Change Factory Fill?

[05Blazer]

So I only have 2k miles on my new Honda Pilot. The owners manual specifically says in 2 different places not to drain the factory fill early. The Oil monitor is at about 80%. We are getting into the winter months of Chicago. This car is usually garage kept over night but sometimes sits outside as my wife works 3rd shift. Should I drain factory fill early and replace with the Redline 0W20 I have or should I follow the owners manual? IF keep the factory fill,should I replace the filter at 50% and add 1/2qt of PP to top off? thanks for your replies.

 

[91344George]

Honda uses a special factory fill which helps to better break in the engine, I would NOT replace that oil until you are down to the last 10% or so. If you make a lot of short trips make sure to occasionally take the car out on the highway at 60 mph for a 45 minute cruse to burn off any water or gas.

 

[fdcg27]

Honda is pretty clear about not draining the FF early. I'd let it go to at least 50% OLM, although it would kill me to do so. Still, I tend to trust Honda when it comes to engines. All of the Honda engines we've had have held up really well, but then that is also true of most of the engines we've had in most cars over the years.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Originally Posted By: 05Blazer

So I only have 2k miles on my new Honda Pilot. The owners manual specifically says in 2 different places not to drain the factory fill early. The Oil monitor is at about 80%. We are getting into the winter months of Chicago. This car is usually garage kept over night but sometimes sits outside as my wife works 3rd shift. Should I drain factory fill early and replace with the Redline 0W20 I have or should I follow the owners manual? IF keep the factory fill,should I replace the filter at 50% and add 1/2qt of PP to top off? thanks for your replies.

How many miles is the new Pilot expected to have at the end of March? That's about the time of year when my oil changes resume here in Michigan and we share similar weather conditions. By-the-way, I am surprised your first oil change isn't free at the dealership. I know of two recent new Honda purchases here and both were given "1st oil change free' from their Honda dealer.

 

[chubbs1]

2k is plenty. Not to mention RL 0w20 is loaded with Moly so I say go for it. What is magical about Honda FF? Moly? 0w15? Is it worth it to have a bunch of break in material flowing through the engine? That is what bothers me and I like to change my FF at 1k max.

 

[ammolab]

Just to be a "rebel" I changed out the MAGIC Honda oil in my 2009 CR-V @ 2000miles. I was going on a 80mph dash across Texas pulling a trailer in 108F heat. I wanted a Synthetic oil in there for my Summer Wanderings. Now at 30,000 miles and all is well. No issues to date and no oil needed between OCI down to 5% or so on the monitor.

 

[91344George]

Originally Posted By: ammolab

Just to be a "rebel" I changed out the MAGIC Honda oil in my 2009 CR-V @ 2000miles.. Now at 30,000 miles and all is well. No issues to date and no oil needed between OCI down to 5% or so on the monitor.

Check back with us at 60k miles, then you might not feel the same way. I never fail to be surprised at the thought that somehow a car buyer, even an informed one, thinks they know better than the Honda engine engineers about things like this.

 

[OldCowboy]

George, I couldn't agree with you more.

 

[roadrunner1]

Originally Posted By: OldCowboy

George, I couldn't agree with you more.

I agree with waiting also, for those of you who think your engines are riddled with break-in/assembly gunk there is an oil filter to take care of this. Every vehichle I have bought new I have went to what the owners manual recommended on first OC, and for that matter every OC after that. I have never owned an "oil burner" or had any mechanical problems lube related. Your Honda doesn't "need" that 0w-20 you're waiting to put in it, AFAIK Honda still recommends 5w-20 in that engine, the 0w-20 won't hurt a thing, but 5w-20 will suffice in the application.

 

[dave123]

I changed my 05 piolt FF with 1k on it and 5K for it's life now and at 105K never uses a drop and runs like new.

 

[wymi516]

Originally Posted By: chubbs1

2k is plenty. Not to mention RL 0w20 is loaded with Moly so I say go for it. What is magical about Honda FF? Moly? 0w15? Is it worth it to have a bunch of break in material flowing through the engine? That is what bothers me and I like to change my FF at 1k max.

+1 1K miles for the FF and I change it. You don't know how many times your "new" car was started and ran for only 30 seconds to move it around on the lot.

 

[91344George]

Originally Posted By: wymi516

Originally Posted By: chubbs1

2k is plenty. Not to mention RL 0w20 is loaded with Moly so I say go for it. What is magical about Honda FF? Moly? 0w15? Is it worth it to have a bunch of break in material flowing through the engine? That is what bothers me and I like to change my FF at 1k max.

+1 1K miles for the FF and I change it. You don't know how many times your "new" car was started and ran for only 30 seconds to move it around on the lot.

I promise you that things like this ARE factored into the equation concerning the break in oil from the factory. Adhere to the OLM and change the FF with 10% or less life remaining and you will be perfect.

 

[Malo83]

Change it

 

[toolmaker]

+1

 

[Dave Sherman]

Originally Posted By: dave123

I changed my 05 piolt FF with 1k on it and 5K for it's life now and at 105K never uses a drop and runs like new.

I changed my CR-V's factory oil at 10,040 miles, and it goes 9000+ miles between oil changes for the last 65,000 miles. Oh, and I tow a pop-up camper with it. Never uses a drop and runs like new.

 

[Boss302fan]

I always changed out my FF early but not anymore. I would go at least 5K before changing out your Honda FF. It it was a GM, Ford, etc then I would consider 3K... The older I get the more I believe in leaving in the FF longer. YES, the oil filters will catch anything that could harm your engine during breakin. Oh yea, Honda and Toyota use very good FF oils and I would not be afraid to go at least the 5K mentioned or even 7500 miles.

 

[Eddie]

I trust the Honda factory engineers recommendations over our self-appointed-experts. Ed