Honda oil change question

[63air]

My whole life I have always changed the oil on any vehicle I owned every 3,000 miles and have never had any engine problems. We bought a new Honda CRV and the manual doesn't suggest this , instead it has an oil service life gauge and suggest changing oil when it diplays 10% or annually whichever comes first and not changing based srictly on mileage. I really have great faith in Honda engineering but old habits are hard to break. I don't want to waste money or oil but is this new technology to be trusted?

[Wabbiteer]

Oil gets diluted by gas blowing by the piston rings - it's really the additives to the gas that remain after a hot motor cools off. I've had a few motors that appeared to never use oil but would start smelling strongly like gas on a cold motor - motors that went 125,000 miles without 42 oil changes that's for sure.

If you are planning a long trip I'd change the oil before you go but otherwise I'd trust the sensor... And document your oil changes to suit the warranty requirements!!

[overlander63]

The oil life monitor gauges oil life based on engine revolutions, engine coolant and oil temps, as well as ambient temp. It also factors in variables like throttle position and engine load, as well as miles driven. There are factors I would change oil more often based upon, such as relative humidity (higher tends to add more condensation inside the engine) and driving conditions the computer doesn't know about (very dusty conditions, or example).
So, to make a long answer short, it is good to use as a guide, but don't let yourself be misled by a piece of electronics. In all things, common sense should prevail.

[TomW]

Originally Posted by overlander63

... So, to make a long answer short, it is good to use as a guide, but don't let yourself be misled by a piece of electronics. In all things, common sense should prevail.

While I live by that sentiment, I consider it dated for today's cars that most people seem to dump after a few years.

If you plan to keep the Honda until the wheels fall off, keep changing the oil on a schedule with which you are comfortable.

If the master plan includes rotating the CRV out of the driveway in five to seven years, why waste money on more-than-computer-suggested oil changes? The next owner will probably never how much money you put into the effort.

While I pamper my almost-vintage Suburban, my wife's vehicle's oil only gets changed when the computer recommends it because she prefers late-model transportation.

Tom

[JPAIRSTREAM]

I also have a new Honda. It is a 2008 Pilot. i as well noted there is no oil change suggestions. So I called Honda CSR directly. They said there monitor does as described but also has a sensor that directly monitors the oil and there is no need to change before it is suggested on the display. My suggestion is to call Honda directly.

[RBolton]

Keep in mind that these newer vehicles do not have a "Belt and Hose Monitor," or a "Tire Wear Monitor," or an "Oil Leak Detector." As a matter of fact, they don't "alert" you to a lot of things that potentially need attention. You know, the things that your hopefully trusted mechanic will check when he does the 3,000 or 6,000 or whatever interval service you prefer.

Unfortunately, with these oil change reminder systems, many hoods will remain closed for dangerously long periods of time. The shorter service intervals protect against unexpected failures of systems other than engine oiling.

The manufacturers want us to view their vehicles as low maintenance and I agree that many do not require the oil to be changed as often as in the past. But sticking to 3 or 6 month check up (oil change or not) still makes sense regardless of the mileage.

RB

[richinny]

Originally Posted by 63air

My whole life I have always changed the oil on any vehicle I owned every 3,000 miles and have never had any engine problems. We bought a new Honda CRV and the manual doesn't suggest this , instead it has an oil service life gauge and suggest changing oil when it diplays 10% or annually whichever comes first and not changing based srictly on mileage. I really have great faith in Honda engineering but old habits are hard to break. I don't want to waste money or oil but is this new technology to be trusted?

oil has changed more than my hairline!

my best friend bought the same vehicle a year ago and had the same questions. after many calls and research, the answer for almost everyone is: use the monitor.

it might be worth taking some of the drained oil and having a lab analysis done. please send me a PM if you find anything of interest.

[Kajtek1]

Our almost 10-years old Mercedes have been on Flexible Service System from day 1. For few years it was running on dino oil with average 13,000 intervals before Mercedes changed the policy to synthetics. Mercedes is having 8 quarts oil pans. To date the SUV remains one of the most trouble-free cars in the World totaling $129 in repairs (our labor) in 10 years period. Not counting one set of plugs, one set of tires and 2 sets of brake pads. Still all original batteries. Even our son can't kill it now.

[jcanavera]

Oil has changed a lot and my Honda dealer has modified their recommendations from every 3,000 miles to 3,750. I'm on my third Honda (currently a CRV and a Civic) and tend to do the dino oil changes somewhere in the 5,200 mile mark or so. I kept my Accord until it hit 165,000 miles over the course of 10 years. I had my dealer do all the recommended maintenance although I stretched out the oil change intervals other than the 30K mile maintenance and the timing belt change out. I never had an engine or transmission related issue in it's 10 years of service.

My newest Honda, a Civic has no recommendation other than following the computer's change messages. Currently I've got about 4,700 miles on it and the oil life computer shows 40% life left in the oil. About 80% of the miles are Interstate driven. I'm thinking we will do the first change at about the 5,000 mile mark or so.

Now my tow vehicle does about 6,000 miles a year and it's on a diet of Mobil 1. Based on the fact that all of its trips are towing or long enough to get the vehicle hot, I'm holding to an annual change. Its oil change indicator has never turned on.

Jack

[Silvertwinkie]

Some vehicles simply use a calculation as Terry pointed out, while other engine oil monitoring systems actually monitor the oil in the engine as JPAIRSTREAM has pointed out.

If in fact you do have a vehicle that actually is monitoring the oil quality, then I would in fact trust that far more than I would a system that uses variables to calculate when an oil change is required.

I have the system in several vehicles that calculates based on variables and I find that I hit 3000 miles typically when this system says I have about 40% left. I use Amsoil fully synthetic oil in the Burb, extended life to add, so I typically change at 1 year intervals unless I do a lot of towing. Though that may seem odd to the average 3000 mile changer as I use to once be, I only put maybe about 5000 miles on the truck a year, mostly towing and some winter driving (since it's 4x4), which according to the Amsoil extended life specs, appear to be OK to do and going by the oil monitor system, after a year I still have 18% life still.

[jayray5]

The new dino oils have a 5,000 range. I have a burb and have never had the change oil light come on unless I forget to reset the computer. It is set at 5,000 miles. The oil change places still adhere to the 3,000 mile rule, thus perpetuating the MYTH.

[Ahab]

Originally Posted by 63air

My whole life I have always changed the oil on any vehicle I owned every 3,000 miles and have never had any engine problems. We bought a new Honda CRV and the manual doesn't suggest this , instead it has an oil service life gauge and suggest changing oil when it diplays 10% or annually whichever comes first and not changing based srictly on mileage. I really have great faith in Honda engineering but old habits are hard to break. I don't want to waste money or oil but is this new technology to be trusted?

Of course it's to be trusted. Why would Honda recommend it if it wasn't? I don't understand why some people think they know more than the automotive engineers who designed the system.