"'Curly Q. Links'" wrote:

> Debasis Goswami wrote:
> >
> > I bough a 2004 Odyssey from Sloane Honda near Philadelphia. The sale was
> > smooth. However, I found that this dealer always pushes for first and all
> > subsequent servicing at 3,750 miles instead of Honda-advised 7,500 miles for
> > normal driving. I drive between 2K and 3K miles every month and all highway.
> > I am not sure if the dealer just pushes people too early for a few bucks in
> > servicing. I called another dealer in NJ and they did not expect me to
> > service before 7,500 miles for the first one.
> >
> > In general, I am seeing poor customer service quality with Honda
> > dealers/servicing. They don't drop off people or provide a loaner car if the
> > car needs to be in for the day. I guess the reason is that these dealers are
> > too proud of their brand name
> >
> > Earlier I have always driven Ford for many years. While some of them are
> > staffed by rude people, some others are nice. Particularly to the one I used
> > to go to (Robin Ford). I could not buy a Ford for the minivan this time
> > because of horrible quality of Ford minivans.
>
> --------------------
>
> Deb,
>
> Whatever you do, don't do the first oil change prematurely. There's
> special oil in there and it's helping your engine 'break in' properly.
> Read your owner's manual religiously and you'll be smarter than the
> salesman (perhaps). :-)
>
> 'Curly'
>
> --------------------

I am still skeptical of the first oil change at 7500 miles as the best
approach. Here is my reasoning.
Special "break in oil" or not, if you let the minute particals float around in
the engine to "establish a wear pattern" those particals can and do cause
un-needed wear. Its in the best interest of the dealer and owners manual to
suggest this long service interval, the damage that could be done in the first
7500 miles may actually decrease the total life of the engine by several 10's of
thousands miles, hence earlier replacement.

Im a bit of old school when it comes to engines, Ive done oil changes after the
first 100 miles after a rebuild, and 1500 miles following that. Then I switch
to 5000 mile intervals. The amount of crap floating around the engine when new
can plug the oil filter causing it to bypass all filtration when the engine is
cold. Changing the oil and filter early in its life reduces a lot of wear.

mabey make a compromise on what the manual and dealer recommends and change the
filter after the first 1500-3000 miles and top the oil back up. This might be
the best solution.