New Car - Long Long Summer Trip?

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OriginHacker21

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My dad and I bought Hondas recently. He bought a Honda Accord 2013 and I bought a Civic 2013. We were originally going to fly to visit grandparents/family in Iowa earlier this year but prices of airline tickets make it a lot cheaper for us to drive.

Now, his Accord has 2000+ miles on it. My Civic has 1038 miles on it. Round trip to Iowa and back is 3536 miles.

We're both aware that Honda uses a Semi Synthetic 0w20 with high Moly additives for the factory fill that we're supposed to run to 15% oil life. But we're aware you aren't supposed to run constant RPMS during the break in period (like a long distance trip).

Is it safe to take one of our cars that far on factory fill oil? Should we vary our RPMs and engine break as much as we can when we have to? Help convince me and my dad it is ok if it is, and if it isn't do that too.

Thanks,
-Paul
 
Originally Posted By: OriginHacker21

We're both aware that Honda uses a Semi Synthetic 0w20 with high Moly additives for the factory fill that we're supposed to run to 15% oil life. But we're aware you aren't supposed to run constant RPMS during the break in period (like a long distance trip).

Is it safe to take one of our cars that far on factory fill oil? Should we vary our RPMs and engine break as much as we can when we have to? Help convince me and my dad it is ok if it is, and if it isn't do that too.


What does the manual say regarding break-in periods? I thought most were 500-1000 miles. If that's the case, you are good to go - just have it changed at a Honda dealer when you need to.
 
I had a similar problem with my car, a 2013 Fiat. When I drove it home from the dealer, I had to take on the highway since I could find any back roads to vary the RPM. On the highway I was constantly accelerating and decelerating just to vary the RPM. In the owners manual, it suggested MODERATE accelerating and when the engine was warm in a higher gear, give it full power to help seat the rings. I'm not sure if your owners manual was that precise, but since both of you have a few thousand miles on your cars, I can't see a huge problem. Modern car engines are made to such a high degree of precision, I still find some claims unbelievable. Back in the older days (before I was born, and I'm sure you knew this) you had to get the first fill oil out of the engine at about 500-1000 miles to drain the wear-in metal particles. Now OEMs are telling us its ok to go 5000 to 10,000 miles on the first fill. This is because engines are almost fully run-in from the factory. Its incredible I know, but changing earlier is just a waste. However highway driving has the lowest wear and tear on a car, and if your not comfortable, drain the oil and maybe run 65 mph for 30 minutes, than 70 for awhile, and then back down. I had a buddy who bought a new car in California and then drove it back to Illinois. He left the cruise control on and just manual downshifted to vary the rpm (D dropped to 3,
eek.gif
) Good luck will the road trip, and keep us posted.
 
Originally Posted By: 79sunrunner
if your not comfortable, drain the oil and maybe run 65 mph for 30 minutes, than 70 for awhile, and then back down.


I disagree.

Leave the factory fill in place for Hondas until at least 20% OLM. The FF oil is a special blend with high moly.
 
Originally Posted By: OriginHacker21
Is it safe to take one of our cars that far on factory fill oil?

Yes.

Quote:

Should we vary our RPMs and engine break as much as we can when we have to?

No need. You're already past the break-in period during which it was recommended.

Quote:

Help convince me and my dad it is ok

If reading and comprehending the owner's manual doesn't convince you, then I'm not sure some postings of anonymous internet posters will.
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete

Quote:

Help convince me and my dad it is ok

If reading and comprehending the owner's manual doesn't convince you, then I'm not sure some postings of anonymous internet posters will.
smile.gif




Good point. Thanks - and thanks to all for the posts.
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Danno
Originally Posted By: 79sunrunner
if your not comfortable, drain the oil and maybe run 65 mph for 30 minutes, than 70 for awhile, and then back down.


I disagree.

Leave the factory fill in place for Hondas until at least 20% OLM. The FF oil is a special blend with high moly.

I agree. Honda's FF is really good stuff. With all of that highway driving you may not even get to the suggested 15% by the time it's done. Either way, wait until 15% no matter when it comes.
smile.gif
 
Leave the factory fill in and don't worry about further break-in style driving.....it's mostly already done. After the first few hundred miles, it IS important to vary the RPM's.....but at this point you would be fine for a road trip. Use the OLM and follow the Honda manual by leaving the factory fill in until at least 20-15% remaining. Also, I would try to use top tier gasoline while on a road trip. It's sometimes a risk pulling off and getting a cheap brand of gas instead of one of the major carriers. Some scoff at using top tier gasoline (google it) and think it's a joke....I do not believe it is.
Have a good trip.
 
Just don't use cruise control, if you're worried, for the first 1k or so of the next miles.
 
Originally Posted By: 79sunrunner
However highway driving has the lowest wear and tear on a car, and if your not comfortable, drain the oil and maybe run 65 mph for 30 minutes, than 70 for awhile, and then back down.


Shouldn't you refill it with new oil after draining it and before running the engine?
 
the lower mileage one, I might try to vary the speeds a lot for the next few hundred... but these arent new cars. drive with confidence. They are broken in or they will never be.
 
I had the same situation. I lived in the middle of nowhere and had to break in my new car. The solution back then was to drive this way: You are tooling down the highway going about the speed limit. When traffic allows, you "briskly" accelerate for a few seconds, and then abruptly let off the gas and let the car coast back to the speed limit. Nothing dramatic, you understand. Something about the sudden let off in gas drawing up lots of oil to the upper cylinder head.

I do remember a kind of loosening of the engine at about the 225 mile mark doing that.
 
Not sure about how letting off will draw more oil into the upper cylinder head. Into the upper cylinder walls, sure; high vacuum as the piston tries to draw air across a closed throttle plate. That might be good for something.

First weekend I had my new '00 Saturn I put about 1,500miles onto, mostly highway. No idea if that was good or bad, since Saturn 1.9's are notorious for being oil burners. Mine was no different, something like 2k/qt when I got rid of it at 116kmiles.
 
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: 79sunrunner
However highway driving has the lowest wear and tear on a car, and if your not comfortable, drain the oil and maybe run 65 mph for 30 minutes, than 70 for awhile, and then back down.


Shouldn't you refill it with new oil after draining it and before running the engine?


Well I meant change the oil and continue varying the RPMs on his trip if it is bugging him.
 
Leave factory oil in and awayyyyyyy you go. When OLM shows around 10-20%, change it and use Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30 and take it to 11K with confidence....exactly what I've done with all my Honda's. I know the book says 0W-20, but that's just me....especially with summer coming on full blast.
 
Dump the FF, put fresh synthetic oil and filter, no need to worry about break in, JUST DRIVE and ACT NATURALLY,
11.gif
 
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