I took my 2002 TL to the Acura dealer last week for an alignment and an oil change. I was shocked when I found out that the oil change cost me $58! When I questioned the cost, they told me that they used synthetic motor oil. Is it safe to switch back to regular oil for the next oil change?

As a side node, I had a loaner 2009 Tech TL for the day. It was actually pretty fun to drive but it had way too many buttons on the dash for my comfort. I was worried when I got back into my 02 that it would feel old. Much to my surprise, it didn't feel old at all. It was actually good to have my car back without all of those darn buttons, not to mention the 09 is really ugly IMHO!

 

you shouldn't change back unless you motor flush it. I would just stay synthetic and take the 10 min to change the oil yourself for 25 bucks(synthetic oil and filter).

 

Depends what oil you use too. Mobil 1 oil and filter for the Type S is around $35 w/ tax. I usually pick up a gallon of it at Walmart and the M1-104 filter is around 10-12 depending what store you buy from.

Added: And yeah, I've heard that the full synthetic oil leaves a film of oil "at all times" for more protection, especially at start up. Putting conventional oil afterwards strips that protective film that the synthetic oil leaves.

 

you can switch back and forth. dont matter. just dont top of syn. oil with regular oil. i just paid $13 for a mobil one filter and $26 for a one gallon of 5w20 mobil 1 syn. 15min on the drive way and your done. (i like to take my time doing an oil change and check out my filters and what not too)

 

Very bad information. You can switch back and forth, not flushing is necessary. Though i do agree to stay with syn and do it yourself for half the cost.

 

A motor flush or seafoam is always a good idea when changing viscosity or back and forth from synthetic and petroleum based oils. Like I said, you can go back and forth, I mention you shouldn't without a motor flush(maybe I should have said "I wouldn't"). When you drain your oil a portion of it is still in your engine, different viscosities don't mix as well, syn and dino oil can also mix, just not as well as the same brand, type, and viscosity. I prefer to minimize the chance of anything going wrong with vehicles I drive. Never hurts to spend the extra couple bucks and couple minutes seafoaming or motor flushing..it helps thin the oil out to drain a bit more and helps get some extra junk out.

You can top it off with regular oil, but it's not recommended. You can mix them, but it's not recommended. You can go 80 on icey roads...but it's not recommended. Many cases, there will be no problems...just never hurts to be safe.

I beat the hell out of some of my cars, doesn't mean it's recommended either. They still work, but will they last as long? only time can tell.

 

Syn and Dino are completely compatible. There is no need to flush. Your motor beating on it or not will be fine without the flush.

 

When the Acura Dealer changed the oil, they used synthetic and said I need to change the oil every 3K miles. I had heard where the advantage of using synthetic is that you don't need to change the oil as often - something like every 10K miles? Is that true?


Thanks!

 

BS. acura wants your money. it all depends on in what kind of conditions u drive it. stop and go is a bad condition and the oil should be changed sooner then say most high way driving. i change it every 5-6k in my tl-p. and about every 3.5-4k on my tl-s (that cars takes a beating)

 

yeah, the owners manual says every 8 thousand which I think is rediculous. I would say like rajca, it's all about the kind of driving. Oil degradation is based a lot upon hours of operation and not miles...as you can be sitting idle for 2 hours and the oil was being cycled through the engine just as much as a highway drive for about as long. That's why on smaller things like snowmobiles, dirtbikes, quads, etc. you typically see a gauge that tells you how many hours you've used it and that's what you go by for your maintenance schedule.
But since the TL doesn't have a gauge to read hourly usage, you should make your own judgments on how often you change your oil. Keep in mind also, that oil degrades over time, even without use, so do whatever comes first, your 3000 miles or 3 months...or whatever interval you see fit for your driving style and oil you use. You'll see the mobile extended life oils that say they last 7500 miles, 10000 miles, etc. But just because an oil says it can last that long doesn't mean you should keep it in that long. If you're using regular oil, change every 3-5K depending on driving habits, synthetic change it 4-6k...but like i said, it's up to you. Personally I wouldn't go longer than 8K on a synthetic oil or 6K on regular...you'd just be asking for problems.

 

Too many kids here with no actual knowledge telling someone how much and under what condition to use oil.

Straight from a Chevron chemical enginer (good friend) I was told. Both syn and dino oil are good for about 10-15k or one year. Car makers pick the 7kish interval without consulting oil companies and the 3K at change places is to get you back.

My other friend, I used to live next door too, still works for Chevron and confirms. Both change their oil every year and top off if needed. One had an Acura Legend go 320K on this method and is on an 00 TL with about 140K with no issues. They use dino for about 15k/year.

Get your facts kids before you start telling people what to do.

FYI if oils couldn't be mixed, why can you by blends?

The amount of bad information from ignorant childern is scary.

 

 

I don't think anyone on here said the oils couldn't be mixed.
If you guys want to mix viscosity and oil types, go ahead, I tend to treat my cars with a little better maintenance and piece of mind.
I'm glad lab results are actually what happens in the real world...In the real world there is a bunch of blow-by, metallic flakes will be deposited from ring wear also. Carbon deposits will infect oil.
On top of this you have an oil filter that needs to be changed...and it's kind of hard to change that without changing your oil.
You don't need to change your air filter as often as manufacturers tell you too, but look at an air filter at 10000 miles and tell me it's not dirty.
Also big tobacco also said for years that smoking was good for you.
I guess you're probably the same kind of person that would justify having a few cigs a day because you'll live just as long either way, along with several drinks per day because a doctor who happens to work for a liquor company comes out with "new information" that it's ok and you'll live longer that way...because ya know, livers aren't in very high demand at all
I can go without a shower for a long ass time, doesn't mean i should.
I can go bang up a fat chick, just cause I can, but I have a bit more decency than that.
That's why regular maintenance isn't supposed to be about how long you CAN go without replacing fluids and filters, it's about allowing your engine to run at it's peak performance and for while.
thousands and thousands of vehicle have lasted hundred of thousands of miles with lack of maintenance and fluid changes. Most people who run into problems with their cars don't identify problems until they get to the point where they are a real issue.

Most people who work at the garages that change your oil have no clue what the fvck they are doing. They could have been doing that job for 20 years.
People have been giving out big loans to people who can't afford them for years, doesn't mean it's right.
I don't feel like justifying regular maintenance to people who apparently could care less.
I'm glad I'm giving out bad information like telling people they should change their oil according to the way THEY drive and according the the type of oil THEY use, and telling them that they will get more of the OLD oil out when using a flush/seafoam, and promoting people to actually work on THEIR OWN vehicle and perform regular maintenance...which apparently you don't need...I guess I can just put gas in my car and drive it and not worry about anything else.

 

go for 10K without an oil or filter change, go get an oil analysis, and get back to me on the results of how great the oil is still doing as a lubricant and about how clean it is and how little contamination it has.

 

Oil types can be mixed, nobody here said anything about mixing viscosities. That part is true, you should not mix viscosities. But you can mix synthetic and conventional oils with no problems. You do not need to flush your engine, it doesn't provide any benefit in regards to switching between the two types of oil. I've been using the factory recommended 7500 miles intervals on my 2K TL using synthetic with no issues. Consider the fact that the interval was recommended using conventional oil, I could probably drive longer if I wanted. I bought the car with 64K miles and now I have 91K miles, the engine doesn't consume any oil. I've never had to add single drop between changes and I drive my car aggressively. One of the mega moderators here changes his oil every 15K miles and has Blackstone lab results showing his oil is still good. Those 3K/3 month intervals are a load of . These days they are strictly profit producing intervals designed to bring the customers in twice as often as they should.

 

I don't think you should be worry. You are not switching anything. Dealer normally don't just use synthetic without your request. For the price they charged you, they have to say it was synthetic. check the oil on the dipstick, it is very easy to tell. I could be wrong in your case, but mostly right in my case.

 

stick with synthetic and change your oil by yourself.

 

x100. save yourself the labor costs. i can change my oil with my eyes closed.

 

LOL wow, I would like to see that

 

Me too. Might get some hot oil on your face...

Does anyone where protective glasses?

It dawns on me that that hot oil could do a number on your face/eyes. I never thought about it until now.

 

How many would you like me to show you with 15k intervals on it. I have plenty, and there is plenty lubrication left to the oil (tbn) and the contaminants are low. And dont tell me the motor wont last.

 

Your motor wont last

Clearly this kid requesting proof knows more.

 

Not saying your motor won't last. I just think that fresh oil in there is going to perform much better. Personally I have an awesome metabolism and can eat whatever I want and not get fat and I could probably live long too doing it, but I prefer to put foods in my body that are better for me. Also why I don't smoke, hell there's people who've lived to 100 that smoke...doesn't mean it's still not bad for you.
All I'm saying is that I would think that a bunch of car enthusiasts would change their oil more often because they would like fresh fluids in their car. Evey single engine performs differently, brand new from the factory. Someone's tl might last 200K and get abused and neglected every day, anothers may last 150k that got pampered. It's really more luck of the draw and a thousand other factors, but I prefer to weed out as many things as I can that can go wrong.
As I said before, oil degrades over time, not as much as it used too, and yes, you can go 10,000 miles on an oil change, I personally would like to see fresh oil going in every 5k.
Not every engine is going to put out clean oil with no contamination after 15k. as I said, since every engine is different, every person drives their car through different conditions, I've stated they should figure out an interval that they can be happy with. Yes, with a good oil, 3k is a little over kill, but in my track car I change my oil every 3k or less. the acura gets the change every 5-7k depending on my time availability as I travel a lot.

 

Yes, you can switch back and forth between synthetic and conventional oils, no flushing required. Just tell the guys to use conventional oil at the next oil change service.

There is really no benefit of using synthetic oil unless (1) you have to go through sub-zero temp all winter long, or (2) your car is heavily modified enginewise (turbo, etc.), or (3) you drive with the engine spinning near the redline all day long (track racing, etc.), because only synthetic oil will remain runny under extreme cold temp and will continue to protect the engines during cold startups, as well as stay intact under extreme hot temp.

So when your car is under normal use, conventional oil is sufficient for the car as long as it is replaced regularly according to the manufacturer specified intervals.

 

not disputing the 15k mileage claim (i just put in some mobil 1 extended performance so i really want to push it to 15k). but will the filter (same brand) be good that long?

 

Mobil 1 says so. If you check the acura book it says oil change every 7500 miles and change the filter every 15K. I suspect the limiting factor for going beyond 15K changes is filter technology. This is purely speculative on my part.

 

All of this would be correct if we were talking about 1960's motors where who and how they were made played a lot into the life of a motor. Today's motors aren't as varying in production. There's a defect rate but as you see by the ever increasing motor life it's decreasing.

Changing things before they are required is silliness. Oil is almost new at 3K unless raced with. 5K for most people is only 60-70% of it's life used up. Even at 7500 miles there is often more left to the oil.

The ENTIRE concept of frequent changes has been driven by an industry who lives to change your oil. They would get it down to 1K if people were dumb enough. Why people are still hung up on 3K or 5K when most cars are 7-8K is beyond me.

To make your position worse, many cars calculate the life of your oil and tell you when to change it. Not based on miles but on driving conditions, time, temp etc... Our 05 RL doesn't require a change every 7500, sometimes it's less and sometimes we go more. We just change it when the light comes on.

Clinging to these 'old school' ideas is not helpful.

 

reason they want u to do it every 5-7k is to get u in the shop and upsell, they get in in there 2 times more...oil changes dont make them no money

 

some interesting info from blackstone labs says the main problem in oil is the additives break down or wear out and the oil loses its abilities to shed heat and protect the many impacting metal parts
Their test averaged out 8000 miles as when most commonly used oils were out of service life
Sure you can still run it, but its not working the same as when it was new
Recent ziner reports from them hold that number- oil checked at 7500-8000 had a small amount of life left

Certain oils will last longer- because they have a bunch of stuff added to them.
Do we want that in the TL engine- which uses oil pressure changes to operate the vtec system?
Im averaging 6000-8000 between changes, depending on how many fun runs to the mountains have occured
A little seafoam before oil change is a good idea~

 

Here is a thought:
The oil companies know what the auto makers are putting in the maitenance books
(they work with them and make mega $$ deals on what oil comes in your new car)

Then they make oil that will last a bit beyond that for a safety margin
7500 is pretty standard in the new cars,so they make oil good till 8000
If they make a longer duration oil,, its also 4 bucks a qt more, so the end dollars for miles is a wash

 

wow, someone who likes to keep fresh oil in their car lol, and also understands that just cause you CAN run the oil 15K doesn't mean it's as good for your car as changing it at the recommended interval.
I'm done in this thread, it's full of enough info for OP to make his own decision on when he wants to change his oil.

 

to the OP
When you dropped off the car for oil service- you signed a work order estimate
Normal should be 30-35$ for regular oil and 60 for synthetic
If you only asked for an oil change they should use dino (dinosaur) oil
Only use synthetic as an upgrade sale

The estimate has a price written on it- thas all you have to pay unless you authorized higher
Its happened to other members,,show up and its suddenly 60-70 dollars,, they told the service MANAGER what had occured --and were only charged $30

 

And toddlers!

 

So ultimately, there's two sides to this story, both having very concrete ideals as to why their pov is valid.
I can see both the good and bad of doing the oil change at either the 5-8k mile range or the 10-15k range.
I agree with Rob-2 & fsttyms1 about changing the oil at longer intervals for a couple reasons.
1. I am not an environmentalist, however if you can get the most life out of the oil before recycling it, then that's just less pollutants all together & less of everything having to be dealt with. I do support getting the most out of not only your money, but products all together. We live in a super consumeristic society, where everything is discarded way too early.
2. It is more cost effective as well.
On the flip side, if an oil is supposed to be at its best up to 8-10k miles tops, then you can easily & validly say that at 5k miles, that oil is at least half of its life, again depending on the quality. That being said, if that oil is at 50%, & you replace it with a new one, other than the cost & pollution factor...you are putting in NEW oil, which is good for your car. I am not saying that you couldn't have gone 5k more miles, but it wouldn't really hurt putting new one in now, would it? (provide they are the same - viscosity & all)
It comes down to this: most of us treat our cars like our kids, & unless you are super rich-where property is very dispensable, our cars ARE our babies, so we tend to want the best for them....they are our prized possessions, therefore we over-care for them in most ways.
NO, your car will definitely not crap out because you went 10k miles on good oil, & you probably will do more good to the world if you USE the car to its full potential, & try to minimize our rate of pollution, cause after all...we do it anyway every day by just driving.
So, you are ALL right, but in your own different opinionated ways...there's no wrong doing in either method, it's a matter of personal preference.
Think about it ;-)

 

Hey Ken240sx, I'm with u all the way .... People have to understand that You have got to treat the Car the way u would like urself to be treated. If u take care of ur care, The car in return takes care of u by not breaking down and costing u an arm and a leg to repair.
Good Luck guys on making ur own decisions in maintaining ur precious car. I hope it turns out to be the right decision tho'.

 

dude giving ur car regular car oil is like feeding it mcdonalds, in the long run it will be obese and falling apart
synthetic all the way

 

im gonna have to disagree with that comment

 

But what proof do you have that you are treating the car bad or going over 3k is bad for it? Especially when the manufacturer recommends higher intervals like acura does at 7500 (thats with dino not syn). Are they wrong? Id bet not a chance in hell. They designed them. People have been brainwashed with 3k. Its crap, especially in cars now days. Sure there are some instances that its warranted, but for most its a waste of resources and money and isnt going to give you any better protection for your motor to last longer.

I can and do recommend those that try the higher mileage intervals to at least have the oil tested a few times to see what works best for their driving situation. Me 15k seems to be a good point. Can i go longer yes, do i choose not to yes. My driving consists of a lot of hwy thats probably one of the reasons it lasts, but the car is also on all day long when its not on the hwy.

 

Here's another way of looking at this replacement.

People say 3K, 5K, 7.5k, 10K, and 15K.

If I was to say 1K you'd all be saying 'no way man too soon' but why? If the oil is really good for 10K and you replace at 3K is that much different then replacing it at 1K?

It's not really. Thats ultimately my point. Who here replaces tires after half of it is used up? Not many. Who replaces bulbs in cars before they burn out? Very few.

People have the wrong notion of oil, largely because they don't have a clue. They cannot see what's going on in the motor and they've been scared into thinking something is safer. Now if I told you changing your oil to often was danagerous for your car (and it's not) would you rethink your position? Probably. Why because people act on fear. Fear of a motor failing.

Changing your oil early is a false sense of security. If you're changing it any earlier then acura recommends on dino oil then you're foolish - UNLESS you have evidence to suggest something about what you're running requires it - say it's a track car.

Does this all make sense?

 

x2