I got my TSX on saturday with 16 miles on it from the dealer. Since saturday I've put roughly 486 miles on it just zipping around with the car. Yesterday I noticed my oil percentage has dropped down from 100% to 90%. Im assuming this drop in oil occurred because of the highway driving and lots of it in the past 3 days. My question though is how is this thing suppose to not go until 10,000 miles miles for its first oil change when I dropped 10% already at 486 miles. Realistically it shouldnt have dropped to 90% until 1000 miles. Also Im assuming oil will have to be added before I hit 10000 miles but the actual change with a new filter doesnt have to occur until 10000. One last thing, do the majority of you wait until 10000 miles or should I do the 3000 or 5000 to keep it on the safe side. Thanks

 

I'm guessing the oil life monitor, monitors more than just mileage. Which would explain why it dropped 10% in less than 500 miles. But I could be wrong.

 

Anyone think I should be concerned about this and maybe consult the dealer about it.

 

'06 model doesn't have a 10K mile service interval. You're supposed to follow what the "Maintenance Minder" recommends.

 

I am not sure where the "go until 10,000 miles " expectation comes from. AFAIK the '04/'05 TSX had a recommended interval of 5K/10K but that depended on driving conditions. Also, if I understand correctly, the "90%" actually means anywhere from 85% to 94%. So overall, I don't think you have anything to worry about - you seem to be right on schedule for the normal first oil change at around 5K+ miles.

If you look at other threads most '06 owners have had to change their oil around 5K. My TSX came up with the "A1" reminder at about 5600 miles with 15% remaining (giving an oil life of about 6600 miles). That is almost exclusively freeway driving. I had it changed the next day to Mobil 1 and replaced the filter (which theoretically the "A" service doesn't include, but even my service advisor thought that was "nuts").

 

Yup, it's not just mileage that affects the interval. If you do a search, there are a number of threads on how people think it's calculated. Mine came up at 5% at about 4990 miles, so it varies by the individual. My next change was right around 10k.

 

I think that the average oil change for an '06 will be around 10k (depending on your driving style/environment) AFTER the first change. There is a thread on here somewhere that says that the oil in the car (when it's new) is a different kind of oil to aid the break-in process, therefore should be changed at 5k. The dealer, if you choose to take it there, will put in "regular" oil. After that, there are people who have gotten at least close to the 10k number.
It was a fairly new thread so a search should turn up something quickly.

I am at a little over 4k and have I think 20% oil life, but will go and have it changed at 5k anyway.

 

10k is a little much to expect. On my 2006, I did my first chage at just shy of 6k miles. I'm now at 10k and have 40% life left according to the mm.

 

see bold above.

I may be wrong, but it sounds like he thinks that this is the oil "level", otherwise he wouldn't be asking about having to add oil.

The oil life indicator indicates the estimated life of the oil...90% means 90% oil life left, not the oil level. And it's not going to be linear (ie it's not going to be X miles = Y%...it's more like X miles under Y conditions = Z %), especially on a new engine, and is also dependent on your driving style over the life of each oil change...if you baby it and drive in normal conditions for 1000mi, then drive the shit out of it for 100 miles, you may well use up more oil "life" in 100 miles than over 1000 miles (extreme example, but you should get the idea).

 

I know where you're coming from...guess I should have read the manual

 

I did my first service at 5000 miles; I used the MID thing as my guide. When I brought it in I think I still had 10% oil life left, but if I remember correctly at 15% maybe 10% it keeps a warning up on the MID screen. I now have about 7500 miles on my car and the oil life is at 50% so I am banking on getting the oil changed again at 10,000 miles.

Later

 

if you search the board, you'll see most people got an indicator to change around 5,000 miles, so you're right on pace. also, make sure you check oil at every fill up and top it off, some of our cars have consumed quite a bit of oil in the first interval, but don't sweat it, it's not a bad thing.

 

I have an '06 MT - I've been trying to hold out until the 5k interval, however, I hit my 0% oil at 4350 miles. As of today I am about 35 miles "past due" and will bring it in for that first service with less than 4500 miles.

I do primarily "city driving" during the week (15-20 minute commute each way - expressway plus city streets) and some longer "freeway" trips on the weekend. I've been averaging about 320 miles per week. I don't push the car that much, have only flirted with the redline and tend to drive "normally" with occasional flashes of "spirited" driving. My average MPG for all miles - 23.8

I'm wondering if there are other '06 owners who had the maintenance minder recommend their first service at less than 5k?

 

I attended a "new owner clinic" at the dealership last evening and specifically asked about oil changes as I do not put on very many miles (+/- 3,000 for business use only) in the first few years of owning a new vehicle. The service manager made the following points, which after digesting his comments raised some more questions.

1. Change the oil every 6,000 kms or 6 months.
My question is whether the Maintenance Minder will actually function with such low mileage, or should I just use a time based interval?

2. Acura do not use break-in oil, just regular 5W-30 motor oil from the factory.
The Honda dealership would not change the "break-in" oil in my '99 CRV for a year, and only after I insisted. Can anyone confirm this information for the TSX and will it be okay to just top up with regular 5W-30?

3. Slightly off topic, but he also mentioned that only the TL does not get a filter change at the first oil change, per Honda Canada instructions as they are paying for the first two services and if you want a new filter it is an extra charge. Does anyone have experience with this item and a possible reason why they do this?