[MagikDraggin]

My '09 Accord coupe has just turned 1000miles on the Od.

I am planning a road trip to the West coast and back, about 3k additional miles total.

The dealer says I don't need to be changing the OEM oil until 3000 miles.

Would it be ok to wait until I get back to change it (since it will be mostly highway miles), or do it now before I leave? Surely the motor is pretty well "broke in" by now, isn't it?

 

[portablecow]

Even 3000 miles is too soon. Most dealers say 3000 miles still because they rely on the customer's lack of knowledge (or stubbornness) to get extra money out of you...

Anyway, by changing so soon your only wasting money and oil. With most modern cars, oil changes can now be made at much longer intervals, the 3000 mile thing simply does not apply. I say follow the oil life that your car gives you in the odometer screen. It will also notify you when an oil change is needed.

 

[Kiribati]

I changed at 5000 and nothing is wrong. Some advise the
break-in period to be 100 miles, others say 600, others
even say 1000, so I'm not too sure about that.

I would just follow the MM on the car and change according to that.

 

[MagikDraggin]

I changed at 5000 and nothing is wrong. Some advise the
break-in period to be 100 miles, others say 600, others
even say 1000, so I'm not too sure about that.

I would just follow the MM on the car and change according to that.

Maybe I wasn't clear in my wording. It's not the recommended oil change period I am questioning...but rather what I am saying is that the Accord still has the OEM break-in oil in it, and the odometer just now turned over 1000 miles.

Since I am planning on a 3-4k road trip, I am wondering if I should change the oil now before I leave, or leave the "break-in" oil in there and change it when I get back?

Or to put it another way, other than the potential for "wasting oil" by changing it prematurely, is there any risk of doing damage to the motor by changing out the "break-in" oil now, when it's only got a thousand miles on it?

I was considering installing synthetic (like Mobile 1) whenever the "normal" oil change time would have been due. But since I am leaving next week, I am wondering what I should do.

 

[superballz00]

You should be able to run the original oil for well over 5k miles if you do a lot of hwy driving. My 09 is almost at 5k and oil life just hit 60%.

 

[SD70MAC]

Maybe I wasn't clear in my wording. It's not the recommended oil change period I am questioning...but rather what I am saying is that the Accord still has the OEM break-in oil in it, and the odometer just now turned over 1000 miles.

Change your oil when the maintenence minder tells you to, even on the initial oil change. Honda factory fill has higher levels of moly in it then regualr oil.(which helps with engine break-in) Honda also reccomends you leave this in until the MM tells you to change it. It's all in the owners manual.

 

[Mochimellow]

I think the manual says the break in period is 600 miles. I can't remember the exact number but you can go from 5000 to 7000 miles between oil changes. It depends on your driving habit.

 

[SD70MAC]

I think the manual says the break in period is 600 miles.

break-in period (seating the piston rings) meaning not doing stuff like: not revving the car, not dumping the clutch, not braking too hard, and so on and so forth.

 

[superballz00]

break-in period (seating the piston rings) meaning not doing stuff like: not revving the car, not dumping the clutch, not braking too hard, and so on and so forth.

There are different methods to seating the piston rings. You can do it in a series of revs going all the way up to redline.

 

[Ibanez540r]

Just hit 15% on the MM and did my first oil change at 6700 miles

 

[eckseleven]

I made it to 8500 miles on the first oil. Honda recommends keeping the original oil in until the MM says 15%.

 

[Dreamacre]

Keep the OEM oil in it and take your trip. As usual, the dealer is looking out for them, not you!

I do NOT trust the dealer which is a sad statement.

 

[portablecow]

the Accord still has the OEM break-in oil in it, and the odometer just now turned over 1000 miles.

The "break-in" oil?????? Someone definitely fed you some BS.

 

[Dreamacre]

The "break-in" oil?????? Someone definitely fed you some BS.

No BS.

The car comes with special additives in the oil to help with the break in period. This is why you should not change it too early.

 

[Mechanic]

This is from the Honda's Owner's Link page:

"Why should I wait to change the oil the first time?

"Your Honda engine was delivered with an oil that is specially formulated for new engines that have not yet developed their "natural" wear patterns and may contain minute particles from the manufacturing process.

"American Honda strongly recommends this special oilbe left in the engine long enough for these wear patterns to develop, usually until the first maintenance interval specified in your Owner's Manual, based on your specific driving conditions." (Emphasis added.)

And, from page P. 260 of the Owner's Manual under "Break-in Period":

"Do not change the oil until the scheduled maintenance time."

So, putting these two facts together, were I you, I'd leave the original factory fill -- formulated with ZDDP to prevent premature camshaft wear, among other things -- unchanged until at least 5k miles or the Engine Oil Life Display (see p. 307 et seq in your owner's manual) indicates the oil should be changed. You also might want to register at Honda Owner's Link website. It has useful information, and you can schedule maintenance with any Honda dealer directly through the site. Pretty handy.

 

[NoRegrets78]

There have been numerous tests that have shown the moly count on Honda's factory fill is in fact higher than the normal run of the mill oil that you used to change it with.

Just follow the book, the engineers know better than a bunch of weekend mechanics on a car forum.

 

[MagikDraggin]

There have been numerous tests that have shown the moly count on Honda's factory fill is in fact higher than the normal run of the mill oil that you used to change it with.

Just follow the book, the engineers know better than a bunch of weekend mechanics on a car forum.

So be it then, the OEM oil stays in. I didn't know about the special formulation that the factory uses during the break-in period.

I realize it was probably a silly question, but my philosophy is, when it doubt, ASK. Thanks guys for all ur help.

 

[eoanou]

My dealer recommended that I change the oil at 5000mi intervals, but the MM on the dash had me at 40% oil life at 5000mi, soI changed my oil at roughly 7500mi.

It was aforementioned that the Honda factory oil has a larger than normal quantity of the Moly mineral in the oil, this is true, it helps the motor seat the piston rings properly. It also will cause the oil to look a little darker in color, a pale black color, so do not be falsely mistaken that the oil is broken down or dirty.

Generally the oil should last at least 5000mi, and that's if you really push the car.

 

[08accordv6]

My '09 Accord coupe has just turned 1000miles on the Od.

I am planning a road trip to the West coast and back, about 3k additional miles total.

The dealer says I don't need to be changing the OEM oil until 3000 miles.

Would it be ok to wait until I get back to change it (since it will be mostly highway miles), or do it now before I leave? Surely the motor is pretty well "broke in" by now, isn't it?

dont you guys get 5 yrs of free oil change??
i got free oil changes when i bought my 08 accord and my 09 civic

 

[superballz00]

dont you guys get 5 yrs of free oil change??
i got free oil changes when i bought my 08 accord and my 09 civic

Dealer add on. How much did you pay for your car with 5yrs of free oil change?