Honda Car Forum

Researching google, I still see a lot of people recommending 3,000 mile oil
changes even though the Accord manual clearly states 5,000 miles for extreme
conditions, 10,000 miles for normal conditions.

Just wondering why people still believe the 3,000 mile interval is the way
to go and what interval are others using with their new Accords?

Who are these people? Why do we suppose that they are more
knowledgable than Honda?

For that matter, what is the scientific basis for the 3K oil change
anyway. You can't tell me that after multiple years of development
both in engines and oil that it hasn't affected the optimal interval
for changing oil. My guess is that this is something promoted by the
oil industry to sell more frequent oil changes.

On 03 Oct 2003 14:09:52 GMT, "Duran" <nospam@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Researching google, I still see a lot of people recommending 3,000 mile oil
>changes even though the Accord manual clearly states 5,000 miles for extreme
>conditions, 10,000 miles for normal conditions.
>
>Just wondering why people still believe the 3,000 mile interval is the way
>to go and what interval are others using with their new Accords?
>

I should have stated in my last post that I am following Honda's
recommendations. I have just under 4,000 miles on my car right now and it
has not had an oil change. I am using the 5,000 mile intervals. My theory
is sounding similar to yours: Honda engineers have much better insight than
anybody else as to what the optimal oil change interval should be. I guess
I am really just wondering what people are basing this on. Maybe people
have been so used to and conditioned to changing oil at 3,000 miles that
anything that deviates from that (even when informed to deviate from it by
the engineers that designed your car) is wrong.

And, more so, I was really just curious if anyone is still following the
3,000 mile "normal" interval.

I think you make some good points here, especially about the oil industry.

> Who are these people? Why do we suppose that they are more
> knowledgable than Honda?
>
> For that matter, what is the scientific basis for the 3K oil change
> anyway. You can't tell me that after multiple years of development
> both in engines and oil that it hasn't affected the optimal interval
> for changing oil. My guess is that this is something promoted by the
> oil industry to sell more frequent oil changes.
>
>
> >Researching google, I still see a lot of people recommending 3,000 mile
oil
> >changes even though the Accord manual clearly states 5,000 miles for
extreme
> >conditions, 10,000 miles for normal conditions.
> >
> >Just wondering why people still believe the 3,000 mile interval is the
way
> >to go and what interval are others using with their new Accords?
> >
>

I disagree. Changing the oil at 3,000 miles is damn cheap insurance,
especially if you have the gumption to get the coveralls on and do it
yourself.

I have owned many cars, new and not-so-new. And the cars that ran the
best, smoked the least, and had the quietest, cleanest engines were
the ones that had been maintained along a schedule similar to this. My
1989 Jetta had 3,000 mile oil changes its whole life and ran like a
Swiss watch at 196,000 miles, long after most top ends are tapping
noisily and bottom ends begin to smoke. It used no oil between
changes. None.

Just do it. The only exception is the break-in oil that manufacturers
put in during the initial 5,000 miles. That should be left as is.

Bob


On 03 Oct 2003 15:06:50 GMT, "Duran" <nospam@hotmail.com> wrote:

>I should have stated in my last post that I am following Honda's
>recommendations. I have just under 4,000 miles on my car right now and it
>has not had an oil change. I am using the 5,000 mile intervals. My theory
>is sounding similar to yours: Honda engineers have much better insight than
>anybody else as to what the optimal oil change interval should be. I guess
>I am really just wondering what people are basing this on. Maybe people
>have been so used to and conditioned to changing oil at 3,000 miles that
>anything that deviates from that (even when informed to deviate from it by
>the engineers that designed your car) is wrong.
>
>And, more so, I was really just curious if anyone is still following the
>3,000 mile "normal" interval.
>
>I think you make some good points here, especially about the oil industry.
>
>> Who are these people? Why do we suppose that they are more
>> knowledgable than Honda?
>>
>> For that matter, what is the scientific basis for the 3K oil change
>> anyway. You can't tell me that after multiple years of development
>> both in engines and oil that it hasn't affected the optimal interval
>> for changing oil. My guess is that this is something promoted by the
>> oil industry to sell more frequent oil changes.
>>
>>
>> >Researching google, I still see a lot of people recommending 3,000 mile
>oil
>> >changes even though the Accord manual clearly states 5,000 miles for
>extreme
>> >conditions, 10,000 miles for normal conditions.
>> >
>> >Just wondering why people still believe the 3,000 mile interval is the
>way
>> >to go and what interval are others using with their new Accords?
>> >
>>
>

"Duran" <nospam@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bljvvg$rpg@dispatch.concentric.net...
| Researching google, I still see a lot of people recommending 3,000 mile
oil
| changes even though the Accord manual clearly states 5,000 miles for
extreme
| conditions, 10,000 miles for normal conditions.
|
| Just wondering why people still believe the 3,000 mile interval is the way
| to go and what interval are others using with their new Accords?
|
|
One reason for the extended change interval is to improve the total cost of
ownership that Honda uses to compare itself to other makers. If you drive
under the severe conditions described in the manual, change at least every
5k miles. The oil isn't necessarily broken down, but can be contaminated
with combustion junk and water from condensation. If it is a new engine,
keep the original oil in there as recommended in the manual to aid the break
in of the motor. I plan to follow the owners manual with my new '03. I
used the 3k rule for my '95 though.

The manual for my '03 says to change the oil every 3,750 miles for severe
conditions.

"Duran" <nospam@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bljvvg$rpg@dispatch.concentric.net...
> Researching google, I still see a lot of people recommending 3,000 mile
oil
> changes even though the Accord manual clearly states 5,000 miles for
extreme
> conditions, 10,000 miles for normal conditions.
>
> Just wondering why people still believe the 3,000 mile interval is the way
> to go and what interval are others using with their new Accords?
>
>




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"Bradley D. Allison" <brad@jam.net> wrote in message
news:3f7d9fbc$1_1@127.0.0.1...
> The manual for my '03 says to change the oil every 3,750 miles for severe
> conditions.

You have the V6, which is what my manual states as well. I have the 4cyl
which is 5,000 miles for severe conditions.
4cyl severe conditions, page 252 of the manual.
V6 severe conditions, page 257 of the manual.




>> the Accord manual clearly states 5,000 miles for extreme
> > conditions, 10,000 miles for normal conditions.

"Duran" <nospam@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bljvvg$rpg@dispatch.concentric.net...
> Researching google, I still see a lot of people recommending 3,000 mile
oil
> changes even though the Accord manual clearly states 5,000 miles for
extreme
> conditions, 10,000 miles for normal conditions.
>
> Just wondering why people still believe the 3,000 mile interval is the way
> to go and what interval are others using with their new Accords?

thats what spiffy loobe sez, and theyre always right.

me? mobil1, every 7500. honda filter.

"Bob" <Bob@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:1a6rnvsrvad48cebk1vhr4ggmvup970gcc@4ax.com...
> I disagree. Changing the oil at 3,000 miles is damn cheap insurance,
> especially if you have the gumption to get the coveralls on and do it
> yourself.
>
> I have owned many cars, new and not-so-new. And the cars that ran the
> best, smoked the least, and had the quietest, cleanest engines were
> the ones that had been maintained along a schedule similar to this. My
> 1989 Jetta had 3,000 mile oil changes its whole life and ran like a
> Swiss watch at 196,000 miles, long after most top ends are tapping
> noisily and bottom ends begin to smoke. It used no oil between
> changes. None.

those veedubs NEEDED frequent oil changes, since their tolerances were so
low. they also required 20w50 so the oil wouldnt blow past the rings as fast

"Bob" <Bob@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:1a6rnvsrvad48cebk1vhr4ggmvup970gcc@4ax.com...
> I disagree. Changing the oil at 3,000 miles is damn cheap insurance,
> especially if you have the gumption to get the coveralls on and do it
> yourself.

Then we can start changing our tires when they're 25% worn, you know, just
in case...
And the timing belt after 30000 miles, because you don't want that to
brake...
And don't forget to flush your coolant every year...

BTW, my parents is law had 3 Jettas with over 450000 km (300000 miles). On
all of them tge body gave up before the engine.