Honda Car Forum

I've got a new Accord and my custom when buying a new car has always been
to change the oil at about 1000 miles. No doubt that's a hold over from the
bad old days when you had to get the metal chips and debris deposited during
the sloppy engine manufacturing process out of there. Unnecessary today I'm
sure with improved manufacturing-- but I was going to do it nonetheless.

But the owner's manual specifically says not to change the oil early the
first time. Why is that? Is there some kind of special "break in" oil in
there?

Eye In The Sky wrote:

> I've got a new Accord and my custom when buying a new car has always been
> to change the oil at about 1000 miles. No doubt that's a hold over from
> the bad old days when you had to get the metal chips and debris deposited
> during the sloppy engine manufacturing process out of there. Unnecessary
> today I'm sure with improved manufacturing-- but I was going to do it
> nonetheless.
>
> But the owner's manual specifically says not to change the oil early the
> first time. Why is that? Is there some kind of special "break in" oil in
> there?

You got it!

AAMOF, you only need to change the oil when the car tells you it is time.
When the Maintenance Monitor light comes on, get the oil changed, and reset
the light.

"Eye In The Sky" <ruleman@> wrote in
news:9sSdnduQJu21BdTbnZ2dnUVZ_s6onZ2d@comcast.com:

> I've got a new Accord and my custom when buying a new car has always
> been to change the oil at about 1000 miles. No doubt that's a hold
> over from the bad old days when you had to get the metal chips and
> debris deposited during the sloppy engine manufacturing process out of
> there. Unnecessary today I'm sure with improved manufacturing-- but I
> was going to do it nonetheless.
>
> But the owner's manual specifically says not to change the oil early
> the first time. Why is that? Is there some kind of special "break in"
> oil in there?
>
>


There certainly is. Honda explicitly says so in the Aug'06 issue of Honda
Service News.

An excerpt:
"What’s really important to remember here is this:
Don’t change the factory-fill engine oil because it
looks dark; just make sure it’s at the right fluid
level. To ensure proper engine break-in, the
factory-fill engine oil needs to remain in the
engine until the first scheduled maintenance
interval."

--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Tegger wrote:

>"Eye In The Sky" <ruleman@> wrote in
>news:9sSdnduQJu21BdTbnZ2dnUVZ_s6onZ2d@comcast.com :
>
>
>
>>I've got a new Accord and my custom when buying a new car has always
>>been to change the oil at about 1000 miles. No doubt that's a hold
>>over from the bad old days when you had to get the metal chips and
>>debris deposited during the sloppy engine manufacturing process out of
>>there. Unnecessary today I'm sure with improved manufacturing-- but I
>>was going to do it nonetheless.
>>
>>But the owner's manual specifically says not to change the oil early
>>the first time. Why is that? Is there some kind of special "break in"
>>oil in there?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>There certainly is. Honda explicitly says so in the Aug'06 issue of Honda
>Service News.
>
>An excerpt:
>"What’s really important to remember here is this:
>Don’t change the factory-fill engine oil because it
>looks dark; just make sure it’s at the right fluid
>level. To ensure proper engine break-in, the
>factory-fill engine oil needs to remain in the
>engine until the first scheduled maintenance
>interval."
>
>
>
Is this the Magic Mystery Break-In oil thing again?

Just what is in this magic oil?

ecarecar <ecarecar@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:af-dnQ_hYfzb2NfbnZ2dnUVZ_u3inZ2d@centurytel.net:

>
>
> Tegger wrote:
>
>>"Eye In The Sky" <ruleman@> wrote in
>>news:9sSdnduQJu21BdTbnZ2dnUVZ_s6onZ2d@comcast.co m:

>>>
>>>But the owner's manual specifically says not to change the oil early
>>>the first time. Why is that? Is there some kind of special "break in"
>>>oil in there?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>There certainly is. Honda explicitly says so in the Aug'06 issue of
>>Honda Service News.
>>
>>An excerpt:
>>"What’s really important to remember here is this:
>>Don’t change the factory-fill engine oil because it
>>looks dark; just make sure it’s at the right fluid
>>level. To ensure proper engine break-in, the
>>factory-fill engine oil needs to remain in the
>>engine until the first scheduled maintenance
>>interval."
>>
>>
>>
> Is this the Magic Mystery Break-In oil thing again?
>
> Just what is in this magic oil?
>



I do not know. However, I did read once that break-in oil is low in
dispersants.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

On May 15, 8:51 pm, Tegger <teg...@tegger.c0m> wrote:
> ecarecar <ecare...@yahoo.com> wrote innews:af-dnQ_hYfzb2NfbnZ2dnUVZ_u3inZ2d@centurytel.net:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Tegger wrote:
>
> >>"Eye In The Sky" <ruleman@> wrote in
> >>news:9sSdnduQJu21BdTbnZ2dnUVZ_s6onZ2d@comcast.co m:
>
> >>>But the owner's manual specifically says not to change the oil early
> >>>the first time. Why is that? Is there some kind of special "break in"
> >>>oil in there?
>
> >>There certainly is. Honda explicitly says so in the Aug'06 issue of
> >>Honda Service News.
>
> >>An excerpt:
> >>"What's really important to remember here is this:
> >>Don't change the factory-fill engine oil because it
> >>looks dark; just make sure it's at the right fluid
> >>level. To ensure proper engine break-in, the
> >>factory-fill engine oil needs to remain in the
> >>engine until the first scheduled maintenance
> >>interval."
>
> > Is this the Magic Mystery Break-In oil thing again?
>
> > Just what is in this magic oil?
>
> I do not know. However, I did read once that break-in oil is low in
> dispersants.
>
> --
> Tegger
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQwww.tegger.com/hondafaq/


www.bobistheoilguy.com has some oil analysis from Honda factory fills.

the magic is apparently molybdenum

Honda dealers typically push "early" oil changes so its doubtful that
any harm will be done unless synthetic oil is used prior to the engine
fully wearing-in. Then there's the whole "severe" vs "normal" interval
thing, a first oil change at 3500 miles is apparently OK under the
severe schedule for the V6 but 10K is OK under the normal schedule for
the I4. I'm not buying this.

So far, I've yet to hear any solid reason to substantiate Honda's
factory fill instructions other than to prevent owners from switching
to synthetic too soon. The "normal" service interval for my I4 is 10K
miles; I wasn't about to follow that bad advice (see "Bob" for some
10K oil analysis data). I changed the oil at 3500 mile intervals for
the first 4 oil changes then switched to synthetic. So far (about 70K
miles) so good.

YMMV

"ACAR" <dimndsonmywndshld@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1179312917.869481.11380@k79g2000hse.googlegro ups.com...
> `

<snip>

> So far, I've yet to hear any solid reason to substantiate Honda's
> factory fill instructions other than to prevent owners from switching
> to synthetic too soon. The "normal" service interval for my I4 is 10K
> miles; I wasn't about to follow that bad advice (see "Bob" for some
> 10K oil analysis data). I changed the oil at 3500 mile intervals for
> the first 4 oil changes then switched to synthetic. So far (about 70K
> miles) so good.
>

What's the problem with using synthetics in low mileage vehicles?

Charlie

ACAR <dimndsonmywndshld@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:1179312917.869481.11380@k79g2000hse.googlegro ups.com:

> On May 15, 8:51 pm, Tegger <teg...@tegger.c0m> wrote:
>> ecarecar <ecare...@yahoo.com> wrote
>> innews:af-dnQ_hYfzb2NfbnZ2dnUVZ_u3inZ2d@centurytel.net:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > Tegger wrote:
>>
>> >>"Eye In The Sky" <ruleman@> wrote in
>> >>news:9sSdnduQJu21BdTbnZ2dnUVZ_s6onZ2d@comcast.co m:
>>
>> >>>But the owner's manual specifically says not to change the oil
>> >>>early the first time. Why is that? Is there some kind of special
>> >>>"break in" oil in there?
>>
>> >>There certainly is. Honda explicitly says so in the Aug'06 issue of
>> >>Honda Service News.
>>
>> >>An excerpt:
>> >>"What's really important to remember here is this:
>> >>Don't change the factory-fill engine oil because it
>> >>looks dark; just make sure it's at the right fluid
>> >>level. To ensure proper engine break-in, the
>> >>factory-fill engine oil needs to remain in the
>> >>engine until the first scheduled maintenance
>> >>interval."
>>
>> > Is this the Magic Mystery Break-In oil thing again?
>>
>> > Just what is in this magic oil?
>>
>> I do not know. However, I did read once that break-in oil is low in
>> dispersants.
>>
>>
>
>
> www.bobistheoilguy.com has some oil analysis from Honda factory fills.
>
> the magic is apparently molybdenum




According to Honda, the molybdenum that they see comes from the assembly
lube used when the engine is made. The oil does not originally come with
it.



>
> So far, I've yet to hear any solid reason to substantiate Honda's
> factory fill instructions



And you're an engineer? Neither am I.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

"Charlie Allnut" <null@null> wrote in
news:4sKdnTtA9IKrbtfbnZ2dnUVZ_jOdnZ2d@comcast.com:

>
> "ACAR" <dimndsonmywndshld@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1179312917.869481.11380@k79g2000hse.googlegro ups.com...
>> `
>
> <snip>
>
>> So far, I've yet to hear any solid reason to substantiate Honda's
>> factory fill instructions other than to prevent owners from switching
>> to synthetic too soon. The "normal" service interval for my I4 is 10K
>> miles; I wasn't about to follow that bad advice (see "Bob" for some
>> 10K oil analysis data). I changed the oil at 3500 mile intervals for
>> the first 4 oil changes then switched to synthetic. So far (about 70K
>> miles) so good.
>>
>
> What's the problem with using synthetics in low mileage vehicles?
>


Not a thing. After the initial oil change.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

ACAR wrote:
> On May 15, 8:51 pm, Tegger <teg...@tegger.c0m> wrote:
>> ecarecar <ecare...@yahoo.com> wrote innews:af-dnQ_hYfzb2NfbnZ2dnUVZ_u3inZ2d@centurytel.net:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> Tegger wrote:
>>>> "Eye In The Sky" <ruleman@> wrote in
>>>> news:9sSdnduQJu21BdTbnZ2dnUVZ_s6onZ2d@comcast.com:
>>>>> But the owner's manual specifically says not to change the oil early
>>>>> the first time. Why is that? Is there some kind of special "break in"
>>>>> oil in there?
>>>> There certainly is. Honda explicitly says so in the Aug'06 issue of
>>>> Honda Service News.
>>>> An excerpt:
>>>> "What's really important to remember here is this:
>>>> Don't change the factory-fill engine oil because it
>>>> looks dark; just make sure it's at the right fluid
>>>> level. To ensure proper engine break-in, the
>>>> factory-fill engine oil needs to remain in the
>>>> engine until the first scheduled maintenance
>>>> interval."
>>> Is this the Magic Mystery Break-In oil thing again?
>>> Just what is in this magic oil?
>> I do not know. However, I did read once that break-in oil is low in
>> dispersants.
>>
>> --
>> Tegger
>>
>> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQwww.tegger.com/hondafaq/
>
>
> www.bobistheoilguy.com has some oil analysis from Honda factory fills.
>
> the magic is apparently molybdenum
>
> Honda dealers typically push "early" oil changes so its doubtful that
> any harm will be done unless synthetic oil is used prior to the engine
> fully wearing-in. Then there's the whole "severe" vs "normal" interval
> thing, a first oil change at 3500 miles is apparently OK under the
> severe schedule for the V6 but 10K is OK under the normal schedule for
> the I4. I'm not buying this.
>
> So far, I've yet to hear any solid reason to substantiate Honda's
> factory fill instructions other than to prevent owners from switching
> to synthetic too soon. The "normal" service interval for my I4 is 10K
> miles; I wasn't about to follow that bad advice (see "Bob" for some
> 10K oil analysis data). I changed the oil at 3500 mile intervals for
> the first 4 oil changes then switched to synthetic. So far (about 70K
> miles) so good.
>
> YMMV
>
bitog only has the results of spark spectroscopy - that tells you
/nothing/ about the organic content of the oil whatsoever. it's
therefore has very limited usefulness and there's no way most of their
conclusions can be drawn.