First Oil Change Suggestions

How many people here have a Honda Accord that they are still driving with
over 200,000 miles?

Seriously....I want to know.

Peace,
Polfus

 

You have a Honda Accord with over 200,000 miles?

If so, how many of yours have lasted that long, and when did they give up
the ghost?

Peace,
Polfus

 

I will in about 2 months (maybe more if I travel abroad for business as much
as I am expecting to in January and February)

See past message in this group. People listing their high mileage Honda
threads come around every couple of months.

 

Not sure if thats a yes or no, but I see what you mean.

Thats really good if it does go to 200,000.

I guess that will translate, unless you tell me otherwise, that you have
never had a Honda Accord that made it to 200,000 miles.

All I am saying in addition is that I don't think its accurate to suggest
that its "the norm" when people speak of this milestone.

200,000 is a *ton* of miles, and most people just do not have a car long
enough to get there.

It happens, sure...but I still maintain that it's not the norm. I will check
the past postings and see if I can get some kinda number on it...

Peace,
Polfus

 

That's an "almost yes" from me, I'm at 195k and change right now and my
round-trip commute to the office (which I usually make 3 days a week) is
150miles.

Unless it gets hit by a bus, hitting and passing 200k is pretty much a given
for my vehicle.

This is my first time owning a car more than 3 years, so yeah, for me, it's
a first coming up.

Depends on what defines "the norm". People voluntarily getting rid of their
vehicle while they are still running doesn't count against it. Someone had
to receive that car.

They may not have it from 0-200,000, but when they get rid of it at 120,000
someone picks it up if still running.

 

All I hope you realize is that its not the *norm*, nor "routine".

Peace,
Polfus

 

FWIW
I own 3 cars. Two have over 200,000 miles; one Honda product (Legend
bought with 80,000 miles) and one Toyota (Sienna, new car purchase).
Neither of these cars had any difficulty making it to 200,000 but the
Honda product, 8 years older than the Toyota, has required a lot more
repair work. Just had the old Legend tested for emissions and it
passed easily.

People get bored and want change. So they don't replace worn parts
(perhaps suspension) wait 'till the brakes are making noise, bring the
car in, get an estimate of $2500 to $4000 to fix all the maintenance
they deferred and use that as an excuse to buy another car.

Keeps the economy going...

 

Again...good points. And thats wild you have two with that amount of
miles...thats pretty dang good.

Peace,
Polfus

 

For the record Honda motor does not specify synthetic oil for the '08
Accord engine.
See pg. 317 of your owner's manual. Which says you can use it,
providing it meets the current API specifications and is changed at
intervals shown on the information display
So for normal driving there is no advantage using synthetic oil in
your Honda engine.

There are thousands of Honda vehicles with well over 100k miles, that
have never used synthetic lubricants of any kind in the engine.
Also know that using synthetic oil does not void your warranty.

Save the difference in price between Petroleum oil and synthetic oil
and buy some good wax/polish for the exterior painted surfaces. Or,
better (in my book) pay a professional to maintain the outside of the car.



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What is the "norm"? Do you have statistics defining the "norm". Or is under
200K your perception of what the "norm" is?

When I was deciding what to buy when I got my current Accord, my decision
was heavily swayed by the common perception that lasting hundreds of
thousands to miles was indeed the "norm".

 

Couple of points:

1) I don't wanna use more oil than I have to with the environment and not to
mention the world's dependency on crude oil.

2) Synthetics can definately help with that total figure annually, no?

3) I have a black car, so I always wash the thing myself...by hand.
Literally.

Peace,
Polfus

 

I think the "norm" for Hondas seems to be about 150,000-180,000 miles.

Most people do not have a car that long to put 200,000 miles on it, or the
car itself doesn't last.

Out of 10 Honda Accord owners, you think that 8/10 will have over 200,000
miles on their car?

5/10?

1/10?

You tell me, what you think the "norm" is..., i.e.the reason you dispute my
statement.

Lemme know what it actually turns out to be... we'll see, and if I'm still
here when or if you do make it to that number.

FWIW, one of the reasons I got my Honda ( again ) is the common perception
that you can't kill 'em.

If it makes it to 200,000 miles, then I will be very happy. I don't count on
it though, with so many factors coming into play.

Peace,
Polfus

 

I don't agree. There's considerable oil analysis evidence that
conventional motor oil does not last for 10,000 miles whereas
synthetic does.

Synthetic oil flows MUCH better in very cold temperatures, thus
significantly reducing engine wear for those living in cold climates.
Similarly, synthetic doesn't suffer from thermal breakdown the way
conventional oil does in very hot climates. Sludge is not a problem
with synthetic oil.

True. And there are thousands of Honda vehicles with well over 100K
miles that use synthetic oil routinely.

I agree that the average driver is served well-enough with
conventional oil changes every 5000 miles given a moderate climate.
Under those conditions, I'd expect a Honda engine to last 200K miles
so long as other PM items are attended to. Synthetic isn't necessary
to reach 200K miles, it just requires a lot fewer oil changes.

 

And you pay for the privilege.

In the end, all you get is the privilege of not stopping in for those
few extra oil changes. You don't get a price break, that's for sure.

In a normal consumer Honda engine, there's no benefit.

 

How much is the question.

I do my own oil changes. Synthetic oil and oil filter costs less than
$30.
Annual costs depend upon how many miles/year you drive.

This is true in a moderate climate and for someone who keeps up with
PM but is not a DIYer.
Synthetic does allow the typical consumer the luxury of not having to
worry much about forgetting to check/change their motor oil on
schedule. Unlike readers of this newsgroup, I'm not sure the typical
owner even checks their engine oil level between oil changes.

 

So do your own oil changes with regular oil. You'll save money, and the
engine will respond just the same.

 

What most people fail to understand is that whatever lubricant is
chosen, abrasive particulate matter is generated by gasoline internal
combustion engines and some will end up in suspension in the lubricant
regardless of the type chosen. So, the change interval would be the same
at least from that perspective.

Using a good grade of dino lubricant for engines just makes more sense
to me. Now, if one considers applications for transmissions, etc, the
picture can change drastically...

Give 'em hell Elmo!

JT

 

Here in southern Ontario winter temps sometimes get as cold as -30*F
and synthetic oil doesnt even BEGIN to thicken until ambient reaches
-45(Mobil 1)

Therefore in severe service and extreme climate conditions like we
experience here , synthetic is the way to go .

In the summer I use Mobil 1, 5W30 synthetic gray cap , in the winter I
use Mobil 1,15W30 yellow cap synthetic (15,000 mile gauranteed oil ).

(2002 Camry -4) I change my oil and filter, twice a year , spring and
fall, and car still uses no oil that I can discern on the dipstick.
(120,000k)

And runs like a dream.

For those interested I also use Lucas fuel treatment every tank full
of gas.

Being of a skeptical nature, when my son told me about it ? I
thought ? what have I got to lose ? so I tried it.

The car runs so much smoother now I cant really believe it.It took
about 4 tankfuls to start working but now its very smooth and quiet.
so it seems to work for me .Mileage is much better too.

I think what it does is clean the injectors and lubricate them , but
I`m only guessing , all I know is it DOES work.

 

You need to drive the car without knowing what's in it. Trust me, it
"runs so much smoother now" simply because your mind won't let you think
you wasted your money on that stuff.

 

i'm a huge skeptic, but even i can't completely dismiss everything like
this elmo. a true synthetic does offer advantages, as listed
previously. if you potter about town at 25 and change your oil every 6
weeks, you may well not benefit, but if your application is at the end
of the thermal, chemical or mechanical scales, you will.