[EURO] 1st service, no oil change?

[^__^ SM ^__^]

Hi everyone. I had my 1st service today and the dealer didn't do an oil change. He said that Honda has new oils that will last until 10,000km. That is contradicting the service log book which says the 1000km service should have an oil change.

Is he telling truth? Thanks everyone.

[destrukshn]

no.
they change the oil, oil filter, and sump plug washer at 1oook's for the first service.

[EuroDude]

The first is the most important, because bits of metal and stuff wear off the new engine's pistons etc.. and can cause excess wear to the engine if kept in for too long.

In fact, I think Honda can void the warranty if you dont do the first service oil change.

I would bring it back and demand them to change the oil... and find a new dealer while I'm at it.

[^__^ SM ^__^]

Also, I was under impression that it's a 1000km service. I only found out after reading log book that it's 1000km or 1month, whichever comes first.

The car now is almost 2 month with 1100km on clock when i serviced it. Did i damage the engine by leaving it for 2 months? Thanks.

Also, can you please recommend me a good service dealer in Melbourne? Thanks.

[Shaggin Wagon]

not sure on honda, but toyota, mitsubishi, nissan, suzuki do not change oil on first services.
make sure ur looking at the correct motor for ur vehicle as most service books cover that vehicle with different motors fitted for overseas models.
if the book says ur meant to have an oil change however, take it bak and tell them too change it.

[corn_flakes]

i reckon it's all bullsh!t...

i should have marked my oil filter with a marker and see if they changed it at all...

and usually when normal ppl change the oil, they wipe the area around the mouth of the oil cap....mine was still dirty and dusty...

i'm not 100% sure, but to me it seems like they just top up your windshield water, and do a shit job of washing ur car...

[KUCING]

i always serviced my car at Garry Warren Smith Honda...they got a courtesy car transport which you can use to go to Chandstone rather than waiting in the dealer. I even went to Monash Caulfield once.

[aaronng]

It should be changed at 1000km. My dealer even insisted that the oil filter be changed to remove the metal particles that could have been generated by the new engine. Go back to the dealer, show him the service book (it should say in there that if you fail to carry out the 1st month service, it may void the warranty) and ask that it be changed free of charge, with free labour and parts because he told you otherwise.

After that, you do all your servicing at another better dealer.

[^__^ SM ^__^]

I rang Honda Aust hotline today and they gave me a statement: "All new Honda Euro built after Feb 06 are built in such a way that they dont' need oil change on 1st service". That's what the lady on the phone told me.

Oh well... I'm still nervous about all the bits of metal in the oil from running it in. sigh...

[EuroDude]

Yeah but the 06 Euro's engine is the same as the 03-05 one so I doubt thats applicable, unless all the Euro's engines are already built that way.

Still, its better to do the 1000km oil change for peace of mind.

[^__^ SM ^__^]

Who can I get to do the oil change. My dealer refuses to and Honda confirms it. What do you recommend I do? >.<

[Tobster]

The first 1000 km service doesn't include changing the oil filter -- look in the service book and you'll see it's not included. I paid extra and specifically requested a new filter be put on. Whether it's really necessary or not is debatable.

Machining and oils are much better these days so you're far less likely to have problems.

If Honda says it's unnecessary, then I wouldn't strees about it too much. Honda are hardly likely to recommend anything that is going to cause them problems that they'll have to pay for down the track.

[EuroDude]

You need to buy some Honda FEO oil from a dealer's spare parts store, then take it to a petrol station (one with a workshop), or call lube-mobile and ask them to come to you and change the oil. Be sure that they use the Honda oil though.


Or you could do it yourself...Its quite easy once you know how.

Jack the front of the car up and support it with two car stands (you can buy stands at AutoOne for like ~$20)
Remove the plastic oil drain cover (Its a 10mm or 12mm bolt I think)
Put rubber gloves on and place a plastic 5L catch container under the oil drain plug.
Undo the oil cap ontop of the engine, and remove the oil drain plug underneath (its a 19mm bolt I think).
Drain the oil out for 10 minutes. Put the 19mm bolt back in and put the plastic cover back, lower the car.
Fill the engine with 4L of Honda oil, check the dipstick and topup with oil until the level reaches max.
Put the oil cap back on and run the engine for 5 minutes, then turn it off and check the oil level again, top up if needed.
(There shouldnt be a need to replace the oil drain washer since the car is new.)

[hotout]

You need to buy some Honda FEO oil from a dealer's spare parts store, then take it to a petrol station (one with a workshop), or call lube-mobile and ask them to come to you and change the oil. Be sure that they use the Honda oil though.


Or you could do it yourself...Its quite easy once you know how.

Jack the front of the car up and support it with two car stands (you can buy stands at AutoOne for like ~$20)
Remove the plastic oil drain cover (Its a 10mm or 12mm bolt I think)
Put rubber gloves on and place a plastic 5L catch container under the oil drain plug.
Undo the oil cap ontop of the engine, and remove the oil drain plug underneath (its a 19mm bolt I think).
Drain the oil out for 10 minutes. Put the 19mm bolt back in and put the plastic cover back, lower the car.
Fill the engine with 4L of Honda oil, check the dipstick and topup with oil until the level reaches max.
Put the oil cap back on and run the engine for 5 minutes, then turn it off and check the oil level again, top up if needed.
(There shouldnt be a need to replace the oil drain washer since the car is new.)

nice instructions, you may want to change the filter too..

[CIGXM]

i should have marked my oil filter with a marker and see if they changed it at all...


I do that, but don't just put a texta mark on it - a dodgy mechanic will just wipe it off. I lightly scratch the odometer reading into the filter with a blade.

Have seen one Honda Integra that was bought used at 70,000kms, fully serviced by the same dealer and it blew its seals because the oil had probably never been changed despite a full book of dealer stamps saying it was serviced.

Thankfully, that dealer is no longer a Honda dealer.

[EuroDude]

nice instructions, you may want to change the filter too..

Not needed since the filter is only 1000km old :thumbsup:

[Tobster]

Not needed since the filter is only 1000km old :thumbsup:
It's after that first 1000 km of running in that you're most likely to have your filter full of metal particles.

It's not generally considered necessary anymore, but some people still like to change it (I did).

[SecaBoy]

correct me if i am wrong, but arent most new engines 'run-in' already by the time you get them... and therefore, there shouldn't be any metal particles in the oil...

as i said, i could be wrong, its just what ive heard through the grapevine... :)

[avid]

Oil change at 1000ks is in my 05 euro service book,no oil filter change,but i insisted it be changed anyway.Good idea to do it every oil change.Make sure you use a genuine oil filter too.No,not because they are any better than a Ryco,because if you have any engine problems related to lubrication while under warranty and the dealership/manufacturer notices you use non genuine oil filters they can knock you back on warranty.
I know......i've done it!!

[^__^ SM ^__^]

I'm having no luck with the "official" ways so i'm going to take it to local Shell and see if they can help out. Hope it doesn't cost too much.. :)

Thanks everyone for helping me out. ^__^ This community is great!!

[tanalasta]

Mine was changed at the 1000km service along with the oil filter and was the only thing I paid for. $40 for Motul 4100 semi-synth and $12 for the washer+filter.

Will be putting Motul 8100 in it at the 10000km service.

Always check your oil + level after an oil change.

[^__^ SM ^__^]

Got oil change today with Honda FEO. Costed me $150 all up.

Once again, thanks everyone for input. :)

[EuroDude]

$150 :eek: Was that at a honda dealer?

[aaronng]

I'm so glad that I learnt to change my own engine oil.

[^__^ SM ^__^]

Yup. At Courtney & Patterson I may add. Want the official stuff to protect warrantee.

[EuroDude]

Fair enuf. I usually buy the honda oil from a dealer and change it myself - costs me $30 all up :)

[tanalasta]

There is absolutely NO justification for a dealer to refuse to do what an owner tells them to do at a service.

Even if it's the first service and that means it's labour free.

$150 for a 1000km service for $40 FEO oil means you're being ripped off. $150 for a 10000km service ... that's kind of tolerable :P

I would strongly recommend you not to go to the same dealer again for servicing, even if they are the dealer you purchased from. If they're trying to profit outrageously from you at the very beginning, they will continue to do so and I wouldn't trust them to service my car. As it means they could be likely compromising their service standards. There are reputable Honda dealers out there and as long as they use Honda genuine parts, your car is still under warranty + you still get a stamp in your logbook.

I suppose my Honda Euro Sport was technically built in Jan 06. Check your logbook - if it says oil change, they must do it as it's there in writing. If they stamped that page without doing it, then that logbook isn't true anymore is it?

The only reason I can think of for not doing an oil change at 1000km is:
1. To save money
2. They may have changed the oil the car has come with to something that lasts longer.

I am still going to have my oil + filter changed at 1000km (done) and 5000km. Heck, my oil is already got a black tinge to it and it's only done 1500km since the last change!

[Shaggin Wagon]

lol, colour of oil means nothing, actually if ur oil is dark, it means ur using good quality oil, becoz its doing wot its meant to, to clean ur motor. manufacturers such as nissan, mitsubishi, toyota and vw all have first oil change set at 10000 or 15000 as specified by the manufacturer.
at the end of the day, read ur book, if it illiterate, ask a honda service department worker to read it with u to further understand wot needs to be done.

[aaronng]

Yup, oil colour doesn't mean it is breaking down. It means that the carbon formed from combustion is being removed by the oil. So it is a good thing.

And I agree, service at a different dealer.

[kyle]

I was wondering out the back of my local honda spare parts department trying to explain to the guy what part I needed, when up on the wall I saw a sign saying...

No oil or oil filter change on all 2006+ Civic, Euro, CRV or Jazz, I was a little shocked.

Also worth mentioning above one of the guys computer was another printout of a personal joke they must have between them saying...
"We give out amazing Articulate, detailed and specific information regarding the part you need via interperating your unintellagble, illierate and ignorant descriptions of the part"

I was like thats the complete oppisite of what I find with all Spare part personal. they give out stupid, incorrect and illeterate information regarding my extremely detailed and accurate discription of the part I need.

Me - I need 4 Injector O-Ring seals off a B16a2 engine from a 1996 EK4 Civic.

THem - errrrr, whats the vin number?, ummmmm is that 3 door?, ahhhh you said civic, are you sure its a 1996. That doesnt exist, ahhhhhh ummm hang on.......

</RANT>

[aaronx88]

SM,

Honestly, Courtney and Patterson do have great service and prices. I have been servicing my car there for both 10 and 20k service. Infact just booked in my 30k service for next month.

Can you clarify where did you do your first service? Also is $150 just for an oil change or Courtney and Patterson list some other stuff on the invoice.

Aaron

[ok2]

Well my 06 Euro had its oil changed at the 1,000 km service and was only charged for the oil. How do I know it was changed for certain ? Because we changed the oil and the filter at 6,000 ourselves. We removed the "plastic engine cover thing" just to see what was all about (nothing as far as we can tell) and found oil spilled down the front of the engine from their effort :thumbdwn:.

So ^__^ SM ^__^, it sounds like your dealer is someone to be avoided.

BTW the Honda recommended interval for the filter is 20,000 km :eek:. I think this is part of a plan to ensure the thing wears out, or at least feels worn out, sooner so people will buy their next new car sooner. All the makes are doing this sort of thing so Honda are no worse than anybody else.

Edit: Read the post again in more closely and noticed the part that said "... all honda vehicle produced after feb 06 has a special running in oil ..." and since mine was made before that it doesn't apply. Still don't like the idea of 10,000 and 20,000 km intervals on oil changes and oil filters respectively. If you do the extra ones yourself I regard it as cheap insurance.

[^__^ SM ^__^]

I rang up Honda again but they read to me quote:

"with introduction of new civic this year, all honda vehicle produced after feb 06 has a special running in oil that should not be changed until 10,000km"


that's what the lady on the phone told me. I even mentioned to her about the metal bits coming off from the new engine and she said that Honda added some new stuff to the oil to prevent any damage.

Now I'm paranoid about changing oil when I am meant NOT to. LOL!!

[aaronng]

The added "stuff" is molybdenum. The TSX has the same 6000-7000mile first service, and someone did an oil analysis and it had more molybdenum over the other oils.

[EuroDude]

lol dont worry about it.
Changing the running-in oil after 10,000km, should be the same as changing the normal oil at 1000km then 10,000km


... but you should really change the oil at 5000km to keep the cars performance and longevity optimal. Oils start to break down after 5000km, some fully synthetic oils can last 10,000km. Honda's oil is not full synthetic.

lol molybdenum
http://seven.com.au/catalogueFiles/sunrise/graphics/ph_mollymeldrum.jpg

[tanalasta]

Yes I know my oil colour doesn't mean much. But I know they changed the oil because the Motul 4100 I put in it is a different colour (slight orange tinge) to the slight greenish tinge stuff I had when it came from the factory!

Plenty of discussion about the special running-in oil on the TSX forums. I'll stick to my 5000km oil change until I start running a full-synth.

[aaronng]

Yes I know my oil colour doesn't mean much. But I know they changed the oil because the Motul 4100 I put in it is a different colour (slight orange tinge) to the slight greenish tinge stuff I had when it came from the factory!

Plenty of discussion about the special running-in oil on the TSX forums. I'll stick to my 5000km oil change until I start running a full-synth.
Greenish tinge? Mine was gold in colour... So there was a change!

[deeps]

I'm so glad that I learnt to change my own engine oil.

hmm, don't you need to have your log book stamped by a mechanic for warranty purposes?

I do the servicing on all my cars, but i can't on this one, because I'll lose my warranty (AFAIK)

[aaronng]

I still do the scheduled service at the dealer. But if I want to do any additional work or change oil in between intervals because of track days and such, I'll do it myself. I need the help of my friends for brake and clutch line bleeding though. I can also change tranny fluid now that I've been helped though it the first time.

[Adagio]

How did Honda confirm that your car does not need an oil change at 1000 was it via the dealer or did you get it from Honda? One of the things that impressed me about Honda was this oil change at 1000kms. After changing the oil at 5 hours on a number of stationary motors and noted the metal sparkling through the discharged oil I am all for this 1000km service even if I have to pay for it, which I didn't. My dealer, Southern Highlands Honda, made this a completely free service.
Adagio

[^__^ SM ^__^]

Adagio. It was from Honda Australia itself. I called the 1800 free-call number in the service book and the lady confirmed it.

[Adagio]

Adagio. It was from Honda Australia itself. I called the 1800 free-call number in the service book and the lady confirmed it.

Well, if I was intending to keep the car for a lengthy time I would still go and have the oil change at 1,000km. I know many manufactures do not do this but I think it is worthwhile. It seems Honda may have reviewed their policy in view of the high cost bof oil these days??
Adagio

[MiSloVic]

just done my 1000km service, and the car is... unfortunately.. less lively.. :(
the dealer used some semi-syn oil.. suspect it is some xW-50 oil.. ask if semi-syn is good enough for a vtec high-reving engine, they say 'ok' but i can always bring my own oil.

should have brought my own oil.

[aaronng]

Call your dealer's service department up and ask to find out what oil do they use. I did that and they told me "Castrol Magnatec 10w-40". I brought my own oil after that.

[Shaggin Wagon]

u cant expect all the oils and crap to be changed, if u say u want the engine oil change becoz it might have bits in it, u could say the same thing for the cooling system and trans mission oil/diff oils, u could even say u want ur injectors cleaned coz there might be metal bits in the fuel lines from production.
cleary its unreasonable to assume these sorts of things.
for everyone that still isnt sure that actually owns one of these cars, ring honda, not a service department, i mean honda australia, the customer relation department, ask them, they will tell u for sure,.

[aaronng]

u cant expect all the oils and crap to be changed, if u say u want the engine oil change becoz it might have bits in it, u could say the same thing for the cooling system and trans mission oil/diff oils, u could even say u want ur injectors cleaned coz there might be metal bits in the fuel lines from production.
cleary its unreasonable to assume these sorts of things.
for everyone that still isnt sure that actually owns one of these cars, ring honda, not a service department, i mean honda australia, the customer relation department, ask them, they will tell u for sure,.
It's written in the service manual for the 1000km service "Change Engine Oil". But the dealer did not do it for the threadstarter.

[turbo56k]

Just had 1000km service yesterday

Change oil Motul Turbo light 4100 10-40 & Filter

I was quite happy with the service (Trivett) however the counter guy was like "if you're using after market oil, your warranty might be void".

The guy from the desk said " it's alright if within recommended specs". What a relieve and I didn't have to say a thing.

One thing I learnt from yesterday, that is, even service guy sometimes dont know Sh$t about warranty.

I have yet to notice any difference in performance from the honda oil. Oh yeah, the left over (oil) was given back to me.

Oil Motul 4100, $40
Oil Filter, $ 20
Oil Disposal, $ 11
Euro in top condition, PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!

[coladuna]

$150 for just an oil change?
You got seriously ripped off there.
Even a minor service cost me $170 or something from a Honda dealer.
Surely, an oil change without any other inspections and checks would cost a lot less than that.

[EuroDude]

Yeah ive always wandered why it costs so much, especially when you can do it yourself in 15 minutes.

I guess the dealers have a minimum 1hour labour fee, at like $120/hour