Well, the car's got about 3000 miles on it and it's probably getting close to that time when I want to use a synthetic. Any tips on preparing for this do-it-yourself job? I'm gonna probably use a Synthetic 5-30 oil (not sure which brand just yet), and a good filter (either Mobil1 or PureOne). I did a search but can't seem to find anything really on the basics of oil changing for our type of car. Thanks all!

Danny

 

To change the oil and oil filter is quite easy. I park my car on level ground and turn the steering wheel to the right until it turn no more. The drain plug and the filter then are both accessible from the right front wheel area. I don't even have to lift the vehicle. I use Mobil 1 0w-30.

 

ok . drive the car up a ramp and pop the hood. Than look for the oil cap and take that off. go under the car and look for a nut in the oil pan. the correct size of that nut is ?mm (forgot)(in the teens) ne way, than put a bucket under the oil pan and release the nut. and next to the pan should be the oil filter, turn that until it loosens up and oil is gonna pour out.

Take the new oil filer and use some oil around the rubber seal. Screw that on and put the nut back in the oil pan. After pour the oil in the oil filer hole.

personally i wouldnt use synthetic beacuase it fu use that, than u would have to put synthetic in the car for the rest of its life. if u switch back to regular oil, ur gonna blow the engine.

 

Your info is way off base, synthetic oil and regular oil are indeed interchangeable, they sell it blended as well. Once you do use synthetic you will not go back once you see how well it performs.

 

Cool but I seem to recall there's some kind of nut or fastener that once removed needs to replaced with a brand new one? If so, where's the easiest place to get these?

When I seal the new oil filter, do I use the OLD oil or the new? What if I'm using the Synthetic for the first time?

I also recall that the service light will come on at some point for the first oil change ... how do I reset that, or should an authorized service center get involved at all?

Sorry for the noob questions.

Danny

 

That would be the crush washer, if you get your filters from Acura they include a new one with it.

The manual has the sequence for shutting of the service light.

 

I got a blown engine when switch back from Synthetic to regular oil (no not my TL - I forgot when's the last time i drive the TL)

 

What if I opt for a non-Acura filter -- would this require the crush washer?

Danny

 

Can you explain how motor oil blew your engine ?

 

The crush washer goes on the drain plug, not on the filter. They are completely separate items. Honda just packages the two together because you are supposed to replace the crush washer on the plug each time you change the oil, and if you're changing the filter that means you're also changing the oil.

 

Oh and if you want a crush washer, it's $0.25 at the dealer. Bought two of them at PAA

 

The main purpose of the crush washer is to create a leak-free seal between the oil plug and the drain pan, and to help prevent over-tightening the screw and destroying the threads. You should change it every oil change, although I got to use mine twice because the first time I changed the oil I wasn't aware you had to change the crush washer. I am now using 5-30 synthetic and I have no leaks so I guess it was ok to use it one extra time...

 

Where's the guy who blew the engine just for going back to conventional oil? Maybe you thought you refilled the oil after draining the syn, right?

 

I went to Sierra Acura in Alhambra and the fool at the parts department wanted to charge me 90 cents for each crush washer. I was like wtf

So I walked one block down to Goudy Honda and bought a bag of ten crush washer for the V6 accord and it was only 20 cents each.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not cheap, but to charge me almost 5 times more for the same damn item is nuts. I guess they figured that since you bought an Acura instead of a Honda you might as well pay their luxury prices for the same items.

Sierra Acura

 

can you really do a oil change yourself without a lift?

i have a 2003 tls with a body kit..

 

A floor jack makes it a little easier for me, I sit pretty low with the body kit, springs and tires. I use the jack to take the load off the front springs (I don't lift the tires off the ground), works fine for me.

 

fram makes a quick oil change plug, replace the old one with the new one (fram) when its time to chang the oil just simply unscrew the cap and screw on the hose, no oil will drain out until the hose is screwed on. it makes it nice and clean. you can get it at most parts stores and works really nice. and you can do it all without jacking up th car. with this system you dont have to replace the crush washer ever again, or get any oil on you or the ground

 

that is the best info ever, and to think all this time i've been lifting my car...