wise2k

I have been changing my oil at Sam Swope Honda dealer ($24.95 vs 39.95 at Acura at Oxmoor dealer) and their reminder sticker is for 5000 because they claim they add a friction reducing additive. Should I be going back every 5000 miles or just stick to 3000 miles regardless?

Bob_F

Unless you're driving in extreme conditions, even the 5,000 mile interval is overkill. I change my oil at Acura's recommended interval of 7,500 miles.

The need to change oil every 3,000 miles is one of the biggest automotive care myths out there.

01tl4tl

old school crappy oil was 3k back in 1970~~
Modern engines and additives in the oil make 7500 no sweat unless you drive in severe conditions like stop and go traffic 100 miles each day
Its odd a dealer would use anything extra in the oil as Acura/Honda says not to right in the owner book
Never believe anything said by Service Dept personnel-
I would not use that shop again, and do you own oil changes.

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Couldn't have said it better.

theGr8babu

Would the friction reducing additive be...motor oil?

Gfaze

2K3_TLs

never again will i take my car to a Honda dealer...

last time i did, they used an oil filter that wasn't able to be taken off with an oil filter wrench because it was WAY too small. Eventually, Mike took a screwdriver to it and punctured it and twisted it that way.


sometimes i wonder about them Honda dealers

lilpimpinBT

Do what you think. Myself i Do change in between 4000 - 5500 I try not to go over 6000 Just because changing your oil is one thing that you can do to help the lifetime of your engine.

TLover8888

nowadays, its more about the filter than the oil. you could go longer than 7500 with the kinds of oil on the market today...you just have to find a good filter.

fsttyms1

You guys and your filters

fahoumh

What constitutes "extreme" conditions? I put about 3700 miles every 6 months and have been changing the oil at those intervals. That's about 20 miles per day, except the last month where it's been more like 5 or 10. Are these "extreme" conditions?

EDIT: sorry for the n00b question...it's just that I've always been confused about this.

01tl4tl

I laugh at the oil lifespan myth
Look at results of labs test and most of the samples are near the end of their life around 8000, with a little life left still= safety margin.
They say right on their bottle 7500 miles- so why would they engineer it to last much past that?
Its business logic plain and simple.
3 or 5 k change interval benefit$ the dealer and no one else.
5k changes are not going to improve the life of the engine.
Are you planning on driving you car more than 300,000 miles?

01tl4tl

yes- small miles driven per day are really hard on the oil as it never gets hot enough to burn of the moisture that is attracts into itself.
30 minutes on the freeway cruise once a week is recommended to keep your TL in best shape.
Here is the owner book link, click your year and model for complete free owner operating handbook. Many tips contained there, and a description of what means what
https://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/...01_OMANUAL.asp

fahoumh

The owner's manual is a little strange in that it says all Canadians should follow the "severe" service schedule and Americans get to make a choice between the two schedules when you have places like where I live where the conditions are no worse than that of a lot of northern US states like MI, IL, and NY.

Keanu's mrs. T

I personally believe in the service at our local honda dealer, they may not be the best but they certainly have honda materials that I like for our car . Perhaps it's due to the limited choice for our situation since the nearest Acura dealer is 100 plus miles away on a different island (maui). So far our service has been pretty good, we get the $29 dollar service (formerly 24.95 darn island cost of living) and at intervals according to the oil life gauge. They even reset the gauge, which I was impressed, knowing the limits of honda techs. Usually we get anywhere from 6k-7k oil change intervals according to our 50/50 highway/city driving conditions. I certainly miss the Acura concierge, but what can you do. Just not enough time and materials to D.I.Y. otherwise I would opt to do it myself.

Bones45

I love reading everyones opinion on oil change intervals and the passion which comes with it. Most times people will argue about the best brand of oil and filter.

Personally.. I have always had hondas and always changed the oil from 3-5k and used Honda filters. Castrol oil.. no synthetic.

there is another site called bob the oil guy or something like that where people talk WAY deep into this stuff. There is even a site where you can ship your used oil so they can diagnose it. Sort of like a blood test for your car.

Me? Oil changes give me a warm and fuzzy feeling, I can hang out, listen to tunes and drink beer while doing it.