Honda Car Forum

My wife's 2003 CRV EX is about a year old but coming up on 6,000
miles. On one hand, I hear not to drain the breakin oil early. On the
other, I hear to change at least once a year. Which is right?

"Oliver Costich" <olc-caNOSPAM@cox.net> wrote in message
news:1arjk01lm271kl61bist6ujj2iiii7pse9@4ax.com...
> My wife's 2003 CRV EX is about a year old but coming up on 6,000
> miles. On one hand, I hear not to drain the breakin oil early. On the
> other, I hear to change at least once a year. Which is right?
>
>
You're not serious! It's almost a year old with 6000 mi and you haven't
changed the oil! Have you ever thought of reading the owners manual or
checking the maintenance schedule, which by the way you'd be looking at the
severe schedule. You should have changed about 9 months ago.

This was copied from Honda owner link but like the other guy said read the
manual...........................................W hy should I wait to change
the oil the first time?

Your Honda engine was delivered with an oil that is specially formulated for
new engines that have not yet developed their "natural" wear patterns and may
contain minute particles from the manufacturing process.


American Honda strongly recommends this special oil be left in the engine long
enough for these wear patterns to develop, usually until the first maintenance
interval specified in your Owner's Manual, based on your specific driving
conditions.



BACK TO TOP
How often should I change my oil after the first service?

Refer to your owner's manual for the recommended service intervals. Separate
maintenance schedules are listed for "normal service" and "severe service."
Read the description of severe service carefully. Most vehicles will fall under
the normal service category. Note that the service intervals are listed by time
in addition to distance. Your oil should be changed at whichever interval, time
or distance, occurs first.


There is absolutely no benefit in changing your oil more frequently than
recommended in your owner's manual. This will only increase your cost of
ownership, and create an unnecessary burden upon the environment by increasing
the amount of disposed oil.


Do not exceed the recommended maintenance interval. Oil eventually
deteriorates and loses its ability to protect your engine, due to heat,
friction, and exposure to exhaust components. Engine oil contains special
additives to enhance the oil's performance, and these additives are also broken
down or consumed with distance and time. Engine damage can occur if the proper
maintenance schedule is not followed.

Of course this makes sense, though I've always wondered about something.
The oil was sitting in the ground for millions of years. How does
sitting in my car for 3 more months make it "go bad" faster, especially
if I'm not driving it a lot.


RPoole2252 wrote:
> This was copied from Honda owner link but like the other guy said read the
> manual...........................................W hy should I wait to change
> the oil the first time?
>
> Your Honda engine was delivered with an oil that is specially formulated for
> new engines that have not yet developed their "natural" wear patterns and may
> contain minute particles from the manufacturing process.
>
> American Honda strongly recommends this special oil be left in the engine long
> enough for these wear patterns to develop, usually until the first maintenance
> interval specified in your Owner's Manual, based on your specific driving
> conditions.
>
> How often should I change my oil after the first service?
>
> Refer to your owner's manual for the recommended service intervals. Separate
> maintenance schedules are listed for "normal service" and "severe service."
> Read the description of severe service carefully. Most vehicles will fall under
> the normal service category. Note that the service intervals are listed by time
> in addition to distance. Your oil should be changed at whichever interval, time
> or distance, occurs first.
>
> There is absolutely no benefit in changing your oil more frequently than
> recommended in your owner's manual. This will only increase your cost of
> ownership, and create an unnecessary burden upon the environment by increasing
> the amount of disposed oil.
>
> Do not exceed the recommended maintenance interval. Oil eventually
> deteriorates and loses its ability to protect your engine, due to heat,
> friction, and exposure to exhaust components. Engine oil contains special
> additives to enhance the oil's performance, and these additives are also broken
> down or consumed with distance and time. Engine damage can occur if the proper
> maintenance schedule is not followed.

"Brian" <spam.is@ikilling.invalid> wrote in message
news:ioo2d.1968$yg.163@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
> Of course this makes sense, though I've always wondered about something.
> The oil was sitting in the ground for millions of years.

Not the stuff in your crankcase.

How does
> sitting in my car for 3 more months make it "go bad" faster, especially if
> I'm not driving it a lot.

Slightly higher exposure to combustion byproducts than above.

Oliver Costich wrote:

> My wife's 2003 CRV EX is about a year old but coming up on 6,000
> miles. On one hand, I hear not to drain the breakin oil early. On the
> other, I hear to change at least once a year. Which is right?

take your pick. IMO, 6000 is close enough. just do it once a year.

mrhct wrote:
> severe schedule. You should have changed about 9 months ago.

thats what jiffy lube wants. every 3 months!

Brian <spam.is@ikilling.invalid> wrote:
> Of course this makes sense, though I've always wondered about something.
> The oil was sitting in the ground for millions of years. How does
> sitting in my car for 3 more months make it "go bad" faster, especially
> if I'm not driving it a lot.

In low mileage operation, you might not heat up the oil to proper temperature.
Lots of condensation and crud gets to survive that might boil off if you
drove more. Worst case is probably an engine running for five minutes,
then shut off for 8 hours, day after day.

I believe in following manufacturers recommendations, which includes
examining the definition of "severe driving". Mine isn't severe. I rarely
start my car without driving at least ten miles. I often drive 50 miles or
more in one heat cycle. I change oil at 10,000 mile intervals, just like
the book says.

---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5

On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 16:58:58 -0400, "mrhct" <mrhct@cox.net> wrote:

>
>"Oliver Costich" <olc-caNOSPAM@cox.net> wrote in message
>news:1arjk01lm271kl61bist6ujj2iiii7pse9@4ax.com.. .
>> My wife's 2003 CRV EX is about a year old but coming up on 6,000
>> miles. On one hand, I hear not to drain the breakin oil early. On the
>> other, I hear to change at least once a year. Which is right?
>>
>>
>You're not serious! It's almost a year old with 6000 mi and you haven't
>changed the oil! Have you ever thought of reading the owners manual or
>checking the maintenance schedule, which by the way you'd be looking at the
>severe schedule. You should have changed about 9 months ago.
>


I've read it genious. Have you?

Which of the conditions on pages 236-237 make this a Severe Conditions
vehicle? Page 238 says the first mainteneance at 10,000 miles or 1
year. When you don't something, the wise man shuts the **** up.

Oliver Costich wrote:

> On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 16:58:58 -0400, "mrhct" <mrhct@cox.net> wrote:
>
>
>>"Oliver Costich" <olc-caNOSPAM@cox.net> wrote in message
>>news:1arjk01lm271kl61bist6ujj2iiii7pse9@4ax.com. ..
>>
>>>My wife's 2003 CRV EX is about a year old but coming up on 6,000
>>>miles. On one hand, I hear not to drain the breakin oil early. On the
>>>other, I hear to change at least once a year. Which is right?
>>>
>>>
>>
>>You're not serious! It's almost a year old with 6000 mi and you haven't
>>changed the oil! Have you ever thought of reading the owners manual or
>>checking the maintenance schedule, which by the way you'd be looking at the
>>severe schedule. You should have changed about 9 months ago.
>>
>
>
>
> I've read it genious.

LOL - you certainly ain't no "genious" (sic), there, Ollie!!!