OCI for 2006 4cyl Accord

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I have a 2006 4cyl accord that I drive approx 800 miles per week. I currently change the oil & filter every 5000 (about 6 weeks) with Mobil 1 (5-20) & Honda filter. The car has about 85,000 and uses about 1/2 quart per oil change.
My question is: Would I be off using a good conventional oil and change & filter every 3000 miles or continue with synthetic every 5000?

Thanks
Mark
 
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I'd go 10k with a synthetic like Mobil 1 / Pennzoil Platinum / Amsoil. I have the same car. it's easy on oil. In fact, Honda calls for 10k mile drain intervals with conventional and filter changes every 20k miles. :)
 
I know Honda recommends 10k w/ conventional & filter @ 20K. I just can't see going that long on the oil even though I know the oil can handle it. What I really don't get is the 20K filter change. For $5.00 seems like cheap insurance to do it at each oil change
 
yeah why would you not spend an extra 5 bucks on a filter change at 10k, that would just worry the [censored] out of me going 20k on an oil filter with a new car.
 
I don't get the "cheap insurance" arguments. Insurance against an issue that might not exist? 5K is an arbitrary number that isn't even supported by the mfg or even borne out of any real world measurements.

You could do a used oil analysis and find out what REALLY is going on.

Your driving might support 20K OCI on Amsoil and 25K filter changes. What a difference that might be.... Less time spent, probably less money too...
 
If it were me and I drove that many miles per week, I would either stick with the Mobil 1 5w20 and go at least 10K with a filter change or every other oci depending on the filter being used. Or I would would use pennzoil platinum with 10K intervals and the same as before with the filter. I would do a used oil analysis to get a baseline then if all were well stick with the 10K intervals or push it out to 12K if the used oil analysis warranted it. Then I would do a used oil analysis every so often to make sure all is still well.

I use pure one's but if I were driving the miles you do then I would consider using the mobil 1 filter for 20K intervals on the filter. Or if like me, I stock up on the pure one's from amazon when they have the 2 for 1 sale.

Another option I would consider is amsoil and either the Mobil 1 filter or the amsoil filter and with the guidance of a used oil analysis go for 20K intervals.

Any way I went I would certainly check the dipstick regularly to make sure I was always at the full line if going the long oci's. A lot of people go for the long oci's and never check their level
 
Maybe "insurance" is not the right word. My thought is that if Honda is recommending you change the oil every 10k that means that the oil has met it's life expectancy and or has sufficient levels of containments to be a concern. That being said why wouldn't you spend $5 on the item that filters out all of the stuff that accumulates in the oil?
 
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Does not the Accord have a OLM?

With your use, follow the OLM and use any 5w-20 and get on with it.

Change the filter EVERYTIME IMO.

No need for syn following the OLM. You are wasting the $$ going with a 5k OCI using Mobil 1 (or any other syn)

If you are going to use syn, take it out for a long OCI to make up for the $$.

Look at Checkers for 99 cent PP when on sale. If they don't have 5w-20 (they never do here) then the 5w30 will be just fine. I'd say a 12k OCI with it and filter (follow up with a used oil analysis just to be sure) and that would be the best per mile cost for oil/filter.

Take care, Bill
 
One of the great things about this site is that you can learn a little bit about oil analysis and comfort yourself that, in fact, the manufaturer recommendation are more than reasonable, and in Honda's case quite conservative. You should spend some time in the used oil analysis section and look at what oils have been used in these cars and how they have performed. What will probably happen is that you will realize that even after 10k miles, a good synthetic oil in these cars has barely any wear metals at all, and the oil's properties are still good enough that you could even drop it in your engine as a new oil and it would still work fine.

Same with filter changes. After 20k miles there has probably been so little wear in the engine, and the filter has caught so few particles, that even then you probably don't need to change it. I've never been a fan of gratuitous filter changes.

One thing I have learned here, like lots of other people, is that changing an oil at 3k miles is almost always nothing more than a waste of time, money and resources.

Your best bet is probably to run a good conventional oil 7500 miles and then do a used oil analysis to confirm that it is working properly. The used oil analysis will give you the confidence to repeat the longer intervals, and you'll save enough money to pay for it by the time that first 7500 miles is over.

An alternative would be to run any decent synthetic for much longer, probably 10k - 15k miles, and then do your used oil analysis.

Since your engine uses a bit of oil, it might help to do a run with Valvoline Maxlife, either synthetic or semi-synth. This is an excellent oil that usually results in very low wear, and it will likely help to recondition the engine's gaskets and seals and stop most of the usage.

Another alternative is an additive called Valvoline Maxlife Engine Stop Leak. Put half to a whole bottle in the oil and it will have the same effect.

Hope this helps. Learn your way around the used oil analysis section and stop wasting good oil.
 
Having now seen Bill's post above I agree with what he says about following the oil life monitor with conventional or going longer with synthetic. Still confirm whatever you decide to do with a used oil analysis. I still don't think you need to change the filter before Honda says to. IMO there will be so little contamination at that point it will make no difference at all.
 
The OLM in the newer Honda 4-cylinders seem to be very conservative. I'm hearing that a lot of people are barely getting 5k before they reach 15% remaining and services are required.
 
The OLM does seem to hit the 10-15% at around 5k-7k. That is why I have stayed at the 5k interval. Next oil change I will send it in for a used oil analysis.
 
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Putting that many miles on per week is a situation where maximizing (extending) the OCI will save you significant dollars. While I don't have the same engine, it's still a Honda and they all seem to do very well with synthetics on longer OCIs. Here's my UOA.

I am now using Amsoil with their EaO oil filter because they will warranty any damage done to the engine by the oil when used per their guidelines. I change the oil every 10K and the filter every 20K. The oil and filter are warrantied for 25K or one year, whichever comes first. I think I am playing it more than safe with my regime.

If I were to find a different manufacturer that would warranty their filters and oil I might change. If Amsoil wasn't quite the company that it is, I would simply use a Wix filter and PP for 10K miles and call it good.

In my $$ analysis comparing my OCI and a conventional OCI (one that could be had for $15 every 3K miles) I came out noticeably ahead (not to mention that I was having my oil changed 1/3 as often), especially when you pay the extra $10 or $20 for becoming a "Preferred Customer" with Amsoil.
 
My thoughts:

If you enjoy changing the oil, keep the 5K intervals and go to dino.

Otherwise go to 10K intervals with your Mobil 1, Pennzoil Platinum or AMSOIL.

Good Luck!
 
I believe the reasoning behind the every other oil change filter change is because the filter becomes more efficient as time goes on. Knowing that, I still cahnge the filter with every 5K oil change
 
I have an Element with essentially the same engine. I use Mobil 1, a new filter, and change when I am down almost a quart. That has been from 8000 miles to 11000. I do a used oil analysis on every drain and it has shown the oil still within spec. I'd recommend you do the same, extending your OCI to close to the manufacturer's recommendation.
 
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