You aren't polluting the environment by changing the oil. That oil is recycled and used for other purposes.

Depending on your driving habits, I don't think you'll do any harm with 7500 mile oil changes. I do 5000 miles, because (a) it's easy to remember, and (b) I expect to keep the van longer than 100K miles.

A Honda *should* easily last to 100K miles with 7500 mile oil changes, even under somewhat extreme driving conditions. But that's no guarantee. You want guarantees? Do it more frequently.

Let's do the math: at 7500 mile intervals, you'll do 13 oil changes over 100K miles. At $28 per, that's $364.

At 5000 mile intervals, you'll do 20 (max) oil changaes over 100K miles (assuming you do the final oil change). That's $560.

$200 over 100K miles is all you'll pay for an extra bit of insurance to make sure you get to 100K miles. How many years will it take you to hit 100K miles?

If you drive 20K miles/year, that's 5 years. $200 over 5 years is $40/year, under a buck a week.

If you drive 15K miles/year, that's 7 years. $200 over 7 years is $28.57/year. Give up one Starbucks every other month.

If you drive 10K miles/year, that's 10 years. $200 over 10 years is $20/year. Quit supersizing lunch once in awhile.

You get the idea. It's not about money or pollution. If you *want* to go 7500 miles, do it. If you want a much better guarantee that you're doing your engine well, do 5000 miles. Or 3000 miles.

 

synthetic?

It's been discussed before, I use synthetic, Mobile1, to go to the highest recommended interval and save myself time, not the money. It's not only the money but the extra effort. If you eliminate a change, you safe the time it takes to take it for service, not to mention the risk of damage to the van from the service center or you save the energy it takes to do it yourself (my preferred way).

 

7500 miles is at least 3 changes for me..It's called preventive maint. and peace of mind..Is it necessary....I don't know

 

It's not the money at all... it's my time taking this thing to the dealer to get the oil changed. I have my doubts about all the oil being put to good use after I've used it.

Maybe I should just do what I want but I have yet to hear a rational argument on a car forum for changing the oil at a shorter interval than called for in the owners manual. Everyone seems to do it and claim they somehow know that this will make the engine last longer.

I would say what is your evidence that the engine will last any longer with more frequent changes? Wouldn't the engineers that come up with these maintenance schedules want this Honda engine to last thereby generating good public image and repeat business?

I hate being irrational..

 

It's not the money at all... it's my time taking this thing to the dealer to get the oil changed

If I took it to the dealer..it would definately lengthen my intervals.....I avoid their hands touching my cars at all costs

 

..It's called preventive maint. and peace of mind..Is it necessary....I don't know

7500 miles is 2 changes for me. I base my interval on not only mileage but also the time factor.

alderran, how long does it take you to put on 7500 miles?

 

Alderan,

You live in Boston, right? Colder winters would dictate changing oil every 3 months, even if mileage is not reached yet after those 3 months. (Maybe stretch these 3 months a little bit between May and October, if you insist).

Cold weather makes water condensate inside the engine. When starting up, condensed water mixes with oil, water corrupts oil.

I say 3 months. What say you?

 

I guess I should check the time factor. Does that vary between the two schedules? I am probably more likely to hit that before the mileage anyway.

My wife and I commute together we are planning on using the G35 to commute to work and the Odyssey nights and weekends when we have kids/friends/family to haul around.

But the part about the cold doesn't it say something like severe cold and short trips? Boston isn't that cold and my trips are not usually short.

It's funny that this truck takes 5/20 oil.. my brother said it's because they make the engines so tight now days.

 

The 7500 interval is mandated by the feds as their research showed that oil lasts that long and they don't want manufacturers requireing changes more often. They get to halve it for severe service. I'm a 3750 guy unless it's only been 3 weeks. My wife can put on some miles! I think 5-30 is ok as that is what our dealer puts in.

 

Do you have any links to support that? If it is true then the Feds probably want to mandate that policy based on the negative effect on the environment would be my guess.

 

I have the manual in front of me now it says short trips in freezing conditions, towing, driving in mountain conditions, extremely hot, a lot of idling or muddy conditions. It also notes if any of the above are only occasionally true you should still follow the normal schedule.

The interval is 3750/6mo or 7500/1yr. What I might do is just follow the normal oil change interval but use synthetic.

Is there any truth to the you shouldn't use synthetic on a new engine?

 

Is there any truth to the you shouldn't use synthetic on a new engine?

No, many, including some manufacturers, use synthetic oil in new engines. Others, including me, still prefer to use dino for the first 7,500~10,000 miles before switching to synthetic.

Just my 2¢ worth,
Mel

 

If you really wanna know you can get a UOA (used oil analysis) of your used engine oil. The analysis will tell you what metals and other chemicals are present in the oil. How much the viscosity has changed. Also how much "additive" is still in the oil. Also checks for fuel, solids and if antifreeze residue is present.

Take a sample at 3750 and you might find that the oil can go another 1-2k miles or it may not and go from there.

Engines wear different even the same model and year. They brand and type of oil you put in there can make a difference on your oil change interval, too.

If you use synthetic try a UOA at 5k

Then you will have some concrete info about your engine and when to change the oil.

That's probably more than you wanted to here, but.....

 

So I wonder why my four cylinder '02 Accord says 3750? Maybe more stress on the engine? It also calls for 5w-20 only, which is certainly a new one on me.

 

So I wonder why my four cylinder '02 Accord says 3750? Maybe more stress on the engine? It also calls for 5w-20 only, which is certainly a new one on me.

My 02 4 cylinder Accord and my 03 V6 Odyssey both carry the same recommendation from Honda.... 7,500 miles under normal driving conditions..... 3,750 under severe driving conditions. I believe they define severe as extreme cold, extreme heat, towing, excessive stop and go driving or idling, etc......

 

every 3,300 miles with dino (easy to remember), every 5,000 miles with syn (ditto).. new filter each time..... I use 10w30........

 

Hmm, that's weird - my maintenance required light in the Accord just came on solid at a little over 40k, after my last dealer service at 37,500, and I'm pretty sure it says 3750 for normal conditions. My hangup is finding 5w-20 at BJs - I've never noticed any there.

 

I remember reading about a study several years ago with New York City cabs. On one fleet they changed the oil evey 2500, and anoher fleet evey 5000.

After 100K miles there was no measurable difference in wear of the engine components.

Conclusion, changing the oil more frequently than manufacturer's recommendation may not help. It might seem like a good idea, but it could just be a waste of money & time.

 

5w30 is just fine, it's the 5 number that's important.

 

I think I found my "problem" of the Maintenance Light on my Accord coming on too soon. I'm so used to having the same car all the time, I forgot I just bought this in January, so the dealer probably just didn't reset it when I brought it in for a 37,500 mile service, since I don't think it was on, since I just bought the car with 33,000 miles on it.

Out of curiosity, I wonder if they will only reset when on, or if anytime you go through the reset procedure it will always reset the clock?

Anyway, I'm sticking with 7500 miles.

 

You aren't polluting the environment by changing the oil. That oil is recycled and used for other purposes.

You get the idea. It's not about money or pollution. If you *want* to go 7500 miles, do it. If you want a much better guarantee that you're doing your engine well, do 5000 miles. Or 3000 miles.

Even though oil recycling is a good thing, there is an environmental cost to changing oil more frequently. Producing more filters, containers etc., re-refining used oil, fuel and emissions related to transportation, landfill costs for disposal of used oil containers and filters all add up - just multiply it by the millions of cars on the road and it is a pretty big number.

The idea that oil changes should only be done at 3, 5 or 10k miles is pretty much a guess and is subject to many variables (brand and type of oil/filter used, operating environment, etc.).

I agree with PB_Ody - with used oil analysis (UOA) will help you decide how frequent you should change your oil. In the Ody, I have been using dino oil and changing it at 5-6k mile intervals (I have a lifetime oil change that I got for $89, using a middle of the road oil and good filter). I have 85k mile on the Ody and have done two used oil analysis. Both revealed very low levels of metals, dirt and other compounds detrimental to engines, and good reserve values for lubrication, and oil additives. I have done UOA on other cars with over 200k miles that have shown that the oil is still very effective after 10k miles.

 

OK, so then how many of you follow the recommendation to only change the filter every 15,000 miles? I've never done that - even if it is the manufacturer's suggestion.

 

No one not even the dealers.

 

OK, so then how many of you follow the recommendation to only change the filter every 15,000 miles? I've never done that - even if it is the manufacturer's suggestion.

Nope, that seems penny wise and pound foolish. Why try and save the cost of a $5 filter and chance that it won't effectively clean your vital engine oil?

Wayne

 

I agree. It sure seems odd that Honda would recommend that, especially when just living in Canada can bump you up to the severe service schedule!