Initial oil change

My wife's 2003 CRV EX is about a year old but coming up on 6,000
miles. On one hand, I hear not to drain the breakin oil early. On the
other, I hear to change at least once a year. Which is right?

 

You're not serious! It's almost a year old with 6000 mi and you haven't
changed the oil! Have you ever thought of reading the owners manual or
checking the maintenance schedule, which by the way you'd be looking at the
severe schedule. You should have changed about 9 months ago.

 

This was copied from Honda owner link but like the other guy said read the
manual...........................................Why should I wait to change
the oil the first time?

Your Honda engine was delivered with an oil that is specially formulated for
new engines that have not yet developed their "natural" wear patterns and may
contain minute particles from the manufacturing process.


American Honda strongly recommends this special oil be left in the engine long
enough for these wear patterns to develop, usually until the first maintenance
interval specified in your Owner's Manual, based on your specific driving
conditions.



BACK TO TOP
How often should I change my oil after the first service?

Refer to your owner's manual for the recommended service intervals. Separate
maintenance schedules are listed for "normal service" and "severe service."
Read the description of severe service carefully. Most vehicles will fall under
the normal service category. Note that the service intervals are listed by time
in addition to distance. Your oil should be changed at whichever interval, time
or distance, occurs first.


There is absolutely no benefit in changing your oil more frequently than
recommended in your owner's manual. This will only increase your cost of
ownership, and create an unnecessary burden upon the environment by increasing
the amount of disposed oil.


Do not exceed the recommended maintenance interval. Oil eventually
deteriorates and loses its ability to protect your engine, due to heat,
friction, and exposure to exhaust components. Engine oil contains special
additives to enhance the oil's performance, and these additives are also broken
down or consumed with distance and time. Engine damage can occur if the proper
maintenance schedule is not followed.

 

Of course this makes sense, though I've always wondered about something.
The oil was sitting in the ground for millions of years. How does
sitting in my car for 3 more months make it "go bad" faster, especially
if I'm not driving it a lot.

 

Not the stuff in your crankcase.

How does

Slightly higher exposure to combustion byproducts than above.

 

take your pick. IMO, 6000 is close enough. just do it once a year.

 

thats what jiffy lube wants. every 3 months!

 

In low mileage operation, you might not heat up the oil to proper temperature.
Lots of condensation and crud gets to survive that might boil off if you
drove more. Worst case is probably an engine running for five minutes,
then shut off for 8 hours, day after day.

I believe in following manufacturers recommendations, which includes
examining the definition of "severe driving". Mine isn't severe. I rarely
start my car without driving at least ten miles. I often drive 50 miles or
more in one heat cycle. I change oil at 10,000 mile intervals, just like
the book says.

 

I've read it genious. Have you?

Which of the conditions on pages 236-237 make this a Severe Conditions
vehicle? Page 238 says the first mainteneance at 10,000 miles or 1
year. When you don't something, the wise man shuts the **** up.

 

LOL - you certainly ain't no "genious" (sic), there, Ollie!!!

 

The manual for my Accord suggests 7500 mile oil change intervals. Using
this as a guidleline I made it a habit to change my oil at around every
5000 miles. based on the varnish my mechanic saw when he removed my valve
cover gasket, he accused me of not changing the oil often enough. I've
since shorted the interval to 3000-3500 miles. Sometimes I wonder if
manufacturers publish long intervals to keep the nominal cost of ownership
down and I wonder if the driver who doesn't drive under 'severe' conditions
is the exception rather than the rule.

Andrew

 

And this consclusion is based on what?

 

Alittle hostile there Ollie. Enjoy many trouble free years with your CRV.

 

what kinda oil?

 

Curious, what kind of oil were using? The reason I ask, I run Mobil 1
synthetic and change it every 5-6K (miles) and when the valve cover
was removed on our 99 ES300 (one of the reported "sludge monsters"),
it was clean as could be.

 

The dino oil du jour of the quickie lube places.

Andrew

 

doesnt jiffy lube have a contract w/ quaker state? i guess ill be
steering clear of both.

mom's had her scion xA for a year now, and only put 4800 miles on it. i
finally did the oil change. just used regular mobil 5w30, and an stp
filter.

 

The reponse was "in kind" to your sugestion that I read the manual
when you clearly hadn't.

 

Whichever comes first.