Safe Speed Forums

Ok car: 1998 Honda Civic 1.4 se 56k miles. Main dealer serviced (on time every time)/MOT'd and they valet it too. This car does a fair amont of short runs to the shops, but it does get motoway use. I don't thrape the car but it does get worked.

Am I wasting my money going for an intermediate oil change (It think they use Mobil 1) or is it money well spent. This car never goes wrong and I want to keep it that way. TIA

A shaggy-dog story....

I have owned Honda Accords since 1983 - and have never had any engine trouble of any sort with any of them. Five in totyal in our family, none released at less than 125,000 miles (and two of those went to family friends who got at least another 50,000 out of them, probably with much less TLC than I put in). The 2.2 is back on the road again after a gearbox swap - that is at approaching 250,000 miles - nerver missed a beat, never had the head off or anything.

My first one - a 1983 model 1600 Exec - for its first 7 years used to get short journeys. 3 - 4 miles to and from work. the occasional run to parents on motorways and the occasional 20 mile blast to out-laws, but.... well, it did about 3,500 miles per year. I used to change the oil four times per year. I moved. Mileage went to 20 each way, 10 of which were fairly quick. Mileage increased to 12000 pa - I relaxed oil changes to twice per year.

Ever since then I've always gone for the standard service interval - 9 months on June's X reg 1.8 and 12 months on my later one.

The main problem with oil on short journeys is the build up of water and therefore use of water-dissolvers. These recover with a fairly decent long run, provided they're not too far gone.

So - what would I do in your case? If it gets motorway treatment more than once a fortnight and only one or two short journeys each day.. I'd probably miss the intermediate service. Without the motorway runs, I'd give it probably even more interim changes.

They used to say: "Change the oil twice as often and keep the engine twice as long." Is it still true? I don't know.

A manufacturer's recommended service interval is based on limited parameters. In possible order of importance.

1) A long service interval helps sell the vehicle.
2) Too long a service interval will increase warranty claims. But let's remember that we're talking about keeping and using vehicles way past the limits contained in the warranty.
3) A short service interval may help dealer profits.
4) Engine oil is usually the limiting factor in service intervals.
5) (least important) a long engine life builds market reputation.

And all the while oils are getting better. Modern synthetics retain their characteristics for far longer than conventional oils.

So, all things considered I've been doing this for the past decade:

With a mineral oil in a car designed for mineral oils I change the oil twice as often.

With a synthetic oil in a car designed with mineral oils I change the oil at the recommended service interval.

With a synthetic oil in a car designed for synthetics, I would change the oil twice as often. (This has not yet come up.)

(Edited to fix an error. Previously said "too short", meant "too long")

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Good points, Paul.

The 1983 example I quoted above was using typically SF and SG-rated Duckhams and, occasionally, GTX. I expect the present cars to be running on synthetics - not checked!

I bought a Honda Accord 2.0 brand new in 1990, it got written off last year.
The only time it EVER let me down was when I left the lights on.
Apart from the usual suspects, tyres and the like, it was only on its 3rd battery, had the cambelt changed at 80,000, thats 20,000 over the recomended milage.
New brake pads and discs at 110,000 miles, new brake shoes at 115,000 miles, had the steering pump fail on the motorway, was still able to finish my journey, about 2 miles further.
Had both CV joints replaced at 90,000 miles.
Was still on the original clutch plates at time of demise, 130,000 miles.

I loved that car, and would buy another Accord tomorrow if I could afford one.

The only complaint I made to Honda was that the brake lights only lasted about 11 years

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Semper in excreta, nur quantitat variat.

You can have mine! My 98 2.0I sprang a radiator leak yesterday Managed to secure a new replacement for £88 so not too steep. The problem appears to be corrosion, which isn't too great on a 7 year old car. Did you know most of the Accords were built in the UK?

Max

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Tailgaters - Please Pass
You have an Accident to go to!

Have you had the vehicle dealer-serviced throughout and, if not, have you maintained the recommended concentration of anti-freeze fitted throughout the year and changed at 2-yearly intervals?

My 2.4 is imported from Japan, as was the 2.2 on the J. June's X reg 1.8 is UK-built.

twas last dealer serviced two years ago, never even had to top it up since, but you're right it is due a coolant change. The pool of coolant on Morrisons car park was a lovely bright green though I self service now and will obviously replace it when I change the rad. Tend to do most jobs on a rolling basis and stuff like replacing the coolant can often slide guess it's my own fault then.

Max

_________________
Tailgaters - Please Pass
You have an Accident to go to!

Coolant replacement is one that is often overlooked. Brake fluid replacement is another. I religiously do both/get both done, on the grounds that it is comparatively cheap and gives one good leverage in the event of premature failure of non-friction brake components and non-wearing cooling system parts.