catnippants

Well today my oil life percentage dropped below 20% and I got the maintenance minder warning for my second service. Not bad for 11 months and 12K miles of ownership! I was surprised though - I got a B16. The 6 apparently means that the fluid in my rear differential should be changed. Is this normal? What have others been seeing for their second service requirements? I didn't expect that one...

I'll report the costs back after my appointment on Wed...
Mike

sasair

I think the rear diff fluid is a mileage based trigger, so it is going to come up anytime close to 15k. I think my 2nd service was around 11k and I didn't get the 6, but my 3rd service, which I just hit 15% on is giving me the 6 and I have about 16500miles.

Madison3

Catnipppants, my maintenance minder triggered only a B1 , no 6 involved, for my second check. This was after 11,000 miles and just under 9 months.

I think I'll be hit with the 6 check for my third, expected to be at 16,500 miles this coming October, maybe?

catnippants

There's a note in the manual about needing to change it more often if you drive in mountainous areas. Could be that it knows that VT is pretty hilly.... who knows. I will be curious to see how much they want for it given that the change process doesn't seem to be documented in the manual. I'm assuming that this means that Acura wants the dealer to do it. I'm going to be pissed if it's expensive and I'm forced to go to my dealer for maintenance every 12K miles....

Mike

sasair

I'd expect to pay about $150-180 for the complete servicing from an Acura dealer.

XLR8R

Piazza Acura of Reading, PA lists a price of $90.95 for Rear Diff (6) service. along with $99.95 for the B service and $34.95 for the 1 service

catnippants

That's more in line with what I'm expecting....~$250. I just can't seem to get any work beyond an oil change done for less than $200.

Mike

XLR8R

I know what you mean. I started doing my own services years ago (after a dealer left the cap off the brake res and over-filled the power steering on a $600 visit). I've saved thousands of dollars, and the lost time waiting around.

Most of a B service is inspectiion anyway; looking for leaks and damage. I just did my B1 for $42; the cost of Mobil 1 and the filter.

The actual cost of ATF for the SH rear diff is about $20. If you have the inclination and a place to jack the car, DIY is the way to go.

The great thing is -- Hondas are designed for simple, easy, routine maintenance with basic tools -- it's my favorite car to work on.

catnippants

Well I just got back from the dealer....$228. Oh well. My wallet is empty but I guess at least my hands are clean.

Mike

XLR8R

Wow, $228. Then $225.85 from Piazza means there's little difference, at least in these two dealers.

p.s. I wear those wimp-ass yellow dish-washing gloves

catnippants

p.s. I'm lazy. I'd rather pay somebody else to do it.

oh...and I have a real problem around here getting rid of used oil.

Mike

sasair

I just got my 3rd service done at the dealer at 17,400 miles. It was giving me code A16 and it cost me $210.

Tripp11

Hell, it seems just like yesterday when me and my pops were changing the oil in his old Chevy pick-up, and we would then dump the oil along the fence lining the field behind our property - the farmer said it would help him keep down the weeds and such growing along that stretch of the fence.

Boy, how times have changed...

mav238

yes, indeed... but are you going to keep dumping the used oil there??? eventually, it will get saturated and affect the area around it, or birds or other animals get toxicated by it.

Tripp11

No, this was when I was a young pup with my father....probably 30 years ago or so when I was helping him change the oil in our cars.

Times have changed, for sure.