sudden decision but My friend is going on a small trip with his gf's 04 TSX 5AT.
has 45K miles, city driven. the car says it has 30% oil left, he will be doing about 1400 miles total.
Is it okay to make the trip without oil change?

 

With the way I drive I get at least 600 miles per each 10% oil life. My oil life is now at 30% also. I am traveling from NC to NJ and back next week. Total mileage about 1,350. Not worried about getting the oil changed until I get home. My 06 6MT has almost 55,000 miles.

 

Just change it . its less than the cost of a tank of gas. lol

 

2004 TSXs do not have an oil life monitor - OLMs first appeared in '06. So what do you really mean?

 

I wouldn't.

"City driven." That's all I need to hear. Get the oil changed before the trip. Use dino oil (good quality), then change it promptly after the trip (i.e., don't leave it in much past 5,000 miles).

I seem to recall the 2004 OM suggested oil changes every 10,000 and filter change every 20,000 . Pish-posh. Change both every 4000-6000[1] miles IMPO. I use Mobile full synth (which I provide to the shop myself after I get it cheap-cheap at Costco). Ought to run like a top with good preventative maintenance.

[1] As a benchmark, I just changed my oil. My 2006, doing about 70% highway driving, went to 0% oil life after 6500 miles on the previous change.

 

I have a 06 5AT and I use Mobil 1 5w-30 and the most I've gone over was about 800 over the MID schedule (out of town vacation). I felt alright about going over because it was Mobil 1 oil. I thought I would be back in town and not be over the MID oil change schedule, but I ended up taking a few more detours on vacation and went way over. There is a good chance there might be more that 1400 miles for the total trip and the TSX reminds you constantly to "change me!" unless you reset the MID.

A $25-$35 oil change can give you piece of mind for the trip, if you take it to a dealership or shop (fresh oil, clean oil filter, check air filter, check tire pressure, CHECK THE SPARE TIRE!, check radiator level, check other fluids, etc...). An oil change and tire pressure checks might even get you an extra 1-2 mpg average extra over +1400 miles.

 

You only need to change it when it reaches 0%. 0% means it is time to change. It does not mean you have insufficient oil. Your friend's engine isn't going to pack up and explode as soon as it reaches 0%.

 

Have been on two 6,000+mile road trips in my 06 6MT tsx. I get the oil changed, tires rotated and balance and have the car checked out before the trip. On our latest trip from NC to CA and back, we stopped at Sharp Honda in Topeka, KS on our way back home to get the oil changed. They checked over the car and complimented me on how well the car was maintained. That was on May 19th. (49,565 miles). I did not change the oil when I arrived home. The oil life as of today is 20%.

 

You should be fine without the change.