"eh" <eh@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:3MBdd.69$A24.38@news.oracle.com...
> Hi,
>
> I have a 98 Accord. The manual says the oil changing interval
> is 3750 miles for severe condition and 7500 for non-severecondition.
> Most of my mileage is from highway driving, but nevertheless I change oil
> every 3000 miles.
>
> We just bought a 2004 Accord. The manual now specifies to change
> oil every 5000 miles for severecondition and 10000 miles for non-severe
> condition. Should I still be keep up with the schedule by changing oil
every
> 3000 miles or can relax a bit? Any recommendations?
>
> Thanks for you help!
>
> Best Regards,
> Eugene
>
>
From previous post:

My $0.01 worth.....(I'm not a very disciplined oil changer-every time my
odometer hits a five or ten thousand mile mark, it's done)

*Change your oil every time you shut off your engine.*
What?????
Not practical?
Motor oil's first job is lubrication, and the additives in your refined
motor oil break down and lose their properties after prolonged use and
exposure to heat.
Motor oil's second biggest job is to collect contaminants (carbon, grit,
etc.) Changing motor oil removes these contaminants from your engine where
they would cause wear and friction. So frequent oil changes would be better
for your engine than infrequent changes.
The obvious drawbacks to oil changes are:
1)time spent just to do it or have it done,
2)cost of materials and labor,
3)adding to our stores of waste oil in this country, and
4)maintaining a dependency on foreign oil supplies.

Can you trust the auto manufacturer to set the oil change frequency to be in
your best interest?
1) If I'm the manufacturer, I want your engine to last a long time, thus
improving my standings with you- the customer. I'm in the business of
selling cars-I want you to buy from me.
2)I have detailed technical information about your engine and its
requirements. I'm in a good position to tell you how long your oil will be
in good condition. Although....
3) I don't want to add to your cost-of-operating a vehicle so much as to
discourage you from buying from me again.
So...as the manufacturer I'm probably going to make a recommendation that
considers all of these factors.

Can you trust the oil companies to tell you how frequently to change your
oil??
That is a rhetorical question. They are in the business to sell you oil.

My biggest problem with oil changes is remembering when each vehicle is due.
With four cars I would have to do a lot more bookkeeping than I want to. I
just watch for the odometer to reach a five thousand mile mark and know its
due.
BTW...I converted from Pennzoil to Castrol GT after I saw my wife's Voyager
engine disassembled. I use generic filters and change filter every time.
*Interesting sidenote: recently saw two oil filters under different brand
names, different paint schemes, the whole visual package
different.......inside it was the EXACT same filter.(AC Delco and STP, I
think). Don't buy filters with flat gaskets...buy the ones with O-rings.*
-- Sorry so long-winded.
From the Doc'