YACT: should I change my oil at 3,000 mi. for the first time?

I was just perusing my owner's manual yesterday and happened upon the maintenance schedule for my Accord. The car currently has about 750 miles on it, so the first oil change is a ways off, but the manual says for "normal" conditions, the first oil change should be done at 10,000 miles, and even for severe conditions, the first change isn't 'till 5,000 mi.

My question: I don't mind waiting 5,000 mi. between changes after the first one (especially since I'll likely be putting full synthetic in at the first change), but I'd feel more comfortable doing the first oil change at 3,000 mi.

Is that okay? Will everything seat properly in the engine if the first change is done at 3K?

 

[imported_Kckazdude]

Never wait 10,000 miles to change oil in your car. Generaly 3000-5000 miles is good for most vehicles. You will be ok changing oil at 3000 for the first time.

 

[helloedchen]

when i got my WRX, i changed the oil at 2000 miles. then started with 3000 after that.

 

Yeah, 10,000 seems crazy to me, even if it is a Honda, I can't believe that the oil doesn't get all sorts of deposits in it by 5-7K.

 

[RagingBITCH]

The dealer told me never follow the normal conditions, always go with severe. (At least for my 04 Accord) I changed mine right around 2500 for the first time (I would have done it sooner but we went on a road trip). Supposedly on a new engine there's still bits and pieces of metal shavings in the oil/oil filter. I plan on doing it around every 3K

 

[Murpheeee]

I woudl normally do the first change early

there are a lot of tiny metallic particles which wear off a new engine as it is broken in. these sit in your sump pan and swish around your engine when its running.......so I would normally do a first oil change early to get rid of all that crap.

after that every 3000 miles with regular oil or 5000 with synthetic

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Kckazdude
Never wait 10,000 miles to change oil in your car. Generaly 3000-5000 miles is good for most vehicles. You will be ok changing oil at 3000 for the first time.

blahblah..

He's talking about break-in.

You certainly aren't going to hurt anything by changing it too soon. Yes, everything will continue to seat properly. I would never, ever leave break-in oil in my brand new car for 10,000 miles, let alone 5000 or even 3,000.. but I'm anal about stuff like that.

After that, stick to the Severe service schedule. Most driving is considered severe service. The only thing that may not is like 80%+ steady highway cruising.

And please, use a good quality synthetic(read: not walmart) on your baby after it is broken in. 😉

Oh, and use a high quality oil filter. It is more important than the specific oil you use.

 

The reason being Honda states 10,000 miles for the first oil change is to allow the engine to break in properly, Honda uses special non detergent oil for break in, you may if you want change it at 7,500 miles.

 

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Kckazdude
Never wait 10,000 miles to change oil in your car. Generaly 3000-5000 miles is good for most vehicles. You will be ok changing oil at 3000 for the first time.

Oh, and use a high quality oil filter. It is more important than the specific oil you use.

I know Fram is bad, but what about Purolator or Motorcraft? Or are Mobil1 filters the only filters I should be looking at?

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Kckazdude
Never wait 10,000 miles to change oil in your car. Generaly 3000-5000 miles is good for most vehicles. You will be ok changing oil at 3000 for the first time.

Oh, and use a high quality oil filter. It is more important than the specific oil you use.

I know Fram is bad, but what about Purolator or Motorcraft? Or are Mobil1 filters the only filters I should be looking at?

Motorcraft = Ford branded

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Roger
The reason being Honda states 10,000 miles for the first oil change is to allow the engine to break in properly, Honda uses special non detergent oil for break in, you may if you want change it at 7,500 miles.

eh... :Q

Honda doesen't use non-detergent oil... :Q:Q:Q That would be an absolute catastrophy. The detergents are what keep particles suspended and keep them from getting between precision clearances.

They use oil that has a very beefy detergent package. Supposedly it is beefy enough to last until the 1st oil change. I hate to question Honda engineers, but.. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

I'd be more worried about your oil filter becomming saturated and bypassing than anything.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Roger
The reason being Honda states 10,000 miles for the first oil change is to allow the engine to break in properly, Honda uses special non detergent oil for break in, you may if you want change it at 7,500 miles.

Interesting - wouldn't it make the best sense then to be safe and change the oil early, but use that same break-in oil?

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Kckazdude
Never wait 10,000 miles to change oil in your car. Generaly 3000-5000 miles is good for most vehicles. You will be ok changing oil at 3000 for the first time.

Oh, and use a high quality oil filter. It is more important than the specific oil you use.

I know Fram is bad, but what about Purolator or Motorcraft? Or are Mobil1 filters the only filters I should be looking at?

Mobil1 are some of the best filters I know of that are readily available.

The expensive Purolator filters are pretty good too.

Basically, you're looking for something made by Champion Labs or Wix.

 

What the hell are you talking about Eli, for break in only, Honda uses non detergent oil, detergents DO NOT suspend the particles, the oil does this, detergents clean the internals of the engine during operation.

Interesting - wouldn't it make the best sense then to be safe and change the oil early, but use that same break-in oil?

Honda does not sell that oil to the public, it is only used on the production line.

 

Hate to say it Eli, but I trust Roger, AT's resident mechanic. But Roger, is there anything bad about doing the first change (and likely putting Mobil1 full synthetic in) at ~3,000 miles?

 

Yes, do not use synthetic until the engine is fully broken in, synthetics do not allow the engine parts to properly break in, only certain manufacturers allow the use of synthetics when new, this is because they use diamond tooling during the engine's machining operation, thus the parts break in much easier and at the same time they break the engines in at the factory where they are assembled.

I personally would not use synthetic oil until the 10,000 mile mark, but that's just me 😉

 

[RagingBITCH]

Roger - just out of curiousity - what's the benefits to using synthetic over conventional? If it's more expensive but it's better, why isn't conventional phased out?

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Roger
What the hell are you talking about Eli, for break in only, Honda uses non detergent oil, detergents DO NOT suspend the particles, the oil does this, detergents clean the internals of the engine during operation.

Interesting - wouldn't it make the best sense then to be safe and change the oil early, but use that same break-in oil?

Honda does not sell that oil to the public, it is only used on the production line.

That is incorrect.

It is specifically the detergents in an oil's additive package that surround and suspend foreign particles in the oil. That is what a detergent does. That is how soap works.

I have been trying to figure out for a while if Honda has their high-detergency break-in oil made specifically for them, or if they add the detergent additives themselves, but I haven't been able to find out any relevant info.

If it's the latter, I question its overall effectiveness even more.

 

Originally posted by: Roger
Yes, do not use synthetic until the engine is fully broken in, synthetics do not allow the engine parts to properly break in, only certain manufacturers allow the use of synthetics when new, this is because they use diamond tooling during the engine's machining operation, thus the parts break in much easier and at the same time they break the engines in at the factory where they are assembled.

I personally would not use synthetic oil until the 10,000 mile mark, but that's just me 😉

So at the first change (~3,000 mi.) use dino oil, and at subsequent changes move to synthetic?

 

OK Eli, what ever you say, I am not going to argue with anybody on this matter, draw your own conclusions.

 

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Roger - just out of curiousity - what's the benefits to using synthetic over conventional? If it's more expensive but it's better, why isn't conventional phased out?

If you have an older car that's been getting conventional oil for its lifetime and you suddenly introduce synthetics, you'll likely sprout multiple oil leaks.

 

[MrScott81]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Hate to say it Eli, but I trust Roger, AT's resident mechanic. But Roger, is there anything bad about doing the first change (and likely putting Mobil1 full synthetic in) at ~3,000 miles?

Just ask your self this...who should you listen to, people on ATOT, or Honda engineers?

Also, I would tend to trust Roger on this too 🙂

 

[Nanotech]

If it is a newer vehichle and they recommend having your oil changed every 10,000 mi. than waiting 5,000-7,000 mi. is acceptable but at around 5,000 - 6,000 it will begin to get pretty black. Don't wait the full 10,000 though especially if you wish to keep the vehicle after the manufacturers warranty expires.

I have a new vehichle that recommends every 10,000 and I had the first one done at ~6,000 mi. which was about right according to the mechanic. He didn't recommend going much over 6,000 though and said that if you are going to go over 7,000 mi between oil changes to be certain synthetic oil is used in place of regular.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Roger
OK Eli, what ever you say, I am not going to argue with anybody on this matter, draw your own conclusions.

I'm not tryin' to argue with you man, I'm just correcting you. 🙁

I'm not drawing my own conclusions, lol..

I highly recommend The Motor Oil Bible. Let me see if I can find a link, I do believe it is a free download now.

The effectiveness of Honda's detergency package during break-in is a hot topic on the Honda boards. It's no secret.

I have no idea where you heard that they use a non-detergent oil.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Roger - just out of curiousity - what's the benefits to using synthetic over conventional? If it's more expensive but it's better, why isn't conventional phased out?

I've come to learn that not all synthetics are created equal, and there are certainly ultra-refined conventional oils that are better than cheap synthetics.

They are overall better, but they carry a huge price premium..

Most people are still stuck on the 3,000 mile oil change, and any oil worth a damn will last that long.. so many see it as a waste of money.