2003 Honda Civic maintenance schedule

What is the proper oil change interval for an '03 Civic. The owners manual
and dealership have to different opinions. The manual says 20,000kms or 12
months, the dealer says 8,000kms or 4 months. Is the dealership just tring
to take my friend for a ride by discounting what the owner's manual says?

Steve

 

In Canada you follow the severe duty schedule, 6 months or 8,000 km
whichever comes first. The 4 month interval that the dealership is
recommending is just so they can make more money. As long as you follow
6/8,000 you will NOT void your warrenty.

 

If dealers and oil change business can get away welling the idea of changing
your oil every month or every 1,000 mile they'll do it.

Just follow your normal or severe schedule, whichever fits your situation
best.

 

The local Honda dealership recommends that people change the oil every
3000 miles. If you plan to keep the car for many many years, I suggest
that you change the oil every 3000 miles. If you plan to trade it in in
the near future, change it every 8,000 miles.

 

Yes! Follow the manual; Honda engineers know what they are doing.

 

Yes, I agree that the Honda engineers know what they are doing. Those
engineers know that a Honda engine will last much longer if the oil is
changed every 3000 miles. They recommend 8000 mile changes so your engine
won't last as long and therefore they can sell more cars. I heard of one
other car company that recommends 10,000 mile oil changes for these same
reasons. Another company recommends a tune-up at 50,000 miles. Those
companies have one goal in mind--to sell more cars. My goal is to buy a
Honda car and make it last at least 10 years without any major engine
work. That's why I change the oil at 3,000 miles.

 

REspectfully, disagree. Our '90 Accord lasted 270K miles and just died, our
'94 Integra is at 165K mile and running strong on factory recomended oil
changes. And my '86 CRX was at about 150K in '94 whaen I traded it in on
the Integra.

 

The manufacturing methodologies have improved vastly over the years since
the recommended 2K-3K oil changes. Tolerances are tighter, measurements are
more accurate, methods of machining are more precise then ever (and will
become even more precise).