slightly different oil-change question

I know this subject is beaten to death, but my situation is a little
different. 2004 Civic LX purchased June 28. Severe driving is 5,000
miles/6 months, but, while my driving is severe (almost all city stop and
go), there is very little of it. I am coming up to 6 months and only have
3,000 miles on the car. So the question is, should the first oil change be
based on mileage or time? the maintenance schedule isn't specific on this.
note that if I can resist temptation I plan to die with this car (not in it,
just with it)

 

somewhere someone said

I say RTMF ...

--
Rob Fruth - Houston, Tx
http://www.rfruth.net

1981 Raleigh for errands & fun ____ __o
1997 Trek 2300 for real fun ! ____ _ \ | _)
2000 Civic hatchback (_)/ (_)

 

eh, id change it next june.

 

If you plan to "die with this car" then I would protect my $$$ investment
$$$ by asking the dealer that question.

Oil changes must be done with time as a factor as well as mileage. If you
have that few miles on your car, then the car is sitting idle for long
periods of time and/or being driven for short runs.

Long idleness and short runs causes water, fuel and acids to build up in
the oil, leading to sludge and internal damage. If the oil is left in too
long, and yours *has* been left in too long, you will chew up your crank
bearings and cylinder bores very quickly, as well as sludging up your
motor.

It sounds as though the oil has never been changed since you bought your
car, so that is a confounding factor, and there will be lots of metal
shavings in the oil from the bores breaking in. You've spent lots of money
putting yourself in this vehicle, so I would recommend speaking to your
dealer or directly to American Honda about this before you do irreparable
harm to your motor.

If it were me, I'd change the oil right away, and every four months
thereafter regardless of mileage. And use an OEM filter.

 

thanks for the advice! I shall follow it

 

Me too.

If you run the numbers and figure one oil change/year (because you're
being cheap) vs. three oil changes/year, you'll discover after ten years
that you've done an extra 20 oil changes. At $25 per, that's an extra
$500 out of pocket you'll have paid.

And you'll have a well-running engine because of it.

Or, you could be cheap and save the $500 over ten years, and in 5 years
have an engine that's a piece of crap because you didn't do something as
cheap, quick, and easy as change the freaking oil.

So I say he should go ahead and save the $50/year, and put it toward
something else. Maybe his new car fund.

 

You messed up with the acronym. Should be RTFM. Unless your joke was
too subtle and way over my head.

 

id change every year with mobil1 and an OEM filter.

 

or just go with mobil1... but not until tis broken in.

 

While it's true that Mobile 1 won't break down and lose its critical
lubricating qualities as quickly as dino oil will under those
conditions, the fact remains that he'll have accumulated water and acids
suspended in the oil as a result of his driving patterns.

I'm thinking it's best to remove the contaminants from the system.

So the question becomes: do you do Mobile 1 once a year, or dino 3
times a year to remove the contaminants from the system?

I don't think Mobile 1 helps, at least so much, in this environment.
Now, show me a 'Vette that's being hard charged, then yeah--you want
something like Mobile 1.

 

i just go the mobil1 route, but when i DO drive its usually on the
freeway for 20 miles or so. still, i end up changing that oil about once
every... 4k miles/year.

the OP does do a lot of stop and go, so maybe getting the spiffylube
every "3000 miles" might not be so bad. and they put a sticker on the
window!

if theyre still doing the breakin oil thing, id be tempted to leave the
original fill in for the whole year though.

 

probably should not lose too much sleep over this issue.

first, you on target for a 6,000 miles a year. and since even an abused
honda will last for a long long time, you should be good into the next
epoch..

second, the whole issue of water vapor in your oil is most likely not a
factor. unless all of your trips are short, so short that the oil does not
reach the boil point of water, then you have a problem. something you want
to avoid certainly. but if your city is like most, you might not be going
very far, but it will take you a while. so just try and be sure to get the
motor hot every now and again.

third, regular old non synthetic is just fine.

in answer to your question, it sounds like you will want to change your oil
twice a year. 6 months of oil in your crankcase is not the end of the
world. the folks at jiffy lube, and worse, your dealer, will try to make it
sound like you are driving with beach sand in your motor. but these are the
same guys that have convinced half of america that 3,000 mile oil changes is
the only accepted interval. never mind the environment.


if you want to spend another $25 a year, go ahead. its not a big bother.
and sure its fine and cheap insurance.
oh yeah, use an oem filter. sleep well. 6,000 miles per year, 3 changes
per year. around $100 in maintenance per year for your car. man, every day
you get in that civic, think that your ride is pretty damn cheap!

 

itll be even cheaper when its paid off