Topic: New Auto oil change intervals.

[Bob Wessner]

Have a new car, no traditional, printed maintenance schedule anymore it seems. It uses 0w-20 oil (which is akin to water to me  and I'm supposed to rely on the car telling me when to get it changed. One of the displays is the "remaining oil life" as a percentage. Since this is my first new car in 13 years, I'm having some trouble adapting to this. Is this the norm these days on newer cars? I've had the car since February and based on this percentage display, I can expect 10,000 miles between oil changes. 

[raymond10078]

Sounds like my Lincoln - same thing.  I understand that they in order to get to higher oil change intervals, an additional quart was added (now holds six quarts as opposed to five).

So far, the oil color is pretty good at the 10k mark.  I run full synthetic anyway - so 10k is an OK interval anyway. . . .

[333]

What did you get, Bob?  And have you tried the internet?

[Bob Wessner]

333, it's a 2013 Honda Pilot. Love it. Getting at least the projected fuel mileage, if not a little better. All things considered (size, weight, etc. and towing capability) it's only a couple of miles per gallon less than my 2000 Honda CRV. They have clearly made some improvements in 13 years. 

As for the Internet, yes, have checked;

http://www.wildehonda.com/honda-maintenance-minder-system.htm

Just a case of the old guy turning over too much control to the car's computer I guess. 

[Xnavylfr]

NOT NEW,,, Cars have been trying to convince you that your door is a jar since the 80s.
Car nowadays can tell you where to go, how to get there, how much fuel you used and when you need to stop to take a leak!!! They will even tell you if your tire pressure is low, as long as that 5000$ CPU box works correctly!!


Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[toytuff]

That "time to leak" light doesn't work very well. They forgot to factor age, visiting the Bar and drinking Grandma's lemonade into the puter.

I like relieving myself in the weeds anyway. (Anywhere else for that matter)

Brings out the Boy in me. 

tt

[BobbyR]

I have a Lincoln and a Honda and al of the cars I have had in the last nine years are the same. The oil change intervals are very extended these days. From both cars you get a change oil soon, or if you wait a change oil now message pops up. These are all lease cars so the future effect is not important to me.

[70CB750]

I guess it is a good reminder, but I consider cars that communicate with driver annoying:)

Like this Toyota of a coworker - he plops laptop on the front seat and the car tells him he better put a seat belt on the child and it should not sit in front in the first place.

[dave500]

our new isuzu trucks have a 15,000 kay service interval,theyll be getting done at 10,000 though,too much stop start and idling,plus being garbage trucks the environment is harsh,plus the power take off usage while stationary etc,these are the euro 4 engines,the oil is staying cleaner looking longer after service though,mostly goes black almost straight away on the earlier engines.

[Raul CB750K1]

I bought a brand new Audi A4 back in 2000 and was the same. I was very reluctant to trust the car telling me when it was time to change the oil! It could last 30.000 miles or two years, whatever comes first.

The car told me to change the oil after the first 18.000 miles, which I did. 18.000 miles later again. From then on I changed the oil myself -which was a big saving- with the manufactured recommended oil, about 60$ a gallon. The car has now 120.000 miles and runs like a champ.

[Retro Rocket]

NOT NEW,,, Cars have been trying to convince you that your door is a jar since the 80s.
Car nowadays can tell you where to go, how to get there, how much fuel you used and when you need to stop to take a leak!!! They will even tell you if your tire pressure is low, as long as that 5000$ CPU box works correctly!!


Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

Yep, and when they learn to have sex. mow the lawn and cook i'll marry one.....

[Xnavylfr]

If you check with your auto dealership, they will TRY to tell you , you have to bring your vehicle in here to have the oil changed or it cancelled the WARRANTY.  That is NOT true !! I purchased a NEW vehicle in 2000 and of course was told this.  I called the MANUFACTURERS warranty line to get the straight skinny!  They said anyone can change the oil as long as I kept records of change intervals to cover engine warranty.


Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[demon78]

#$%* it looks like no new car for me, I get pissed off if it dings at me too much because it doesn't like the way I undo the seat belt and my frustration level is creeping towards ripping it's electronic guts out. Bah Humbug!
Bill the demon.

[Bankerdanny]

That system is pretty common these days. Sensors monitor how frequenlty you start the car, trip lengths, operating temps.

I wouldn't have any issue following the manufacturer's recomendations or the car's self diagnosis (although I hate the trend of eliminating the dipstick).

Engines are built to finer tolerances with better materials these days, fuel injection is ever more sophisticated, reducing the contaminents in the oil from combustion, and filters and the oil itself are also superior to the days of the 3 months/3,000 mile rule.

[Bob Wessner]

.. I hate the trend of eliminating the dipstick).

Really? Wow, hadn't heard of that. Fortunately my Pilot still has one. At least it gives me one thing I can do. 

[gantt]

I run full syn. 4,000 miles in my civic. 398,000 miles and no valve adjustment needed, no mechanical engine breakdowns, less than 1/2 quart used during oil change interval. Maybe i change too often but better early than late.

Sent from my VS910 4G using Tapatalk 2

[BobbyR]

What scares me more than not having a dipstick, they are eliminating the spare tire for a can of flat fix. I will not drive a car with no spare tire.

[70CB750]

I drove a vehicle without a spare tire, it is all in your head man, you can be free if you try. 

Of course that vehicle was a russian tank T-55 but you got the idea

[Raul CB750K1]

I drove a vehicle without a spare tire, it is all in your head man, you can be free if you try. 

Of course that vehicle was a russian tank T-55 but you got the idea

I drive my bike with no spare tire and I'm fine with it.... as you say, it is all in your head.

[Bob Wessner]

I run full syn. 4,000 miles in my civic. 398,000 miles and no valve adjustment needed, no mechanical engine breakdowns, less than 1/2 quart used during oil change interval. Maybe i change too often but better early than late.

Sent from my VS910 4G using Tapatalk 2

I have about 7,000 mi. on the Pilot now. While up in the U.P. on vacation happened to check the oil level after a trip up to Copper Harbor it had been sitting for five or ten minutes. Dipstick showed a half quart low! This would be the First Honda I've ever had that used any oil. This includes a Civic, my '69 750 as well as my 2000 CRV. Decided to wait and check it again later.. perhaps an hour. Sure enough, right up to full. I was surprised it took this long for thin (0w-20) oil to fully return to the sump.

[faux fiddy]

I run full syn. 4,000 miles in my civic. 398,000 miles and no valve adjustment needed, no mechanical engine breakdowns, less than 1/2 quart used during oil change interval. Maybe i change too often but better early than late.

Sent from my VS910 4G using Tapatalk 2

I have about 7,000 mi. on the Pilot now. While up in the U.P. on vacation happened to check the oil level after a trip up to Copper Harbor it had been sitting for five or ten minutes. Dipstick showed a half quart low! This would be the First Honda I've ever had that used any oil. This includes a Civic, my '69 750 as well as my 2000 CRV. Decided to wait and check it again later.. perhaps an hour. Sure enough, right up to full. I was surprised it took this long for thin (0w-20) oil to fully return to the sump.

Kind of interesting.

I think the 0-20 weight helps them get a better gubbment mpg  sticker on the windshield.  I think they claim, perhaps correctly,  that  pumping heavier oil robs horsepower.  Some racers say the same and take that tradeoff.   I would think you could run any oil you preferred for seasonal conditions and it might be better than zero.

[70CB750]

I would agree with the assumption that heavy oil takes hp away.

I rescued a 3HP push mower from the scrap just to use it to some detailing, where the compact Kubota will not go.  The only oil I had was 15W-40 Mobil Delvac - I used it just to make sure it runs.  It did run, but did not cut much,  there was a significant improvement with regular 10W-30.