how often should I change my oil?

I've recently moved downtown and am now walking to work (and just about
everything else), which has decreased my monthly mileage to somewhere
between 100 and 200 miles total. I know the oil companies say 3 months/
3000 miles (despite my manual saying at least twice that), but changing oil
every 600 miles seems kind of ridiculous. does oil go bad from age as well
as wear?

 

In your case, I would put in synthetic oil, and change once a
year.

Its is odd, but I have found that a car that is not use gets as
much problems as a car that is being used. You will noticed the
brakes going, rust, etc.... my 2 cents

 

3mo/3k miles is based on what Auto Manufacturers call severe conditions or
every day use if you lived in California. It would be a waste to change the
oil at 600 miles. I'd agree with Frank, switch to synthetic and change your
oil less often. If you're worried about voiding your warranty, you could
change every 6 months, but check the condition of the oil and other fluids
at least once a month.

 

2004 models Honda says severe conditions are 6 mos / 5,000 miles,
iirc.

J.

 

I think if and when you drive the car if the trips are short ( 4-5 ) miles
and in the winter 3 months is about right.

If you drive and the trip is long enough to warn the engine up to normal
operateing temperature, and sustain that temp for at least 15 miles twice a
yr is the way to go.

I don't know what difference it makes if the oil is synthetic or
conventional if it has moisture in it, it makes no difference, the moisture
is still going to damage internal parts, so why spend the extra for the
synethic.

my .02 cents

Tom

 

The 3mo/3k miles guideline is still being debated, but, on a car that
doesn't make very long trips (enough to completely warm the engine and
evaporate water vapor), I would stick with the 3 month. Condensation in the
oil leads to sulfates (think that's the right word - it's late...) that
attack bearing surfaces. Don't want that, now do we?

HTH

Jeremy

 

I drive a lot, but I use Amsoil XL7500 and change only at 7500 miles.

No my Tundra is ridden line your Honda. I've had it since July 2001 and
only have 16k on it. I use full Synthetic and change it once a year. Even
then it looks very clean when changed.

G-Man

 

I would use regular oil and change it every 3 months or 3000
miles--whichever comes first.

Jason

 

Follow the recomendations in your user manual.

Oil companies want to sell more oil.

 

That's the correct answer.
Changing the oil every 3000 miles (standard usage) is a waste of time,
money, and oil. My '03 Civic's manual says once every 10k miles -- changing
it every 3000 miles is a waste of 8 quarts of oil every 10,000 miles.
I don't know about you folks, but I am not eager to give the oil companies
and middle Eastern nations more of my money than necessary. I sure don't
want to do anything that maintains our dependence on them any more than
absolutely necessary.

 

The way oil is formulated these days you can wait 6 months between oil
changes if you don't hit the mileage before.

 

I used plain old Castrol 10w-30 and changed the oil between 4,000 and 6,000
(basically - when I got around to it but never at 3,000) and my car has
232,000 miles with no engine failure.

Would I have made it to 260,000 with synthetic or a lower interval? At
100 to 200 miles a month it will take you 108 years to find out. Save your
money. Actually, if you calculate what that car is costing you per mile
(insurance and amortized cost of vehicle) - sell it and take a cab ;-)

 

but changing oil every 600 miles seems kind of ridiculous.

Driving many short trips can in theory wear oil out rapidly, but long
periods of doing nothing followed by trips which get the vehicle up to full
operating temperature (at least 20-30 minutes of driving) are really not
that hard on the car.

You could sleep very easy going 6 months between changes and would probably
do no harm at a 12 month interval.

3 months/3,000 miles is an ancient rule of thumb which survives today mostly
to support the income of Jiffy Lube & friends!

John

 

I suspect part of that is to support Honda too. My dealer offers a
$19.99 oil change. Not a bad deal at all around here. However, the
sticker they put on the windshield indicates a 3,000 mile recommended
change.

The owners manual for my 2004 Civic indicates 5,000.