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Honda Civic Basic Maintenance Questions

204 messages,  Last post on Feb 05, 2013 at 4:01 PM

You are in the Honda Civic Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Civic, Brakes, Fuel System, Oil, Coupe, Sedan

Messages Page 16 of 21

#147 of 204 Re: cabin air filter [ldcoburn] by poobbubes

Oct 04, 2008 (10:19 am)

Replying to: ldcoburn (Oct 04, 2008 9:25 am)
There is a maintenance minder sub item (#2) for this. So, she shouldn't need this done unless "2" is displayed on the maintenance minder.
 
Here what the manual say about sub item 2:
 
Replace air cleaner element
If you drive in dusty conditions, replace
every 15,000 miles (24,000 km).
Replace dust and pollen filter
If you drive primarily in urban areas that have high
concentrations of soot in the air from industry and
from diesel-powered vehicles, replace every 15,000
miles (24,000 km).
Inspect drive belt

#148 of 204 Better Education by sandman46

Oct 06, 2008 (3:13 pm)

Better to educate your 16 year old to read the manual and just do the services called for at that mileage point. Or perhaps she should have called you when they tried to sell her these things. A shame that she bought these things prematurely but she could've just said "no".
 
The Sandman

#149 of 204 2009 Civic, first oil change by atlkep1

May 26, 2009 (9:41 am)

Is there really something "special" about the oil that comes in a new Civic? And what is it that is so "special" about it?
 
I don't think the first oil change is called for until 7500 miles.
 
I have always done much more agressive oil changes on new engines (500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000 and every 5000 miles after that), but have been warned off of this for a Honda.
 
I just don't understand what could be put into a motor oil that would be beneficial to a new engine, but then, I don't know a whole lot about motor oils.
 
Does anyone know what it is that might be different about the oil that comes in a new Civic?
 
  Keith

#150 of 204 Re: 2009 Civic, first oil change [atlkep1] by jet10000

May 26, 2009 (11:56 am)

Replying to: atlkep1 (May 26, 2009 9:41 am)
If you sign into the Honda Ownerlink site (ahm-ownerlink.com), in the maintenance FAQ it says:
 
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.

 
And no, the first oil change for a 2009 civic isn't 7,500 miles. It's whenever the maintenance minder indicates it. On my civic it's usually between 5 & 6,000 miles.

#151 of 204 Re: 2009 Civic, first oil change [jet10000] by atlkep1

May 27, 2009 (5:18 am)

Replying to: jet10000 (May 26, 2009 11:56 am)
But this doesn't really say anything to me.
 
Other than the ". . . . may contain minute particles from the manufacturing process.", which is why I do so many oil changes at the start of a new engine, to remove those particles so they don't become part of the "natural wear patterns".
 
I don't have this car yet, so I was using 7500 because that was the recommended oil change interval on my Odyssey.
 
I've never had a car with something that told me when to change the oil. I just do it every 5000 miles, which makes it easy for my wife ("If it ends in a 5 or a 0 I need to know because it's time to change the oil.")
 
Thanx for letting me know about the ownerlink site. I wasn't aware of that.
 
Keith

#152 of 204 Re: 2009 Civic, first oil change [atlkep1] by jet10000

May 27, 2009 (7:26 am)

Replying to: atlkep1 (May 27, 2009 5:18 am)
I've never had a car with something that told me when to change the oil. I just do it every 5000 miles, which makes it easy for my wife ("If it ends in a 5 or a 0 I need to know because it's time to change the oil.")
 
With the maintenance minder, when it's time to change the oil, it shows the code in the odometer display and you have to press a button to clear it out of that display until the minder is reset to 100% by the dealership or by yourself if you have the oil change done elsewhere.

#153 of 204 Re: 2008 Civic, 2nd oil change / service by iluvmycar

Jul 01, 2009 (12:06 pm)

Replying to: jet10000 (May 27, 2009 7:26 am)
I've got the maintenance minder sign activated with a code (B1) on the left. Just wanted to know ballpark how much we need to pay for this service. I bought my car from herb chambers and when i called them up they mentioned 140bucks. This sounds to be ridiculously high amount. Any idea how much it might cost?

#154 of 204 Re: 2008 Civic, 2nd oil change / service [iluvmycar] by jet10000

Jul 01, 2009 (1:36 pm)

Replying to: iluvmycar (Jul 01, 2009 12:06 pm)
I've got the maintenance minder sign activated with a code (B1) on the left. Just wanted to know ballpark how much we need to pay for this service.
 
The 1 is for a tire rotation. If you look over the list for B, the only thing that is not an inspection is the oil change.
 
When an oil change is done at my dealership, they do a fairly detailed list of inspections at no charge anyway and give me a checked off summary sheet of the conditions. So whenever I get a B 1, I just ask for a simple oil change and a tire rotation. Saves me some money over what they'd usually charge for a B1.

#155 of 204 Re: 98 Honda Civic by kmp7

Sep 16, 2009 (8:12 pm)

Replying to: pat (Sep 04, 2008 1:50 pm)
I am way out of my league.........
I have a 98 Honda wit 106. miles. It spends most of its time in airport parking lots.
I left it off at a Honda Dealer to get a new headlight and oil change and was contacted later with a list of things that needed to be done ASAP.
 
I would really appreciate any feedback on the need and estimates if they sound about right.
 
1.)
I do not know what "bushings" are but I guess they are important. I was told that the rear trailing arm bushings need to be replaced $668.77.
2.) Drain and replace brake fluid $133.09
3.) Drain and replace Power Steering Fluid $151.69
4.) Replace valve cover gasket and Spark Plugs $176.30
 
Just checking on the urgency as it looks like I would be making their weekly budget
in the service department!
 
Thanks for any help.
kmp7

#156 of 204 Re: 98 Honda Civic [kmp7] by civictory

Sep 17, 2009 (7:31 am)

Replying to: kmp7 (Sep 16, 2009 8:12 pm)
Just my perspective, as I am certainly not an expert...
 
1.) If the bushings really are bad, you need to get this done. I would get a second opinion before I spent any money, though.
 
2.) Probably not necessary (brake fluid)
 
3.) Probably not necessary (power steering fluid)
 
4.) Are you leaking oil? The gasket, I think, would correct that. Spark plugs might improve performace, but they are very easy to do yourself, if you're so inclined.
 
For the sake of comparison, I had a '97 Civic that I drove into the ground. I traded it in about a year-and-a-half ago with about 180,000 miles. I never did #2, #3, or the gasket; and I never needed the bushings replaced. Granted, that doesn't mean you shouldn't do the brake fluid or power steering; I'm just saying I never did. What ultimately killed my car was a very slow transmission fluid leak that I didn't know about until it was too late... So there is something to be said for routine maintenance, fluid flushes, etc.
 
Whatever the case, you're Civic is barely broken in and you should get many more miles out of it. Good luck!

Messages Page 16 of 21

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