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727K views 3K replies 571 participants last post by  Clean12Coupe 
#1 ·
Yesterday, I worked with a friend who has an 87 Chevy truck, that he bought new in 1986, that now has 406,800 miles on the odometer which stopped working last year when the clutch was replaced. So it has more miles than that. It has had 3,000-4,000 mile oil changes using Pennzoil 10-30. The engine has never had the heads off or any major work(except water pump). I've always obsessed about types of oil, oil filter selection, and oil change intervals. I nearly always put between 100,000 and 200,000 miles or more on my cars. Have never had a car use oil except my 1964 1/2 Mustang, back in 1965, which had a bad motor from the start. I use Pennzoil syn in CRV and have been using Mobil 1 Extended Range 5-30 in Si but am changing to 0-30 Amsoil for Si. However, I think many of us, self included, obsess over something that is truly not a problem unless we really use our cars to the extreme limit; and even then, is likely not a problem. IMO, any of the synthetics will provide better protection than we will ever need. Spending more and changing more often will likely just be wasting money. I change at 10-15% on the gauge. I've been driving for 50 years, maintained my own cars, worked as an oil chemist for a while doing longevity research, so I've had some experience along this line. I do believe our Si engines, especially if mod'd, ask a lot more out of oil than that 87 Chevy truck, but I also believe they are a lot higher quality. These are just my opinions, only substantiated by my experience.
It is natural to want to take the very best care of our pride and joy, but it can get to where more done and more money spent is just wasted. The 3,000 mile oil change is way out dated.
 
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#86 ·
They have been doing this for years since the 80's as far as I know and even till today. I have a friend who just quit because of all the dirty stuff that goes on. Also, btw jiffylube is a part of Shell... ekk!
 
#88 ·
If you don't change your own oil and other servicing, ALWAYS at least put a dot of fingernail polish on any bolts/plugs, filters, etc so you can check that they have been replaced, etc. I can't imagine owning a car that I would care little enough for to not service it myself. Or a lawnmower, chainsaw, 4-wheeler, etc. I realize that some situations exist that makes it more difficult to do this than others. Years ago, when living in urban areas, I went to small , private garages(service places) and paid to get to use their area(lift, etc) so I could do my own work. Never was in a situation where I couldn't do this, including, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Baton Rouge, etc. Don't know how to do mechanic work? I didn't either. I learned from books, voluntering to help, for free, at private maintenance garages, a Ford dealership in my small home town, etc. Where ther's a will there is a way. I'm 64 and have an excellent income, yet wouldn't think of allowing anyone except myself to service my own mechanical equipment.
 
#105 ·
A really good plan. Without a well marked, oil pressure gauge, always just stick with the oil recommended by the manufacturer except for the first weight. I think the usage of this German oil would not be in the best interest of any Honda owner except possibly 2006-2011 Si owners and many previous Hondas.

However, my 2008 Si recommends 5-30; but I use 0-30, which is BETTER. Do not go over the upper number but it is generally better to go under the lower with very few exceptions. When oil is developed that has a -5 wt and goes -5-20 for most Hondas and -5-30 for Gen 6 Si's ( 8 Gen Civic Si ) , then the oil will have the desired relative thickness(10) at most start up temps. True racing engines have much looser fits and have their own special requirements. NEVER ever use racing oils in a conventional unless you have good reason to do so. Racing your car isn't one of the few good reasons. The upper wt number is measured at a significantly higher temp(304 degrees F) than regular usage oils and actually has a much higher # than indicated(if it were measured at the appx 212 degrees F that normal oils are measured at).
 
#90 ·
I heard good things about this oil but I somehow can never find it in autozone/kragen/walmart/napa. The only one I can find is the U.S. Product.
 
#95 ·
^ do certain walmarts have auto centers?
 
#96 ·
always mark it! i worked at a JL in my younger days and they are SHADY!!!!! selling services not needed, and not perfoming servies paid for! they got my mom for $60 to change a fuel filter on her silverado, she complained to me about her MPG's getting worse so i checked everything and during this inspection i noticed that the fuel filter was a GM part....JL doesnt use factory parts!!! i went back and told them, they swore they changed it and things got a little heated.....needless to say i didnt want them to touch the car again just my money back. the manager was a ()#$*%)$*(@&%@$)(&^@)$&*(@#$*@(_#$&*()%&@*$&^@(#$%*, but the owner was really nice and refunded the money right away. Business 101, when caught in a lie....do everything in your power to correct the situation! The manager no longer works there for obvious reasons
 
#98 ·
I'll watch mechanics changing out parts after what went on with me and down here. When I moved to FL I was still young. Came down with my parents at the time. My car was having brake issues so we took it to Just Brakes thinking they work on brakes so must be decent. Well I was told the entire brake system had to be changed and would cost $850. Again with me being young and dumb I went ahead and did it instead of going elsewhere.
Well 2 years later I find out the company was sued for scamming tons of people into the same deal.
I wouldnt doubt that the shop did nothing but replace the brake pads (although they had all of the brakes taken apart and in pieces)......which were cheap crap and a $850 job could have cost me $40.
Live and learn.
 
#100 ·
I overstated my case. I do know a # of mechanics who do excellent work, one especially. I would let him do any work my car needed. Still, I prefer to do my own. He does what is above my level of expertise . Cars have changed more in the past 50 years than I have. I think it would behoove each of us to have a very trusted mechanic. Some of these do work in dealerships but overall, independent garages have a better satisfaction rate. As a matter of fact, the car salesman who sold me my Si(and CRV) is an excellent mechanic who I will assist as I start putting mods on my car. He does Honda speed shop type of work.
 
#101 ·
I Don't plan to Do a DIY oil change until 20,000 miles. I don't wanna risk my Warranty, so I have the dealership change the oil. But ever since I saw this video like a year or 2 ago, I Always mark my oil filters with a smiley face and taking pictures of it before oil changes.
 
#103 ·
You cant void a warranty by doing your own oil changes......unless you go over when it should be done.
If something happened they'd have to prove that your oil change caused the problem.
All you have to do is save receipts and keep records. If a dealer says you'll void a warranty by doing your own they are full of BS.
 
#109 ·
I put this on my cars, makes oil changes quicker: QuickOilDrainValve.com - the best way to change oil

I do my own work on my personal cars. For company vehicles we use a local non-franchised shop, they are not the cheapest but they are honest.

I quit using Lubrication Specialist (franchised) becuase they tried to rip us off multiple times. We keep very detail records on our company vehicles from cradle to grave. I told the person that took the vehicles if they wanted to do anything beyond the standard $20 oil change to have them call me. They called me for an air filter, so I pulled the file, and they had replaced it 3,000mi ago, it was on their maintenance section of the receipt, when I brought this up they hung up on me. Last time they got our business.

I am 30 mins from Orlando and they did a news story on Jiffy Lubes all owned by the same guy that was doing the same thing. They marked the fuel filters and also put a camera under the vehicles. I think 3 of his shots got popped. They went to the owners house for news story.

What's Wrong At Jiffy Lube? Learn remedies. Add your experience.
 
#111 ·
I put this on my cars, makes oil changes quicker: QuickOilDrainValve.com - the best way to change oil

I do my own work on my personal cars. For company vehicles we use a local non-franchised shop, they are not the cheapest but they are honest.
Heard about this stuff.
But, Its bad for slammed cars.
And if you know anyone that really hates you and they know you have this, Your Motors gonna be playing some Dubstep tunes.
 
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