clearly know absolutely nothing about Yea, they are a bunch of charlatans, just scheming to commit fraud on an interstate level and do it for a couple of decades. Get a life, everyone is not a thief, everyone is not out to screw you.

Who knows? They could be receiving way more samples than they can possibly test. With all the advertisers I see on these forums, they must be raking it in. And for what? Have any of you avoided disaster, because the lab sent you an alarming report? There are many so called "reputable companies" out there, that are giving customers nothing for their money. Or selling them information they don't need, or can't use. If you like spending money for what will probably amount to nothing useful, go right ahead.

 

[Drew03Accord]

Who knows? They could be receiving way more samples than they can possibly test. With all the advertisers I see on these forums, they must be raking it in. And for what? Have any of you avoided disaster, because the lab sent you an alarming report? There are many so called "reputable companies" out there, that are giving customers nothing for their money. Or selling them information they don't need, or can't use. If you like spending money for what will probably amount to nothing useful, go right ahead.

C'mon, man. Maybe you need to spend a little time over at www.bobistheoilguy.com.

 

[BLCKFLSH]

C'mon, man. Maybe you need to spend a little time over at www.bobistheoilguy.com.

More information I don't need? Are these engines failing because of oil related issues? You would swear they are dropping like flies, the way you guys obsess over oil.

 

[dynomax]

What type of oil did they put in, regular or synthetic?

For regular, 5,000-6,000 is fine. My maintenance minder goes off between 5K and 6K. Synthetic can easily do 7,500 or more.

Have I got some odd-ball car? My maintenance minder starts flashing a few times at startup around 9000mi, then it flashes a few times and stays on solid I think, the only time I let it go that long was before I figured out what it was and how to reset it.

 

[dynomax]

Every oil change, of course. Why wouldn't you?

Because honda says every other oil change (Every 20,000mi or 32,000kms).

Again, do I have some odd-ball car here?

 

[gwiffer]

I definitely wouldn't leave an oil filter in that long. OEM Honda filters are tiny.

Although fluid/oil technology has advanced since the time of the 3mo/3000mi oil/filter change, I believe a lot of recommended maintenance intervals are the result of manufacturers trying to create vehicles that are more "appliance-like."

 

[RTexasF]

To answer the question.....unless your car has an oil life monitor, the only way to find the perfect interval is to send oil samples to a lab multiple times to establish a trend. Once that is established, and using the same oil every time, then you can know positively when to change it. Other than that. 5,000 miles is a safe interval regardless of the oil type. That's assuming it meets all current standards of course.

 

[Aarmin]

I'm approaching 9,000 miles (not planned) since my last oil change :naughty:

I usually run around 5,000/7,000 miles; synthetic oil since the day I bought it.

Will be running this oil change through an oil analyst, should be interesting.

 

[Drew03Accord]

My owner's manual says 3,750 miles (severe) and 7,500 miles (normal). The owner's manual also says that you can use synthetic oil, but NOT TO EXTEND THE INTERVAL. I do a lot of short trips, and change it at 5,000 miles. I use synthetic, because I think it's better oil, not to extend the change interval.

Using a synthetic oil does not mean you can extend the change interval.

Decided to revive this old thread after reading an article which led me to Toyota.com. I don't have an owner's manual but can you/anyone post the part where it says to not extend the interval? See what it said on the Toyoyta.com below... of course, since Honda's limit is 10K to begin with, that might be why they say not to extend.

" More Miles Between Oil Changes
With synthetic oil, most Toyota models can extend their oil change interval from 5000 miles to 10,000 miles. You’ll save money with fewer oil changes."


http://www.toyota.com/owners/web/pages/resources/maintenance/synthetic-motor-oil

The original article I was reading regarding OCI.

http://local.dexknows.com/engine-oil-changes-every-3000-miles-or-not/

Now please, I'm not telling anyone to extend OIC beyond 10K if running synthetic, just satisfying my curiosity.

 

[2tango2]

10K changes for my 03 I4 per Honda and a filter change at 20K. I agree, seems excessive mileage between filter changes however a lot of folks have their cars serviced only by dealer and not seeing to many reports of engines croaking. That being said, I do my own changes and I'll be changing the filter out each change.

I've used Blackstone for years for UOA's good group of people and good to see how you engine is doing.

 

[Aarmin]

lol... I wonder how many people take better care of their cars than themselves?

 

[2tango2]

lol... I wonder how many people take better care of their cars than themselves?

Quite a few I bet lol

 

[SJD]

Damn i change mine every 3k both oil and filter - full synthetic.

 

[G26]

Damn i change mine every 3k both oil and filter - full synthetic.

Dam that's a huge waste of time and money and oil. Even Dino oil can go for 5000+miles these days.

 

[Arkainzeye]

whats your driving conditions like? what i mean is. if i drove ALL high way and you drove all stop n go city, i would tell you to get your oil changed sooner. going by mileage alone is not enough. This is why in alot of cars owners manuals you will see serve and normal conditions listed..