I recently bought a 2007 Honda Ridgeline. I know the recommendations say to wait until the maintenance minder system tells you to change the oil (around 5000 miles). I have heard from some that there is a break-in additive the factory puts in the new engine, which is supposed to stay in there for that long, at least until the first oil change, as prompted by the car's maintenance minder system. However, I'm one of these old-school guys who is crazy about changing oil far more frequently than most. After asking several technicians, and Honda representatives, i decided it would be okay to change the oil after 500 miles, and go from there, with the next two changes after 1000 miles each, and after that, every 2000. But that's not the main reason for this post. When I bought the car, the dealer gave me a free-oil-change card, which I thought would be a waste not to use, even though I ALWAYS insist on doing any work possible myself, as I don't trust any mechanic to treat my car the way I would. So I took it to the dealer, and hung out with the technician while he raised my car, drained the oil, replaced the plug, and changed the filter. I had been asking him where various fill/drain plugs were (which he was incredibly uninformative, and, in fact, mistaken about in many cases). As I watched, he lowered the car, then walked around in front of me, got in, and started it. I immediately noticed that the oil-fill cap was off, and said, "Hey, you didn't put the oil in yet." He shut it off when he heard me. The point is that this DEALER TECHNICIAN ran the car for about 3-5 seconds without any oil in it. I am wondering if this caused any damage to the rings, bearings, or whatever. Everybody at the dealer (and most people everywhere else) says that short of a time running oilless at idle wouldn't cause any damage. I'm freaked out because this is the only car I've ever bought new, and had dreams of keeping it perfect and running for as long as possible. I'll bet if there is any damage, it won't show up until after the extended warranty I bought (8 years). I'm thinking that if this hadn't happened, the car wouldn't have had any problems for maybe 15 years, but that, since it has happened, maybe the car will have related problems after only 12 years.

What do you guys think?

bertwh@hotmail.com

 

I doubt it caused any damage at all. It happens. This is why I like to work by myself. When someone else is around me I get distracted and forget stuff.
If it had been 10 minutes I would be a little worried but that short of a time is no different than starting it up for the first time in a month.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Evil Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> It happens. This is why I like to work by myself. When someone else is around me I get distracted and forget stuff.
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spectator fee: $50

 

it didn't cause any damage. Most times when you start the car the oil pressure light will stay on for 1-3 seconds and guess what, that means it hasn't built up any pressure yet. So technically, every time you start your car, it's running on basically nothing for a few seconds or two. So considering you just drove it in, there's still oil and stuff on the bearings, plus it was only idling, hence no stress. It's fine, just don't go to that dealer again.

 

That's a bit extreme but yes that's the general idea.

 

I hope your service's were free that day and you didn't have to use your card.

I always hang out with the tech as he works on my R, but we are friends and I work there. I try not to bother him though I mainly handle the other tech's that come and look at my car while its there.

Its ok to ask questions adn watch but I wold stay out of the tech's way when they are working.

 

Nothing against the customers as they are the reason I get paid but i hate it when they are watching you like a hawk. It makes me nervous and i tend to forget things when im nervous. Most of the time they want me to do something extra..like check a noise out (if they are not in there warrenty) because they dont want to pay the Hour diag. Thats what sucks about some dealers today...They are employing these young kids as express techs with no experience or are just plan lazy.I have seen some of these guys at my work and they dont last long at all.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ITR640 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Its ok to ask questions adn watch </TD></TR></TABLE>


its funny that customers always say this, but techs always say the opposite.


hence the "spectator fee" signs that most techs admire.

 

Same thing happens to me. Except I tend to mess with them a little. If they try to hang around me I'll just walk away and not come back till they leave. I hate being in a fishbowl...

 

Your engine is fine.
We've had various cars DRIVE IN with busted oil pans.
"I was about 5 miles from here and the oil light came on so I drove it straight here."

New oil pan, oil. Good to go.

I personally dont like a customer in my work area either. Its distracting and dangerous. If you have something to say, tell the service advisor or dont say it at all.

 

Some guys at Honda Marysville ran a K20Z3 without oil and got about 900 hours out of it (or so i heard). We've had plenty of older cars come in with dry dipsticks. anyway, you're motor's fine. BTW customers watching you=annoying as fawk

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EJ6_ROY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Some guys at Honda Marysville ran a K20Z3 without oil and got about 900 hours out of it (or so i heard). We've had plenty of older cars come in with dry dipsticks. anyway, you're motor's fine. BTW customers watching you=annoying as fawk</TD></TR></TABLE>
900 hours?

If the ECU senses low oil pressure it won't allow the engine to rev over 2K RPM.. I have a hard time believing it went that long... Hope it was a typo...