97+ NSX owners, how often do you change your oil?

[RyRy210]

The reason I'm asking is that the '95 NSX that I had required shorter intervals (around 3,750 miles or 3 months for the severe service). My current NA2 NSX has a much longer interval (I don't have my manual with me, but I think its around 6 months or 6,000 miles). I've been following the 3 months or 3,000 miles rule for some time, but now I'm debating whether it’s really necessary since the owner's manual suggests a much longer interval. Any thought? Thanks!

Ryan


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2001 NSX-T
- Bilstein Shocks
- '02 OEM Wheels

 

[SCS2k]

I change the oil in my 1997 every 3000 miles.

 

[PHOEN$X]

I think it depends. How many miles are you putting on the car each month? What kind of oil do you use? Since I don't use mine as a daily driver, there's no way it's going to accumulate 3000 miles in 3 months (let alone 6). I also use synthetic (Mobil 1), which doesn't deteriorate over time like dino oil, so I'm going *much* longer between oil changes (6mo-1yr).

 

[Lud]

Per the owners manual for my 1998 NSX, which is in front of me as I type this, the maintenance schedule for replacing engine oil is:

Every 7,500 miles or 12 months for "normal conditions"

Every 3,750 miles or 6 months for "severe conditions"

So if your 2001 schedule is different, it changed more recently than 1997. Certainly interested to know exactly what yours says!

 

[kgb_agent]

Lud, did you get a new car?

 

[Lud]

I've had my current '98 NSX since 2000...

 

[RyRy210]

Doh! I think it might be every 3,750 or 6 months for my car too. I have to check the manual when I get home from work. I don't put alot of miles so I follow the time interval. So to refine my question, should I change my oil every 3 months (like my old '95) or 6 months (as suggested in the manual)?

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2001 NSX-T
- Bilstein Shocks
- '02 OEM Wheels


[This message has been edited by RyRy210 (edited 15 January 2003).]

 

[1NSX2GO]

I change the oil in my 97 NSX-T every 4500-5000 miles. I am using Redline oil and feel it has the ability to go longer but I never go beyond 5000 miles w/o changing the oil. Also the conditions here in the Bay area are not what I would consider severe nor do I get to the track that often. I do however run the RPM's up to 8k as often as possible just because I can.

 

[Slingshot]

Originally posted by PHOEN$X:
I think it depends. How many miles are you putting on the car each month? What kind of oil do you use? Since I don't use mine as a daily driver, there's no way it's going to accumulate 3000 miles in 3 months (let alone 6). I also use synthetic (Mobil 1), which doesn't deteriorate over time like dino oil, so I'm going *much* longer between oil changes (6mo-1yr).

ditto ... I change Mobil 1 and OEM filter once a year, and average 3000 miles per year.

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by PHOEN$X:
I also use synthetic (Mobil 1), which doesn't deteriorate over time like dino oil, so I'm going *much* longer between oil changes (6mo-1yr).

Most of the oil manufacturers have backed away from claims made when synthetic first came on the market, that you can go longer between changes because you're using synthetic. I am not aware of any claims that synthetic doesn't deteriorate as much as conventional oil over time. (However, I do use synthetic oil because of its greater resistance to breakdown due to heat, as well as its better flow characteristics when cold.)

 

[heretic]

I go about 3500 miles with Castrol 10w-30 and a new Honda oil filter.
98-T BBSC

 

[PHOEN$X]

Originally posted by nsxtasy:
I am not aware of any claims that synthetic doesn't deteriorate as much as conventional oil over time.

I suppose it depends who you ask. I may also have (mis)interpreted extended oil drains to imply less degredation. Anyawy, this topic is probably as controversial as what brand of wax to use.

Consumer Reports released an article in 1996 about motor oils, and this was their conclusion:

The bottom line. Modern motor oils needn't be changed as often as oils did years ago. More frequent oil changes won't hurt your car, but you could be spending money unnecessarily and adding to the nation's energy and oil-disposal problems.

Here is Amsoil's response to that article.

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by PHOEN$X:
Consumer Reports released an article in 1996 about motor oils, and this was their conclusion:

The bottom line. Modern motor oils needn't be changed as often as oils did years ago. More frequent oil changes won't hurt your car, but you could be spending money unnecessarily and adding to the nation's energy and oil-disposal problems.

Yes, but they were making that statement about all "modern" oils, not differentiating between synthetic oil and conventional oil.

Originally posted by PHOEN$X:
Here is Amsoil's response to that article.

I found Amsoil's response to be quite difficult to believe - particularly their recommendation that oil change intervals can be extended to 25K+ miles and over a year.

However, Amsoil also mentions the Consumer Reports statement, "We don't recommend leaving any oil, synthetic or regular, in an engine for 12,000 miles because accumulated contaminants - solids, acids, fuel and water- could eventually harm the engine" which, to me, gets to the heart of the need to change synthetic oil as frequently as conventional oil: because it accumulates contaminants at the same rate as conventional oil. And Amsoil totally ignores this without refuting it in any way.

The only objection anyone ever has to synthetic oil is the cost. If you change your oil three times a year with synthetic oil for $40 per change, that's $120/year for oil changes over the life of the car. Even if you extend it to Acura's recommendation of six months (for "normal use"), that's only $80/year. As I see it, that's inexpensive protection for an $18K engine, and I wouldn't want to try to economize any further than that. I didn't spend all that money on a supercar in order to treat it poorly, with service intervals contrary to the recommendations of the engineers who built it.

Also, when discussing market value for an NSX, when I mention that a car is worth such-and-such "if it's well maintained" and "if the scheduled maintenance is done on time", this is exactly what I'm talking about. If a car only has an oil change done once a year, I consider the car to be less desirable and its market value significantly reduced.

[This message has been edited by nsxtasy (edited 15 January 2003).]

 

[mlambert890]

1998, changes every 3500ish

 

[DeHaldaswerth]

2001 -- I change at about 2500, just because I like to work on my car. I use the new formula Mobile 1 (10w 30) with the factory filter.

 

[RyRy210]

Lud, just verified my owner's manual. Mine is also 3,750 miles or 6 months.

Ryan

------------------
2001 NSX-T
- Bilstein Shocks
- '02 OEM Wheels

 

[sjs]

Originally posted by RyRy210:
Lud, just verified my owner's manual. Mine is also 3,750 miles or 6 months.

Ryan

Under "severe" conditions I trust.

 

[JaguarXJ6]

On the other forum I belong to, some decided to bite the bullet (as well as I) and perform oil analysis every 1k miles on an LS1 engine with 10k miles on it, mix of 50/50 city/highway driving.

Starting with Mobil 1, then Amsoil, and then I think Redline. We're on the 3k mark with Mobil 1 and will continue until it becomes unsafe to use. We're also going to tap into a second lab to make sure the results are consistent.
http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/oil-life.html

Sunny

 

[sjs]

Someone please point me to scientific evidence that changing oil more often than factory recommendations gives anything more than a perceived benefit as described by nsxtasy with regards resale.

Keep in mind that for manufacturers rule #1 in all such things is CYA. Also consider that engines and oils have improved greatly over the years. Cleaner burning gasoline with no lead and typically 10% ethanol creates far fewer contaminates, not to mention fuel injection and better ignition. You need only observe modern emissions standards to prove that even given the contribution of catalytic converters.

Speaking of contaminates, who says that synthetics are not less vulnerable? I don’t know that they are or are not, but I would expect them to be. We’re not talking particulates here, those are handled by the filter. I would hope that a synthetic could be made more resistant to moisture and acidic byproducts of combustion than petroleum, just as it is to heat. It should be more stable.

I think people have conned themselves into changing their oil more often than necessary.

 

[sjs]

Originally posted by JaguarXJ6:
On the other forum I belong to, some decided to bite the bullet (as well as I) and perform oil analysis every 1k miles on an LS1 engine with 10k miles on it, mix of 50/50 city/highway driving....
Sunny

LOL! Even as I typed that last post someone was pointing the way. I haven't read it yet, but I will bookmark it and enjoy following the study.

 

[sjs]

Interesting.

Quotes from their site:

TBN: The Total Base Number. This is a measure of acid-combating additives. Oil is essentially expired once it reaches a TBN around 2.

And after 3082 miles on Mobil 1:

“The oil is still holding up quite well, with the TBN far higher at 3,000 miles than standard oils even start out with.” The TBN was still at 8.5. What I’m not clear on is the degree to which the very high copper levels from the LS1 engine impact the TBN value. Without that problem would the TBN be even higher?

 

[DaveG]

Yawn.

I wait til' mine runs out, and then I refill it.

Dave

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by sjs:
Someone please point me to scientific evidence that changing oil more often than factory recommendations gives anything more than a perceived benefit as described by nsxtasy with regards resale.
.
.
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I think people have conned themselves into changing their oil more often than necessary.

I understand the point you're making sjs - that it's not necessary to change your oil more often than the auto manufacturer recommends - and it might be true (although, even if it is, it won't hurt anything, and COULD give peace of mind, if not measurable benefit).

However, I still think that when the auto manufacturer says to change your oil every six months, waiting a year before changing it is a very bad idea. Like waiting 180K miles or 12 years before changing a timing belt.

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by DaveG:
I wait til' mine runs out, and then I refill it.

I know of one NSX owner who did almost the same thing - only, in his case, it was "I wait until the car stops running, and then I just get a new car." That's why my dealer's service department found out how much a new engine costs.

 

[sjs]

Originally posted by nsxtasy:
I understand the point you're making sjs - that it's not necessary to change your oil more often than the auto manufacturer recommends - and it might be true (although, even if it is, it won't hurt anything, and COULD give peace of mind, if not measurable benefit).

All true, and I too change more frequently than recommended. But what makes 3 months or 3k miles the magic mark? Why not 2k, or 1k? Can't hurt. Many years ago, when it might actually have made sense, these became accepted numbers for people who “care” about their cars. I think many people still follow them largely because it makes them feel good to do so and they can wear it like a badge of honor.