Oil Change Interval

18382 Views 71 Replies 19 Participants Last post by BFS, Jan 24, 2005

Whatchamacallit

Discussion Starter · Apr 14, 2004

Now that I almost have 5,000 "happy" miles on my TSX, I'll be taking her into the dealership for her first oil change this Thursday. Wish me luck.

The TSX manual recommends an oil change every 10,000 miles (for normal driving) but I think that is a bit too long between oil changes. I'm leaning toward every 5,000 mile interval between oil changes from now on.

How often do you change your oil?

1 - 20 of 72 Posts

larchmont

· #2 · Apr 14, 2004

Never except when I have the car serviced.

I don't think I've ever done it any more than that in all my many years.

I wonder if that could be why my BMW s***ed.

netoperek

· #3 · Apr 14, 2004

I do it every 10k, its a lease and i go according to the manual

Equ222

· #4 · Apr 14, 2004

I'd take it to the dealer around 5,000 miles. Then I'd go by the suggested miles on the sticker. 10,000 is a little too long.

larchmont

· #5 · Apr 14, 2004

Yes, that's what everybody seems to think, and it's in line with what we've always "known." But I gotta believe Honda/Acura is right, and that 10K is fine. Honda/Acura isn't a reckless company, and there's no way they'd say "10K" if they had any inkling whatsoever that 5K or anything else would give better results.

I wouldn't doubt the 10K. Chances are, if anything it's a bit conservative (i.e. low).

Whatchamacallit

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 16, 2004

Just a follow up:

Took my car into Acura of Turnersville (in NJ) today for an oil change.

It took them little over 30 minutes to finish. No frills, quick, fast, and courteous. Their service department wasn't as big as I originally thought but that's not always a bad thing.

Best of all, since it was my first oil change, it was free (which I didn't realize until I saw the receipt).

I also saw quite a few TSXs sitting in their lot. I noticed my salesman there and struck a quick conversation with him. Among few other things, he tells me about the transmission case fiasco that we've talked about here. Other than that, he says TSX sales have been smooth and consistent.

netoperek

· #7 · Apr 16, 2004

So whats the deal with the transmission? Will this be a recall or the transmission is going to jump on my legs while i am crusing 80mph.?

hip

· #8 · Apr 17, 2004

netoperek said:
So whats the deal with the transmission? Will this be a recall or the transmission is going to jump on my legs while i am crusing 80mph.?

Naah,
If you driving along and hear metallic clunks and see shrapnel bouncing off the cars behind you... Well let's just say, don't look back.

Whatchamacallit

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 17, 2004

netoperek said:
So whats the deal with the transmission? Will this be a recall or the transmission is going to jump on my legs while i am crusing 80mph.?

He didn't go into specific details but Acura apparently put in the wrong transmission case for 5AT for TSXs under specific VIN range. I'm not sure if the repair could be done at the dealership or at the factory but sounded like it wasn't too big a deal.

Read more about it here:
http://www.tsxclub.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1410

MarkPinTx

· #10 · Apr 17, 2004

As one who went to an MT because of the hold after waiting about a week, I was interested in the issue.

Best I could tell, the defective case would eventually leak, which could, of course, be disastrous. All in all doesnt sound like too big a deal.

However, I would personally be somewhat perturbed if someone had to detach and reassemble the tranny on my "new" car.

Carlos8542222

· #11 · Apr 19, 2004

Speaking of oil changes, does anybody know what Acura recommends concerning changing the automatic transmission fluid in the TSX?

sjlee

· #12 · Apr 20, 2004

larchmont said:
Yes, that's what everybody seems to think, and it's in line with what we've always "known." But I gotta believe Honda/Acura is right, and that 10K is fine. Honda/Acura isn't a reckless company, and there's no way they'd say "10K" if they had any inkling whatsoever that 5K or anything else would give better results.

I wouldn't doubt the 10K. Chances are, if anything it's a bit conservative (i.e. low).

Reckless? No. Misleading? Maybe.

I guess it depends on how you interpret Honda/Acura's definition of "normal" vs. "extreme" conditions.

From my understanding, if you meet one or more of the criteria for "extreme", then you should follow that schedule.

From the criteria listed in my GS-R manual, I think most drivers would fall under the "extreme" category.

hip

· #13 · Apr 20, 2004

Look, here's the deal. Oil does more than lubricate the engine, it also removes particles and contaminates that the engine produces as a by product of combustion.

With me so far? OK, so as we all know (or should), the more frequent you do short distance driving the more contaminates produced.

Because of advances in technology related to engines (Honda mostly) and oil additives there are formulas used that can predict how long the "average" driver can go under prescribed conditions before the oil needs to be replaced.

Since everyone drives differently, under different conditions, there is a variance has to the maximum limit you should go before an oil change. That is why there are two recommendations, normal and severe.

The bottom line is this, if you plan to keep your car forever, change the oil as frequently as possible. If you drive only in city traffic and not many miles, you should change it depending on time since the last change. Moisture is also produced during short, city drives and ends up in the oil. Longer, highway driving evaporates the moisture and less contaminates overall.

It's really up to you when you change the oil. Use Honda's recommendation and the engine should still last 150K-200K miles. Change it more often and you might see more, but few of you will ever keep your cars that long to worry about it.

Whichever way you go, do the changes as prescribed or more often but always keep records, including receipts. If an engine problem ever develops and you go to Honda to complain, they want proof you did the changes and didn't use recycled oil and a cheap filter. BTW, you don't have to bring only to Acura for oil changes, any qualified service facility will do.

You can even do it yourself, I keep meticulous records and had to prove to Honda that a service I performed was not in violation of their warranty. When I showed them my log and how often I changed my oil (along with receipts), they didn't argue

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larchmont

· #14 · Apr 20, 2004

Great answers, SJ and hip.

But -- I think there have been some posts (not here) about how it's BAD to do the initial oil change on the TSX too soon -- something about how the first batch of oil has some special additive or component that's important for the first few thousand miles, and so if you change it, you lose that. If I get some "spare time" I'll look for them.

Make any sense?

sjlee

· #15 · Apr 20, 2004

larchmont said:
Great answers, SJ and hip.

But -- I think there have been some posts (not here) about how it's BAD to do the initial oil change on the TSX too soon -- something about how the first batch of oil has some special additive or component that's important for the first few thousand miles, and so if you change it, you lose that. If I get some "spare time" I'll look for them.

Make any sense?

I think you're referring to posts made on that "other" TSX site. I believe that it is all rumors/hearsay with little to no truth to it. I have never seen or heard anything regarding this at any dealer or on any owner's manual.

I don't think there is anything special about the oil that's in the car from the manufacturer.

I wish I still knew someone that worked at Honda in Ohio. I also know someone that was an engineer for Mitsubishi down in IL. I'll send him an email to see if he knows anything about it.

MarkPinTx

· #16 · Apr 20, 2004

Ok, here it is straight from AHM, specifically OwnerLink.

As noted, the regular interval is 10k miles, the "severe' is 5k miles. Severe is defined as follows:

Severe
Follow the "severe" schedule only if you drive in one or more of these conditions most of the time:

Trips of less than 5 miles (less than 10 in freezing weather)
Extremely hot weather (over 90 degrees F)
Extensive idling or stop-and-go driving
Trailer towing, car-top carrier, or mountain driving
Muddy, dusty, or de-iced roads

Furthermore, under the FAQ is the following:

Why should I wait to change the oil the first time?

Your Acura 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.

Now, none of this resolves any of the foregoing questions. But it does tell you that a) yes, there is special oil and b) what severe is supposed to be.

hip

· #17 · Apr 20, 2004

Nice post MarkPinTx,

Even if you are "anal retentive" about changing your oil as I am, Honda is right. There is some special additive they use to help during the break-in period. Rumors to the contrary, I don't believe it comes from KFC.

For the first oil change go the limit, thereafter you can change it more frequently if you like. Believe me, one extended oil interval will not harm or break your TSX.

sjlee

· #18 · Apr 20, 2004

MarkPinTx said:
Now, none of this resolves any of the foregoing questions. But it does tell you that a) yes, there is special oil and b) what severe is supposed to be.

Great job of research... guess I was wrong about the "special oil".

Heh, it does a good job of defining what "severe" is, but what does "Extensive idling or stop-and-go driving" mean?

I think 5000 miles is a good rule of thumb.

hip

· #19 · Apr 20, 2004

sjlee said:
Great job of research... guess I was wrong about the "special oil".

Heh, it does a good job of defining what "severe" is, but what does "Extensive idling or stop-and-go driving" mean?

I think 5000 miles is a good rule of thumb.

It's pretty impossible not to qualify as "severe" since most driving conditions fall under at least one of their criteria. "Extensive idling or stop-and-go driving" means if you drive primarily in city driving which is bumper to bumper traffic and stop lights. With highly congested highways, most interstates pretty much qualify in most towns these days

My suspicion is it's done for bragging rights. This way they can advertise, "no oil changes required for 10,000 miles" knowing full well most owners won't qualify.

larchmont

· #20 · Apr 21, 2004 (Edited)

MarkPinTx said:
...."Why should I wait to change the oil the first time?

Your Acura 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."

As noted, the regular interval is 10k miles, the "severe' is 5k miles......

Yes indeed, Mark, thank you! Great get.

This does answer what a lot of people have wondered, and virtually nobody really knew, even people who know an awful lot, and even people who are sort of experts.

I guess now WE'RE all experts.

BTW I'm not so sure that most people or anywhere close to most people meet the "severe" criteria. I sure don't.

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