LarryLynx

My dealer's service department recommends changing the TLS break-in oil at 7,500. He told me that Acura puts "additives" into the oil at the factory and that to get the most benefit during break-in you should let that oil work for the full 7500 miles. I can't think what incentive he might have to tell me that unless he believes it's true. So...any opnions?

vandy786

I would like to know also. I heard people's dealers telling them something similar. My dealer, however, told me to get the first oil change at 3,750 miles. Anyone know anything about this?

JeffyTL

My dealer said 3,750. I am taking it in for my first oil change this weekend. I believe 7,500 miles if for people that do all their driving on the highways with not alot of stop and go driving.

TypeSDragon

My dealer say 3750 and that was when I took my car in for the first oil change. 7500?? That's too long, change it after 3,000 miles like most Honda/Acura cars.

LarryLynx

My dealer said that, yes, after the initial break-in oil is removed, you should go to 3500 mile oil changes, but to let the break-in oil go the whole 7500. I would normally go to 3500 changes regardless of his recommendation, but I'm (a little) concerned about his idea about the first change. He didn't say "depending on your normal driving conditions". I live in the hot Sacramento valley, and my current driving mix is about 60/40, highway/city.

imax

Ditto, my dealer recommended changing the oil after the first 3750.

gohawks63

Look at your manual. 3750 for extreme, 7500 for normal. This includes the first oil change.

quazi

I wuz told to wait for 7k miles before the first oil change by my sales guy. He was quite insistent.

I know what the manual sez, and I know I always change oil ~3500-4500 miles.

Has anyone received anything in writing from an Acura service source?

rockinTLS

The manual says a minimum of 3750.

The dealer sticker on the window said 5000.

I changed it last week at 4200.

gohawks63

Has anyone received anything in writing from an Acura service source?

Not to be a jerk, but it's in writing in your manual. Last I checked, it's the best Acura service source.

Advice from the service dept where I bought the car said the same.

The manual is pretty explicit on what NOT to do. If you were not supposed to change the oil until 7500 (under any circumstances) I would think it would state that.

I wuz told to wait for 7k miles before the first oil change by my sales guy. He was quite insistent.

I'm gonna believe the manual before I listen to a sales rep. Most of those guys are challenged just finding the fuel door release.

Lastly, unless you're really beating on your car and subjecting it to some very extreme conditions, you could probably wait until 7500. I personally choose to follow what the book says.

Edward'TLS

Ask your service manager for anything related to schedule services and car repairs. Salemen only know how to BS you to buy their cars and continue to BS you until you leave their dealerships.

tea elle

My car has 700 miles on it, and my dealer (Keyes Acura) said the first oil change should be at 3700 miles. The 7500 mile break-in deal is only on the MDX...I don't remember what the reason was, but that is what I was told.

LarryLynx

Goaub:

Your response made me re-read that section, and, since I do drive in 90+ F temps all the time, I do qualify as driving in "severe" conditions. So, I will follow the severe recommendation and take it in at 3750.

gohawks63

Glad to help

Road Rage

I have been on 5 factory tours, and have asked 5 times - got the same answer 5 times - "we use the same oil as we recommend you use".

I believe the 3750/7500 recommendation is worst case, for someone who drives only on the highway at 55 mph. The psitons speeds and loadings of the rings under such circumstances just might not assure ring seating in the worst 10 percentile of engines.

IMHO, 3750 is fine - that's when i did it.

rockinTLS

It's interesting you say that. I tend to agree with you yet most dealers and dealer mechanics speak about break-in oil (ie, special mix).

In my humble opinion "break-in" oil is probably just the oil that's in the crankcase while the engine is being broken in.

My $.02 (and you know it won't get you far)

MLPCA

For what it's worth....I have two relatives in dealer service departments, not Acura, but still new cars in general. Anyway, both advised me that the "break in oil" is just the standard, it's called that cause the engine is new. They both advised that it's ok to wait until 7000 miles if you drive in normal, highway conditions regularly. You know, taking the freeway to work type of thing. But they advise that if you travel stop and go or high heat or severe cold, then the change should happen before 5000. They advise that conditions must be consistent and regular to last until 7000. To play it safe, they do recommend 4500-5000 miles, especially in high performance cars.

lonny

3,750 is TOO soon and 7,500 is TOO long! I have always changed mine (and rotated the tires) at 5,000 mile intervals. Works for me

jsmith

those extended break-ins are meant to ensure proper ring seating etc. the alloys they use nowadays are somewhat different than older engines. this issue has been cussed and discussed in the german car forums since they've been doing it for awhile. allegedly, if the rings aren't properly seated during break-in, they probably never will and the engine will burn oil.

i have never really had this problem with japanese cars. my vw passat, in which i did not follow the 7500 mi recommendation, does burn about a quart a month.

R Man

Wayne at Park Avenue told me that there is no "special oil" in the car when it's new. He said to follow the standard rule of thumb; every 3,000 miles or so. I'll be putting Valvoline synthetic in mine, so maybe I can stretch that number.

BTW, anybody driving a TL-S is not driving under "moderate" conditions unless they are a little old lady.

VipeR-ACR

Exactly my point, most TL-S drivers actually like to push the gas. I love to push the gas and would especially like to right when i get the car. My problem is I hear that you are supposed to keep it under 3000 RPMs or so before 3000kms... tell me this is not true!? My first 3000kms will not be the same if this is true, please help!

LarryLynx

I heard (and read) that you should keep it below 4000 RPM before your first 600 miles. I am following that, and have also kept it below 6,000 RPM until the break-in oil is replaced.

When I bought my 325is, my dealer told me to break it it as I intend to drive it, from the git-go. I did, and it has always blown out about a half quart every 1000 miles or so. It's got 265,000 on it, and still pulling strong, so I guess I didn't hurt it.

I went into Acura the dealer to buy a heat shield for the front window of my TLS and said that I wanted to know the definitive answer to our question about break-in oil. The parts guy went back and talked to the manager of the shop, and he said that you should follow the "normal" and "extreme" driving guidelines for the break-in oil as well, and that there's nothing special in the oil that comes from the factory. So, if you drive a lot in hot weather (who doesn't?) or do a lot of stop and go in the suburbs, you should start and continue with 3750-4,500.