| the wiz |
In all of my vehicles, i have always done the first oil change at 1000 miles, then every 3000 miles thereafter. the manual states to leave the first change at 7500 mi. interval, or use the severe schedule at 3750mi.
i use premium conventional oil at the recommended weight (5w-20 in this case)
does this sound ok?
think any harm can come from early oil change...is there some reason acura recommends to leave oil in?
thanks,
wiz |
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| Ceenit |
Absolutely no harm in doing oil changes early, I think a lot of people have clung to the 3k mile intervals that the oil manufacturers market so well. In the long run, the fewer polutants in the oil, the better an engine will last. Worst case, you may be spending a few extra dollars to obtain piece of mind and the potential for a longer lasting car.
I am in the same boat, I use conventional oil and change every 4k. I enjoy the opportunity to get under the car and check everything out....another big benefit to more frequent changes for a DIY. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by the wiz
In all of my vehicles, i have always done the first oil change at 1000 miles, then every 3000 miles thereafter. the manual states to leave the first change at 7500 mi. interval, or use the severe schedule at 3750mi.
i use premium conventional oil at the recommended weight (5w-20 in this case)
does this sound ok?
think any harm can come from early oil change...is there some reason acura recommends to leave oil in?
thanks,
wiz
Actually, the oil is supposedly of a 'break-in' variety. Acura normally advises keeping it in until the standard 1st change. Most of us change it between 3 and 5 thousand it seems. |
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| GDTRFB |
quote:
Originally posted by DaleB
Actually, the oil is supposedly of a 'break-in' variety.
Can anyone confirm or substantiate this?
I've heard this before, yet others say there is no such thing.
I will be getting my MDX in a week, and usually do the first at 1,000 miles. |
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| TheWorm |
quote:
Originally posted by GDTRFB
Can anyone confirm or substantiate this?
I've heard this before, yet others say there is no such thing.
I will be getting my MDX in a week, and usually do the first at 1,000 miles.
I've seen a used oil analysis of Honda/Acura "break in oil" and it is indeed different. It has a boatload of moly in it. Any other special properties would be pure conjecture.
I personally would not wait til 7500 to get the factory fill oil out, even if I were on the "normal" schedule. 1k seems a bit premature to me; I'd be comfortable waiting til 3750 at the high end but no longer than that.
$.02 |
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| Ceenit |
| On a recent trip to the dealer, they specifically noted that the differential fluid is of a 'break in' (they used the term 'starter') variety. This is the first I have heard that the engine oil is unique as well...but it makes sense given the tolerances of a brand new engine. |
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| lawboy02 |
quote:
Originally posted by Ceenit
On a recent trip to the dealer, they specifically noted that the differential fluid is of a 'break in' (they used the term 'starter') variety. This is the first I have heard that the engine oil is unique as well...but it makes sense given the tolerances of a brand new engine.
Generally, new cars come with a specially formulated "break-in" oil with a higher viscosity rating. |
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| dipersp |
Typically, I'm of the nature that I like to change oil every 3k or 3 months. And I do 90% highway miles. However, from what I've been hearing about the "factory" oil, the fact that the manual states NOT to change the first oil early, and the first change should be 7500 miles, I'm leaving it in.
IF I experience any motor problems later on down the road, I have the ACURA owner's manual to back me up stating those facts, as well as when the oil should be changed. On my second oil change, I will be sending the oil out to be checked by the lab to see how it looks. |
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| the wiz |
well, if the factory fill from acura is high in moly, then an early oil change with a high moly (ie. penzoil or chevron) conventional oil should make no difference. just that the oil is fresh from the wear metals of break-in.
i cannot see any harm in an early oil change....however there seems to be a variety of opinions...
wiz |
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| the wiz |
while the links provided (thank you, the worm) some very interesting reading, im not sure i understand the technical analysis language, and theres no real conclusions i can draw from the materials. were you able to come to any conclusions ie. change early with a high moly oil, or quit being neurotic and allow the factory oil to stay until the 3750 mark. i look forward to any insite.
thanks,
wiz |
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| frostyra |
| FWIW (not much, I presume), The Honda dealer told us when we bought our '99 Accord V6 NOT to change the oil before 3750. We followed that advice, and carried it over to the X. |
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| TheWorm |
quote:
Originally posted by the wiz
while the links provided (thank you, the worm) some very interesting reading, im not sure i understand the technical analysis language, and theres no real conclusions i can draw from the materials. were you able to come to any conclusions ie. change early with a high moly oil, or quit being neurotic and allow the factory oil to stay until the 3750 mark. i look forward to any insite.
thanks,
wiz
Well, I guess the primary conclusion is that there is, indeed, a "special" factory-fill oil, and it appears from those analyses that the primary difference between it and typical oil is that it contains significant levels of moly. More than even moly-enriched oils like Chevron, etc.
Another conclusion is that the oil is the same weight that's recommended for changes (5w20 for the most recent model years).
The balance of the numbers have to do with contaminants and wear metals (some are additives, like moly among others) but peeps focus on iron/aluminum/copper/silicon to determine to what extent wear is occuring in the engine.
There are also numbers on the "current" viscosity of the oil and the level of protection it is still providing (if it is).
The wear metals are always high in a new engine, and opinions vary on when, exactly, to change out the factory fill oil (presuming it is still "protecting" the engine and is within grade, etc).
Some say wait the full interval, some say get it out ASAP, some fall in between. I don't think there's a "right" answer to tell you the truth, so I sort of go with a balance of what seems to make sense based on those hardcore conversations happening on Bob's site.
IMO, changing REALLY early is unneccessary and a waste of money. I think it's a fine idea to get rid of the wear metals floating around in the factory fill and replacing with a decent dino (preferably w/moly) for the first change (the UOAs indicate a fair amount of garbage floating around). 3750 seems a reasonable interval to do so to me. For sure I'd do a dino w/moly if I were changing sooner than that. At 3750 or beyond I think it's fine to use whatever you're going to use, although I personally would still use a dino for at least another change or two before switching to a synthetic, if that's what you're ultimately planning.
FWIW I changed out the oil in my G35 @ 1200 miles (official break in period) to get rid of the crap; filled with dino. I didn't have an analysis on that one as the dealer did the first change for me, but there were enough other owners posting UOAs for between 1k and 3750 that I thought it a good idea (Infiniti's factory fill is nothing special). I'll probably switch to a syn around 7500 on that car.
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/ has a good FAQ on what the different numbers are. |
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| the wiz |
alllright...lets see, leave factory oil for more than the 1000mile change ive always done, so that the stuff in the oil...Mo in this case can do its job....any idea if that factory fill is available for purchace? i could just swap out the contaminants that im worried about and keep the benifits of the factory fill..
seems win win to me...
thanks wiz |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by the wiz
alllright...lets see, leave factory oil for more than the 1000mile change ive always done, so that the stuff in the oil...Mo in this case can do its job....any idea if that factory fill is available for purchace? i could just swap out the contaminants that im worried about and keep the benifits of the factory fill..
seems win win to me...
thanks wiz
I think you are making a bit more of this than is really necessary. Just follow the owner's manual. |
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| TheWorm |
Factory fill isn't available for purchase.
If you want to drain the factory fill @ 1k, refill with a dino w/lots of moly, that's fine.
If you want to wait til 3750 to drain, refill with ANY dino, that's fine.
If you want to wait til 7500 to drain, refill with whatever floats your boat, that's fine.
DaleB's right....just drive! You'll be fine! It's a great engine.
:trustme:
If you need to obsess over something head over to the detailing forum and figure out how to get the ultimate shine :) |
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| Oh_My_Baby |
| I just changed the oil on my X today when it showed 5500 miles on it. The drained oil was not as thick as the one I saw from my Toyota Camry (10W30) and looked almost black. However, the new Penzoil 5W20 is a little bit darker than the new Castrol GTX 10W30 too. |
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| the wiz |
well, just crossed 400 miles...im thinking the 1000 then every 3000..
i love my mdx!
wiz |
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| Pauls MDX |
quote:
Originally posted by the wiz
In all of my vehicles, i have always done the first oil change at 1000 miles, then every 3000 miles thereafter. the manual states to leave the first change at 7500 mi. interval, or use the severe schedule at 3750mi.
i use premium conventional oil at the recommended weight (5w-20 in this case)
does this sound ok?
think any harm can come from early oil change...is there some reason acura recommends to leave oil in?
thanks,
wiz
Finally a family member from the "Old School" on oil changes. I followed the same schedule and recently went to a 5000 mile interval. I've noticed the oil much more dirty and broken down and I believe I'm going back to a 3000 mile interval. Especially because I've been driving at much higher speeds due to a recent move. |
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| Fabvsix |
| When I bought my X, we drove to LA from Northern Cal. with 450 miles on the odo. By the time we returned, the odo was 1,400 miles or so and the oil was BLACK and half empty ! I freaked and called my Service manager who said NO harm changing the oil at 2500 or 3000 miles ! I changed it because it was SOOOOOO BLACK and shy a half quart of oil ! |
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| the wiz |
well, i did it.
changed out oil at 915 miles. factory oil pretty dark. refilled with havoline 5w-20 (high moly oil), and a purolator filter. everything seems fine, and i feel better! ill change out at 3000 miles, then every 3000 thereafter.
thanks,
wiz |
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| Oh_My_Baby |
quote:
Originally posted by the wiz
well, i did it.
changed out oil at 915 miles. factory oil pretty dark. refilled with havoline 5w-20 (high moly oil), and a purolator filter. everything seems fine, and i feel better! ill change out at 3000 miles, then every 3000 thereafter.
thanks,
wiz
How do you know it's HIGH MOLY. All I see on the counter is regular (dino) oil and synthetic. Just wonder? |
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| the wiz |
you can check on bob the oil guys website...they do both virgin and used oil analysis. these guys are the oil gurus!
pennziol 5w-20 and havoline 5w-20 have both consistently showed very high moly counts (above 225ppm). check the site...its a real wealth of information. most of these guys are looking for extended oil changes....in the 7500 mile plus category. I refuse to consider it....new oil is cheap insurance.
wiz |
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