Maintenance intervals with frequent towing...

[redstang50]

Hi,

So i've been doing quite a bit of towing this winter with my 2003. My trailer is about 1200 lbs loaded. Hilly terrain- elevation change of about 5000 ft over 100 miles. I run Mobil 1 synthetic Extended Performance (they guarantee 15k mile intervals). I'm just wondering if anyone has any opinions on how much I need to shorten this oil change interval. I'm leaning towards 10-12k miles or so? What about ATF change interval? I've probably done about 600 miles of towing so far this season.

[tuccillo]

Hi,

So i've been doing quite a bit of towing this winter with my 2003. My trailer is about 1200 lbs loaded. Hilly terrain- elevation change of about 5000 ft over 100 miles. I run Mobil 1 synthetic Extended Performance (they guarantee 15k mile intervals). I'm just wondering if anyone has any opinions on how much I need to shorten this oil change interval. I'm leaning towards 10-12k miles or so? What about ATF change interval? I've probably done about 600 miles of towing so far this season.

I would think that 10-12k miles is probably the limit under normal driving. With towing, I would be inclined to change it more often. The only truly objective way to tell is to send your oil out for analysis ( Blackstone Labs seems to be very popular). I would be inclined to a do a "drain and fill" on the ATF annually. It is pretty inexpensive (and easy) to do yourself. The same goes for the rear differential if you have AWD. With towing, you are most likely under the "severe use" catagory - you might want to check your owners manual to see if it provides any maintenance advice.

[Accord]

Yeah, better check the owners manual. I know for our Toyota truck, its 5000k for severe or towing. 10k for regular. So I wouldn't even try to hit 10k on the CRV even with that oil.

[redstang50]

Thanks for the input guys. I actually just started with this extended performance oil (i'm about 5k miles into it now). I'll really only be doing this kind of towing during winter, so maybe i'll do shorter intervals in the winter. I'll look into getting it analyzed, that might be worthwhile. Thanks for the reminder on the rear diff, last week i was towing up to the mountains and the last 40 miles or so was on a snowpack/ice, so the rear diff was probably working pretty hard. I'm looking at my chilton book now and it says rear diff fluid change every 90k miles (does not say a 'severe use' interval). I'll probably end up changing the motor oil this spring, probably be around 8-9k on it by then.

[tuccillo]

Thanks for the input guys. I actually just started with this extended performance oil (i'm about 5k miles into it now). I'll really only be doing this kind of towing during winter, so maybe i'll do shorter intervals in the winter. I'll look into getting it analyzed, that might be worthwhile. Thanks for the reminder on the rear diff, last week i was towing up to the mountains and the last 40 miles or so was on a snowpack/ice, so the rear diff was probably working pretty hard. I'm looking at my chilton book now and it says rear diff fluid change every 90k miles (does not say a 'severe use' interval). I'll probably end up changing the motor oil this spring, probably be around 8-9k on it by then.

I used to have a 2004 CR-V with AWD. Apparently a fair number of people have had issues with noise from the rear differential related to not changing the fluid often enough. It sounds like you have been OK but the conventional wisdom seems to be that it requires changing more often than Honda (and others) recommend. I typically did an drain and fill every year. It is another pretty easy DIY job - takes one quart of the dual-pump fluid from Honda.

[redstang50]

I actually just changed the rear diff fluid about 7 months ago when i first bought the car. If i remember correctly, it took a quart and a half or so? I know i had to buy 2 quarts(i still have a partial quart in my garage). Maybe the capacities changed after 2003. The annual drain and fill sounds like a good plan with this much use. for $20 (buying the oil from my dealer) its worth keeping my diff healthy.

[bobquincy]

I would (and do) change the engine oil at normal intervals and use synthetic oil. I would also change the transmission and diff fluid every year.