Hi,

I've 2011 Accord with 23000 miles in it. I am planning to go on a long trip tomorrow that'll cover 1800 miles. My oil life percentage shows 30%. I was wondering if it is safe to go on the trip or should I get it serviced before going?

Thanks in advance,
Manish

 

Eighteen-hundred miles should be well within the reach of your remaining oil life; check the oil before you go, fill to "Full" and cast off for your trip.

 

I'd probably service it. Better safe then sorry. A motor with that few miles everything may be still just breaking in fully. What kind of oil you useing?

 

How long has it been since you changed the oil? I'm a old school guy and don't really buy into those meters.

 

Yeah I'd rather not trust a computer to tell me my oil needs changed

 

OK, I'll do the counterpoint.

I've had used oil analyzed from my daughters' Civics, and (using Castrol GTX) it shows that I could let it go all the way down to 0%. (The maintenance lamp turns on at 15%.) In fact, when the monitor was 0% & 100 miles beyond, they said I could've left the oil in for awhile longer.

 

^ This!

 

Based upon what scientific evidence?

 

My daughters' Civics have gone different amounts because their driving habits are very different.

Daughter #1 usually gets about 5,000 intervals, and 30% of that is only 1500 miles. But that trip is (presumably) highway miles which account for less oil-life depletion.

Daughter #2 usually goes 6,000 to 7,000 miles per oil change, so 30% for her is almost 2,000 miles.

How long have your past oil change intervals gone?

 

The narrow answer is yes, it's perfectly safe.

That said, anytime you're at an oil decision point,
always change oil, 'cuz the cost is small vs. peace-of-mind.