I'm bringing my 01 CLS in for an oil/filter change (55500 km) Should I go buy some synthetic oil on my own and bring it over to have the dealer use it instead? Or, do dealers offer synthetic oil and can I pay a little extra for it at the dealer?
Thanks!!

 

my acura dealer haev that option but i never trust my dealer, they might just put in reg. oil and charge u extra and claim it was syn oil

 

I buy my own oil and have them do it...I get Mobil 1 5w-30 and a Mobil 1 M1-105 Oversized oil filter

 

how often is the oil change and changing the oil filter?

 

im doin it every 7500mi

 

^^^

 

Spend the $75 you would have on an oil change and buy a jack and some simple tools and do it yourself. I get the Mobil Drive Clean 5W-20 (exact specs from Honda) & use a Mobil-1 filter. I drive mine kinda hard, so I change it every 3750 miles. I use the standard size filter.

 

DIY. 5W-20 oil /w Wix Filter. I use an oil extractor, no mess. Every 7500 miles.

Or save a few bucks, buy your oil and filter, have the dealer do it.

 

It depends... Some dealers put in synthetic oil by default. For instance, Acura of Pleasanton currently uses 5w/20 Quaker State Synthetic Blend for oil changes on my 03 CLS 6MT.

 

isn't there some kind of nut or bolt you have to change or is a pain in the ass to take out, if you change the oil your self though? i heard all hondas/acuras were like that and thats why i haven't changed mine myself yet. is there anything different about changing oil in our car than any other ordinary car, say chevy or ford?

 

Great!
Why does it matter what type of oil you use?
I have a 3.2 '01 CL

 

You have to replace the aluminum washer on the drain plug every time you change the oil. If you dont you'll get a drop or two of oil leak getting past the oil plug. I got 3 washers for free from the dealership awhile ago. Other than that the oil change is the exact same as any other car.

1. Warm up engine slightly (warmer oil is thinner & you will drain more)
2. Jack up front end
3. Remove oil plug & drain oil until it doesnt stream out anymore
4. Remove oil filter (right next to passenger wheel well) & allow to drain
5. Replace oil plug & new filter
6. Fill up 4.6 quarts of your choice in oil. Honda recommends 5W-20.
7. Check for leaks and check oil level after a short idle time.

 

Engine life, protection, and performance.

 

For what it's worth, I work next door to Exxon-Mobil Research where they do long-term engine testing using Mobil 1 products. I asked someone who knows his stuff if it was OK to use the M1-105 oversized filter and he emphatically said I should not--he said stick with the M1-104. Although the M1-105 will bolt up and appears to work fine, I personally will not take the chance after hearing that. Engines are expensive.

 

You can generally find a small gas station or "Quick lube" store that will allow you to bring your own motor oil and filter. On the last change I used Mobil-1 synthetic 5w-30 + the Mobil 104 filter. They actually let me stand next to the car and inspect the underside; they know me and know that I'm not going to hit the lift controls and drop something on them...

If you want to make sure that you are getting YOUR nice oil tossed in, you might want to find a joint where you can at least stare from just outside the work area.


YMMV

 

Interesting...

I purchased a few M1-104s and one M1-105. I was going to toss on the 105 for the larger capacity; I called one of the Mobil lines and they just told me to use the 104.

I believe there is another issue, and I'm not sure of how relevant it is, but it was posted here:

LINK: http://www.acura-cl.com/forums/showt...il#post1899500