[ignatius*reilly]

I got curious about this and went through my records. I generally follow the Maintenance Minder display and try to get it before it gets below its 20% "oil life" estimate or so (though once early on I let it get as low as 5% 😬) Anyway, the average interval I'm changing my oil at is about 7K miles, though the last couple times I've done it around 4-5K.

Other interesting tidbit I got off my spreadsheet is that I'm (so far) paying about 8¢/mile for maintenance, including the new set of tires I just got. Car has 53K miles.

 

[Snake Plissken]

Since switching to Amsoil on all my vehicles, doing oil analysis for each one, I have found that only with Amsoil can I safely go to a true 10,000 mile oil change without significant oil breakdown and degradation. So, for me and my family fleet I do 10,000 miles for each vehicle or one year.

 

[sequoiasoon]

Since switching to Amsoil on all my vehicles, doing oil analysis for each one, I have found that only with Amsoil can I safely go to a true 10,000 mile oil change without significant oil breakdown and degradation. So, for me and my family fleet I do 10,000 miles for each vehicle or one year.

How many miles does each one of the family fleet rack up and under what conditions? Good to have the UOA to confirm all is well.

Some things are trade offs like cost of the Amsoil vs something else off the shelf but changed earlier. Time and labor always need to be counted in that.

 

[WhiteOrchid]

Since switching to Amsoil on all my vehicles, doing oil analysis for each one, I have found that only with Amsoil can I safely go to a true 10,000 mile oil change without significant oil breakdown and degradation. So, for me and my family fleet I do 10,000 miles for each vehicle or one year.

Are you submitting your oil for oil analysis or are you just taking someone else's word for it that the oil is going that long without breakdown?

 

[sequoiasoon]

@Snake Plissken - It's always a hotly debated topic anyway and all have recommendations and complaints for each brand/version/viscosity. Which version of the Amsoil are you using (Signature Series, Extended Life, OE, European)? Is it the same version and viscosity in each of the fleet? What is the cost of the oil for each of them for the 10k/1yr? Which filters are you using with them? Which lab for the UOA's?

I just sent samples not long ago from my Pilot to Blackstone and Oil Analyzers. Most wear metals were close but the fuel dilution #'s from Blackstone were much lower. Many on line say not use them if you want accurate FD #'s.

I always have my own internal dilema's and eye twitches thinking when to do it next with which oil and filter. For my short trippers, I'd rather get a good off the shelf oil from WM in a higher grade and change earlier to get the fuel out. My Accord I could probably do longer than I am but I haven't sent any samples in. As it gets to about 5k, currently it's using about 1.5-2qts along the way. That's with new PCV, cleaning oils, flushes etc. Pretty consistent and partially due to my driving style.

Some of the other boutique oils may last even longer for you and possibly be less expensive in a $/mile ratio. With the different Euro ratings some of the OTS Euro versions may also perform for at least that because they had to get the certifications. Only way to know of course is to test each one in your vehicle and that's gets expensive quickly. I know for me, getting good oil on sale with filter is less than a test to say I can go longer. I think Blackstone is $40 now for a test. I got Mobil 1 Hybrid 0W-20 on sale for less than $2/qt. It says it's good for 15k miles "guaranteed". So for me changing at 7500 miles to be "safe" if I wanted is only $15 including a Premium Guard EX filter.

I don't know the member discounts but Amsoil SS on website shows $15.49/qt so about $75 with filter for my Accord to get 10k/1 year. Amsoil says up to 25k OR 1 year.

 

[bamm]

@Snake Plissken - It's always a hotly debated topic anyway and all have recommendations and complaints for each brand/version/viscosity. Which version of the Amsoil are you using (Signature Series, Extended Life, OE, European)? Is it the same version and viscosity in each of the fleet? What is the cost of the oil for each of them for the 10k/1yr? Which filters are you using with them? Which lab for the UOA's?

I just sent samples not long ago from my Pilot to Blackstone and Oil Analyzers. Most wear metals were close but the fuel dilution #'s from Blackstone were much lower. Many on line say not use them if you want accurate FD #'s.

I always have my own internal dilema's and eye twitches thinking when to do it next with which oil and filter. For my short trippers, I'd rather get a good off the shelf oil from WM in a higher grade and change earlier to get the fuel out. My Accord I could probably do longer than I am but I haven't sent any samples in. As it gets to about 5k, currently it's using about 1.5-2qts along the way. That's with new PCV, cleaning oils, flushes etc. Pretty consistent and partially due to my driving style.

Some of the other boutique oils may last even longer for you and possibly be less expensive in a $/mile ratio. With the different Euro ratings some of the OTS Euro versions may also perform for at least that because they had to get the certifications. Only way to know of course is to test each one in your vehicle and that's gets expensive quickly. I know for me, getting good oil on sale with filter is less than a test to say I can go longer. I think Blackstone is $40 now for a test. I got Mobil 1 Hybrid 0W-20 on sale for less than $2/qt. It says it's good for 15k miles "guaranteed". So for me changing at 7500 miles to be "safe" if I wanted is only $15 including a Premium Guard EX filter.

I don't know the member discounts but Amsoil SS on website shows $15.49/qt so about $75 with filter for my Accord to get 10k/1 year. Amsoil says up to 25k OR 1 year.

Never knew Blackstone was suspect on fuel dilution but on my HRV that only goes 4,000 a year change it once every year or less if I remember to. I buy the synthetic WM filters that are good for like 20,000 and the Costco (Warren) oil for both cars. Scared of the fuel dilution 20X more than going long on the Accord oil changes at 9,000. If its more than three months and 7,000 it gets changed. I use Blackstone and the last one they recommended going past the 8,000 on the sample.

 

[sequoiasoon]

Never knew Blackstone was suspect on fuel dilution but on my HRV that only goes 4,000 a year change it once every year or less if I remember to. I buy the synthetic WM filters that are good for like 20,000 and the Costco (Warren) oil for both cars. Scared of the fuel dilution 20X more than going long on the Accord oil changes at 9,000. If its more than three months and 7,000 it gets changed. I use Blackstone and the last one they recommended going past the 8,000 on the sample.

Here is link to BITOG where I posted the results from both. I used Blackstone for many years and didn't have concerns. I also didn't know that their FD testing was off as compared to others, I had always done it just as my own reference for wear and what I could do if needed and life got in the way of my regular OCI. That was also before I had multiple direct injection motors.

If I'm going to spend the money, I'd rather get the information to what I feel is more correct.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/t...ackstone-vs-oil-analyzers-pp-euro-l-5w-30-5175-miles-19-pilot-67k-miles.392379/

Another member on there also did that with 3 different labs.

 

[bamm]

Here is link to BITOG where I posted the results from both. I used Blackstone for many years and didn't have concerns. I also didn't know that their FD testing was off as compared to others, I had always done it just as my own reference for wear and what I could do if needed and life got in the way of my regular OCI. That was also before I had multiple direct injection motors.

If I'm going to spend the money, I'd rather get the information to what I feel is more correct.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/t...ackstone-vs-oil-analyzers-pp-euro-l-5w-30-5175-miles-19-pilot-67k-miles.392379/

Another member on there also did that with 3 different labs.

Based on this, thinking may just change the low use HRV to 6 month changes and buy the cheaper synthetic filter . The HRV has a transmission issue that is from Honda, they gave everyone a free 150,000 7 year warrrenty , but mine is timed out(over 7 years). Most everyone who has the HRV trans go out is drivng in hilly places so keeping mine in S. Florida only and millage low. Has the 9th gen accord had much fuel dillution issues?. My accord may go thru 1/2 to a quart in 7,000 miles(knock on wood).

 

[sequoiasoon]

I haven’t done a UOA on the Accord yet. It is my DD and gets a 22 mile drive to work and 22 back 5x week. Mix of local and highway. Oil stays clean for a while after change, no real darkening. I check oil each fill up on all my cars, old habits. If it gets 1/4-1/2 quart from top, I add to keep full. As I get to 1 1/2-2 quarts it’s about 5k miles so I can keep topping or just change it.

Pics from filters of other vehicles I have that do have fuel dilution show the oil creating more clean areas on residue if that makes sense. Less film thickness/cling. Accord does not do that.

I bought it used with 49k so unknown history prior. It has 116k now. PCV has been changed 2x since I had it. Mobil 1 and Pennzoil platinum have been oils since I got it until this fill. Last couple changes have 1qt of HPL PCMO 5w-30 in place of whichever oil is in it. BG EPR, HPL EC30, BG 44k, Gumout multi system all used along the way. Oils have been 0w-20, 0w-40, 5w-30 and current new fill is 5W-40 Delo XSP. All of the previous have used at same rate. I’m also 6MT and it does get revved, like all my previous vehicles and they also used some.

 

[sequoiasoon]

My future daughter in law has a very short trip Tucson that you could actually see the oil level rise on the dipstick from dilution on factory 6k/1 year MM. I changed that to 3k/6months now and that is much better. I use full syn versions and a factory filter. I still need to get a new UOA on that maybe next time.

 

[Mathrules]

2017 Accord 2.4 and 2018 CRV 2.4: I change the oil with 0W20 full synthetic every 5k, like clockwork. Bosch filer every time, sometimes Mobil 1, sometimes cheaper oil. MM usually shows 30-40% at this point, so I reset it to 100%. Zero consumption and zero issues. I also upgraded the plugs to NGK Iridium at 60k.

 

[sequoiasoon]

2017 Accord 2.4 and 2018 CRV 2.4: I change the oil with 0W20 full synthetic every 5k, like clockwork. Bosch filer every time, sometimes Mobil 1, sometimes cheaper oil. MM usually shows 30-40% at this point, so I reset it to 100%. Zero consumption and zero issues. I also upgraded the plugs to NGK Iridium at 60k.

Watch on that and check other schedules if you can find them. Other things are tied to maintenance minders, not sure with Accord or different trims. If you reset the MM early you may miss the flags for other services (transmission, brake fluid, filters) etc.

 

[Mathrules]

MM seems to "catch" all the other things - trans fluid, tire rotation, air filter, rear diff (on CR-V) all show up as sub-items. Resetting oil life does not reset these if they are not due.

 

[NigelStewart]

There really is no exact mileage number that you need to go to before you should change the oil. Your very first oil change should be made at 15-10% of oil life. The maintenance minder will notify you when you reach 15%. There's a good section in the manual n page 493 that shows the estimated oil life chart. The computer calculates engine oil life from your driving habits, so oil is not consumed needlessly. That's why there's no exact mileage timing. You're more than free to change the oil every 500 miles, once you fully break in your your engine with the original "break-in" oil.
Apart from that stuff, you should make a habit of checking your engine oil. If your oil level is down, don't top it off. This causes a prolonged oil life, which means you will be using contaminated oil in your engine for longer times. If you see the oil low, drive somewhere to get your oil changed, or do it yourself.

Lots of good comedy in that post...

 

[highvoltage]

Lots of good comedy in that post...

Unfortunately, he's not around to amuse us anymore.