read recently that changing oil every 3 to 5000 miles is a scam perpetrated by mechanics, and in england they do NOT do it ever.
how often do u change ur oil. will try to google and find article.

have been changing my synthetic at 5000 miles..thanks.

 

Wrong section my friend, but that would be correct to say that synthetic can go 5k miles between changes...

 

..how old are u..bet u dont have a drivers license!

 

Mechanics scam people? That's impossible!

Apparently in England they don't brush their teeth either, hence they reputation for poor oral health. That doesn't make it right or prudent.

I believe every car I've ever owned has had a different recommended oil change interval. Is that part of the scam or is it related to research and testing performed by the manufacturer who determined a baseline for that particular engine in normal service?

Obviously, oil change shops want to see you as often as possible. I'd rather follow the manufacturer's recommended interval as it's more in tune with my engine's requirements not the oil company that has no idea what my engine is up to.

The bottom line is that you should change oil when it starts to get dirty. That's why Honda places a sensor in the oil to determine the amount of particulate matter (dirt) and tells you when it's time to change oil. It's not based on mileage.

 

thanks dave, of course i wasnt going to follow england, but thought it was strange..

 

That is a fact! The OLM in the Hondas is a work of art. Depending on your driving habits, you may get more than 8K miles from each oil change. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations. They don't give you bad advice just so you can ruin their engines and never buy another car from them, right?

 

I think it all depends on the ration of street / highway driving that you do. If your pushing your car at high speeds for longer times I would do the changes at around 3,500 to 4,000

 

Actually, I believe it's the slow, in-town, stop-and-go traffic that warrents more frequent oil changes and maintenance schedules.

 

You are correct again. It's all explained in the Owner's Manual, just in case the internet did not provide enough info on this subject. The oil gets contaminated with fuel, water (from condensation), and blowby combustion products much quicker in stop and go, in town driving.

 

1. Dusty conditions?. 2. Stop 'n' go traffic. 3. City vs. highway driving.
4. Oil quality (i.e. dino vs. synth'). 5. Quality of the vehicle/engine; USUALLY, Japs can take it much harder that Germs, U.S., Swedes, Italians,
etc., etc., etc. 6. Oil filter quality (paper vs. synth').
Me? MOBIL 1 oil AND filter, between 7,500 & 9,000k, depending on the above-
referenced conditions. Been doin' it since the 90's. NO PROBLEMO!

 

FI has alot to do with it too. I'm FI and run the 1/4 a couple times a month. And frequently get stuck in traffic, eventhough she's not my daily driver. So i change at 3000 no matter what. I use Amsoil and a K&N filter. I may be throwing my money away. But i figure it'd be a more expensve lesson to wait longer intervals and blow going down the track or what not.

SOOOO... from what i have read FI 3000 miles, NA 5000 miles. Good place to start. And obviously you can tweak it either way depending on your personal driving habits.

 

El correct'o, halfass872! Adapt is the key word here. That also applies to tire rotation, battery, tranny fluid & filter change, etc. On the average, I put 8k, annually, on my rides, so 1 oil change/yr. does it (I can hear the accusations: "heresy!", "blasphemy!"). Buy quality maintenance stuff, be punctual on the scheduled maintenance, then analyze your circumstances &
a-d-a-p-t, guys!