Advice on wife's car, please?

[Mulaka]

Hi guys. I just bought my wife a 2005 4cy Honda Accord. According to the manuel, the "break-in" period is 600 miles on the engine. She will have that next weekend. It doesn't say anywhere about how long to leave the factory fill in. It requests 5w-20 oil, and says the OCI is 10,000 miles.

Do you think I will be safe this weekend after she gets the 600 miles on it to change it over to Mobil 1 5w-20?

 

[JHZR2]

my father left the factory fill on his 94 toyota previa in for the full OCI - 7500 mi on that van. 186k now, does not use a drop of oil, runs like new. He babied it and drove gently during the break-in (never more than 55 mph, speed always varied). He also has driven it gently all its life, but seriously, its like new as a result.

A well-designed engine will run great for a LONG time, regardless of how long you left the factory fill in for (within reason and manufacturer's spec, of course). If Honda does one thing well, its design 4 cylinder engines. I wouldnt worry, and Id take advantage of all that moly in the factory fill to plate up the engine.

If you want to do anything, Id say swap out the filter. However I dont think that is even encessary.

Myh saab is designed to go up toi 30k km (~16-18k miles) per oil change. It has a computer to decide. I have seen a few used oil analysis where factory fill was left in for ~15000 miles, and the results were still excellent. No signs of accleerated or extra wear. As an alternate example, on my chevy truck, there was no designation of an early drain for the engine oil, but it was suggested that the LSD rear diff fluid be changed out very soon after purchase!

I wouldnt worry. Change it to Exxon superflo for the first few OCIs, as that has the most moly, but dont sweat it if the car does not get its first change until 1000, 3000, 60000, 10k or whatever you finally decide!

JMH

 

[Jay]

Read the manual more carefully. Honda still recommends that you keep the factory-fill in till the first scheduled oil change.

quote:

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

Your Honda 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.

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[asiancivicmaniac]

When they say the first oil change do they mean the severe or the normal oci? Cause my civic's severe is 5,000 but the normal is 10,000. I changed it at 4,000 though. I hope that doesn't affect the engine much.

 

[Market525]

Both of my daughter's drive 4 cyl. Honda Accords. One is a 2000 w/ 85,000 miles, and the other is a 2001 w/ 38,000 miles. I've used Amsoil 5w30 as well as Mobil 1 SuperSyn 5w30,and Mobil 1 SuperSyn 0w30, both cars with 6,000 mile oil change intervals and good results. I've had oil analysis done on both cars (posted in the used oil analysis part of this site). Amsoil 5w30 will be my oil of choice in future changes.

The last change on both cars I used Lube Control, and plan on going about 8,000 miles this change, both with oil analysis, again, posting here.

This 2.4 has to be one of the best engines that Honda has ever built. As for the 5w20 vs other other viscosities, I know I'll start an argument, but I personally don't see the need for 5w20 oils in Honda's. Watching the used oil analysis on these oils - I feel perfectly safe using 0w30 or 5w30 in this 2.4 Honda engine. Again, just my opinion.

Good luck w/ the new Honda.

 

[BlazerLT]

Best to drop the factory fill at 1500-2000 miles to get rid of the laft over material from the engine manufacturing process.

Casting sand and metal filings are everywhere within a new engine.

Sooner you get them out, the better your engine will be.

 

[SWS]

I have an '00 Odyssey and '03 Civic, both of which I bought new. I changed the factory-fill oil & filter at ~3800 miles. The dealer specifically said that the factory fill needed to stay in for at least 3750 miles, claiming that it was special break-in oil. They claimed that this info came from Honda. Since I get my oil changed at this dealer, I figured that if they were turning-down my business then they must be "on to something". Anyway, my experience has been very good on both of these cars. I did take some care to drive in varying patterns & hills and make sure the engine got fully warmed-up during the first 4000 miles (I bought both cars in February in Tennessee climate). On the Civic, I switched to Mobil 1 5w30 at the first oil change. On the Odyssey, I used Valvoline 5w30 conventional for the first 50K miles, then switched to Mobil 1 5w30.

Congrats on your new car, I'm sure it is a great ride!

Best wishes as you motor along!

 

[andrews]

Try to do exactly what Honda recommends. If you are reluctant to do this, at least give it 75% of that mileage before changing. I don't believe Honda is trying to sno-ball anybody about this, and they do want their vehicles to have longevity.
Just my opinion.

 

[Slick 55]

I ran the break-in oil in my Civic 3,300 miles and replaced with Pennzoil 5W-20. I'm now 5,000 miles into my first interval with Mobil 1 0W-20 and it uses no oil and runs great.

 

[John in the ATL]

Mulaka,

Leave the factory fill (high moly) in for at least 3,000 miles and not more than 5,000 miles.

 

[Brons2]

quote:

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Originally posted by BlazerLT:
Best to drop the factory fill at 1500-2000 miles to get rid of the laft over material from the engine manufacturing process.

Casting sand and metal filings are everywhere within a new engine.

Sooner you get them out, the better your engine will be.

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This is not good advice for a Honda as they put quite a witches brew in at the factory for break in, including very high levels of moly.