Oil Change Intervals

[babymsv]

Our pilot is nearing 5000 miles. How often do you plan on changing your oil? Are you gonna stick w/ the recommended service interval (i.e. oil life indicator)?

[kulmak]

I was told by the dealership to follow the Oil change indicator. The problem is, I am at 700 miles right now and it still shows 100%. There is no way it is 100% at 700 miles.

I am probably going to stick with my usual 3000 mile oil change regiment. At 3000 miles I will go with a 50 / 50 Synthetic blend and at 6000 with a full synthetic. After that, nothing but synthentic. I have had plenty of vehicals break 300K with that.

[bigdadi]

Originally posted by kulmak
I was told by the dealership to follow the Oil change indicator. The problem is, I am at 700 miles right now and it still shows 100%. There is no way it is 100% at 700 miles.

I am probably going to stick with my usual 3000 mile oil change regiment. At 3000 miles I will go with a 50 / 50 Synthetic blend and at 6000 with a full synthetic. After that, nothing but synthentic. I have had plenty of vehicals break 300K with that.

In normal City + Highway driving, the oil change reminder will come at around 5,000 miles.
When you reach 3,000 miles you should see roughly 40% left.

[Michal]

Originally posted by kulmak
I was told by the dealership to follow the Oil change indicator. The problem is, I am at 700 miles right now and it still shows 100%. There is no way it is 100% at 700 miles.

I am probably going to stick with my usual 3000 mile oil change regiment. At 3000 miles I will go with a 50 / 50 Synthetic blend and at 6000 with a full synthetic. After that, nothing but synthentic. I have had plenty of vehicals break 300K with that.

Your dealer is following Honda's recommendations. Good for them. Not too many of them are doing it, since it means less business.
Vast majority of people on this forum stick to MM and Honda expertise including myself. I made my first oil change at 8K.
I followed MM with my CR-V and it is right now at 235K and running strong.

M

[arizona85715]

all the MM is indicating at 700 miles is your calculated oil life is between 100% and 91% (from owners manual) It does not get more precise until you get below 20%. My 2009 has 1100 miles and shows 90%. As I recall, it went from 100% to 90% sometime after 800+ miles.

Calculated Engine
Oil Life (%)
100 % 91 %
90 % 81 %
80 % 71 %
70 % 61 %
60 % 51 %
50 % 41 %
40 % 31 %
30 % 21 %
20 % 16 %
15 % 11 %
10 % 6 %
5 % 1 %
0 %
Displayed
Engine Oil Life (%)
100 %
90 %
80 %
70 %
60 %
50 %
40 %
30 %
20 %
15 %
10 %
5 %
0 %

[babymsv]

Most of the driving on the Pilot are highway miles. I think I'll stick with the regular cycle as I do w/ our Lexus. Change every 5k miles w/ conventional oil. I'll only switch over to synthetic if I was towing everyday or planned on going between 7.5k-10k intervals.

[youbetcha]

mine has gone more than 7K between changes.

[moda_way]

Originally posted by youbetcha
mine has gone more than 7K between changes.

Agreed, it works out to about every 7k miles. I saw the "from the factory oil" come out. It was still quite decent. FYI, the J series are probably the cleanest running motors Honda has. The loose nearly no oil and stay amazingly clean.

[Jake09]

I know it's tough but try to keep the factory oil in there as long as u can...It's a special oil for break in and it's recommended by Honda engineers not Joe the mechanic.

+1 for J series engines...If you check bobistheoilguy.com most oil gurus say that it's another boring honda UOA (used oil analysis) because test results always comes out good regardless of what oil you put in.

[moda_way]

Originally posted by Jake09
I know it's tough but try to keep the factory oil in there as long as u can...It's a special oil for break in and it's recommended by Honda engineers not Joe the mechanic.

+1 for J series engines...If you check bobistheoilguy.com most oil gurus say that it's another boring honda UOA (used oil analysis) because test results always comes out good regardless of what oil you put in.

Yeah, in contrast, my K24 in the TSX is a dirty little oil burner. Just a known thing, but it floors me that I put in almost the same amount of oil in my TSX as I do in the Pilot, but the TSX drinks a 1.5 quarts in 5000 miles and the Pilot gave nearly all of it back in 7000 miles. 1st Gen TSX, gotta love it.

[bdac2k]

Originally posted by moda_way


FYI, the J series are probably the cleanest running motors Honda has. The loose nearly no oil and stay amazingly clean.

Clean as in 'visually clean' (eg: not dark) or 'chemically clean' (eg: other compounds found within the engine oil)?

[Jake09]

(Clean) the engine is not hard on the oil...less contaminants over time, less fuel dilution...etc. I think thats what he meant.

[moda_way]

Originally posted by bdac2k


Clean as in 'visually clean' (eg: not dark) or 'chemically clean' (eg: other compounds found within the engine oil)?

All motors are going to break down oils differently, but in terms of 'clean', the oil was not overly burnt for 7000 miles. This is common for J series motors (can't say the same for their transmissions). I have not performed any chemical analysis at all.

[kulmak]

well, right on queue I guess.

I dropped to 90% last night at 785 +/- miles. I called my dealership and they also told me to hold off changing the first oil out until the Pilot say about 10% and if the Oil level is stil full pushing it to 5% would be best. But after that, change the oil at 15% with standard oil.

I can live with pushing the oil the first time, after that, I am guessing I will change it much more often. Just habit I am sure, but that is just me.

Thanks for the info.

[youbetcha]

Originally posted by moda_way


All motors are going to break down oils differently, but in terms of 'clean', the oil was not overly burnt for 7000 miles. This is common for J series motors (can't say the same for their transmissions). I have not performed any chemical analysis at all.

My oil is not visually clean. My engine is a slight variant of yours (my VCM only has 3 cyls). Based on how mine looks, I would probably change it at 3-4K miles. It looks black. But I had it tested and it was fine. I suppose the oil was just doing its job and suspending dirt.

I don't think it is environmental (dusty air). Other cars I've had don't make the oil look as dark. Not sure what would cause that but I don't think it matters.

Not sure what brand the dealer uses, either.