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Honda Fit Maintenance - READ ONLY

263 messages,  Last post on Nov 10, 2010 at 6:32 AM

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What is this discussion about? Honda Fit, Brakes, Electrical, Engine, Oil, Suspension, Transmission, Hatchback

Messages Page 1 of 27

#1 of 263 Honda Fit Maintenance (Oil, fluids, checks, etc.) by Sylvia

Apr 29, 2006 (7:28 pm)

Keep your Fit maintained...

#2 of 263 fit breaking-in by vchiu

Jan 22, 2006 (7:35 am)

I have a question regarding the breaking in of my fit. 1.5 CVT (Bought in China, as described previously)
 
I have clocked up about 850 km (530 miles) going at 50 mph max. My dealer told me to go max 50 mph for 1200 miles and max 62 mph up to 3100 miles (5000 Km)
The user's manual writes not to go at full throttle during the first 620 miles, and nothing more.
 
Has someone an advice? I am tempted to just comply with the U/M. Can I drive normally after the 620 first miles without ruining the powertrain?
 
The recommanded service intervals are set at 5000 km = 3100 miles. In Europe, a modern car has generally 3 times bigger intervals, some times 4, 5 or 6 times bigger. Has any one an idea why?
 
Is it possible to download an English version of the Fit User's manual? As the engine is supposedly the same...
 
Guarantee is 2 years/60000 km here.

#3 of 263 Re: fit breaking-in [vchiu] by micweb

Jan 24, 2006 (4:16 pm)

Replying to: vchiu (Jan 22, 2006 7:35 am)
First, manufacturers and dealers and user groups all have different theories on break-in. You can trust the recommendation in the Honda manual most of all. Generally, nowadays most people with theories about break-in aren't worried about freeway speeds - up to about 80 mph anyway - as they are about how hard you are accelerating, whether on city streets or on the freeway. In other words, avoid full throttle, double the factory recommended mileage to be conservative if you want to, but don't worry about speed. This assumes you are not loading the vehicle with five adults and heavy luggage.
 
The concern about top speeds could relate to older manufacturing techniques that had less precise tolerances and relied more heavily on "break in" by the driver. Honda and most other international manufacturers have gone way beyond this level of concern.
 
As to oil changes, several factors are probably at work:
 
1. Quality of oils used in Europe - almost always full synthetic. It is unlikely that dealers in other parts of the world use full synthetic routinely, certainly not here in America. While in America, Honda recommends 10,000 mile oil changes EXCEPT for short drives, dusty drives, etc., they know the "car culture" here is such that most people will do 3,000 mile oil changes anyway, possibly 5,000 mile oil changes if they feel brave.
 
2. Driving conditions - amount of short trips, traffic congestion, time idling, rapid acceleration, lack of freeway miles. I have been to Shanghai, and suspect your driving conditions are fairly harsh relative to the USA.
 
3. Desire to protect the environment by using less motor oil (Europe) hence longer drain intervals. Desire to protect the car (China) where a car represents a higher proportion of net wealth.
 
4. Desire to make more money (for dealer), but also to provide more safety and better service (do a lot of routine checks, like fluid levels and tire pressures, that many owners might skip, and also keep the eye on the car in a new and critical market; spot problems early, better customer satisfaction).
 
5. Desire to make car look like it is better made (manufacturer) because it has longer oil change intervals.
 
Personally, given your driving environment, I'd recommend going with the factory recommended oil change and service intervals. I think the reality is, if you read the fine print on US manuals, many services have to be performed on a "time basis" if the annual mileage is low, and the odds are your annual mileage will be low.

#4 of 263 Re: fit breaking-in [micweb] by vchiu

Jan 30, 2006 (2:36 am)

Replying to: micweb (Jan 24, 2006 4:16 pm)
Thank you for your advices
 
Fit Update
 
I am back from a round trip to Hainan , with about 2000 km more on the clock.
We left last thursday night with 4 adults and 2 small kids and all the luggage and we managed to cram everything quite well in the FIT. As it wqs the Chinese new year, the motorway was crowded with cars and I averaged about 60 mph with 7 Liter/100 km (30 mpg I guess) with an uneven speed (from 50 to 75 mph)
 
The car handled quite well, the CVT matching the 1.5 quite well. We even did about 100 miles on unpaved roads as such are frequent in less developed areas of China.
 
On the return stretch, traffic allowed for a cruise at 90 mph. Although the mpg is pretty reasonable at 80, it was down to 20 mpg at 90, that is the consumption of my 740i when doing 100 mph. When going this pace, the engine feels a bit strained, whereas it maintains 80 mh quite easily (car was full like an egg).
 
Overall, this car has some touring abilities and can keep-up with a good pace quite well. up to 85 mph, engine/CVT make a smooth couple.
 
The board computer which was too optimistic, became pessimistic, estimating mpg 10% more than real.
 
in any case a very fair delivery for such a small package.
 
Same Engine with a Turbo would be a dream.

#5 of 263 Re: fit breaking-in [vchiu] by micweb

Jan 30, 2006 (11:18 am)

Replying to: vchiu (Jan 30, 2006 2:36 am)
That's great! But please check your tire pressure monthly (underinflation being the #1 cause of tire failure), and keep good oil in your car (I can see why the manual recommends 3,000 mile oil changes) you are really putting the Fit to a work out - over here you won't see 4 adults in a Ford Expedition, much less 4 adults, 2 kids, and luggage in a subcompact - doing 90! It's mostly single people and couples over here....

#6 of 263 Re: fit breaking-in [micweb] by vchiu

Jan 30, 2006 (6:19 pm)

Replying to: micweb (Jan 30, 2006 11:18 am)
Right.
 
I have 175X14 tires which handle well enough by the way
 
Well actually, as I am European, I went at European pace, because the road conditions allowed, but generally it is more 70 sometimes 60.
 
I did not push the Fit above 100 MpH. 80 is fine anyway, so the FIT should FIT well on US roads.
 
Thre are a lot of minivans here much shorter than the FIT where one cram 6 guests on 3 rows.

#7 of 263 Oil Filters by coldstorage5

Apr 22, 2006 (12:04 pm)

Does any know where Ican buy Honda Fit oil filters.
I also noticed on the oil cap to use 10w20 oil.
Why is that??
Thanx
Silver Sport Owner

#8 of 263 Re: Oil Filters [coldstorage5] by dewaltdakota

Apr 22, 2006 (12:32 pm)

Replying to: coldstorage5 (Apr 22, 2006 12:04 pm)
The reply for almost all things Fit seems to be College Hills Honda!
 
The oil filters are $5.35 each, and include the washer. Those wiper blades are pretty funky too, so you might want to toss a couple of those into your shopping basket, as well.

#9 of 263 Oil by coldstorage5

Apr 22, 2006 (8:27 pm)

Hello,
Why does the Fit use 5w20 oil??
Will 5W30 work??
What type would you recomend??
I always use mobil 1 synthetic
Is this amsoil good??
Never heard of it.
Thanx

#10 of 263 Im picking up my Fit at 4:00 est by coldstorage5

Apr 24, 2006 (11:55 am)

Cant wait, Im so fired up.
$100 off Msrp. I bought the mats and the cargo cover at an online store. I also bought 5 oil filters.
Any suggestion on breaking the car in.
I wont go over 60 mph and plan to change the oil at 1K.
 
Silver Sport here i come.

Messages Page 1 of 27

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