New Car: Here's my oil plan

[TheLaughingMan]

I'll be getting a 2011 Honda Fit soon and want to run my oil/filter plan by the forum. I've been lurking around unregistered for a while but recently really started reading up so I could get a plan together for this car, and then really stick with it (the key to success I believe).

The car has an intelligent "Maintenance Minder" so I'll be doing my changes based on what that says. Because of the potentially longer OCI's from the minder, the cold north east winters, and my often short round-town driving (although I drive slower than your grandmother) I'll be using synthetics starting with the first change. From what I've been reading, it seems like most of the synthetic oils are pretty similar, and that the key is doing regular changes of the oil and filter. As far as filters I didn't find as much agreement that they're too similar and will stick with a few of the top recommended such as Mobile 1, Wix, Purolator PureOne.

The Plan Overview:
Change oil when the Maintenance Minder says
Use synthetic oil (whatever is on sale at the time)
Use quality recommended filters

The first oil change after the factory fill will be Valvoline 5w-20 SynPower Full Synthetic + M1 filter (~$22).

What does everybody think about this for the vehicle? Any suggestions for other filters to go by, or does this not really matter as well?

 

[oggb]

Your plan sounds exactly how anyone's plan should - use the cheapest high quality oil/filter combo you can find and run it as long as you possibly can without causing damage.

What's your transmission maintenance plan consist of?

 

[daves87rs]

Sounds good.

 

[TheLaughingMan]

Originally Posted By: JRed
What's your transmission maintenance plan consist of?


It's a MT . . . and I hadn't thought of one. I'll get the service manual for the vehicle at some point and probably go with the interval suggested on there for changes. Honestly, I don't expect to put enough miles on the car before I sell it to need to change the gear oil. If I do, I'll purchase whatever is suggested in the manual and have my mechanic do the change.

 

[Eddie]

Good plan but, I would pick one brand of oil and stick with it and not just what is on sale at a given time.

 

[TheLaughingMan]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
Good plan but, I would pick one brand of oil and stick with it and not just what is on sale at a given time.


I considered this, and the reason was that I didn't want to mix additives. However there seems to be a prevailing line of thought on the forums that when it comes due for an oil change, the remaining oil has little of the effective additives left. So the oil which remains in the case is "neutral" and wouldn't constitute additive mixing by switching brands.

Were you thinking of other reasons for this suggestion?

 

[Ram01]

Good plan but a lackluster oil brand. use quakerstate or Pennzoil

 

[Ram01]

Good plan but a lackluster oil brand. use quakerstate or Pennzoil

 

[Oregoonian]

What OCI's are you anticipating?

If you expect to do 8K to 10K+....the Mobil 1 filter would be OK. Its an excellent filter for long OCI's....and worth the $13 cost.

But....if you are doing shorter OCI's (7,500 or under) a better filter and less cost/$6-$7) would be a Purolator Pure One or Purolator Classix (under $5).

BTW: Valvoline is a good Syn...but not for long OCI's (7,500 max.). A better oil for longer OCI's would be Pennzoil Ultra, Mobil 1 EP, or Edge.
________________________________________
2003 Ford Focus (2.3L Duratec) / 92K
Mobil 1 5w20EP / OCI: 1 year or 10K +/-
Filter: Mobil 1EP / RedLine Sl-1 FSC

 

[Lancer]

How long are you planning on keeping the car?

I would consider switching to 0w-20 once you are out of warranty coverage.

$22.00 for the oil and filter is a good deal for those brands.

I recently bought some Pureone filters for $4.00 online at Advance Autoparts by buying online and using P20 promotion code. They were on sale online for $5.00 and the promotion code took another 20% off. I think the sale ends Dec 18th but I'm not sure. You order online and pick up at the store.

 

[TheLaughingMan]

About the anticipated OCI's; I'm really not sure. From what I've been hearing over at the Honda forums from people who are using the Maintenance Minder, they're ranging from 6k to 10k miles. I think with my short distance driving I'm going to be at the lower end of this range. Honda's info on the minder is pretty impressive, it monitors average engine temps, revs, throttle positions, fuel injectors so it seems like it produces valid data.

Thanks for the pointers on the filter. I thought for the beginning might as well go big, I'll add those suggested to my maintenance log notes.

Originally Posted By: Lancer
How long are you planning on keeping the car?


Until I start making a real salary (

) and then hopefully VW will have put out a diesel hybrid Golf.

 

[The Critic]

I am just shaking my head at the completely baseless advice given by some members. Amazing. Valvoline not being stout enough? Wait until warranty expiration to begin using 0w-20? Purolator filters only for short intervals? And then a member who responds "sounds good" to every thread? What kind of forum have we become?

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
I am just shaking my head at the completely baseless advice given by some members. Amazing. Valvoline not being stout enough? Wait until warranty expiration to begin using 0w-20? Purolator filters only for short intervals? And then a member who responds "sounds good" to every thread? What kind of forum have we become?


Maybe its just because a lot of the stuff that is asked has basically been asked a million times.
It's funny, the existance of this forum. It's more of a hobby for anyone because its fairly clear you can pretty much put whatever oil you want in your car and probably run it pretty much any interval within reason and never have any issues. (this is also known as the general public)

 

[chubbs1]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
I am just shaking my head at the completely baseless advice given by some members. Amazing. Valvoline not being stout enough? Wait until warranty expiration to begin using 0w-20? Purolator filters only for short intervals? And then a member who responds "sounds good" to every thread? What kind of forum have we become?


+1 What is happening. I haven't seen it to this degree since I've been here.

To the OP, your plan is wonderful. Plain, simple, well educated.

 

[silverrat]

Manual transmission fluid change will be dictated by the Maintenance Minder as service code 3. That will trigger around 60k miles. It's a good idea to change the fluid at the first 10k, since the fluid is cheap, and then again when the minder tells you to.

 

[Audi Junkie]

Meh, I like timed intervals of 4, 6 or 12 months.

 

[TheLaughingMan]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
I am just shaking my head at the completely baseless advice given by some members. Amazing. Valvoline not being stout enough? Wait until warranty expiration to begin using 0w-20? Purolator filters only for short intervals? And then a member who responds "sounds good" to every thread? What kind of forum have we become?


Have you any "based" advice to pitch in? Thoughts on changing synthetic oil brands frequently with full drains?

 

[electrolover]

Originally Posted By: TheLaughingMan
I'll be getting a 2011 Honda Fit soon and want to run my oil/filter plan by the forum. I've been lurking around unregistered for a while but recently really started reading up so I could get a plan together for this car, and then really stick with it (the key to success I believe).

The car has an intelligent "Maintenance Minder" so I'll be doing my changes based on what that says. Because of the potentially longer OCI's from the minder, the cold north east winters, and my often short round-town driving (although I drive slower than your grandmother) I'll be using synthetics starting with the first change. From what I've been reading, it seems like most of the synthetic oils are pretty similar, and that the key is doing regular changes of the oil and filter. As far as filters I didn't find as much agreement that they're too similar and will stick with a few of the top recommended such as Mobile 1, Wix, Purolator PureOne.

The Plan Overview:
Change oil when the Maintenance Minder says
Use synthetic oil (whatever is on sale at the time)
Use quality recommended filters

The first oil change after the factory fill will be Valvoline 5w-20 SynPower Full Synthetic + M1 filter (~$22).

What does everybody think about this for the vehicle? Any suggestions for other filters to go by, or does this not really matter as well?


if it were me i would pick one brand and stick with it.
mobil1 is always cheap, and so is PP, just to name a couple.
im sure any name brand syn will suite you well!
i dont know you shouldnt mix oils but i grew up hearing it so im kinda brainwashed like that.
also i would follow the manufacturers recommendations on ocis what ever it might be. you cant go wrong with that
good luck to you! i hope she serves you well

 

[teddyboy]

It sounds like a great plan. Don't worry about changing brands, it won't be a problem. Just stay away from the Fram orange can of death when choosing oil filters and the engine will outlast the rest of the car. If the car is speced for 0W20 or 5W20, I'd use the former.

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
Meh, I like timed intervals of 4, 6 or 12 months.


I don't understand this--at all...

Does is really matter how long the oil is in the sump? This is even sillier than basing OCI on mileage alone or the color of the oil.

The OLM takes into account all of the variables that matter, as long as you're using an approved lubricant, keeping the oil level in it's proper range, you car is mechanically sound and it's not modified.

I don't mean to pick on you specifically--lots of people make silly comments regarding OLM's. What is the rationale to base OCI on either time or mileage versus an OLM that accounts for the variables which actually impact the life of the lubricant?