A Must Read On Oil Change Intervals...

[MG Pilot]

http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/s.../oil-life.html

This is a very interesting article indeed-

[raleighpilot]

Yes - The article is interesting but these type of oil test articles have been done at least 30 years.

In every one that I have read the oil always outlasts the manufacturer's recommended oil change frequency, and normally by a LOT.

I remember when auto manufactures recommended that oil be changed every thousand miles and we faithfully followed their recommendations. Then engines got better, manufacturing processes improved and oils got better. Now the manufacturers recommend that we change our oil every 7,500 miles yet it seems like 90% of the people in the US insist that their driving patterns were never taken into consideration by Honda so they change their oil every 2,000 or 3,000 miles. Jiffy Lube must love these people.

My contention is that the manufacturers are correct and that most Honda drivers should be changing their oil every 7,500 miles. Honda pays their engineers millions of dollars every year to run these type tests and I'm personally not at all surprised that the test in this example shows that Honda is protecting us by recommended we change our oil at twice the frequency that is really required.

This is my sixth Honda over the past 27 years (27 consecutive years of driving at least one Honda). I have always faithfully followed the recommended oil change mileage from Honda and have never had a problem with the engine. Personally I think I'm saving a lot of money or at the very least I'm not feeding the monster Jiffy Lube oil change propaganda machine that continuously runs 'frightening' TV ads.

JJ

[guitarman]

So, if we assume an average of 15,000 miles driven per year, the difference between Honda's severe oil change schedule (3,750 miles) and the 7,500 mile normal schedule is two oil changes per year. At $20 per oil change, that comes out to $40 per year additional to make sure that the most important fluid in your vehicle is clean and lubricating effectively. Cheap insurance in my book.

[Bill Balmer]

I agree that Honda's 7500 mile recommendation is probably often enough for most drivers. But I find it strange that, although Honda recommends that interval, my dealer tends to try to push the 3000 mile interval on me. I was just there two days ago for my 22,500 mile service, and sure enough, the sticker they put on my windshield says I'm due for another oil change at 24,500 (I was 1,000 miles early for this service).

Since the dealer is the one who stands to make money from shorter oil change intervals, I guess it's not a surprise that they will go as far as to essentially refute Honda's recommendation.

[krygny]

Sometime between now and when my head explodes from reading that article. I might be in the market for my next car before they're done with all the testing.

[gymeni]

At what mile interval have you guys had your Pilot's first oil change performed, 3,000 or 7,500?

[jay]

Originally posted by gymeni
At what mile interval have you guys had your Pilot's first oil change performed, 3,000 or 7,500?

3750 for me EVERY oil change.

[davemac]

Originally posted by jay
3750 for me EVERY oil change.

Same here, about 3,750 with oem filter (from hondacuraworld). Been using Pennzoil 5-20.

[speedlever]

Remember folks.. this test concerns synthetic oil.. not dino oil. Methinks there are significant reasons to use synthetics (and I do). Just don't extrapolate the test data to include dino oil.

Imo, the thread should be retitled: A Must Read on Synthetic Oil Change Intervals.

**edited for spelling**

[ARwebpilot]

Here's an interesting bit of editorial oversight from the 2004 Pilot owner's manual (Sorry, not able to scan the pages at this time... may post the scan tonight...)
For US/non-severe oil changes, manual says to change the oil every 3750 miles and filter every 7500 miles; (Per the owners manual...) those in Canada or using the severe schedule never change their oil, but should change the filter every 3750 miles.....


Sure hope no one really follows this erroneous maintenance schedule!!!!

I thought changing oil without changing the filter was a practice dropped in the early 50's!!!

[sblvro]

I'm in between, 5000 to 6000 miles

[colorider]

Originally posted by Bill Balmer

~snip~
Since the dealer is the one who stands to make money from shorter oil change intervals, I guess it's not a surprise that they will go as far as to essentially refute Honda's recommendation.

They don't call them "stealers" for nothing!!

[RagerXS]

It's no surprise that synthetics outlast petroleum oils. What will be great to see is how the AMSOIL will kick some Mobil1 butt... I use the XL-7500 in our Pilot and drain it at 7500 miles, but my Tundra has over 24,000 miles on the same AMSOIL 5W-30 with good oil analysis results for continued use.

~ Fred

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by ARwebpilot
Here's an interesting bit of editorial oversight from the 2004 Pilot owner's manual (Sorry, not able to scan the pages at this time... may post the scan tonight...)
For US/non-severe oil changes, manual says to change the oil every 3750 miles and filter every 7500 miles; (Per the owners manual...) those in Canada or using the severe schedule never change their oil, but should change the filter every 3750 miles.....


Sure hope no one really follows this erroneous maintenance schedule!!!!

I thought changing oil without changing the filter was a practice dropped in the early 50's!!!

Yep, change the filter with every oil change when a significant amount of the contamination was from particulates.

Unsealed engines picked up a lot of dust, rings and bearing used to be shot at under 100,000 miles dumping metal in to the oil, gas burned rich and produced a lot of carbon, and blow-by was terrible.

Todays engines are running a lot cleaner INSIDE than those of days gone by.

[mookie]

For the cheap cost of oil + a filter, around $14, I have no problems justifying the cost of changing it every 3500 miles or so. At $28 more a year, it's nice peace of mind. New oil is better than older, dirty, broken-down oil, IMO.