Dodgy Honda service

edgar28 on 23/10/2014 - 14:05
Last edited 23/10/2014 - 15:32

I had a Honda Odyssey serviced.
Normally they recommended every 6 months service, but many expert/ mechanic mentioned if using a 0W-20 engine oil, you only require to service every 12 months or certain kms.

So I service my car 12 months after, the report stated they use 10W-30 or 10W-40 which the car need to be service every 6 months. I ask the service center and they said the manual is for Japan, Australia condition is fine for non premium 0W-20, and they said to maintain my 3 years warranty, I need to service it every 6 months regardless of premium oil or not.

Today I call up for a service schedule (6 months), and requested I use my own 5W-30 than their lousy engine oil. The service center said all odyssey is using 0W-20 why you want to downgrade the engine oil ?

I was like…… what the? meaning the use the wrong engine oil for my car 6 months ago?

Dodgy service provided by Honda…..

My friend demanded that I request for free oil change from the service center, but the labour cost will still be around 370+ compare to Autobahn around 200+

Any expert could advise me what to do next?

EDIT: change the W on the right position, has confused a few people.

Automotive

Comments

  • npc on 23/10/2014 - 14:39
    +3

    I can hardly understand what this story is about.

    Using not recommended/alternative oil doesn't change service interval (especially for warranty purposes) in 99.99% cases.

    The other thing that worries me is that you have 4 oils for very different temperature conditions in your topic and seem to think that bigger number is better.

    • edgar28 on 23/10/2014 - 15:16

      lower number is better in this case i.e. premium 0-20W than standard 10-40W.

      the dealer service report stated higher engine oil is used on earlier service

      example: using premium 5-30W on camry on low kms only requires 1 year service interval.
      while using 10-30W or 10-40W on camry requires 6 months interval, both are recommended engine oil

      • npc on 23/10/2014 - 15:29
        +2

        There is no correlation of viscosity and quality.

        Also read your service manual - there is no correlation between oil viscosity grade and service periodicy.

        BTW what does Premium Oil mean? 0W-20 is not a premium to 10W-40, it's just for different purpose.

        • edgar28 on 23/10/2014 - 15:31

          that's what the Honda dealer claimed that 0W-20 is premium more superior than 10W-40

          The thing now is the dealer says that I should not downgrade using other than their superior engine oil of 0W-20 and let them service my car…… which they used a 10W-40 before. As i intend to use 5W-30 with other licensed mechanic.

        • surm on 23/10/2014 - 15:48
          +2

          Viscosity rating of the oil has to match the manufacturer's specification.

          Old engines had higher clearances between moving parts, so a thicker engine oil was required to provide lubrication.

          Newer engines have small clearances between moving parts, so a thinner engine oils are required. Too thin and it won't stay in the clearances, so won't provide enough lubrication. Too thick and it won't get into the clearances, so won't provide enough lubrication.

          More detailed info:
          http://www.upmpg.com/tech_articles/motoroil_viscosity/

        • edgar28 on 23/10/2014 - 15:53

          @surm:

          I checked on the Castrol oil recommendation, 5W-30 is fine for Odyssey.
          and since the dealer used 10W-40 before, I would think 5W-30 is acceptable

          the manual highly recommends 0W-20 which only available from Honda dealer, now they mention it so I have to service my car there forever. Just doesn't make sense that if that is the case, why the dealer used 10W-40 on my car before?

        • surm on 23/10/2014 - 15:58

          @edgar28:

          ..the manual highly recommends 0W-20 which only available from Honda dealer..

          It is available at Auto stores.
          Eg.

          http://www.penriteoil.com.au/products-categ.php?id_categ=1&i…

          Check Supercheap, Repco, Autobhan, Autopro catalogs

        • edgar28 on 23/10/2014 - 16:00

          @surm:

          Thanks, never knew they had it. I never see one from Castrol before.

        • shadowarrior on 24/10/2014 - 12:48

          @edgar28: But I would not advice you to go for 0w-20.
          I don't even use it on my sports coupé. 5W30 Castrol Edge will be plenty for you. They often come on special for $29 bucks for the 5l jar.

        • edgar28 on 24/10/2014 - 12:58

          @shadowarrior:

          That's what I did after I knew they used a 10W-30/40 on my last service.

          but i didn't get the 29 bucks special….. jumped on the 2 for $70 on repco, but still better than they charging me 55 dollars for a 10W-30/40….

        • shadowarrior on 24/10/2014 - 13:24

          @edgar28:
          Also, if you change engine oil and oil filter by yourself before their service intervals, that does not void your manufacturer's warranty as long as you are using parts based on the manual.

          So for example if your manufacturer's log book says servicing is 1 year or 15,000km intervals (which ever is earlier), you can change oil and oil filter in 6 months by yourself and then after 6 months take it back to the authorized service centre for it's logbook service.

          You can also buy your own oil and take it to the service center and ask them to use it. They will throw excuses on why they should be using their own oil/parts. But if the part/oil used is mentioned 'suitable' for your car according to the user manual/technical workshop manual of your car, they have to use it and can't deny any of your rights.

  • thejew on 23/10/2014 - 15:09

    Are you admitting you get your car serviced at a dealership, instead of any licensed mechanic?

    • Moots on 23/10/2014 - 15:46
      -3

      Dealerships would obviously be licensed mechanics?

  • shadowarrior on 23/10/2014 - 16:00
    +1

    Those numbers are the oil grading… they don't define quality, they define the viscosity of the oil.
    What viscosity of oil to use depends on your engine's type, age of engine, environmental conditions and type of use of the vehicle.
    http://www.upmpg.com/tech_articles/motoroil_viscosity/

    Check your owner's manual of the car. The manufacturer will mention what grade oil to use (It will have a range of grades, each for a different temperature)

    5W-30 or 10W-30 would be a good grade for your car if its brand new considering you are in WA.

    • edgar28 on 23/10/2014 - 16:07

      cheers.

      • [Deactivated] on 23/10/2014 - 19:30
        +2

        Edgar, your post is a little confused, but I think that I can clarify things a little further for you.

        Oils that have the lower, first, viscosity rating (the 'W' stands for 'Winter'), are not easy to make in a stable form. Oils that can achieve those very low viscosity ratings for use in modern cars and bikes are all 'premium', fully synthetic oils, and contain 'premium' detergent ingredients designed to keep impurities that build-up in oil over time - in suspension - in the oil. They also hold their viscosity rating more stably as the oil ages, relative to semi-synthetic or older type, purely mineral-based, oils.

        Oils that have a somewhat higher, again, first, 'W' viscosity rating, can be either fully synthetic or just semi-synthetic. Hence - potentially - not quite as 'premium' and, hence - potentially - the basis for the differing (even if, practically, a bit dodgy) shift in the servicing-schedule stipulations that you've been quoted.

        It's a little hard to tell from your post, if, or not, your Honda dealer has been up to some mischief that is just designed to eke out more coin from you.

        Good news, and just to make it really clear: Oz ain't Japan. WA certainly isn't.
        Unless you move states to live in the snowfields, your Odyssey will gain precisely zero benefit from a sump full of oil with a '0' Winter rating.
        You will, however, gain from having a somewhat higher than '20', hot, viscosity rating - even moreso as your engine ages a bit.

        Well down the track - if you keep your Odyssey for a long time - when the engine is getting a bit sloppy and some more combustion by-products are finding their way into the oil, because they will hasten the degradation of even a fully synthetic oil, smart people will use a slightly cheaper oil (if their keen on saving), but change it a bit more often. That makes for the best outcome all around in an older vehicle.
        I do know that some people do get very attached to their beloved old Honda cars, and bikes.

  • nomoneynoproblems on 23/10/2014 - 21:38
    +1

    Ok after a couple of reads i think i know what OP is on about.

    • OP takes car to dealership for service
    • OP notices on invoice that a different oil is being used.(from 0W-20 to 10W-30/40)
    • OP asked dealership why the oil is different this time around, dealership says that this oil (10W-30/40) is for OZ and that 0W-20 is for Jap
    • Next service rolls around and OP request that 5W-30 be used this time.
    • Dealership says that 0W-20 is to be used, therefore the discrepancies in the dealerships advice and work done before.

    Am i right OP?

    • edgar28 on 24/10/2014 - 12:29

      thank you for sum it all up
      I was a bit "heated" when I posted it wondering they did the wrong thing to my car…..

      • shadowarrior on 24/10/2014 - 12:46

        If you were in Gold Coast, I could have taught you how to do basic servicing on a car, so you had more understanding when talking to mechanics.

        Till then, post here and we will be happy to help. :)

  • Euphemistic on 24/10/2014 - 08:34

    I the car is under a warranty, and you want to keep it that way it should be serviced at the correct interval.

    If it's one of those warranties that you purchase with a used car it's more like an insurance policy and if you don't follow the rules (6mth service) you won't keep your warranty, it is spelled out in the fine print, generally these warranties will not cover servicing by someone other than where you bought it either. No service at the right time/right place, then no cover, not that the cover is worth much in most cases anyway. Use the lo recommended by the person who services

    If it is your factory new car warranty there may be some flexibility, but I wouldn't be risking it for the sake of saving on a service. Keep the 6mth services and use the oils recommended by the manufacturer.

    If the car has no warranty, then just do what ever you like, it's your car, your oil if it blows up it's your problem anyway.

  • [Deactivated] on 25/10/2014 - 10:11

    $370 and $200+ for an oil change! Damn!
    I buy OEM Toyota oil (imported), OEM Oil filters and OEM Air filters for less than $80. Learn to do it yourself!

    Just don't trust many mechanics with my car. When I was real young Toyota fixed an intake air pipe with duct tape after one of my 'warranty services'…the tape sucked in my throttle body and my accelerator got jammed. Lucky I drive a manual, everyone thought I was some idiot red lining through the city though to get looks though!

    That day was the catalyst for learning to do it myself… starting with fitting a new intake pipe…she still runs beautifully!

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