new civic oil change?

On Fri, 23 Mar 2007 22:48:03 +0000, James Lewis wrote:

> My new 07 civic owner's manual tells me to watch the oil life % on the
> gauge to know when to change oil. I've always changed every 3000 miles (4k
> tops) including the filter. Anyone know if you can change your oil too
> much?
>
> mike


Not as far as I'm concerned!

1980 Toyota Corolla, 244,000 miles, first change at 1500 and then every 3K
after that.

1987 Honda Accord, 220,000 miles, first change at 1500 and then every 3K
after that.

1985 Toyota Corolla GTS, 259,000 and still running, first change at 1500
and then every 3K after that.

1988 Tpyota Supra, records indicate changes at 4K miles, 208,000 and
running great.

I use Castrol GTX at the specified weight, most of the crankcases are 4
quarts including filters, I put in 3.5 Qts of Castrol and 1 Qt of Marvel
Mystery Oil. On all the cars listed above except the Supra. I use Castrol
High Mileage oil in that, and the seal blow-by smoke it was blowing after
being stored for winters is now negligible.

But I put my 2005 Scion TC on Castrol Syntec, and set the Service light
for 4500 miles. Manufacturer's spec is 7500, as it has always been on
Toyotas.
 >> Stay informed about: new civic oil change? 

"James Lewis" <jmpj DeleteThis @verizon.net> wrote in message
news:DOYMh.1394$yo3.607@trnddc04...
> My new 07 civic owner's manual tells me to watch the oil life % on the
> gauge
> to know when to change oil. I've always changed every 3000 miles (4k tops)
> including the filter. Anyone know if you can change your oil too much?


Make sure you don't change the oil the first time till it's time as that is
not standard oil in there.

After that, you can change the oil more often than necessary, but why
bother? The oil life indicator measures a number of factors to determine
the interval and it will be slightly different for each change. It monitors
engine temp, RPMs, length of trips, etc... Which are all real factors in
determining the interval.

My '01 V-6 Accord, I never change the oil till the light starts blinking
(somewhere in the 7000 to 8000 mile range as I drive mostly highway). I'm
now at 179,000 miles only using dino oil and the engine still starts right
up, run smooth and quiet.
 >> Stay informed about: new civic oil change? 

On Fri, 23 Mar 2007 22:48:03 +0000, James Lewis wrote:

> My new 07 civic owner's manual tells me to watch the oil life % on the gauge
> to know when to change oil. I've always changed every 3000 miles (4k tops)
> including the filter. Anyone know if you can change your oil too much?
>
> mike

You cannot change it too much for the car, but changing it more than it
needs is a waste of money and resources.

The maintenance minder system works. It was designed by people that know
how to build and maintain a fine automobile. Just change the oil when the
minder tells you to, and you'll be fine.
 >> Stay informed about: new civic oil change? 

Use the maintenance minder.

3K changes are crazy unless you are driving in the harshest environments.

I change every 7,500 in my Hondas before the MM cars. I use Synthetic rated
at 7,500. I have oil analysis's done periodically, and never a problem.

Okay, maybe I'm damaging my cars, but the '96 I'm still driving has 185k on
it now and in 7,500 miles it may use 1/2 qt of oil.

But do what makes you feel better. I hate to see you wasted money and oil!

G-Man


"James Lewis" <jmpj.RemoveThis@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:DOYMh.1394$yo3.607@trnddc04...
> My new 07 civic owner's manual tells me to watch the oil life % on the
> gauge
> to know when to change oil. I've always changed every 3000 miles (4k tops)
> including the filter. Anyone know if you can change your oil too much?
>
> mike
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: new civic oil change? 

This message is not archived
 >> Stay informed about: new civic oil change? 

On Fri, 23 Mar 2007 21:22:55 -0400, Seth wrote:

> "James Lewis" <jmpj RemoveThis @verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:DOYMh.1394$yo3.607@trnddc04...
>> My new 07 civic owner's manual tells me to watch the oil life % on the
>> gauge
>> to know when to change oil. I've always changed every 3000 miles (4k
>> tops) including the filter. Anyone know if you can change your oil too
>> much?
>
>
> Make sure you don't change the oil the first time till it's time as that
> is not standard oil in there.

Not standard oil? What is it?




>
> After that, you can change the oil more often than necessary, but why
> bother? The oil life indicator measures a number of factors to determine
> the interval and it will be slightly different for each change. It
> monitors engine temp, RPMs, length of trips, etc... Which are all real
> factors in determining the interval.
>
> My '01 V-6 Accord, I never change the oil till the light starts blinking
> (somewhere in the 7000 to 8000 mile range as I drive mostly highway). I'm
> now at 179,000 miles only using dino oil and the engine still starts right
> up, run smooth and quiet.
 >> Stay informed about: new civic oil change? 

"Hachiroku ハチロク" <Trueno.TakeThisOut@AE86.gts> wrote in message
news:j0iNh.1180$J21.942@trndny03...
> On Fri, 23 Mar 2007 21:22:55 -0400, Seth wrote:
>
>> "James Lewis" <jmpj.TakeThisOut@verizon.net> wrote in message
>> news:DOYMh.1394$yo3.607@trnddc04...
>>> My new 07 civic owner's manual tells me to watch the oil life % on the
>>> gauge
>>> to know when to change oil. I've always changed every 3000 miles (4k
>>> tops) including the filter. Anyone know if you can change your oil too
>>> much?
>>
>> Make sure you don't change the oil the first time till it's time as that
>> is not standard oil in there.
>
> Not standard oil? What is it?


"Break-in" oil. Has extra additives.

Google this group for more information as it has been discussed many times.
 >> Stay informed about: new civic oil change? 

What the hell is "break-in oil?"


Seth wrote:

> "Hachiroku ハチロク" <Trueno DeleteThis @AE86.gts> wrote in message
> news:j0iNh.1180$J21.942@trndny03...
>
>> On Fri, 23 Mar 2007 21:22:55 -0400, Seth wrote:
>>
>>> "James Lewis" <jmpj DeleteThis @verizon.net> wrote in message
>>> news:DOYMh.1394$yo3.607@trnddc04...
>>>
>>>> My new 07 civic owner's manual tells me to watch the oil life % on the
>>>> gauge
>>>> to know when to change oil. I've always changed every 3000 miles (4k
>>>> tops) including the filter. Anyone know if you can change your oil too
>>>> much?
>>>
>>>
>>> Make sure you don't change the oil the first time till it's time as
>>> that
>>> is not standard oil in there.
>>
>>
>> Not standard oil? What is it?
>
>
>
> "Break-in" oil. Has extra additives.
>
> Google this group for more information as it has been discussed many
> times.
>
 >> Stay informed about: new civic oil change? 

"ecarecar" <ecarecar.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:prOdncNiw5u-LJjbnZ2dnUVZ_oCmnZ2d@centurytel.net...
> What the hell is "break-in oil?"


Has extra additives.

Google this group for more information as it has been discussed many times.
 >> Stay informed about: new civic oil change? 

"ecarecar" <ecarecar.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:prOdncNiw5u-LJjbnZ2dnUVZ_oCmnZ2d@centurytel.net...
> What the hell is "break-in oil?"
>
>
>

The idea of "break-in" oil is to deal with the metal surfaces lapping in. It
is important to leave the oil in as long as the owner's manual states and no
longer.

When I worked in aviation non-detergent oil was often used for piston engine
break-in. I don't know why... I was a radio weenie, not a mechanic.

Mike
 >> Stay informed about: new civic oil change? 

On Sat, 24 Mar 2007 22:59:19 -0700, "Michael Pardee"
<michaeltnull DeleteThis @cybertrails.com> wrote:

>"ecarecar" <ecarecar DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:prOdncNiw5u-LJjbnZ2dnUVZ_oCmnZ2d@centurytel.net...
>> What the hell is "break-in oil?"
>>
>>
>>
>
>The idea of "break-in" oil is to deal with the metal surfaces lapping in. It
>is important to leave the oil in as long as the owner's manual states and no
>longer.
>
>When I worked in aviation non-detergent oil was often used for piston engine
>break-in. I don't know why... I was a radio weenie, not a mechanic.
>
>Mike
>
>
At least the 'not a mechanic' part is obvious!
 >> Stay informed about: new civic oil change? 

"Edward W. Thompson" <thomeduk1.TakeThisOut@btopenworld.com> wrote
> On Sat, 24 Mar 2007 22:59:19 -0700, "Michael Pardee"
> <michaeltnull.TakeThisOut@cybertrails.com> wrote:
>
>>"ecarecar" <ecarecar.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>news:prOdncNiw5u-LJjbnZ2dnUVZ_oCmnZ2d@centurytel.net...
>>> What the hell is "break-in oil?"
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>The idea of "break-in" oil is to deal with the metal
>>surfaces lapping in. It
>>is important to leave the oil in as long as the owner's
>>manual states and no
>>longer.
>>
>>When I worked in aviation non-detergent oil was often used
>>for piston engine
>>break-in. I don't know why... I was a radio weenie, not a
>>mechanic.
>>
>>Mike
>>
>>
> At least the 'not a mechanic' part is obvious!

Michael Pardee is one of a handful of regulars here who
gives competent, in-depth, and honest advice on Hondas,
based on experience he occasionally describes. He would
never call his automotive repairs background "impressive,"
but I do.
 >> Stay informed about: new civic oil change? 

Michael Pardee wrote:

> "ecarecar" <ecarecar DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:prOdncNiw5u-LJjbnZ2dnUVZ_oCmnZ2d@centurytel.net...
>
>>What the hell is "break-in oil?"
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> The idea of "break-in" oil is to deal with the metal surfaces lapping in. It
> is important to leave the oil in as long as the owner's manual states and no
> longer.
>
> When I worked in aviation non-detergent oil was often used for piston engine
> break-in. I don't know why... I was a radio weenie, not a mechanic.
>
> Mike
>
>


When rebuilding any of my old "tin" or anything else for that matter, I
have a strict regimen for the "break in" period.

Non Detergent Oil (ususally 30 weight)

First change at 100 miles
Change again at 250 miles
Change again at 600 miles
Change again at 1000 miles to detergent multigrde (usually 10-40
Change again at 2,500 miles
Change at 5,000 miles there after.
(optional oil filter change at every 2,500 miles)

It might sound like overkill, but it has never failed me.

I will do the same for any Honda that I "refresh" should I be able to
locate a good core (EJ1) for the "flock" of '82/83 Hondas..

JT
 >> Stay informed about: new civic oil change?