[StLouisPenguin]

Okay my E has over 3,000 miles and normally I would be getting my oil changed, but I know the owner's manual states every 10,000, but I am not sure if I am comfortable with that.....so here is my question....

Who has had the oil changed on their E??

What was the mileage?

What type of oil did you use? (weight and brand)

Did you go to your dealer or a chain (Jiffy Lube, etc)?

Any performance improvements/declines since?

Any other info/tips will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks a Bunch!

 

[Goalee1]

I had the exact same question. I"m at just over 4K and was thinking about an oil change with the same questions. Anyone?

 

[ERider]

I had the same question. Honda states that oil changes be made every 10,000 mile / 8,000 KM. Like the service department said, this isn't Saturn...LOL.

For the first oil change I'll be taking mine to the dealer just in case there are other things needed to be done. My Honda Dealer, Sterling Honda in Hamilton have a Quick Lube service available.

 

[M Ornett]

Did ours at 3200 miles - went to Honda dealer (most of them have an express lube option now) - seemed to be Mobil oil (that's what the reminder sticker they put on it says) - no decline/improvements after that - oh, didn't note what weight oil.

 

[Staggie]

I'll be using the severe conditions schedule (typical here in SF); for that the first change is at 6,000, then at 10, 15, 20, 25, etc.

 

[tblask]

Weeks ago someone wrote (via a Honda service rep) on one of our boards to:
Change Filter at 3,000 miles; BUT KEEP the BREAK-IN OIL in the CRANKCASE
until 5- or 6,000 miles. At SF Honda they swapped the filter FOR FREE
at 3k/mi while Keeping most of the EXOTIC/MYTHICAL Breakin-in Oil in the engine, and added a little straight goo to satisfy the dipstick.
Now, with almost 5000mi she's close to gettin' the LESS MYTHICAL engine
oil; but under the rough service mine gets in the city and dirt trackin' I'm
glad I took full advantage of the mysterious virtues of the Holy Grail among
auto lubricants...which is typically discarded without even a little silent
prayer to the fallen field warrior who leaves his precious bodily fluids on
the ramparts or the hustings...beepbeep
tblask SF Bay Area GalaGeenBullPup

 

[mborkow]

if the engineers who designed and built this car think that an E's first oil change is at (approx.) 10k miles why are we second guessing them and changing the oil so much earlier?

 

[foxtail]

And why does my dealer recommend (and provide free of charge) an initial oil change at 3500 miles?

 

[mborkow]

foxtail,

is every oil change free of charge or just that first one?

 

[za9ra22]

My dealer said that if I brought mine in for an oil change before 5000 miles, they would send it back out without doing it - that 5000 was the minimum time recommended by Honda for the break-in oil and if an oil change was actually needed before that point for some reason, they'd put new break-in oil back in.

It seems to me that dealers and oil companies have a vested interest in getting us to change oil as frequently as possible, but only the people who build the engine know what service intervals are really needed.

 

[foxtail]

is every oil change free of charge or just that first one?

Just the first one, though they gave me a bunch of coupons for getting the oil changed at the dealer. With the coupons, the price is similar to that of the quick-lube places.

 

[mborkow]

foxtail,
it sounds like your dealer is trying to get you hooked on oil changes every 3.5k miles (much like drug dealers will often give you the first dose for free). i still maintain that the people who designed and built the engine know best.

 

[foxtail]

My dealer said that if I brought mine in for an oil change before 5000 miles, they would send it back out without doing it - that 5000 was the minimum time recommended by Honda for the break-in oil and if an oil change was actually needed before that point for some reason, they'd put new break-in oil back in.

I'm going to read the Honda information again, then talk to the service manager at my dealer. I'm sure that what the dealer recommends is not what Honda is recommending...and the dealer 100K warranty is dependent on following the dealer service schedule.

 

[mborkow]

my 100k extended warrantee is from honda, and has nothing to do with the dealer as far as i know; if i am wrong about that please correct me.

 

[foxtail]

No, this isn't the Honda extended warranty. This is one offered free by my dealer.

 

[za9ra22]

[quote:168cae7d58="foxtail"]No, this isn't the Honda extended warranty. This is one offered free by my dealer.[/quote:168cae7d58]

The response I got from Honda when I spoke to them about oil-change intervals is that if I wanted to waste my money, I could change more regularly than 10,000 miles (5K in extreme conditions) and it would do no harm, but would do no good either. They also said that dealers were aware that MINIMUM recommended oil change intervals was 5,000 and that there was no information provided to dealers that would encourage them to more frequent oil changes than that. My dealer confirmed this. As for prices for oil changes, many Honda dealers now have fast-lube type facilities that charge no more than similar establishments on the high street - mine certainly does and no coupon is required.

 

[Nat]

At 2500 miles, I changed the oil filter only (left original oil in and topped it off as indicated by the dipstick).

At 5000 miles I changed the oil and filter. I will continue changing the oil and filter every 5000 miles. (I'm at 8000 miles now)

There have been Accord service bulletins regarding lifter noise and some mechanical issues that were lubrication related. Many felt this problem was directly attributed to the overly generous recommended 10,000 mile oil changes.

 

[lon777]

Penguin - here's some straight forward replies to your questions:

a. i changed the oil at about 4500 miles. I now have about 7800 miles on the E.
b. Did it myself. It is very easy to do - don't even have to jack it up. I'm 5' 10", 180lbs and was able to wiggle in under her to get the job done.
c. I used pennzoil 5W-20 oil (5.5 qts). I went with the larger (85 mm) "standard" honda oil filter instead of the small "tomato sauce can" filter that comes as original equipment. They are interchangable with full factory concurrence.
d. Since I have always used the 85mm filters, i did have to buy another filter wrench for the small filter (less than 5 bucks at pepboys).
e. the only other tool you will need is a 17mm socket and ratchet (please don't use a crescent wrench!)
f. Good luck and give it a try!!

 

[ShaneS]

5W 20 IS WHAT HONDA RECOMENDS YEAR ROUND, I WAS GOING TO CHANGE MINE AT AROUND 1000 MILES INCASE OF MANUFACTURING DEBREE UNTIL SOMEONE MENTIONED AN ADDITIVE THAT HELPS WITH THE BREAKIN PERIOD. MY QUESTION IS CAN USING SOMETHING LIKE 5W 30 IN THE SUMMER DO ANY HARM, I WAS THINKING THAT THE 5W 20 MAY BREAK DOWN MEANING LOOSING VISCOSITY.

 

[za9ra22]

Again, Honda, the engine manufacturer, state that 5W20 is the correct grade of oil for the tolerances of the engine all year round. I'm told (by Honda rather than an arm-chair mechanic) that other grades of oil will compromise the efficient/effective lubrication of the engine.

Surely one might make at least a general assumption that Honda know their own product reasonably well enough to know what they are talking about? They make some of the best and most reliable race engines and have a reputation for quality-build and reliability that would be severely compromised by them providing the wrong information to owners.