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Car Forum / Honda Cars / April 2008Oil change interval
Took my '07 Accord V6 back to the selling dealer for its first oil change. I bought the car just over 11 months ago, the maintenance minder showed 5% oil life left with 6570 miles on the odometer-- I don't drive much... The service writer starting chewing my a.s for going beyond 6 months for the oil change. I showed him the Owner's Manual where it says to change the oil the first time at one year if the oil life minder didn't call for a change yet. I also mentioned that I had been concerned about going so long on the oil and had called American Honda around 6 months ago and they said to leave that first oil in there until the minder said to change it or a year was up. So what's what? > Took my '07 Accord V6 back to the selling dealer for its first oil change. I > bought the car just over 11 months ago, the maintenance minder showed 5% oil [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > So what's what? Go by the book, just like you did. Remember, the service writer is ON COMMISSION. If he can scare you into spending MORE MONEY, then HE GETS PAID MORE. So, his behavior every time will be to try to scare you into spending more money. Your behavior every time will be to ignore him. If he gets too annoying, tell him to shut the hell up. Then, while they're changing your oil, go find both the service manager and the general manager and tell them the same thing. You got one of those service writer/service technician boobs who either (1) is not staying up to date on Honda technology; (2) is trying to sell you things your car does not need; or (3) likes to act like he knows the truth when he's actually guessing; or (4) a combination of the latter. These guys have a lot of good experience to offer, but they can still be off the mark. At least he's not telling you to change the oil every 3000 miles. This represents improvement. You are reading the manual correctly. This one-year interval or when the MM light comes on, whichever is first, has come up here in the recent past. > Took my '07 Accord V6 back to the selling dealer for its > first oil change. I bought the car just over 11 months [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > So what's what? > Took my '07 Accord V6 back to the selling dealer for its first oil change. I > bought the car just over 11 months ago, the maintenance minder showed 5% oil [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > So what's what? "Elmo" is generally correct although you may not want to be quite so confrontational if you plan to use this place for service in the future. However, the Service Writer may not be as dumb as he appears. Did you ask him what kind of oil they were putting into your car? You may not want that stuff in there for more than 6 months. I still do my own oil changes just so I know what's in the engine. Once/year oil change is probably fine for as little driving as you do if you use a top quality motor oil and filter; assuming that whenever you use the car you drive it long enough (15-20 min) that it fully warms up (expels all the water/water vapor). Maintenance minders: these nifty devices purport to tell you all you need to know. Of course, these same minders are used by the various new car rating organizations to calculate maintenance costs. So it is in the manufacturer's self interest to go as long as possible between services to show low maintenance costs. How long do you want to own your car? Ask Tegger, whose Honda product now has over 300,000 miles, how long he goes between oil changes. I have no such high mileage aspirations and my 200,000 mile cars seem fine with 7500 oil change intervals using Mobil 1 synthetic. YMMV >> Took my '07 Accord V6 back to the selling dealer for its first oil >> change. I [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > > YMMV Thanks to everyone for all the info. I did ask the service writer droid about the oil and he said they use Honda brand 5W-20-- and I do avoid short trips so the car is usually fully warmed up. I always used to do my own oil changes for the same reason you do. But the aging bod has increasing trouble getting down that low and crawling into the diminishing amount of clearance cars seem to have these days...not to mention finding and reaching the oil filter. I think I may need to start doing my own again though... > I always used to do my own oil changes for the same reason > you do. But the aging bod has increasing trouble getting > down that low and crawling into the diminishing amount of > clearance cars seem to have these days...not to mention > finding and reaching the oil filter. I think I may need to > start doing my own again though... Rhino ramps: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000AMMN9O/ref=dp_olp_2 Around $35 at Pep Boys, Autozone, and Wal-Mart. >> I always used to do my own oil changes for the same reason you do. But >> the aging bod has increasing trouble getting down that low and crawling [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Around $35 at Pep Boys, Autozone, and Wal-Mart. Interesting product-- but then the car is inclined towards the rear. Wouldn't that prevent all the old oil from draining out? > "Elle" <honda.lioness@spamnocox.net> wrote >>> I always used to do my own oil changes for the same [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > the rear. Wouldn't that prevent all the old oil from > draining out? The oil pan has a deep, cupped area at the bottom (where the drain bolt is) that is designed to ensure the oil is going to drain and drain well, practically regardless of tilt. I know this only because I had the oil pan off a few years ago and replaced the oil pan gasket. I have been using ramps (first steel ones; then rhino ramps) for over a decade with my 91 Civic. I have done at least two oil changes a year since 1991. I love my rhino ramps. > The oil pan has a deep, cupped area at the bottom (where > the drain bolt is) that is designed to ensure the oil is [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > least two oil changes a year since 1991. I love my rhino > ramps. An Ebayer currently has a photo that helps show this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-Civic-92-95-Oil-Pan_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcateg oryZ38657QQihZ013QQitemZ230242519263QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW#ebayphotohosting OK I admit the quality of oil is better than it was decades ago but surely the issue is (at least in the UK- cost per mile over 3 years / 60k miles for a typical "company car" versurs the private owner who probably If they want a car lasting 250k miles change the oil quite often?) without clouds of blie smoke/ want an engine that does NOT drink OIL > Thanks to everyone for all the info. I did ask the service writer droid > about the oil and he said they use Honda brand 5W-20-- and I do avoid short [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > mention finding and reaching the oil filter. I think I may need to start > doing my own again though... This reminds me of when I experimented with an oil change some time ago now. It was the synthetic product option that claims to have and oil change interval of 12,000 kms or 6 months, (sorry - Americans:-) I had it changed and analyzed at about 13,200 kms and seven months. The results came back that it was still good but had a viscosity of 8W-30, started out as 5W-30. Needless to say it was not cost effective but wanted prove to myself that it could be done. I have yet to try that with the 40,000 kms or 12 month option. Your oil may actually be good up to 12,000 miles. No kidding. Honda and GM brought an excellent technology to measure oil life in cars for the masses. Instead of dumb simple counters, they rely "on sensors that measure oil temperature extremes and engine revolutions over time to calculate oil life and tell drivers when to get the lubricant changed. Oil can lose its lubricating properties if it runs at too low or too high of a temperature." http://www.autonews24h.com/Driving/1660.html But looks like the system could have told you the time interval as well (VWs do) so you can show that to the ignorant service writer. > Took my '07 Accord V6 back to the selling dealer for its first oil change. I > bought the car just over 11 months ago, the maintenance minder showed 5% oil [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > So what's what? |
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