I am braeking in a '05 Honda element. My dailly commute is 50 miles oneway. Morning not much traffic but evening its bumper to bumper lots of stop and go. Got 300 miles on it. Should I change oil at 500 miles or should I change at 1000 miles?
Honda element --- Should I?
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This has been discussed mucho times, especially on Honda products. Bottom line, it doesn't seem to matter whether you do it soon, or wait several thousand miles. Apparently Honda engines are exposed to lots of moly when built and some people think that should stay in. If all else fails, follow the recommendation in the owners guide. If you've become bitog afflicted, do it soon.
Why do you want to change it so soon? In this case, I'd follow the manufacturers recommendation and leave it in for the full 5K miles. In the 3 new cars that I've owned in my lifetime, the break-in oils were always left in for the full recommended OCI, and I've never had an oil related problem with any of them.
Some people are WAY to paranoid about this issue!
Some people are WAY to paranoid about this issue!
Tom, it is nice to hear an alternate viewpoint on that issue. I left the oil in my most recent new car in for 5k miles. After reading some posts here you would have though that I ruined my engine. If you check out the UOA section of this web site there is an analysis by someone with a Honda Ridgeline that waited over 6500 miles before changing out the original oil. It seems OK.
I would change it out and juice up your oil choice with the Valvoline Synpower Oil Treatment, as it is loaded with Moly.
Your manual is your friend so follow it.
The argument for changing out the break-in oil early that I always read about comes from the fear of leftover casting/machining debris that may be left in the engine after assembly. What they fail to think about is that if there is any debris left in the engine (and you don't see this often anymore as engine assembly technology is advancing), the oil filter would capture any of that debris that is large enough to be circulating with the oil. It's really an unfounded fear, IMHO.
Like others have said, this is one time where you should follow the OEMs recommendation.
On the other hand, just to prove there is minimal goobers floating around, you can pull the filter and replace it. Top off the oil. Disect the filter, take pictures and laugh because there is probably nothing there visible to your eyeball.
mucho bueno señor. I was little worried as this is my first 0 mile vehicle. All my previous vehicles were low milage used ones and didn't had to worry about break-in oil at all. As soon as I got them drained all type of fluids and filled with synthetic. Amsoil, Mobile 1 and RP worked great for me on different cars.
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Just keep in mind that this disposition toward retaining break-in oil for the full duration of the factory recommended mileage is almost exclusively limited to Hondas (note the bold, please). This is almost the exact opposite case with autos of domestic origins. These engines conspicously have a vast support base in "follow the manual" ..while just about every other engine/vehicle, does not
Honda gets a pass for the "Most favored engine" status in the eyes of most of the membership. There is much justification for the attitude ..but there is a distinct lack of justification for not having this attitude with every other engine.
This isn't a comment on the wisdom (or lack of wisdom) of changing out the factory fill early. It is an observation of behaviors.
Honda gets a pass for the "Most favored engine" status in the eyes of most of the membership. There is much justification for the attitude ..but there is a distinct lack of justification for not having this attitude with every other engine.
This isn't a comment on the wisdom (or lack of wisdom) of changing out the factory fill early. It is an observation of behaviors.
probably not. my camry still going good with 170K and planning lot more on it before i would take it to bone yard. my dad's Grand caravan works charm with 90K on it. Both the cars were bought with around 18K. One mazda 626 was bought with 45K and still going with 140K.
The previous owners of your low mileage used cars probably didn't worry about break-in either. Chances are you will be tired of the car way before the engine dies on you. All you are doing is a service for the next owner.
for honda's leave it in...
toyota has no real break in oil with extra moly...so i swap it out at 1500 and again at 5000 and every 5k after
toyota has no real break in oil with extra moly...so i swap it out at 1500 and again at 5000 and every 5k after
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