Oil change frequency for highway mileage?

Hello. I own a 2003 Accord 4-cyl and wondering what, if any
difference, having mostly highway mileage on my car does to the
frequency needed for my oil change? The manual recommends every 5,000
miles/6 months. Does the fact that at least 75% of my mileage comes
from non-stop interstate highway travel at speeds of 70 mph help or
hurt me in terms of oil change frequency? Of course, with the long
commute every day, I get to 5,000 miles before 6 months, and thus not
only do I spend a ton in gas, but it seems I have to get my oil changed
every 4 months or so, which costs more money. Any thoughts and input
are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Amp

 

if this is your regular routine, and you are serious about this, get oil
analysis done. the lab will be able to tell you how your driving
pattern is loading the oil and how long the ideal change interval will
be. you'll need to do a couple of tests to establish a use pattern for
them and this will cost money, but it's the "scientific" answer to your
question.

 

I like the number 3000...

Professor
Check out FlashAlert at www.telstar-electronics.com

 

switch to synthetic, and let it go the full 7500 miles?

 

but in general, he'll find that he falls under the "normal driving
conditions" as outlined in the owner's manual, whereby everything will
last longer--brakes, oil, etc.

Yes, his oil will last longer under the conditions he describes. We all
know that. Yes, he could go 7500 between changes as long as he's not
driving all these highway miles in the dusty 110 degree desert.

 

Can you double check this? My 91 Civic has an interval of 7500 miles/6
months, for non-severe driving (see below).

I would wager it should help you.

My Honda owner's manual includes, under "severe driving conditions" that
warrant more frequent oil changes, "repeated short distance driving." For
such driving (along with dusty and/or cold conditions?), the manual
recommends changing every 3000 miles or 3 months. Does your manual say
anything like this?

Consumer Reports did an interesting, albeit arguably amateurish, study of
motor oils in New York City taxicabs in 1996. Some folks here loathe
consumer reports and criticize the study; yet what they recommend is
generally the same as what CR ended up recommending!

See the article at http://www.xs11.com/stories/croil96.htm .

Excerpts:
-------
The long-time mantra of auto mechanics has been to change your oil every
3000 miles. Most automakers recommend an oil change every 7,500 miles (and a
specific time interval) for "normal" driving, and every 3,000 miles for
"severe" driving - frequent trips of less than four or five miles,
stop-and-go traffic, extended idling, towing a trailer, or dusty or
extremely cold conditions. Many motorists' driving falls into one or more of
those "severe" categories.
....
The bottom line. Modern motor oils needn't be changed as often as oils did
years ago. More frequent oil changes won't hurt your car, but you could be
spending money unnecessarily and adding to the nation's energy and
oil-disposal problems.

Even in the severe driving conditions that a New York City taxi endures, we
noted no benefit from changing the oil every 3,000 miles rather than every
6,000. If your driving falls into the "normal" service category, changing
the oil every 7,500 miles (or at the automaker's suggested intervals) should
certainly provide adequate protection. (We recommend changing the oil filter
with each oil change.)
----------

Keep reading the posts to this thread. The only comment I reject outright at
the moment is the one that says change the oil every 3000 miles.

 

How long do you want to keep the car?

2-3 years? Change when you feel like it.

5+ years? Change every 5000 miles.

Christ, an oil change is ONLY $25.
OK not if you want to be raped at the DEALER for $69.

Why be cheap about it?

--------------------

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"Other top officials, including Cheney and Rumsfeld, said the war would
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"More than two years into a war that was supposed to be quick and easy,
and
the justification for which has spun from removing a dictator to
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weapons of mass destruction to fighting terrorism and, finally, to
planting
democracy that would then spread across the Middle East, Iraq is in chaos."


RayGun sends his lackey to kiss Saddam's ass.
http://www.worldmessenger.20m.com/weapons.html#wms

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WHY IRAQ?: http://www.angelfire.com/creep/gwbush/remindus.html
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"Bubba got a BJ, BU$H screwed us all!" - Slim

 

You are looking at the severe service schedule (5000).

You are not driving in severe conditions. You can go 10,000 miles.
Check your manual to confirm, but that is what the 2004 manual says,
and it is the same engine.

I wouldn't do this on 5W20 oil, regardless of Honda's recommendation,
if you are in a warm climate. In this event, I'd go with 10W30 as it
will resist breaking down better. Or go with synthetic if in a cold
climate and you want 200,000+ miles from this engine. Remember, you
can do almost anything to a car for 50,000 miles. It's the next guy
that'll have problems, or you if you keep the car a long time.

If you want to push the oil for all it's worth, I agree with another
poster that oil analysis is necessary. Otherwise, you are guessing.
Analysis will occasionally reveal some engine problem while you're
still in warranty, an added bonus.

 

I used 10K mile engine oil change intervals on my 97 Civic because it
was driven almost entirely on the freeway. There wasn't the slightest
hint of engine wear at nearly 160K miles. Perfect compression, perfect
idle, no piston slap, and no signs of wear on the valves/cams. The
manual transmission (which I'd been servicing faster than the schedule),
wheel bearings, paint, and interior were what wore out enough for me to
get a new car.