Repecat

Well, here I sit with 5000 miles on the odometer and the MID telling me that the oil life is at 40%. Do I follow the guidance of the MID and wait until perhaps 8000 miles before the change or change it now? Perplexing, huh? My guess is that the additive package in the factory fill is pretty well depleted. Notwithstanding the MIDs advice, I am going to follow my instincts and change the oil now. I plan to follow Road Rages advice and go with Motorcraft 5w-20 semi syn with about 7 oz of MaxLife added as a precautionary measure to placate the little asperities. Any thoughts and opinions welcomed.

chas22

I Don't care what anyone says, I use Castrol dino and change every 3,000 mi. My last two Hondas I sold one with 139,000 miles and the other with 207,000 miles, did not use oil and had no engine problems. Oil djon't cost much compared to a new motor.

DarkWraith33

I'm at 2500 as of today and plan on changing the oil in about 4 weeks (about 3400 or so)... I too feel as though that will be enough time for the factory fill to do whatever work it needed to do.

I, however, will be using Mobil 1 10w-30 along with either the purolator pureone filter or mobil 1 filter.

I think (KNOW) that we'll be just fine doing this as such.

(I need to revisit the thread that lists all the acceptable oil filters for the 3G... Was also gonna get an ALL TOGETHER list of oils that people use as well for the newcomers. Save them about 12 hours or reading or so!)

cM3go

It certainly won't hurt to change the oil. If you don't feel comfortable driving with that many miles on the original oil, then changing the oil is no problem

crazymjb

Anyone have experience with royal purple 5w-30?

Acura_Kid

You're missing the point of full synthetics. It's not about cost. If you plan correctly, the synthetic yearly-costs will cost exactly the same as dino. It also means less time under the car or less time at Jiffy Lube.

There are benefits in using synthetics over dino oils.

drewspimpin

The MID is useless. When the dealer did my chage a couple weeks back, they did not even reset the percentage. They still base everything on milage, and I got that window cling reminder on my windshield for the next time to come in.

Prolanman

Maybe your dealer is useless, not the MID. I have a hard time beliving that Honda went through all the trouble of designing the MID for maintenance if it dosen't mean anything. Some dealers just want to make more money by having you come in more often for service.

terse

i went to dealer...they said most people come in for first oil change at 7500 or something?

Repecat

Many people, including myself, think that Royal Purple is a second cousin to "snake oil". They probably spend more money on advertizing than they do on R&D.

6speedv6

I used 5W-20 and it is very good. Put it in @ 10k. Then, drove 4 hours to VIR (about 200 miles) and spent saturday and sunday tracking it. Now I have 15k and the oil still feels ok. No noticeable asperities (fingers test) or volume loss (stick still marks the same spot it did when filling it up).

Good product, but I'll use AmsOil this time around just because it is as good (I have used it on other cars before) and it is cheaper (about $5 for 6 quarts) than RP.

SoldonTL

I change my own oil every 3000 miles. I looked at the oil in the TL at 1000 and decided to look at it so I changed it. The oil was dirty and I changed it and the filter. I know I have read on here about special additives and all that but I would not want to keep dirty oil in just because there may be special additives. This is from my experience of working on cars for 40 years because I like it. I have never had an internal engine failure due to oil breakdown on any car I have ever owned. Maybe luck...... As far as the Monitor goes I think it is for folks who could care less about keeping up with a car so it is something that will tell them to get things done before its too late. I am the suspicious type so I would not be surprised if the monitor had a memory that they (Acura) could go back and see if you never did service at the far end of the oils useful life!!!! Maybe a way to get out of doing warranty work. Anyhow I love my car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

avs007

My other car car has a oil life indicator very similar to Acura's. The manual states it is supposed to calculate the life expectancy of the additives in the oil. It even goes further to explain how the algorithm works. It says it calculates based on engine temperature, engine RPM, engine load, air temperature, duration of trip, etc.

I would think Acura's does the same thing. Personally, I change the oil when the monitor gets < 30%.

But yeah... It could be your dealer that is worthless. Mine tried to tell me I needed 4 new tires because they were worn out. Had they actually LOOKED at my tires, they would've seen that they were BRAND NEW. They admitted they based the recommendation on mileage, not inspection.

crazymjb

i dont think 30-40 bucks for oil is too bad if you are only putting 10-20k miles on the car a year, if that. Ferrari Enzo oil goes for 200 a quart, dont use it the warantee is void, so I guess i can be semi thankful.

ThaShef

Doesnt the Acura recommend using 5w-20 or 0w-20. Or we can use 5w-30, 10w-30 it seems like people are using all kinds of different oil or am I wrong.....

Repecat

Correct. Acura does recommend 5w-20, but I'm sure any of those different weights that you mentioned would be okay. In moderate climates like most of the US, the 10w-30 would provide good protection and lubrication.

subinf

changing your oil now is more of a comfort thing than anything else. some people feel fine trusting a computer to calculate the oil life. personally i dont, and change my oil using 5w20 synthetic every 3k or so. chances are the outcome is going to be the same whether you do the oil ever 2 or every 5, or if you really feel like following the mid a little above 5 or 7. its pretty much up to the driver unless you have no preference and then its up to the car.

alvonchui

It is okay to change the oil now. I did exactly the same thing (MC 5w-20 + MLEP), except mine was changed at 4300 miles (30%). Now I am at 8200 miles (40%), I will be changing the oil at ~9000 miles, to M1 0w-20 / M1 5w-30 mix.

TheOne305

the 3k mile thing is a scam on newer cars.They dont build motors like that used to 20years ago and oil is better then 20years ago.Its just like eletronics it just get better.Technology doest stay the same.New methods is always in devolopement and most if not all new cars has a 5k oil change recommended from the manufactor or more.The whole 3k miles change it or lose is gimick,a scam.I have 14k mile on my TL with only 3 oil changes.You heard of the phrase(Knowledge is POWER)Do research on the web about oil changes on newer cars.

mickey3c

I do about 20k a year on my cars and I typically change it at 5000 miles. Most companies will tell you the same thing. 7500 is the recommened interval. Yes I know harsher evironments require more frequent changes.. But wtf is that. Since it seems whether you are driving all highway or around town or in a desert, you are always being harsh... The dealer I go to says 3750 the private mechanic usually says 3000 - 3500... The thing is they provide the same interval regardless of traditional oil, blended synthetic, or synthetic. Yes I know about clean oil etc. So I guess you got to ask yourself did I drive 5000 miles or 6000... Sometimes in all the driving excitment I forget myself... So you have to ask yourself do you feel lucky? well do ya punk? (circa clint eastwood dirty oil opps, I mean harry)..lol

So the person that puts 8000 a year on their car and changes their oil once a year is doing enough...

chas22

I have cut apart several different oil filters and inspected how they were put together, bi-metal springs, check valves, type of media and length. What looked to be the better one's were Purolator 1, Napa Gold or WIX ( same thing ) or Nippon. I think these are better than the factory. I stay away from all Wal-mart specials Fram's, A/C, STP and any off brands.

Shalafi

I've got about 3200 miles on the odometer and the MID is telling me I have 70% left. I plan on changing at 5000 miles consistantly no matter what the MID says. I do a lot of highway driving so I don't feel bad about 5000 mile oil changes.

I'll go to Mobil 1 most likely at my 10000 mile oil change.

Shibby

yea i have the same question and i'm not sure what to do since mobil 1 does not make a syn 5w-20, does anyone have suggestions on syn, i want to do my oil change this weekend as i am approaching 5k miles and the MID shows less than 20% oil life..

6speedv6

5W-30 is ok for our cars.

alvonchui

M1 has 5w-20 (this is new), just need to look harder for it.

Otherwise, M1 0w-20 will work.

Pro Stock John

MID is interesting, but I'm not going to go by it.

I have 3650 on a new 05 TL, and I'm changing it the first chance I get. I will change my oil every 4,000 miles or so, and that's it.

DarkWraith33

They do? Huh... I was just gonna use 5w-30... (Which I may still)

alvonchui

check out the mobil1 website, it is listed there.

donkeykang

i am at 500 miles, MID tells me I'm at 10%...

donkeykang

i am at 5000 miles, MID tells me I'm at 10%...

6speedv6

Can you be a little more specific.

DarkWraith33

It is on their website but I've never actually seen it.... Anywhere online that you can get it???

SodaLuvr

Figure that it was about time that I put my $0.02 in...


M1 5W/20 is a new offering from Mobil 1, however it does appear to be somewhat different than the 0W/20 since the pour point on the 5W/20 is -53C I think compared to -58C on the 0W/20.

As for the oil change, I'd suggest changing the oil immediately. Look at an oil analysis report for the factory fill of a TL, after 5K. The only difference between the factory fill and standard motor oil is the high molybdenum content.

2004 Acura TL
Honda 3.2 V6
Factory fill: 5W/20
Miles on Oil: 4,765
Time: 9 months
Make Up Oil: 0

Al 9 3
Cr 2 1
Fe 40 11
Cu 142 18
Pb 5 5
Sn 2 1
Mo 301 43
Ni 1 0
Mn 2 0
Ag 0 0
Ti 0 0
K 2 1
B 23 37
Si 70 12
Na 10 7
Ca 2055 2236
Mg 0 157
P 787 834
Zn 954 969
Ba 6 0

SUS Viscosity @ 210F: 52.7
Flashpoint in F: 370 should be >365
Fuel: <0.5 should be <2.0
Antifreeze: 0 should be 0.0
Water: 0 should be <0.1
Insolubles: 0.5 should be <0.6
TBN: 1.9


Insolubles are high, wear metals are high as well. Havoline, Chevron, or Exxon Superflo are all fine replacements for the factory fill and should contain between 200-300ppm of Molybdenum.

I'm not against using the MID to determine oil change intervals, but there are more accurate ways. I instead suggest using Oil Analysis, and get a TBN reading. It costs $30.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

Also, consider getting the Dyson Analysis Package for $35. That way, you can an expert's interpretation on the report.

Michael

SodaLuvr

Here is another analysis of the Factory Fill:

Honda 3.2 V6
Factory fill: 5W-20
Miles on Oil: 3,300
Time: July - November '04
Make Up Oil: 0

Al 6
Cr 1
Fe 25
Cu 148
Pb 7
Sn 0
Mo 276
Ni 0
Mn 3
Ag 0
Ti 0
K 4
B 36
Si 78
Na 9
Ca 1804
Mg 5
P 805
Zn 918
Ba 4

Fuel = <0.5
Antifreeze = 0.0
Insolubles = 0.5
TBN = 3.2

JetJock

I changed my oil when the MID just switched to 30% with 3700 miles on the OD. I had my oil analysis done and I'm very sorry I waited so long. Don't believe the MID...it's a good tool but not perfect. My oil was very dirty, full of wear metals, and way beyond what good sense would dictate keeping in the engine. If I had to do it again...I would have changed the oil at 1000 miles with regular oil, then done it again at 4000 miles and switched to synthetic. Hindsight is always 20/20. Had I waited until the MID said <10%...who knows what the oil would have been like by then...it was horrible at 30%. Oil analysis is the only way to know for sure what's going on with the oil...and your engine.

alvonchui

I have not seen it either, just know that it is coming.

I am almost ready for my second oil change, so I am going to use M1 0w-20 and 5w-30 mix for now.

DarkWraith33

I thought about doing the same... Mixing that is...

2 quarts of the 0w-20 and 2.5 quarts of the 5w-30.... That or just straight 5w-30. In the end, I am sure that either is fine. If they had 5w-20 on the shelf though, I would certainly get that and be done with it.

go_blue

I changed mine at 3000 (60%) and 6000 (also 60%), with dealer oil. Will switch to syn blend at 9000 (will bring my own MC). After that I will change every 4000.

I drive about 1000 - 1200 miles a month, half freeway and half stop/go.

I use the 15400-PCX-004 filter for S2000.

DopeTL04

I would not have my first oil change for at least 6K miles as recommended. The additives in the oil need to be in there that long before your first oil change. It is recommended for a reason, so the additives can do what they need to do to a new engine. Its like getting a new battery on your cell phone. They say charge it for 12 hours the very first time, otherwise you can have long term problems and it wont work properly. Same thing with the car....all of you who changed your oil for the first time at 3K miles, are taking a risk

alvonchui

Please do an oil analysis and report back when you do the oil change after 6K. This will help everyone to understand what is the right thing to do.