When to change oil?

[RidgeBoyRTL]

Hello all,

I am at 20% oil life with 4,800 miles. I need some help. What exactly does the oil life indicator measure? At what point should I change the oil?

I always use NAPA 5w20 and NAPA gold oil filters. Any comments on the NAPA products?

Thanks.

[shingles]

4800 miles, with 20% left. That means you would need to change oil approximately 6000 miles.
I try to change oil around with 5-10% life left. But last time, I was 20 miles "over". There's safety margins built in, so even if you are "over" slightly, it'll be fine. There's a Honda dealership with a quick lube center on my way to work. I tend to just wait till I get close to 5% before I go in. I don't really like the Quaker State oil that they use, but there's nothing particular "wrong" that oil(for my current needs), all my services will be on record, and it's inexpensive and FAST - so I take the truck in there.

I used Honda OEM filters exclusively. Reason being, if the filters failed, it's all Honda. But if you use another brand... you'll have a fight on your hand in trying to get either company to foot the bill. PLUS it IS OEM Honda.... and I prefer to use OEM parts.

[k757]

I am old school I guess as I'd never go 6k miles between oil changes. I can maybe see it if you were all highway without towing. When you are doing a bunch of city driving, I am hesitant to higher mileage betweeen changes.

I go no more than 4k miles, though everyone has their own comfort level. I think you have to judge on your driving conditions and driving style.

I know the oils are better now than ever before, like I said, I err on the side of more is better.

[shingles]

The key is ,if you are comfortable, then that's what you should go by.

Having said that...
Not only is oil much better today, so is the engine itself. My recommendation is (if you care to find out), have an independent oil analysis lab (like Blackstone) do an analysis on your oil. What your find is that most oil in most engine will easily last 7500 miles. My wife's RSX actually calls for ~10,000 oil change (regular non synthetic) on "normal" interval. Even severe is I believe 5,000 miles. This is stated IN the owners manual.

On my 1998 Maxima, I have done enough used oil analysis that I go with 10,000 oil change interval. This was proven with used oil analysis and it's my personal "comfort" level. Plus it's an easy number to remember. With the Ridgeilne, I juse use what's on the dash. I save some money and do a tiny part in saving the precious resource.

[ProHonda]

With all the traffic and airborne dirt I NEVER, EVER go over 5k miles.

So I ignore the MM 100%, my calender/OD knows best !

[gonzo's rt]

I had a friend that owned an early 1970's Datsun pick up truck. It was orange. He never, ever changed the oil, oil filter, spark plugs, condenser (yes, they had condensers or air filter). He just added oil as needed and cleaned the air filter by banging it against the concrete.
The truck lasted 167,000 and he had it for over 12-years. I bet the Jiffy Luber's of the world spreading the "every 3,000-mile oil changes" gospel hated him! Not saying that this was the right thing to do...but I knew him through out all those years. The truck finally started burning some oil around 140,000 miles. He would just add a quart of the cheapest oil available and "keep on trucking".

[ProHonda]

Whats your point Gonzo ???

Your friend did not care for his truck, thats sad.

I take care of our rides the best I can. Oil is the blood of any machine, why risk it ???

[k757]

Originally Posted by gonzo's rt

I had a friend that owned an early 1970's Datsun pick up truck. It was orange. He never, ever changed the oil, oil filter, spark plugs, condenser (yes, they had condensers or air filter). He just added oil as needed and cleaned the air filter by banging it against the concrete.
The truck lasted 167,000 and he had it for over 12-years. I bet the Jiffy Luber's of the world spreading the "every 3,000-mile oil changes" gospel hated him! Not saying that this was the right thing to do...but I knew him through out all those years. The truck finally started burning some oil around 140,000 miles. He would just add a quart of the cheapest oil available and "keep on trucking".

This is a bit off topic, but sort of related.. well.... haha.... When my friends and I were in the 17-19 age range, one friend bought the typical "beater" ford escort (with about 1M miles) for $500. The only thing he ever did with the car is put more oil and more gas in it. No changing the oil. His thought was that it burns oil, so I'll just add more.

He sold it three years later after driving it everywhere daily for $500. hahah... money well spent.

[cdepuydt]

Originally Posted by RidgeBoyRTL

Hello all,

I am at 20% oil life with 4,800 miles. I need some help. What exactly does the oil life indicator measure? At what point should I change the oil?

I always use NAPA 5w20 and NAPA gold oil filters. Any comments on the NAPA products?

Thanks.

Opinions about oil on this forum is like butts. Everybody has one and it usually stinks!

Seriously, it comes down to your "comfort" level. If you feel that the oil monitor is gonna be your guide, then by God, you just go ahead and follow the oil monitor. If you like to change your oil every X thousand miles, then you change it every X number of miles, the heck with the oil monitor.

I'm like Prohonda..... I like to change my oil at "less than recommended" intervals. I put about 15,000 per year on my vehicles. I put full synthetic in them. The synthetic folks say you can run anywhere from 7000 to 10000 miles between oil changes. I say great, that sounds good, but I still change my oil every 5000 miles.

Some folks say I am throwing my money away changing my oil that often. Like Prohonda said, oil is the life blood of your vehicle, why take chances. I figure, by changing my oil about every 5K, it costs me an extra $45 per year. I dunno about you, but I probably lose that much loose change every year, probably more.

Long story short. Do what your comfortable with. But, my .02 is change your oil more often than "recommended".

[BillB]

Not for nothing, but have you noticed something called the "Dependance on Foreign Oil" thing in any newspaper or TV show. Why would you change your oil before it had to be changed? These trucks easily go 6000-7000 miles before the oil needs to be changed and only if you do serious towing or heavy dty hauling are those miles really considered a long time between changes. Save yourself some $ and put a sheik out of work are a couple of rules I live by these days.