Oil Changes

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Mon 17 Dec 2001 18:44
Oil Changes - Andy P
I've read with interest the comments about changing oil every 5000 miles. Looking through my Accord's service book, Honda have left spaces for "intermediate oil change" every 4,500 miles.

Is this necessary for a certain type of driving (i.e all motorway or all town driving), or is it a good idea irrespective of what the car is used for?



Andy
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Mon 17 Dec 2001 19:41
Re: Oil Changes - prm
Andy,

I've always stuck with 6k as an interval for oil change. The service interval is 10k for my car (Audi 80). It probably depends on atmospheric conditions as well as driving style. This time of year, there's less airborne rubbish, since it's almost always damp.
4.5k does seem a little bit early though.

Peter.
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Mon 17 Dec 2001 19:53
Re: Oil Changes - John
Hi Andy - I'm a firm believer in oil changes at 5000 miles, particularly diesel engines as our four vehicles are. I know that the car makers tend to increase the interval to 10 or even 12K, but this I regard as a marketing ploy rather than good maintenance. Certainly a car that does it's 5000 miles on a motorway rather than on short journeys will be in less need of a change of oil.
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Mon 17 Dec 2001 22:38
Re: Oil Changes - ajp
Is it a good idea to change the filter as well when carrying out intermeadiate oil changes?
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Mon 17 Dec 2001 23:02
Re: Oil Changes - Brian
Yes
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Tue 18 Dec 2001 01:08
Re: Oil Changes - Andrew Petterson
During the winter time a car will need even more regular oil changes that in the summer, this is because the car starts from cold more often and takes longer to reach its operating temperature. Therefore comtaminants build up much more quickly in the oil. I reckon on changing the oil in October time, and again around March time, even if the mileage is say only 3,000 miles during that time. Otherwise 5,000 miles can be a rough guide.
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Wed 19 Dec 2001 18:04
Re: Oil Changes - john fitton
If you use decent oil, just do it evry 10,000m - plus filter. My passat has done nearly 200,000 and is still well within VW tolerance [1l every 1000km]. It would have cost a great deal to have done it every 5000m

It is clearly in the interest of garages to advise as much work as possible.
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