Is The Honda Civic That Hard On Oil

[Tahoe4Life]

Was out with a friend tonight who owns a 03 Civic.He uses 5W20 Mobil 1.He says after 4000 miles [in about a 4 month period] the oil is jet black.Most of his driving is local with a sprinkling of highway. I told him to go to Motorcraft but he plans on sticking to Mobil 1.He is very stubborn.

Just wondering if that is normal for a Civic.The Civic has about 45k Miles on it.So far its running just fine.

His OCI is every 4K miles.

 

[02zx9r]

color is not the only indication of the condition of the oil

 

[Turk]

Dark color is mainly from high heat I believe.

Is this thing running hot?

How's the anti-freeze & level?

 

[Mr Nice]

What kind of 2003 Civic does he have ?

LX, EX , Si ???

 

[Tahoe4Life]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
What kind of 2003 Civic does he have ?

LX, EX , Si ???


Its the EX.

 

[Tahoe4Life]

Originally Posted By: tpitcher
Dark color is mainly from high heat I believe.

Is this thing running hot?

How's the anti-freeze & level?


No its not running hot and anti-freeze & level is good.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

I might worry about fuel dilution in his situation. A UOA might be worth it.

 

[wgtoys]

I don't know of any modern Honda car engines which have developed a meaningful reputation for being "hard on oil". The factory OCI for a 2003 4 cylinder Honda is 10,000 miles on conventional oil.

Oil getting dark doesn't really mean much.

 

[ekpolk]

Only way to answer this particular question with any degree of objectivity would be to do a UOA.

 

[FZ1]

The color change just means it's working.

 

[ThirdeYe]

I wouldn't worry too much, so long as the oil isn't starting to sludge or leave varnish. It seems odd that it would be dark black after 4,000 miles though. After 4,000 miles in my Honda engine, it's just dark brown...

 

[dwendt44]

Short trips is at least part of the cause for black oil at that low OCI.
It is, in any case, considered sever service.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: ekpolk
Only way to answer this particular question with any degree of objectivity would be to do a UOA.


+1

The new Civic motors *may* be a little harder on oil with the chain, but still prob easier on motor oils than other engines.

The 2003 1.7l I4 that Honda has in that model Civic is EASY on the oil.

He should try another oil and see how it does. Like Halvoline DS in 5w-20.

I'd bet it would do great in a 4k OCI... And save him 1/2 the $$$.

Bill

 

[bob_ninja]

I have an older Civic CX and not so old CRV. I get blackest possible oil for every single oil change, no matter what season, or type of driving, OCI, etc. My driving style is actually very easy on the engine too. Engines look to be very clean (from filler port).

So oil color from oil change for Hondas gives you exactly no information whatsoever. None.

 

[peking]

I wouldn't worry about the dark oil. I sometimes get some very dark oil when I change mine and the niece's car (02 Civic Ex). Both engines are clean and it's nice to see dark oil b/c then I know the oil is doing it's job.

p.s. I change mine at 5K and the niece's at 7.5-8.5K with whatever synthetic I have on hand.

 

[Axe Man]

2004 Civic here. D17A1 SOHC motor. 6K OCI's. Mostly highway driving. I've used M1, PP, and Syntec. In each case oil turns dark brown, never black. Your friend's local driving might be the reason. But as mentioned a UOA might be worth it for peace of mind.

 

[Audi Junkie]

Oil always looks darker when draining than you think it was, but I suppose he's looking at the dipstick?

Anyway, I'd do a blotter test and look carefully. I bet the oil is holding some deposits from the previous service that is scouring out. Is he getting any consumption? That could mean some blow-by.

imo, there is little point in synthetic 20 weight. With dino, he could be changing it already and dumping his woes. I'd tell him to drive the M1 out to 6k, but if he likes changing oil, do it more often with dino and get a better result for the same money.

 

[artificialist]

On a Honda I once had, the oil would turn black sooner when the plugs, wires, and distributor cap needed to be replaced, or it meant the PCV was filled with junk, and new new valve and hose was needed.

Honestly, I think on most gasoline engines, the less pollution they generate the less dark they make the oil.

 

[addyguy]

It seems that the newer 06-08 Civic Si's are hard on oil...if you look at some recent UOA's on that model, lots of fuel dilution and not the greatest wear numbers....

 

[SWS]

I have an '03 Civic EX with the 1.7L VTEC. I bought it new. I have always used Mobil 1, and specifically M1 5W-20 for years. I live in Tennessee, with relatively moderate climate, but definitely hot and cold (4 seasons). I change the oil every 6 months. Car has 32K miles. In all kinds of driving, short trips for a few years, long trips, hot, cold, etc, always parked outside, I have not observed the oil turning dark at all.