How often should I change the oil in my Honda Civic?

Question

I've got a 2006 Honda Civic and it requires 5w20 (or maybe 5w30...don't remember) oil. It has an oil indicator that goes from 100% down to 0% and they say you should change the oil at 20%. Since this is MUCH longer than the 3000-5000 miles that you should normally get an oil change, should I change it at the recommended mileage or when the oil indicator goes down? The oil indicator doesn't actually have a sensor for dirty oil...it's just a mileage thing. I'd probably be changing the oil every 7,000-8,000 miles if I listened to it. Thanks for the help! My car's getting a little older (had it since November 2005), so I was just worrying about upkeep.

Answer 1

Get it changed every 3000 miles.

Answer 2

It depends on the nature of your driving as well as the engine. Some engines require more frequent changes (Civic Si's for example) versus the base models.

While you should never probably go past the 20% meter, this is an alogarithm created by the manufacturer to estimate when your oil should be changed. I would recommend after 3k miles to check the levels and clarity of the oil each time you fill up your car at the pump.

If the oil level is low, obviously add more. However, if you have difficulty seeing the dipstick through the oil it is beginning to get dirty (I use synthetic so my oil does not have a nautrally dark color - it will turn a dark black color like the black sludge you see in the city during winter months). If you have trouble identifying what clean oil looks like, check it once after your initial change for a Point of Reference.

If you suspect the oil is dirty, check it with your finger, as you will be able to see the deposits in the oil more clearly against your contrasting skin tones. You could also do this through a clean rag or paper towel if you are worried about getting your hand dirty.

The bottom line is there is no set standard - you have to keep on top of it or set your regular interval. I set my change every 5-7.5k miles. This has worked very well for me, but I use synthetic. If you are using regular oil, I would recommend between 3 and 5k miles, but that is just what I used to do before my car required premium fuel and synthetic oil to run at its peak.

Good luck, but also remember that every mechanic I have talked to says that a change every 3k is a waste of money unless you drive a lot of city mileage. If you track your oil's cleanliness as well as the volume in your car you should be able to determine when to change it.

Take care,

-G

Answer 3

Follow the manufacture recommended initials.They test the car with the oil that is used in your auto.Oils of today are made better then in the past.If you live in a dusty area I would change it sooner.Good Luck.

Answer 4

DON'T listen to these MORONS!!!! the "change it every 3000 miles" thing was relevant 50 years ago, now days modern oil is normally good for 5 to 7 thousand miles,or longer if synthetic. This nonsense about oil breaking down is just that-nonsense. Oil sits in the ground for hundreds of thousands of years without breaking down, it does however get contaminated with dirt,water and the byproduct of metal to metal friction-shavings, and that is all your doing with an oil change, removing contaminants and replacing with contaminant free oil. Check out "kleenoilusa.com" if you are really interested in extending the life of your oil, otherwise drive that s@# 'til its sludge!

Answer 5

I personally change my oil every 3,000 miles.  I figure the extra $25 - $50 bucks a year is worth babying my car's engine.  To those people that say it's insane to change it that regularly let me say you're probably right but also remember--I'm only spending $250 every 10 years on this maintenance!  Let me also say, I, unlike many of my friends, have never had to replace or rebuild an engine.  If you taut the 7,000 mile oil change but you've ever paid for an engine rebuild maybe you should recalculate which is a waste of money.

That being said--what does it say in your owners manual?  Go by the "severe" category--nobody drives their car in the condition they consider "normal."

And finally, the oil indicator doesn't just go by mileage and many people go solely by their indicator for when they complete their oil changes.  If you use the indicator make sure you use the recommended oil.  If it calls for synthetic be sure you spend the extra money on synthetic.  Be sure you get the oil changed when necessary to keep your warranty valid.

Answer 6

The owner's manual would usually suggest that you change your oil at every _____ miles traveled or at every _____ months, whichever comes first. You should pay close attention to your mileage in between oil changes especially if you drive long distances. If you don't drive that often, it is advisable to change your oil every three months regardless of how little you drive. This is to maintain your engine's optimum performance.

Answer 7

You want to change it every 7500 or so, BUT, The maintanance minder(oil life percentage) is not only based on mileage. it is a very complicated formula that takes engine load, rpm, temp, miles, engine run time, engine down time into the equation. Honda recommends changin oil when it gets to 15%. Honda is saving you money by maximizing the life of your oil.

Answer 8

EVERY 3-5K IS GOOD, AND IF YOU DONT DRIVE MUCH

EVERY 6 MONTHS