The Dark Knight

iTrader: (1)

I just purchased $160 worth of mechanics tools so that I can do all of my own maintenance from here on out.

3 ton jack, couple jack stands, rhino ramps, mechanics tool set, and a creeper. All other necessary items will be rented from Autozone when I need them.

This week i'm going to swap my OEM bumper for a Sports bumper, then get my B1 service taken care of.

woohoo .

kristy7911

I don't do my service, my boyfriend does. No way I am going to pay when he can do it (he installed my sport bumper and will be doing my oil changes and stuff). great to have a bf that comes in handy!

HeavyDuty

Go Knight, knock it out!

Ahh, those were the days when I was young and not lazy. I'd do anything to work on the car just to pull it in and out of the driveway.

(Don't forget to put the drain plug back in before you fill it with oil, please.)

BOOSTED09TSX

Also don't forget to make sure that the old oil filter gasket is not still on the housing. I have seen many of techs with the "double gasket dribble" coming out from under the car.

HeavyDuty

Oh yeah, lol, also make sure the dealer gives you a new drain plug crush washer to go on the drain plug, too.

The Dark Knight

iTrader: (1)

You still end up paying, DUCY? (just joking)
Thanks for the encouragement / advice guys.

Any other things I should take note of when doing my own maintenance? These little tips certainly help a ton.
I've got several crush washers on hand.

Arcticcl9

I changed my own oil not too long ago (Mobil 1 0w-20 ...mmm, slippery) and HAMP oil filter. A Sports bumper will probably be next item I will be doing myself

HeavyDuty

I see you purchased jack stands, *never* take a jack or ramps for granted, *always* use jack stands, even if you're only going under there for a *second*.

RKeatF1

GREAT ADVICE!!!

kristy7911

hey, out of curiosity, when did you guys change your oil for the first time? Did you wait till the car said the oil life was pretty much gone? Or at a certain mileage? Certain amount of time?

The Dark Knight

iTrader: (1)

I followed the MID.

FYI my car required its first oil change at 4,116 miles. Second oil change came at 8,966 miles.

The only time you should change the oil by a certain amount of time is if the car's MID doesn't tell you to do so within a year.

kristy7911

I just broke 4k miles today, had the car about 7 months. Drove a little over 100 miles today, didn't check when I was done, but before it said that my oil life was still 50%. Just asking opinions because the bf and his dad want to do it soon, his dad left the oil in till his car told him to change on one of his cars and he still regrets it.

The Dark Knight

iTrader: (1)

How much of those 4k miles is highway?

RPJ28

I just broke 4k the other day in under 3 months. My oil life is still at 60%. I always changed my oil at 3k with my previous cars, but stil happened done it yet. Should I really wait for the light to come on??

kristy7911

not even half of the mileage is highway, I live 2 miles from my work, so a lot of my mileage is in-town. Just checked and my car still says 50% oil life.

09TSXTech

I was told that they put special additives in the initial fill, so you should probably wait closer to 20% before doing an oil change.

That said, I would change my oil at least once a year irregardless of low mileage. I changed my old ride 90 Civic Si every 5K miles (put in 20K miles/year) and it's still going strong when I sold it last year at 261K miles.

cobra620

Does anyone have a preference on which oil to use? This is my first new car in 8 years and I was planning on keeping it for at least that long if not longer. For this reason I was going to spend the extra money and get royal purple, is this overkill, what oil do you guys run? Also does anyone know when we are supposed to change are oil, I am obviously aware of the little screen but I cannot find anywhere what the mileage should be. I was going to go with 5000 unless the screen tells me sooner, but I wasn't going to go past that. Finally what weight are you guys running. I am a believer that they recommend the thin 5-20 for fuel economy ratings, this car does great on gas and I am willing to sacrifice a minimal amount of fuel economy for the extra oil weight. I was going to run 10-30, does anybody see a problem with this? Sorry I have a 2010 4 cylinder auto. Thanks for the help.

HeavyDuty

You/we could debate oil & filter brands until the end of time & still all have to agree to disagree.

My dealer service dude tells me the Honda motor oil is a synthetic blend. I don't know if it is or not.

I bought a 1988 Florida Highway Patrol Mustang 5.0 coupe in 1991 with 65k miles on it. I drove it 50,000 miles (a 1/4 mile at a time ) using Mobil1 oil and filter. When I pulled the heads to install a GT40 intake & cylinder heads...there was still cross hatching in the cylinder bore, zero ridge at the top of the bore and you could eat out of the lifter valley. It was literally like brand new.

I use Mobil1 oil & filters in my cars. Hell, I even use Mobil1 in my weed whapper.

I've had several changes at the dealer in 25k miles. My next and subsequent fills will be at 5k miles with Mobil1 correct weight. (5w20?)

In 200,000 miles, I may go with a heavier weight. When the car is still new-ish (for the next 7-8 years?) I'd go with the recommended weight. When wear starts to be noticeable, you can go heavier to raise the oil pressure. Not now.

cobra620

Thanks for the input, I have been on the fence about what weight to use, thankfully my car only has 400 miles on it and I have some time.

I too am a fan of mobile one, I run it in my supra but use redline in my cobra. I appreciate the info on honda oil, I am certainly not interested in a synthetic blend, I'll probably stick with mobile one since it is significantly cheaper than royal purple and since the car is not being driven hard.

The Dark Knight

iTrader: (1)

^^^ x2.

I'd wait until the MID says 20% (unless it's going to take you guys more than a year to reach that).
I use M1-110 filter & mobil 1 5w20 oil.

I think there is a page in the manual that describes when we should deviate from the recommended oil weight (5w20)... check it out and see if your driving calls for different oil .
Yep, 5w20 for normal driving. (it's also written on the oil cap )

kristy7911

The bf and his dad use Synergyn in all of their cars, mine too (well they did in my Honda, and will when they change the oil in the TSX)

HeavyDuty

Comptech (CTE) recommends Redline synthetic for auto transmissions, there's Amsoil, Royal Purple, and many other synthetics these days.

The deal with me & Mobil1 is that if nothing else, if I'm in...Pahokee, Florida (a real city) & need a quart, Wal-Mart always has it.