Which should i follow?

The FAQ: Maintenance says to do an oil change at 10k and next time 15k, but when i got my oil changed at the store the sticker says come back at 14k?

 

follow the FAQ. I never follow the store sticker.

 

the two dealers I take my tsx to for service have different idea on when the oil should be changed. The one goes by the old way-3750 miles and other says when it gets to at least 15% oil life (it then lets you know what other service is needed).

 

follow your manual FTW!

 

Store sticker = infotisement.

I let my MMI go to 15%, note the code(s), then reset it to avoid the annoyware yellow light for a month, and then do the req'd maintenance within 1000 miles. Then I reset again. I'm sure I'll burn in hell but I hate-hate-hate that little annoying, always-on yellow light. The oil's not done until 0%, so why subject me to a warning light.

 

They are just following that 3000mile/3month rule. That was the way to go back in the 60's but now days with advancements in oil and closer tolerances in engine manufacturing, its grossly obsolete. Just check your oil periodically, if it doesn't look or feel like its burnt change it according to Acura's service interval. I run synthetic and I change it around every 5500-6000miles which is around the time my MID bugs me to change the oil. Mine has been going off for the past two week but my oil looks fine.

 

ok thanks for the help guys!

 

Just go by your MID. I usually get to 0% before I change my oil, which is usually just under 5,000 miles between changes.

REMEMBER: The MID calculates the remaining life of your oil, based on RPM's. The harder you drive your car, the more frequent the changes you'll need.

 

For the driving I do I get 600 miles for every 10% oil life.

 

Have to agree that the ~3,000 mile oil change interval (your sticker) is obsolete, as demonstrated by Consumer Reports and others, given modern oil technology. Both the MID on my TSX and the maintenance reminder on my Honda Odyssey suggest an oil life of 5600-5700 miles. I change both at 5,000 miles since it is EASY to remember and plan for...

 

oy i should have waited for an 06 haha....
04-05s have no mids so we got to do the old fashion way
5000miles if synthetic and 3000 regular.

 

can some one please explain to me why i have the service light in for an oil change with only 2k miles with 15% oil life left. i find that very early for a first oil change

 

The service light comes on at 15%. The question is, why after only 2000 miles? Is this a new car? If so, this would be the "break-in oil" and I would trust the dealer. You can do it right away, or wait until 0%, IMHO. The annoying thing is that service indicator on the MID every time your start up.

 

yeah the service light comes on at 15%. I'm guessing your car is brand new. Mine did the same. I switched to synthetic at little less than 2000miles.

 

I've talked to very experienced "car guys" who all say that regular oil changes are the best way to preserve engine life. So I tend to error on the side of caution - change every 5K with synthetic regardless of what the car says. Actually at about 5K I'm at 30%. I put 15K a year on the car - 3 oil changes. I could mess around and try to stretch it, but really an extra $40 per year is just not a big deal to part with to protect the engine. I may be wrong, but don't care. I'll blow more than that on coffee in a month.