First Oil Change

[AZZX]

I know Honda requires the first oil change to be done @ 5000 miles,
currently i have 2900 miles and planning a long trip for the holidays which will add another 3000 miles.
can i change the oil now? from your experience will this cause any problems?



thanks

[dk miller]

Actually I think Honda recommends that you go by the OLM for oil changes. Depending on your driving routine this seems to be about 6 - 7K. Long highway trips are mild service that produce very little if any oil contamination.

I think you are good to go but if it gives you peace of mind go ahead and change your oil, it won't hurt anything.

[shortspark]

That will give you 6000 miles on the truck after your trip. That is about when most people see the OLM click in at 15% oil life expectancy and the service due notice. With your highway driving, I bet when you return the OLM will still not be at 15%. Even if it is or below that, just change it when you return. You really don't get into trouble until the "0" shows up and warns you service is past due. I don't know anyone at this forum that has shown a "0" on the OLM in less than 6000 miles.

[Lingered_I]

For the first oil change I would wait for the OLM. The oil in your engine right now has a very high moly content which Honda deem to be necessary while the engine is breaking in. Leave it in there as long as possible is my advice.

[basils]

I am of the opinion that 5k miles would be a good compromise for those (like me) feeling a tad anxious about leaving the factory oil in for the full OLM. It's true that it has a high moly content and this may be critical for proper break-in (according to Honda), but at 5k no appreciable break-in will still be occuring (my opinion). I used a high moly synthetic as my second fill at 5k miles. I've had my Ridge a year and a half and it runs as smooth as glass, with zero oil burning between changes. I now do a 6 month oci regardless of miles driven.

[geneb13]

I just changed mine last week. The meter said 15% and it was 6200 miles. The local dealership gave me the riot act about the engine is not better and the oil is not better, so why wait until 6-k or more. I have had my RTX for 2 months and already have 7-k on it. So I am changing my oil according the the meter. I drive for business at least 2500 per month. I did spring for the 7500 mile maintenance while I was there.

[CBRidgeJockey]

I took mine from Edmonton to Vancouver with only 1500km on the OD. I checked it after I arrived and it needed a litre. Make sure you check your oil before and after your trip.... my Ridge ate only 1 litre during the breakin....I have 20,000 KM now and she hasn't touched a drop....

[BillB]

I did spring for the 7500 mile maintenance while I was there.

Considering there is no such thing as a 7500 mile service for the Ridgeline, your dealer found a way to rip you off even though you didn't fall for the 3000 mile oil change BS most of tem like to try and dell.

[RidgeLI]

First oil change.......is the OLM the only way to go?

I changed my oil the first time at 2,300 miles as I had the truck 6 months, drove 5 miles each way per day, only local during this time, and no highway driving.

I believe that the OLM was on 40% at that time, but felt that after 5 months it was time to change the oil. I never let my cars go beyond 6 months when I do not hit max. mileage, especially with all of the local driving I do. I used syn oil and went on a rode trip during this period.

I know the computer should be followed but time is also important to consider. I think that the OLM does incrementally consider time, but possibly relies on mileage as the deciding factor; possibly 70% of the deciding factor?

The second oil change at 6,400 miles was performed as I had oil in the truck for seven months and only 4,000 miles on it, again local driving. I used syn oil again.

Some say that was wrong to do, only follow the OLM, especially with the break-in oil in it. Others say as long at you get pass the crucial 600 miles, and preferably to 3,000 miles it is ok. I changed the oil to remove the micro metal shavings present in new engines and the combustion by-products, acids etc. that are created. While the oil probably had more "life" in it, time to me was important factor to consider as well.

How important is time in relation to mileage, clarity please.

RidgeLI