how often should I change my oil?
 

I've recently moved downtown and am now walking to work (and just about
everything else), which has decreased my monthly mileage to somewhere
between 100 and 200 miles total. I know the oil companies say 3 months/
3000 miles (despite my manual saying at least twice that), but changing oil
every 600 miles seems kind of ridiculous. does oil go bad from age as well
as wear?

Re: how often should I change my oil?
 

In your case, I would put in synthetic oil, and change once a
year.

Its is odd, but I have found that a car that is not use gets as
much problems as a car that is being used. You will noticed the
brakes going, rust, etc.... my 2 cents


"Khee Mao" <yousuckbigbad_buddhadaddy@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c6p6jp$sjg$1@nntp1.u.washington.edu...
> I've recently moved downtown and am now walking to work (and
just about
> everything else), which has decreased my monthly mileage to
somewhere
> between 100 and 200 miles total. I know the oil companies say
3 months/
> 3000 miles (despite my manual saying at least twice that), but
changing oil
> every 600 miles seems kind of ridiculous. does oil go bad from
age as well
> as wear?
>
>

Re: how often should I change my oil?
 

3mo/3k miles is based on what Auto Manufacturers call severe conditions or
every day use if you lived in California. It would be a waste to change the
oil at 600 miles. I'd agree with Frank, switch to synthetic and change your
oil less often. If you're worried about voiding your warranty, you could
change every 6 months, but check the condition of the oil and other fluids
at least once a month.


"Khee Mao" <yousuckbigbad_buddhadaddy@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c6p6jp$sjg$1@nntp1.u.washington.edu...
> I've recently moved downtown and am now walking to work (and just about
> everything else), which has decreased my monthly mileage to somewhere
> between 100 and 200 miles total. I know the oil companies say 3 months/
> 3000 miles (despite my manual saying at least twice that), but changing
oil
> every 600 miles seems kind of ridiculous. does oil go bad from age as
well
> as wear?
>
>

Re: how often should I change my oil?
 

On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 14:10:14 -0700, "Khee Mao"
<yousuckbigbad_buddhadaddy@yahoo.com> wrote:
>I've recently moved downtown and am now walking to work (and just about
>everything else), which has decreased my monthly mileage to somewhere
>between 100 and 200 miles total. I know the oil companies say 3 months/
>3000 miles (despite my manual saying at least twice that), but changing oil
>every 600 miles seems kind of ridiculous. does oil go bad from age as well
>as wear?

2004 models Honda says severe conditions are 6 mos / 5,000 miles,
iirc.

J.

Re: how often should I change my oil?
 

I think if and when you drive the car if the trips are short ( 4-5 ) miles
and in the winter 3 months is about right.

If you drive and the trip is long enough to warn the engine up to normal
operateing temperature, and sustain that temp for at least 15 miles twice a
yr is the way to go.

I don't know what difference it makes if the oil is synthetic or
conventional if it has moisture in it, it makes no difference, the moisture
is still going to damage internal parts, so why spend the extra for the
synethic.

my .02 cents

Tom


"Joseph Wind" <jpg@gif.com> wrote in message
news:XJXjc.50284$G_.19238@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...
> 3mo/3k miles is based on what Auto Manufacturers call severe conditions or
> every day use if you lived in California. It would be a waste to change
the
> oil at 600 miles. I'd agree with Frank, switch to synthetic and change
your
> oil less often. If you're worried about voiding your warranty, you could
> change every 6 months, but check the condition of the oil and other fluids
> at least once a month.
>
>
> "Khee Mao" <yousuckbigbad_buddhadaddy@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:c6p6jp$sjg$1@nntp1.u.washington.edu...
> > I've recently moved downtown and am now walking to work (and just about
> > everything else), which has decreased my monthly mileage to somewhere
> > between 100 and 200 miles total. I know the oil companies say 3 months/
> > 3000 miles (despite my manual saying at least twice that), but changing
> oil
> > every 600 miles seems kind of ridiculous. does oil go bad from age as
> well
> > as wear?
> >
> >
>
>

Re: how often should I change my oil?
 

"Khee Mao" <yousuckbigbad_buddhadaddy@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c6p6jp$sjg$1@nntp1.u.washington.edu...
> I've recently moved downtown and am now walking to work (and just about
> everything else), which has decreased my monthly mileage to somewhere
> between 100 and 200 miles total. I know the oil companies say 3 months/
> 3000 miles (despite my manual saying at least twice that), but changing
oil
> every 600 miles seems kind of ridiculous. does oil go bad from age as
well
> as wear?
>
>

The 3mo/3k miles guideline is still being debated, but, on a car that
doesn't make very long trips (enough to completely warm the engine and
evaporate water vapor), I would stick with the 3 month. Condensation in the
oil leads to sulfates (think that's the right word - it's late...) that
attack bearing surfaces. Don't want that, now do we? :-)

HTH

Jeremy

Re: how often should I change my oil?
 

I drive a lot, but I use Amsoil XL7500 and change only at 7500 miles.

No my Tundra is ridden line your Honda. I've had it since July 2001 and
only have 16k on it. I use full Synthetic and change it once a year. Even
then it looks very clean when changed.

G-Man



"Khee Mao" <yousuckbigbad_buddhadaddy@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c6p6jp$sjg$1@nntp1.u.washington.edu...
> I've recently moved downtown and am now walking to work (and just about
> everything else), which has decreased my monthly mileage to somewhere
> between 100 and 200 miles total. I know the oil companies say 3 months/
> 3000 miles (despite my manual saying at least twice that), but changing
oil
> every 600 miles seems kind of ridiculous. does oil go bad from age as
well
> as wear?
>
>

Re: how often should I change my oil?
 

In article <c6p6jp$sjg$1@nntp1.u.washington.edu>, "Khee Mao"
<yousuckbigbad_buddhadaddy@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I've recently moved downtown and am now walking to work (and just about
> everything else), which has decreased my monthly mileage to somewhere
> between 100 and 200 miles total. I know the oil companies say 3 months/
> 3000 miles (despite my manual saying at least twice that), but changing oil
> every 600 miles seems kind of ridiculous. does oil go bad from age as well
> as wear?

I would use regular oil and change it every 3 months or 3000
miles--whichever comes first.

Jason

--
NEWSGROUP SUBSCRIBERS CREED
We respect those subscribers that ask for advice or provide advice.
We do NOT respect the subscribers that enjoy criticizing people.
Which of the above three groups are you a member of??

Re: how often should I change my oil?
 

Khee Mao wrote:
> I've recently moved downtown and am now walking to work (and just
> about everything else), which has decreased my monthly mileage to
> somewhere between 100 and 200 miles total. I know the oil companies
> say 3 months/ 3000 miles (despite my manual saying at least twice
> that), but changing oil every 600 miles seems kind of ridiculous.
> does oil go bad from age as well as wear?

Follow the recomendations in your user manual.

Oil companies want to sell more oil.

--
Bob Burns
Mill Hall PA
treborburns@earthlink.net

Re: how often should I change my oil?
 

That's the correct answer.
Changing the oil every 3000 miles (standard usage) is a waste of time,
money, and oil. My '03 Civic's manual says once every 10k miles -- changing
it every 3000 miles is a waste of 8 quarts of oil every 10,000 miles.
I don't know about you folks, but I am not eager to give the oil companies
and middle Eastern nations more of my money than necessary. I sure don't
want to do anything that maintains our dependence on them any more than
absolutely necessary.
"Bob Burns" <treborburns@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:xLrkc.238$8S1.166@newsread2.news.atl.earthlin k.net...
> Khee Mao wrote:
> > I've recently moved downtown and am now walking to work (and just
> > about everything else), which has decreased my monthly mileage to
> > somewhere between 100 and 200 miles total. I know the oil companies
> > say 3 months/ 3000 miles (despite my manual saying at least twice
> > that), but changing oil every 600 miles seems kind of ridiculous.
> > does oil go bad from age as well as wear?
>
> Follow the recomendations in your user manual.
>
> Oil companies want to sell more oil.
>
> --
> Bob Burns
> Mill Hall PA
> treborburns@earthlink.net
>
>
>

Re: how often should I change my oil?
 

The way oil is formulated these days you can wait 6 months between oil
changes if you don't hit the mileage before.

"Khee Mao" <yousuckbigbad_buddhadaddy@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c6p6jp$sjg$1@nntp1.u.washington.edu...
> I've recently moved downtown and am now walking to work (and just about
> everything else), which has decreased my monthly mileage to somewhere
> between 100 and 200 miles total. I know the oil companies say 3 months/
> 3000 miles (despite my manual saying at least twice that), but changing
oil
> every 600 miles seems kind of ridiculous. does oil go bad from age as
well
> as wear?
>
>

Re: how often should I change my oil?
 

I used plain old Castrol 10w-30 and changed the oil between 4,000 and 6,000
(basically - when I got around to it but never at 3,000) and my car has
232,000 miles with no engine failure.

Would I have made it to 260,000 with synthetic or a lower interval? At
100 to 200 miles a month it will take you 108 years to find out. Save your
money. Actually, if you calculate what that car is costing you per mile
(insurance and amortized cost of vehicle) - sell it and take a cab ;-)


"Khee Mao" <yousuckbigbad_buddhadaddy@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c6p6jp$sjg$1@nntp1.u.washington.edu...
> I've recently moved downtown and am now walking to work (and just about
> everything else), which has decreased my monthly mileage to somewhere
> between 100 and 200 miles total. I know the oil companies say 3 months/
> 3000 miles (despite my manual saying at least twice that), but changing
oil
> every 600 miles seems kind of ridiculous. does oil go bad from age as
well
> as wear?
>
>

Re: how often should I change my oil?
 

> but changing oil every 600 miles seems kind of ridiculous.
> does oil go bad from age as well as wear?


Driving many short trips can in theory wear oil out rapidly, but long
periods of doing nothing followed by trips which get the vehicle up to full
operating temperature (at least 20-30 minutes of driving) are really not
that hard on the car.

You could sleep very easy going 6 months between changes and would probably
do no harm at a 12 month interval.

3 months/3,000 miles is an ancient rule of thumb which survives today mostly
to support the income of Jiffy Lube & friends!

John

Re: how often should I change my oil?
 

I suspect part of that is to support Honda too. My dealer offers a
$19.99 oil change. Not a bad deal at all around here. However, the
sticker they put on the windshield indicates a 3,000 mile recommended
change.

The owners manual for my 2004 Civic indicates 5,000.


John Horner wrote:

> Driving many short trips can in theory wear oil out rapidly, but long
> periods of doing nothing followed by trips which get the vehicle up to full
> operating temperature (at least 20-30 minutes of driving) are really not
> that hard on the car.
>
> You could sleep very easy going 6 months between changes and would probably
> do no harm at a 12 month interval.
>
> 3 months/3,000 miles is an ancient rule of thumb which survives today mostly
> to support the income of Jiffy Lube & friends!
>
> John
>
>