Fiancee has 1700 miles on an 09 Honda Fit. Picked it up with 250 miles and an OLM of 100%.
We're dumping the FF at 3000 and calling it a day.
We're dumping the FF at 3000 and calling it a day.
Honda Break-in Oil?
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Guys, why is there a continuing "mystery" about this???? Three years ago, right from the Honda Service News mouth, linked above, we see these comments:
Quote:
At PDI, does the factory-fill engine oil look less
like Texas Tea and more like Oklahoma Crude?
Don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with the
engine. The engine oil looks that way because of
molybdenum (that’s “moly” for short), a special
lubricant applied by the factory to critical engine
components during assembly.
When the engine is test-run, that molybdenum
mixes with the engine oil, turning it a dark
metallic color often within the first 5 minutes of
running. And just how dark that engine oil turns
seems to vary between vehicle models, engine
types, and engine assembly plants...
continuing after the illustration,
Quote:
What’s really important to remember here is this:
Don’t change the factory-fill engine oil because it
looks dark; just make sure it’s at the right fluid
level. To ensure proper engine break-in, the
factory-fill engine oil needs to remain in the
engine until the first scheduled maintenance
interval.
This information appeared almost three years ago. Unlike many other car makers, Honda is actually telling us what they're up to. They put valuable assembly lube on critical parts, and they want you to leave the resulting moly-in-oil combo in the engine for the first OCI. If anyone still has heartburn about this idea, replace the filter, and top off. Then cut the original factory filter open and examine it. Any potentially harmful debris will be right there in the element.
Quote:
At PDI, does the factory-fill engine oil look less
like Texas Tea and more like Oklahoma Crude?
Don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with the
engine. The engine oil looks that way because of
molybdenum (that’s “moly” for short), a special
lubricant applied by the factory to critical engine
components during assembly.
When the engine is test-run, that molybdenum
mixes with the engine oil, turning it a dark
metallic color often within the first 5 minutes of
running. And just how dark that engine oil turns
seems to vary between vehicle models, engine
types, and engine assembly plants...
continuing after the illustration,
Quote:
What’s really important to remember here is this:
Don’t change the factory-fill engine oil because it
looks dark; just make sure it’s at the right fluid
level. To ensure proper engine break-in, the
factory-fill engine oil needs to remain in the
engine until the first scheduled maintenance
interval.
This information appeared almost three years ago. Unlike many other car makers, Honda is actually telling us what they're up to. They put valuable assembly lube on critical parts, and they want you to leave the resulting moly-in-oil combo in the engine for the first OCI. If anyone still has heartburn about this idea, replace the filter, and top off. Then cut the original factory filter open and examine it. Any potentially harmful debris will be right there in the element.
Actually, this information appeared around 2001-2002 according to s2ki.com and other Honda related forums. Honda is the only company that specifics about don't change out FF until the first scheduled maintenance interval, just follow their engineers recommendation.
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Actually, this information appeared around 2001-2002 according to s2ki.com and other Honda related forums. ...
I'm sure it was out there previously, particularly amongst the Honda faithful. The linked Honda pub is dated 2006, and that's roughly, IIRC, when it appeared here on BITOG for the first time. Your point is a good one, though. Darned near a decade of Honda telling customers specifically why to retain the factory fill oil, and sensibly so, and yet, for some reason, many buyers do not get the word.
Actually, this information appeared around 2001-2002 according to s2ki.com and other Honda related forums. ...
I'm sure it was out there previously, particularly amongst the Honda faithful. The linked Honda pub is dated 2006, and that's roughly, IIRC, when it appeared here on BITOG for the first time. Your point is a good one, though. Darned near a decade of Honda telling customers specifically why to retain the factory fill oil, and sensibly so, and yet, for some reason, many buyers do not get the word.
OK then, one question. Why don't they put that information/recommendation in the owners manual where I can read it in black and white?
That way I don't have to take the service writer/manager's word for it. And, them not being able to explain why.
That way I don't have to take the service writer/manager's word for it. And, them not being able to explain why.
I'm a new guy here, so I'll just say that I own a 09 Honda Accord 2.4 and I'm leaving the FF until it tells me to change it. So far, I have 50% oil life with 4500 miles on the car.
Found on Honda's Owner Link website:
"Why should I wait to change the oil the first time?
Your Honda engine was delivered with an oil that is specially formulated for new engines that have not yet developed their "natural" wear patterns and may contain minute particles from the manufacturing process.
American Honda strongly recommends this special oil be left in the engine long enough for these wear patterns to develop, usually until the first maintenance interval specified in your Owner's Manual, based on your specific driving conditions."
I guess it's really up to you to follow their guidelines.
Found on Honda's Owner Link website:
"Why should I wait to change the oil the first time?
Your Honda engine was delivered with an oil that is specially formulated for new engines that have not yet developed their "natural" wear patterns and may contain minute particles from the manufacturing process.
American Honda strongly recommends this special oil be left in the engine long enough for these wear patterns to develop, usually until the first maintenance interval specified in your Owner's Manual, based on your specific driving conditions."
I guess it's really up to you to follow their guidelines.
Originally Posted By: bigmike
I'm a new guy here, so I'll just say that I own a 09 Honda Accord 2.4 and I'm leaving the FF until it tells me to change it. So far, I have 50% oil life with 4500 miles on the car.
Found on Honda's Owner Link website:
"Why should I wait to change the oil the first time?
Your Honda engine was delivered with an oil that is specially formulated for new engines that have not yet developed their "natural" wear patterns and may contain minute particles from the manufacturing process.
American Honda strongly recommends this special oil be left in the engine long enough for these wear patterns to develop, usually until the first maintenance interval specified in your Owner's Manual, based on your specific driving conditions."
I guess it's really up to you to follow their guidelines.
Ding, ding, ding!!!
Mike, thanks for quoting that language from Honda itself. Anything really awful is going to end up in the filter anyway. I'd love to see a dissection of an OEM Honda filter, but I suspect it would be relatively clean. Stay the course, no reason not to.
By the way,
I'm a new guy here, so I'll just say that I own a 09 Honda Accord 2.4 and I'm leaving the FF until it tells me to change it. So far, I have 50% oil life with 4500 miles on the car.
Found on Honda's Owner Link website:
"Why should I wait to change the oil the first time?
Your Honda engine was delivered with an oil that is specially formulated for new engines that have not yet developed their "natural" wear patterns and may contain minute particles from the manufacturing process.
American Honda strongly recommends this special oil be left in the engine long enough for these wear patterns to develop, usually until the first maintenance interval specified in your Owner's Manual, based on your specific driving conditions."
I guess it's really up to you to follow their guidelines.
Ding, ding, ding!!!
Mike, thanks for quoting that language from Honda itself. Anything really awful is going to end up in the filter anyway. I'd love to see a dissection of an OEM Honda filter, but I suspect it would be relatively clean. Stay the course, no reason not to.
By the way,
If Moly is what makes Honda break in oil so important, couldn't it be drained and filled with RP or Redline, and still work well?
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