Is the oil change computer an actual computer that decides the need for an oil change via a sensor or is it just a timing thing?

My RDX has 13000 miles on it (i bought it new) and i've already done 4 oil changes so my interval is around what 3250 miles.

I drive to work on the freeway 15 miles and come home. That's it. No towing, no drag racing, nada.


I prefer to do 5000 miles for the interval but the stupid light keeps coming up and its annoying. Is there a way to reset that number ourselves?

I'm in the dealer right now doing a B16 oil change + differential oil and i've owned enough cars to know that the rear diff interval should not be at 13000 miles. However, the dealer says that if I don't do it, they have to note it down on my account and it may affect warranty if i neglect service.

So I'm just paying it. Anybody ever try to reset the computer themselves?

 

You can reset the MID yourself. Instructions are in the Owner's Manual. However, I don't recommend it, as it keeps track of your maintenance schedule.

 

the first rear diff change is right around 13k, maybe 15k, thereafter you can do maybe 30k intervals, Acura does recommend every 15k for rear diff in the RDX.

The oil is every 3k.

 

oil every 3k? is this right? my mid indicates oil life 60% and im at 2500 miles so far... shld i expect oil life to be "non-linear"? eg. expect immediate drops from 60% to 15% for the next 1000 miles?

 

I apologize - my oil changes have been right around 3k all the time - the computer happens to coincide with this - i should have wrote that above. Could def be longer life for others.

 

On the bobtheoilguy.com some people sent their RDX oil to the lab, and it looks like computer is very conservative and oil was still in a very good shape when the computer said it should be changed.
But its good idea to follow it to keep your warranty, also DIY saves you a lot of money

 

ok thanks guys. my dealer said 5k was "normal" so i wasnt expecting 3k - caught me offguard a bit. in fact i had told them i wanted to change at 3k but they asked me to follow my mid. also research the old threads, saw some reaching 5-6.5k before mid lit up. i do drive 80-90% highway at 50-60mph most of the time and drive gently so that might be the key. {i did drive extremely aggressive once and my mid did immediately go down by 10% in terms of oil life - just a coincidence im sure LOL)

 

The computer does not measure the quality of the oil, however it does measure: starts, temperature, RPMs, engine load and other parameters. Then it calculates how long an HTO-06 oil should last.

Also, the MID starts nagging well before the change is actually due. It starts (I believe) at 15% remaining -- this could be close to another 1000 miles. I put up with it until it reaches zero and usually get about 6300 miles (rural driving).

For the rear diff, the computer only measures mileage, as the diff temp is monitered and you'll get a warning if it's too hot. The initial change is around 13k to 15k miles for metal particles, then it gets longer. Remember that the ATF-Z1 in the diff doesn't just splash around, it does work; cooling and lubing the clutches. I change mine every 25k, before the MID calls for it.

 

i also do my tranny @30k, altho the manual says 60k, i didnt like how the tranny was shifting around 30k, so i did a tranny service and it really improved.

 

Agreed.

I buy a case of ATF-Z1 and do 3 drain/refills every 40k miles. I base it on the color and odor (original vs slightly burnt) and the drop spread on a white paper towel test.

Fresh ATF helps keep the torque converter and tranny cooler clean too.