Oil change interval

Took my '07 Accord V6 back to the selling dealer for its first oil change. I
bought the car just over 11 months ago, the maintenance minder showed 5% oil
life left with 6570 miles on the odometer-- I don't drive much...

The service writer starting chewing my ass for going beyond 6 months for the
oil change. I showed him the Owner's Manual where it says to change the oil
the first time at one year if the oil life minder didn't call for a change
yet. I also mentioned that I had been concerned about going so long on the
oil and had called American Honda around 6 months ago and they said to leave
that first oil in there until the minder said to change it or a year was up.

So what's what?

 

Go by the book, just like you did.

Remember, the service writer is ON COMMISSION. If he can scare you into
spending MORE MONEY, then HE GETS PAID MORE.

So, his behavior every time will be to try to scare you into spending
more money. Your behavior every time will be to ignore him.

If he gets too annoying, tell him to shut the hell up. Then, while
they're changing your oil, go find both the service manager and the
general manager and tell them the same thing.

 

You got one of those service writer/service technician boobs
who either (1) is not staying up to date on Honda
technology; (2) is trying to sell you things your car does
not need; or (3) likes to act like he knows the truth when
he's actually guessing; or (4) a combination of the latter.
These guys have a lot of good experience to offer, but they
can still be off the mark.

At least he's not telling you to change the oil every 3000
miles. This represents improvement.

You are reading the manual correctly. This one-year interval
or when the MM light comes on, whichever is first, has come
up here in the recent past.

 

"Elmo" is generally correct although you may not want to be quite so
confrontational if you plan to use this place for service in the
future.

However, the Service Writer may not be as dumb as he appears. Did you
ask him what kind of oil they were putting into your car? You may not
want that stuff in there for more than 6 months. I still do my own oil
changes just so I know what's in the engine. Once/year oil change is
probably fine for as little driving as you do if you use a top quality
motor oil and filter; assuming that whenever you use the car you drive
it long enough (15-20 min) that it fully warms up (expels all the
water/water vapor).

Maintenance minders: these nifty devices purport to tell you all you
need to know. Of course, these same minders are used by the various
new car rating organizations to calculate maintenance costs. So it is
in the manufacturer's self interest to go as long as possible between
services to show low maintenance costs. How long do you want to own
your car? Ask Tegger, whose Honda product now has over 300,000 miles,
how long he goes between oil changes. I have no such high mileage
aspirations and my 200,000 mile cars seem fine with 7500 oil change
intervals using Mobil 1 synthetic.

YMMV

 

Thanks to everyone for all the info. I did ask the service writer droid
about the oil and he said they use Honda brand 5W-20-- and I do avoid short
trips so the car is usually fully warmed up.

I always used to do my own oil changes for the same reason you do. But the
aging bod has increasing trouble getting down that low and crawling into the
diminishing amount of clearance cars seem to have these days...not to
mention finding and reaching the oil filter. I think I may need to start
doing my own again though...

 

Rhino ramps:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000AMMN9O/ref=dp_olp_2

Around $35 at Pep Boys, Autozone, and Wal-Mart.

 

Interesting product-- but then the car is inclined towards the rear.
Wouldn't that prevent all the old oil from draining out?

 

The oil pan has a deep, cupped area at the bottom (where the
drain bolt is) that is designed to ensure the oil is going
to drain and drain well, practically regardless of tilt. I
know this only because I had the oil pan off a few years ago
and replaced the oil pan gasket.

I have been using ramps (first steel ones; then rhino ramps)
for over a decade with my 91 Civic. I have done at least two
oil changes a year since 1991. I love my rhino ramps.

 

An Ebayer currently has a photo that helps show this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-Civic-92-95-Oil-Pan_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ38657QQihZ013QQitemZ230242519263QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW#ebayphotohosting

 

Thanks to everyone for all the info. I did ask the service writer droid

This reminds me of when I experimented with an oil change some time
ago now. It was the synthetic product option that claims to have and
oil change interval of 12,000 kms or 6 months, (sorry - Americans I
had it changed and analyzed at about 13,200 kms and seven months. The
results came back that it was still good but had a viscosity of 8W-30,
started out as 5W-30. Needless to say it was not cost effective but
wanted prove to myself that it could be done. I have yet to try that
with the 40,000 kms or 12 month option.

 

Your oil may actually be good up to 12,000 miles. No kidding.

Honda and GM brought an excellent technology to measure oil life in
cars for the masses. Instead of dumb simple counters, they rely "on
sensors that measure oil temperature extremes and engine revolutions
over time to calculate oil life and tell drivers when to get the
lubricant changed. Oil can lose its lubricating properties if it runs
at too low or too high of a temperature."

http://www.autonews24h.com/Driving/1660.html

But looks like the system could have told you the time interval as
well (VWs do) so you can show that to the ignorant service writer.

 

OK I admit the quality of oil is better than it was decades ago but surely
the issue is (at least in the UK- cost per mile over 3 years / 60k miles
for a typical "company car" versurs the private owner who probably If they
want a car lasting 250k miles change the oil quite often?) without clouds of
blie smoke/ want an engine that does NOT drink OIL