I'm at 3840+ miles at the moment @ 40% Oil Life.

I will be going to LA.. then to San Diego... Should I change my oil before I go or wait.. I think it's a dumb question, but thought I'd ask anyways.

 

I would change it now.
Actually I will change mine at about half those miles.

 

x2
nothing good can come of leaving that 1st fill in longer

 

Meh, i went 7000 miles before the oil life meter told me to change it. you gotta figure honda knows what they're doing. changing your oil before the cars tells you to is simply over-maintaining.

also, take it to honda. the car is designed to run on their synthetic blend.

 

Yes that every 3 month or 3,000 miles thing was for older cars. In the manual it says change once it gets down to 10-15%. I would listen to the manual honda knows what they are talking about.

 

So which is it? Oil life at 15%.. Change at 3000-4000..? what generally do you gentlemen/ladies do?

 

change it at 10-15%, not 3000 miles. the honda oil is a synthetic blend that lasts much longer than 3000 miles. you'll be wasting your money if you change it before 6000-7000 miles, or whenever the cars prompts you to change it.

 

Some that have never built an engine or looked at used oil tests and just don't understand or have the experience to advise the need for early removal of that 1st fill. All new engines have internal build contamination and lose metal from parts mating. The filter gets some, but not all.

It's less than 4 qt's of oil. So money wise is trivial.

It's a inexpensive and conservative deal you should consider if you plan to keep the car.

On the 2nd change you can use the maint minder and directions from Honda or do like many oil experts and test the oil to determine when it's time based on TBN, insolubles and other items of concern.

 

huuuu

Please tell us the source of all that.....

 

i'm not going to argue with you about this. i'm following the instructions that the people that MADE THE CAR gave. the maintenance minder isn't a dumb computer that tracks only miles driven. it actively monitors the quality of the oil. if it doesn't say it needs to be changed, it doesn't need to be changed.

if you're paranoid enough to not trust the people that made the car, so be it. but an oil change before the car tells you it needs one is simply unnecessary.

 

Been covered a number of times.



Anyway, change it at 1-20%. I just changed mine today at 20% and I went 8000 miles.

 

It's a search for the real facts based on data, nothing more. I could care less what you think of my opinion really!
Some value it

 

Never seen any mention of that. Show one of the MANY mentions

 

Ask jdmchris. Ive seen him mention ir at least 2 times.

 

Seeing as I've built 100's of motors over the years and torn down as many I will stick with the early oil change.
You need to get rid of particulate in a new motor. There is no arguement against this fact. The sooner you do the better.
Honda and all other makes suggest this to lower maintenance costs among other reasons. If you believe Honda wants you to get 300 000 out of your car your wrong. You may anyway.
Ever cut open an original filter on a new car?
You'd gasp if you could see the metal in there. I'm going to section mine when I dump the original oil.
And after the 1st change I will start extending the intervals.
My FJ40's original inline six lasted over 400 000kms before it needed rebuilding. I hope the Fit makes it this long also.

 

I agree. Maint minder doesn't keep track of how long you keep oil in your car. Before proceeding, please consider the following:

1. How long has that oil been in your car. Do you think oxidation occured within the oil? (Oxidation usually starts happening after six months. But varies with the type of oil.)

2. Are you agressive driver?

3. Has your oil been burning up?

If you answer yes to any of the questions, I would advise an oil change. BTW, when I had my old 07 fit... I went to LV with it when I had 2,500 miles. I used high reving on uphill acceleration, etc. Turns out oil didn't like it because I managed to burn 1/4 from the full line to the low oil mark driving 500 miles. That fit got rear ended and totaled unfortunately. Now I get to test what happens within the 2500-3000 miles if I don't high rev.

SIDE NOTES: ENJOY THE UPHILL DRIVE!
LV to LA will probably be 250 miles. LA to SD is about 130 miles. SD to LV will probably be be about 300 miles. I think the oil can survive the 800 mile trip as long as you don't push the car into high revving. But early oil change is always a plus. It's up to you if you want to risk it or not.

 

 

can't hurt to over change your motor oil so i'd do it before your
trip since you know you're going to be putting on a lot of miles.

personally i wouldn't change the oil unless it's 15% or past it.
it's just a waste of good oil and more waste for the environment.

 

BTW I can tell you that wonderful Honda algorithm used to determine when to change your oil, does not use a sensor that actually looks at the quality of the oil.

It infers it based on the math. That is it does not matter if you put in recycled wally world glup or Red line race oil, that gauge will read the same based on how you drive.

 

Some actually have an optical sensor, but those are euro-luxo brands.. Hondas is probably math based on transmission gear / speed / overall distance / temperature.. which is probably pretty accurate, but it cant differentiate between good and bad oils... And the whole thing was just created to get people to get their oil changed at the dealer more often instead of quick lube... (I assume the dealer has to reset the sensor?)

So yes i think im agreeing with the post above mine :P