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Honda Civic Care and Maintenance
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You say you support the "extreme" maintenance intervals, yet you quote the "normal" interval when comparing it to your personal preference of 3,000 mile oil changes. The current "extreme" interval recommended by Honda is 5,000 miles, not 10,000.
The real question in my mind is what's so important about 3,000 miles? Why not 3,500? Or even 2,000? Wouldn't changing the oil every 2,000 miles be even better protection than changing at 3,000?
I agree about always using the "extreme" intervals, which for my CR-V is 3,750 miles. If had a 2002 or newer I'd do the services at 5,000 mile intervals as recommended by Honda. The Honda engineers know a whole lot more about their engines than I do. And I don't buy into the argument that Honda (or any manufacturer) sets their maintenance intervals so that the engine eventually fails and you have to buy a new car.
JM2C
I had heard a mechanic say that the premium fuels caused deposits and now that USA Today's article verified that, I'm sure that's what happens.
bd21: 27.5 @ 75+!!! My LeSabre does better than that mileage and it's a 3800 v6... it delivered 31.5 through the PA mountains coming back from Philly at 75. Going around Phila to Washington's Crossing it gave 35.5 on the tollroad. Have you had the car checked for something wrong?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Although the first oil change should probably be done sooner to get rid of the new engine break-in debris.
I have a 2002 civic ex. I had the first service done a little late (around 8500). The second service (oil change) was done around 12k or so. The little sticker the dealer put on my windshield says my next service is coming up at 16,600 which is where I'm at now. What can I expect for this service? I assume it's some kind of "15k service" or is it just an oil change?
This time around I have to take it to another dealer due to geographic circumstances, and on this particular dealer's site the have listed the basic oil change (29 bucks) and then a "every 7.5k mile service" which includes the following for 100 bucks:
7,5K at 7,500-22,500 - 37,500 - 52,500 MILES: (Includes 3,750 mile services plus the following)
Every 7,500 miles
Check Coolant Condition & Top Off Fluids
Inspect & Adjust All Drive Belts and Hoses
Inspect Emission Control System
Inspect Engine Air Filter
Inspect Wiper Arms and Blades for Operation
Inspect Drive Train for any Fluid Leaks
Clean and Tighten Battery Terminals & Check Electrolyte Level
Lubricate Parking Brake Cables and Linkage
Rotate Tires
Inspect Exhaust and Heat Shields
Check All External Lamps for Proper Operation
Inspect Lap/Shoulder Belts for Proper Operation
Clean and Adjust Rear Brakes
Inspect Tie Rod Ends, Steering Gear Box & Driveshaft Boots
Inspect and Adjust Clutch Release Travel (Standard Transmission)
$99.95
* Brake Adjust recommended at 7500 mile intervals
THEN, there's the "every 15k service" which is 200 bucks:
15K AT 15,000 - 45,000 - 75,000 - 105,000 MILE SERVICE (Includes 7,500 mile services plus the following)
Every 15,000 miles
Inspect PCV Valve Operation
Inspect Cooling System: Pressure Test and Cap, Inspect Hoses, Drive Belts and Core Plugs
Lubricate All Key Locks
Inspect Suspension Mounting Bolts
Check Shock Absorbers/Struts for Leakage and Proper Operation
*Replace Valve Cover Gaskets and Seals
Inspect Distributor Cap and Rotor
Replace Air Filter
*Add $49.95 Cooling System Service at 45K,75K, & 105K
*Adjust Engine Valves (*Add $55.00 for 1993 and earlier) includes Valve Cover Gaskets and Seals
*Wiper inserts included in some services
my question is: what do i need here? I am thinking only an oil change/tire rotation, but am i missing something? is there some big 15k service i should be doing???
I don't think it's so much that the inspections your dealer packages are worthless; it's that he's charging you a hunk of money for 5-10 min worth of work. An oil change and tire rotation here at the dealer runs $30-$35, and one dealer does the comprehensive inspections for free.
Dunno how many Honda dealerships there are in your area, but I'd use these routine maintenance visits to try 'em out until I found one that doesn't gouge on service.
Take a look at the definitions of the 'normal' and 'severe' conditions and take it from there.
I was surpised, too, at how little scheduled maintenance there is to the new Civics.
If my dealer got what yours does for checks, I'd buy a Chilton's manual and do it myself.
The maintenance schedule does indeed seem very frugal, but I guess I trust Honda on this one.
Dudka - Thanks. Helms it is.
10K - oil change
20K - oil change + rotate tires
I had made an appointment for tomorrow to get my oil changed (I'm at 16,600) but now I'm thinking I should just cancel and wait until I hit 20-22K before getting the next change - does this make sense?
On mine, the chart translates to every 10K miles under 'normal' conditions and every 5K miles under 'severe'.
For the recommended service, there's a mileage interval and at time interval. So, for example, Honda recommends an oil change every 10K miles or every 12 months, whichever comes first - under 'normal' conditions. You should be fine if you realistically assess 'normal' vs. 'severe' and have the recommended service performed. Most of the simple stuff, lube locks for example, we can easily do for ourselves. Changing oil, coolant, brake fluid, filters, etc. is a little messier but still not very tricky.
Rather than buying your dealer's "packages", I'd ask for the specific services you need according to the manual. If you get kick-back and/or confusion at that point, that's when I think it's time to find a new dealer to service your Civic.
All it takes is letting the oil go too long becoming contaminated too much and the bearing surfaces are hurt. Like Gregory said, cheap maintenance saves costly early engine wear. I aim for 150K on my car at least, maybe 200K.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Can you explain?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
While changing the oil every 3,000 miles will indeed mean that the oil is cleaner than if it were changed at 3,750 or 5,000 miles, is there a real benefit in terms of the engine longevity? And if you argue that changing it at 3,000 mile intervals is better for the engine, the same arguement could be made for changing it at 2,000 mile intervals! At some point the benefit of more frequent oil changes is negated by the extra cost of the oil changes.
You are of course welcome to change your oil as frequently as you desire, it's your vehicle after all. I'll stick to the intervals as recommended in my Honda Owner's Manual (not what the dealer tells me), as I am positive that Honda knows more about their engines than I do.
JM2C
Just picked up a case of Exxon 5W-20 at Strauss for $13 plus $3.50 rebate.
My rule of thumb change dino oil every 3,000 miles and synthetic every 5,000. Too bad Mobil does not offer Mobil 1 in 5W-20, I may go with Mobil 1 5W-30 after I use up the case of dino oil I just bought.
Same with oil changes.
Your presumption of no money is interesting. I drive an old Honda bought new since the car has had one unexpected repair so far, a radiator at 150k miles otherwise nothing at over 200k miles.
With regards to the sludge issue, this is due to a poor engine design in particular Toyota.
As far as Amsoil goes, I am still sceptical. It sounds too good to be true. I understand that thay have done some research, but the only difference between dino oil and synthetic is that synthetic has a known chain length in its olefin content. Synthetics probably have some other additives, but the lubricity of the oil comes form the olefins. There was a legal battle between mobil and castrol. Castrol Syntec is really a dino oil with some known olefin additive that was added to it. Mobil claimed that Castrol can not call it synthetic, but the reality is sythetic oil base is still dino.
Another reason I am sceptical about Amsoil, like the pyramid schemes of Amway, Cutco, and other door to door sales, they are not on the store shelf. Which means that FTC can not regulate them as stringently as it does other brands. I am always leery of products that are distributed by home sales companies.
I do belive that Mobil 1 is the best synthetic out there. If you ever change your own oil a good indicator of how good the oil is the color after you removed it from the engine. Dino oil is black after 3000 miles, Mobil 1 is still yellowish/amber after 5000 miles.
I would try Amsoil if it were readily available on store shelves.
Just my $0.02
off serving as your own warranty company. Unless you like throwing your money away...
It's like life insurance. The salesman and insurance company make more money than
they spend, by a lot...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Or is it from one of the aftermarket companies which have a habit of going out-of-business after collecting many $$$, and after refusing to pay many claims that buyers/mechanics feel should have been covered...
And your math is bad...
IF the original warranty is 3 years, the $800 is for 4 years of warranty... $200 per year.
How many claims more than $200 have you made during the last several years of additional warranty purchase?
The message is schizophrenic.
If the Civic and Accord are the best cars built, you don't need warranties. There should be no problems for the first 200K 300K.
But people gamble that they'll have to have big repairs and the house (insurance company) gambles that they won't --the house always wins on warranties. If the house doesn't win they just go out of business in the case of aftermarket warranties.
And if you turn in the cars every 2 or 3 years, you're really wasting your money. Doing excellent oil change schedules at 2500-3000 for short trip driving should keep your cars humming.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,