Honda Accord Engine Break-in and First Oil Change Questions
One month after I bought our 06 Accord, I finally got a copy of the Service History booklet. But I was disappointed at the terrible lack of detail. No where in the book are the recommended oil change intervals mentioned. Someone said Honda specifically advises NOT to do the 1st oil change within the first 5K miles, but I couldn't find that info anywhere in this booklet or the manual! Nowhere does it mention the timing chain replacement (4-cy), transmission oil or brake fluid changes schedule either.
Am I missing another booklet? Can anybody here tell me where to find the recommended maintanance for the above mentioned parts? Thanks.
Am I missing another booklet? Can anybody here tell me where to find the recommended maintanance for the above mentioned parts? Thanks.
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Isn't there a oil life monitor that lights up to tell you when he oil is due to be changed and varies every time based on your driving habits, not a set schedule?
I have heard this before and I don't even own an Accord.
Use the maintenance minder built in to the info display (Odometer location). Read your manual and it will explain the different functions of the maintenance minder.
If you just can't stand it though, we have a 2005 Accord (4-cyl) that reccommends oil changes every 10,000 miles for normal conditions (not many people qualify for that) and 5,000 miles for 'severe' conditions (varying temps, stop and go driving, etc...).
I just use the minder in my 2006 EX I-4... it seems to get me an oil change around the 7,000 mile mark (I drive fairly easily, but do a lot of suburban stop & go).
Timing chains generally have no set replacement interval. That's not to say they'll never wear out during the life of an engine (they and their auto-tensioner rails will...), but it may take several hundred thousand miles - or less than a hundred-fifty thousand miles. No way to predict. (Timing belts are an entirely different matter.) I don't know what Honda's recommended ATF changeout interval is, but given the 5-sp auto tranny's past problems, you'd probably be smart to change it out every 30,000 miles. If you do it yourself, use ONLY Honda Z-1 ATF. Do not let anyone who services your Honda's transmission tell you that a correction concentrate such as "Lubegard Black" added to widely available Dexron III is "just as good". It isn't, and Honda won't cover the damage that occurs with it. Hondas are no different regarding brake system flushing than any other make. It should be done every two years. Brake fluid readily absorbs moisture. Moisture in the brake lines reduces efficiency (the water will boil to a gas and result in a spongey pedal during extreme braking) and promotes internal corrosion of the steel brake lines. Any brand DOT 3, DOT 4, or DOT 5.1 is compatible in your Honda's brake system. Do NOT use DOT 5, which is a silicon-based fluid, unless the old fluid is thoroughly flushed out of the lines and the calipers are disassembled and cleaned of all traces of the old fluid.
It is a timing chain also, I'll confirm that for you (not that my word means much:))
Noise - belt is quieter than a chain.
Cost - belt is cheaper than a chain.
I think I'll just keep my eye on the oil and maybe change it during the Christmas break with Mobile 1 syn. Unless the "don't-change-the-oil-untill-5K" comes from Honda directly, I'm hesitant to trust it, not to be disrespectful thegrad.
Synthetic oil makes more sense to me using the oil change reminder system. I don't drive much. With 3200 miles showing on the odometer (bought in May), the percentage remaining shows 60%. That means I should expect about 7,000 miles between oil changes. I don't feel comfortable running dino oil for that many miles.
I use Castrol Syntec in my Dakota pickup and change it annually (about 5,000-6,000 miles)or at 5,000 if that comes first. The Dakota is a 2001 with 38K on it.
I will probably follow the same routine in the Accord. Use synthetic... watch the miles and change it annually or when the indicator reaches the lower limit.
Somebody's going to get a great used car in ten years ;-)
Now if I could just find where I read that to make you feel better. :confuse:
So my conclusion is:
1)if the 4-cy engine has a timing chain (most likely), it doesn't ever need to be replaced or the minder will tell ya;
2) switch to synthetic anytime;
3) do the first oil change anytime.
What other logical conclusions can one draw from the information that THEY (Honda) provide? :confuse: :mad:
Just look at all the maintenance requirements in the manual. Other Hondas have different levels of service like A1 to B3. A1 would be the most basic interval of only an oil change and the B3 would be the most extensive service changing alot of filters, belts, changing transmission fluid and everything else that has any maintenance requirement. The Accord is probably the same.
Just look it up in the manual.
The car runs like a charm and, other than buying a new battery, haven't spent one dime on it.
Now, the question is....why (laugh) the hell am I thinking about buying a new car.
Other than your correct assumption about the cost, belts do have another advantage - they're practically silent in operation. Chains have one distinct disadvantage - they beat the livin' tar out of motor oil to the point of causing the oil to shear out of grade. (The relatively high working loads on the sprockets and the rollers between the cleats as exhaust valves are opened against the force of combustion gasses are the problem.) While chains break infrequently, they stretch as they wear - and that has a negatory effect on valve timing - read that engine efficiency. Overall though, given the choice, I'd still take a chain over a belt. (Actually, given the choice, what I'd really prefer is the timing gear train that heavy duty diesel truck and marine engines use to drive the camshafts, but with silent running helical instead of straight-cut gears. Ain't gonna happen in passenger cars, though, due to the costs involved.)
Well, the primary collector of new engine wear metals is the oil filter (
*Among conventional motor oils, Chevron Supreme and Havoline (both made by Chevron Oil Co. - Chevron bought the rights to the "Havoline" name from Equilon) show about as much molybdenum in virgin oil analyses as used factory-fill oil out of new Hondas. But, other components of the two Chevron oils do NOT match the assay of what's found in Honda factory-fill oil. Since Honda brand motor oil at Honda dealership parts departments state on the rear label that it's made by ExxonMobil, it's perhaps more likely that Honda uses a bulk ExxonMobil oil at the factory. Whether it's "special" when compared to retail Exxon Superflow 5W-20 or Mobil 5000 5W-20 is anyone's guess.
(What little knowledge I have about engine lubes was culled from BobIsTheOilGuy.com's archived sources. If anyone knows differently, I'm always willing to learn.)
Because you're getting bored with "Old Faithful".
...prior to '05 AV6 6M EX cpe, had un 2000 Toyota Solara V-6 5M Coupe......by-the-book (then) 7500 OCI resulted in 80k apparently sludge-free miles.....sold it to my old college roomie - and I'm certain he'd tell me of any problems encountered
..best, ez..
Volvo, with the B18 and B20 engines of the '60s and '70s is the one I am familiar with. These engines have helically-cut timing gears. I have a 1970 Volvo 144S with a B20B engine sitting in my garage, and replaced the timing gears once on the car - actually when I replaced the camshaft. These engines are 4-cylinder OHV with an extremely rugged bottom end. You mention marine engines . . . the Volvo Penta engine is a well known marine engine and the original Penta was based on the B-series Volvo engine.
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Why should I wait to change the oil the first time?
Your Honda engine was delivered with an oil that is specially formulated for new engines that have not yet developed their "natural" wear patterns and may contain minute particles from the manufacturing process.
American Honda strongly recommends this special oil be left in the engine long enough for these wear patterns to develop, usually until the first maintenance interval specified in your Owner's Manual, based on your specific driving conditions.
As you can see I'm trying hard
A good test is to drop 2-3 drops on a piece of white paper towel in one spot. Let the oil spread through the fibers. When the center darker area is the size of a dime, time to change MY oil for my cars. Doing this from when oil is new over thousands of miles will let one see the contaminant load build that leaves that darker center spot and doesn't migrate through the paper fibers.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
To be honest, no. I just took it in for an oil change when I got tired of seeing the "little wrench" service light and the reminder flashing in my face each time I started the car.
Once I get about 12-15,000 miles, I plan to switch to syntetic oil. I'll follow the reminder after that, even though I know I'm sure that might be overkill with synthetic. The owner's manual warns to follow the reminder even when using synthetic oil. I'll end up with annual oil changes on my Accord like I do with my low mileage Dakota pickup (38,000 miles on a 2001).
I use Castrol Syntex in the truck (and have for about 20,000 miles. Synthetic oil resulted in about 1.5mpg improvement in the truck.
I don't think that is the case, lest I be wrong. I believe it counts only engine revolutions.
Didn't Honda go to a DOHC head in their I4 with the '03 model Accords?
In reading the manual, it does look like it is based on engine revolutions.
I just got a 07 SE. It is mainly for shopping and pleasure because we do not need car for commuting.
So I expect to put at most 3000-4000 miles every year on it. When should I do the first and follwoing oil changes? 15% oil life? It is estimateded about 5000 miles, more than 1 year for me. Or 3 months (from a service manager, maybe want to earn more money from me) ? 6 months (from dealer selling the car after I told him I do not drive much)? What a mess !!!
Someone here can give me clear answer for me to follow, which can keep the good condition of my car, save my money and most importantly, meet the requirment of warranty. :confuse:
I'm new to this forum and I just bought a 07 civic Si (2.0L 4cylinder Ivtec engine). The owner manual clearly states "Do not perform early oil change until scheduled maintenance time" in the break-in period section.
I have 600 miles on the car and oil life of 90%. I would go with the maintenance reminder unless Honda is purly evil and want me buy a new car every year. But the engine is covered by warranty, so it doesn't make sense for them to do that.
I think I will go mobil 1 oil for my next oil change.
I've studied the manual up and down and can't find any mention on what the break in period is for the new V6 engine, any ideas?
Oh, and I'm planning to use saddle soap to clean/condition the leather, any thoughts or recommendation?