First Oil Change - When?

[civic-time]

Just got my first Civic, a 2014 EX. I read an article in Popular Mechanics http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/saturday-mechanic-blog/how-to-break-in-a-new-car that said it was a good idea to change the oil at 20 miles and again at around 1000.

I told the dealership this and they urged me NOT to change it after 100 or so miles, that they put special new car oil in it and that it didn't need to be done until... whatever.... 5000 miles or so.

When should I change it and what oil should I use? I've read about using mineral oil for break-in. Good idea? Can I now that it's already got regular oil in it?

Thanks!

P.S. The car has around 700 miles on it now.

 

[XpL0d3r]

I would do what the dealership tells you. Wait til 3-5k miles and change it as normal.

 

[Northwoodshyun]

I would do what the dealership tells you. Wait til 3-5k miles and change it as normal.

There is nothing magical about Honda factory fluid. It is a one big joke. With that said, I change my first oil around 3000-4000 miles then the second one 6000-7000 miles later or when your odometer hits 10,000. After that I just change the oil every 7500-10,000 and tire rotation. I only use Mobil 1 0W-20 full synthetic and new genuine Honda oil filter (Filtec and not the Fram). Make sure you monitor the oil level every 1000-2000 miles so you don't run engine with low oil. I had zero oil leak or issue. You can run 10000 miles but you have to check the oil level since every engine behaves a little different.

 

[mrsocks]

oil changes

I would change it around 1000 miles and put synthetic in. Then change that every 3000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first. Quite a few newer, higher performance cars come from the factory with Mobil I so it is never too early to make the switch. I understand about the new metals, mfg techniques, engineering and all but still can't bring myself to waiting so long between oil changes. Been usin synthetic oils since 1978 and have had many cars with over 200k and even 1 over 300k with NO mechanical failures. I also have a Honda VTX motorcycle with over 94k and I attributate this to the frequency and type of oil I use. As a note: Anyone who trusts that the dealer knows what they are talking about is naïve. Most of the info on forums such as this will provide accurate, real-life information as opposed to dealer profit oriented information (read sales-service, commission, etc).

 

[lethal6]

Thats funny because us at the dealership arent trained extensively by the manufacturer or anything. Profit oriented information? Where the hell do people come up with this stuff?

There is so much false information on forums it blows my mind. I would trust a certified brand tech, service writer, or parts specialist before I trust some random dude that wrote some bad information on a forum anyday.

Dont blindly belive how to articles or threads on a forum without doing real research it will get you into trouble someday.

 

[Kenneth]

Thats funny because us at the dealership arent trained extensively by the manufacturer or anything. Profit oriented information? Where the hell do people come up with this stuff?

There is so much false information on forums it blows my mind. I would trust a certified brand tech, service writer, or parts specialist before I trust some random dude that wrote some bad information on a forum anyday.

Dont blindly belive how to articles or threads on a forum without doing real research it will get you into trouble someday.

So are you saying that Honda does put "special break in oil " in their new cars? Cause I find that difficult to believe.

 

[XpL0d3r]

There is nothing magical about Honda factory fluid. It is a one big joke.

So are you saying that Honda does put "special break in oil " in their new cars? Cause I find that difficult to believe.

Straight from Honda...

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.

http://owners.honda.com/help/faqs#faq-2

Oh, and check out #5... not just "one big joke".

http://www.edmunds.com/car-care/top-7-urban-legends-about-motor-oil.html


/thread

 

[lethal6]

So are you saying that Honda does put "special break in oil " in their new cars? Cause I find that difficult to believe.

Be skeptical all you want, the truth is in the owners manual.

Most manufacturers use a break in oil as do top engine builders.


It is what it is. You know, it's guys that give the false information and the idiots that follow them that keep us in business. I make a good living keeping the technicians busy on account of the constantly destroyed cars because someone didn't listen and put what ever fluid some random dude told them too.

Just had $1000+ in parts billed out on a job this morning that some dude put what ever power steering fluid in his Cayenne other than factory because some forum somewhere said that it was ok to run some off brand crap to save money. Destroyed the pump, and all the lines had to be replaced. Plus the fluid had to be completely flushed out and the correct stuff put in.

See it all the time with coolant system failures too. Go ahead put what ever you want in, it keeps me with a roof over my head.

Straight from Honda...


http://owners.honda.com/help/faqs#faq-2

Oh, and check out #5... not just "one big joke".

http://www.edmunds.com/car-care/top-7-urban-legends-about-motor-oil.html


/thread

Thank you!! /thread indeed.

 

[Osiris19]

So are you saying that Honda does put "special break in oil " in their new cars? Cause I find that difficult to believe.

Are you serious...

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3

 

[Kenneth]

Are you serious...

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3

Yes as a matter of fact, I am serious. Wear patterns? Wtf? The whole, purpose of oil, is to LIMIT wear, be it expected wear or whatever. Oil is not magic elixir! It's just oil. Some has better lubrication properties than others like synthetic vs. conventional. Wear patterns are gonna happen no matter what. Different weight oil, is mostly to achieve a desired viscosity at a given temperature for the engine. Multi weight oil protects both start up and operating temp viscosity requirements. Now I'm not saying your wrong. I'm saying, yes I'm serious, I find it hard to believe that a CAR company, could somehow invent a magic oil when Exxon / Mobile ( who could buy Honda, and Toyota out of petty cash ) can't make any magic oil, and they've got some of the best people money can buy. Or could it be company hype. Yes it's possible, and yes I'm a little skeptical. The professional engine rebuilders, would NEVER leave a break in oil in an engine for that long. But hey, do what you want. Believe what you want. I would never buy a new car anyway. I've been involved in manufacturing before. I've seen manufacturers prop up facts to make it seem like it's something it ain't. I'm sure you believe it, and if the op believes it then problem solved! I guess the oil is magic.

 

[lethal6]

You do understand that Honda doesn't actually make the oil right? No one ever said anywhere that Honda makes the oil or any vehicle manufacture does for that matter. They are vehicle makers not oil companies. They use oil produced by one of the major companies.

Professional engine builders do in fact use break in oil although no one ever said a change interval, you just jumped to conclusions. I have worked with and sold parts to a couple of them. They are usually building high horsepower engines and run the break in oil for a lesser time because they break the engines in faster than that of a new vehicle owner or they recommend that you come back to them to flush out the break in oil or change it yourself within a certain amount of miles. Again, usually at a lesser mileage than a brand new vehicle that isn't a high performance one. Depends on the way the customer drives their vehicle.

The quoted owner's manual insert states that the flushing of the break in oil depends on the driving habits of the owner...or did you miss that part?

 

[2slo4u]

Change the oil when the car tells you to. Easy.

 

[303JDMSI]

Most dealerships that I go to for parts use synthetic oils... and I've always changed my oil at 3,000 like clock work.

 

[Northwoodshyun]

Change the oil when the car tells you to. Easy.

You still have to check the oil level and make sure you have sufficient amount in the engine. Unfortunately MM does not tell you if your engine oil is low. I think MM for engine oil is reasonable (7500 to 10,000) but not sure if I trust it for transmission fluid. For me 20K is my transmission drain fill interval. I got burned on 2002 Honda Odyssey.

My brother in law changed out the factory oil at 1000 miles on his 2003 Accord. Today it has 400,000 miles without any major engine oil problem. It only consumes 1 qt every 3000 miiles, which is his oil change interval. I don't buy there is any special about Honda factory filled oil. I have multiple Honda cars with over 100,000 miles without any oil burring issue after dumping so called the factory special oil at 2000 - 3000 miles.

 

[Ricksp65]

as far as I can tell so far iv only seen 0w20 in full synthetic brands like mobil 1, Castrol edge, and royal purple, and some of them are like 9 bucks a quart.

 

[andrewthesith]

OP. change oil as suggested by dealership/manual.

regardless of whether or not the engine has break-in or not... your engine is not 100% broken in and will probably have some slight metal shavings from creating wear patterns and the engine needs the oil changed to help seat parts internally.

 

[lethal6]

OP posted once and hasn't been back for over 8 months. Don't think they are coming back.

 

[Esotericimage]

Well according to all the advice ITT I bet he stil hasnt changed the oil.



IMHO, I would do what he mentoned on the 1st post. No matter how the engine was cleaned, there are still shavings and particles most likely in the pan.

Whether or not it get sucked up by the oil pick up and recirculated to the filter is circumstantial. If it were me, I would use a magnetic drain plug, and change the oil on a 20/100/3000 on a new purchase. If its leased, then who cares. If its using synthetic from the beginning, then continue to use it. If its conventional, then I would recommend Shell Rotella as they have more additives and zinc then your basic name brand castrol, valv, or QS.

Theres no special break in oil used by honda. Its just the normal oil they recommend and use. Non detergent oils suspend objects and detergent type oils drop objects in the pan.


But, An engine is an engine, Doesnt matter if its built by a mechanic or by Honda. It will still have particles and shavings. Waiting for 3-5k for an oil change isnt recommended no matter what some service writer says.

 

[lethal6]

...But, An engine is an engine, Doesnt matter if its built by a mechanic or by Honda. It will still have particles and shavings. Waiting for 3-5k for an oil change isnt recommended no matter what some service writer says.

Except it isn't coming from a service writer. The information linked in the 7th post is from HONDA, in their own owner's manual, supplied WITH the cars.

Take it or leave it. It's in the manual supplied with the cars AND it is in the interval supplied by the internal display in the car.

3k oil changes are a wives tale and a marketing ploy put out by jiffy lube type shops that depend on your repeat business. Keep changing your oil that early though, the suppliers love the extra money.

 

[Osiris19]

Why are people so dense? Change the damn oil when the damn car/manual tells you to. It's simple. Open a damn book and read about it.