Maintenance Intervals?

[ocinsomniac]

Hey, guys

Newb here, just picked up my EX-L last Friday, been reading the manual and I'm totally confused. Always change my own oil and some of the other PM, but can't seem to find any recommendations for maintenance intervals, only to refer to the "Maintenance Minder" feature. From what I've read here, Honda has extended these intervals.

Then to make things more confusing, my dealer gives me their Maintenance & Service Handbook with recommended services at different intervals e.g. 3,750 miles, 7,500 miles, 15,000 miles etc. Looks like glorified oil changes with "inspect this and check that" for prices upwards to a couple hundred $'s. Sorry, I'll do that myself, and switch to my own choice of synthetic oil & filter after a few K miles break in.

My questions to you experienced Civic DIYer's are -
- When to flush cooling system - do we have the long life coolant in the '08's?
- When to change the plugs - do we have the 100k iridiums or at least platinums?
- When to change the auto tranny fluid?

OC

[ryker]

Originally Posted by ocinsomniac

Hey, guys

Newb here, just picked up my EX-L last Friday, been reading the manual and I'm totally confused. Always change my own oil and some of the other PM, but can't seem to find any recommendations for maintenance intervals, only to refer to the "Maintenance Minder" feature. From what I've read here, Honda has extended these intervals.

Then to make things more confusing, my dealer gives me their Maintenance & Service Handbook with recommended services at different intervals e.g. 3,750 miles, 7,500 miles, 15,000 miles etc. Looks like glorified oil changes with "inspect this and check that" for prices upwards to a couple hundred $'s. Sorry, I'll do that myself, and switch to my own choice of synthetic oil & filter after a few K miles break in.

My questions to you experienced Civic DIYer's are -
- When to flush cooling system - do we have the long life coolant in the '08's?
- When to change the plugs - do we have the 100k iridiums or at least platinums?
- When to change the auto tranny fluid?

OC

Visit honda.com and sign up to the owners link. Lots of great info.
Owner Resources - the Official Honda Web Site

this video helps :
http://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/Mainten..._schedule.asp#


The stealership wants you to follow there miliage program becuase they need the MONEY, your money. Listen to what Honda America tells you.

Coolant gets replaced in the #5 minder.
Sparkplugs get replaced in the #4 minder.

http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/p...707MAINIXA.pdf
PDF file of the owners manual

Leave the break in oil in the car. Maintance minder will tell you when to change the auto tranny fluid (unknown at what milage this happens at I've asked before). I did swap my stock fluid out with Redline D4 very quickly.

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.

http://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/Mainten...s.asp#oilfirst

[NIGHTHAWKSI]

IBTL...all of this information can be found by searching. most of it is probably in a sticky.

[udumkid]

Originally Posted by ryker

Visit honda.com and sign up to the owners link. Lots of great info.
Owner Resources - the Official Honda Web Site

this video helps :
http://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/Mainten..._schedule.asp#


The stealership wants you to follow there miliage program becuase they need the MONEY, your money. Listen to what Honda America tells you.

Coolant gets replaced in the #5 minder.
Sparkplugs get replaced in the #4 minder.

http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/p...707MAINIXA.pdf
PDF file of the owners manual

Leave the break in oil in the car. Maintance minder will tell you when to change the auto tranny fluid (unknown at what milage this happens at I've asked before). I did swap my stock fluid out with Redline D4 very quickly.

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.

http://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/Mainten...s.asp#oilfirst

ALL depends on his driving conditions

[ocinsomniac]

Thanks, Ryker - good info!

OC