slimbim

I recently had my 3rd scheduled maintenance/oil change. I simply went in everytime the maintenance minder was at either 10% or 5%. First was at 3913 miles, second was at 8318 miles, and the last one was at 12209 miles.

Now this last time I went in, the service manager/advisor (he might have been new) was kinda not sure whether I should have the 10000 mile service (A & B1 - Oil change and tire rotation) or the 15000 mile service (A & C - Oil change and relace dust & pollen filters). As the maintenance minder just said A, and having done the tire rotation during my second oil change, we just did service A, which is just oil change.

He mentioned that usually it should be every 5000 miles I come in, but it seems like that I've been coming in around every 4000 miles. I told him I just come when the maintenance minder tells me to. He told me just come in at 15000 miles again then, so we can get back on schedule. I asked so come in again in 3000 miles for another oil change even if the maintenance minder doesn't tell me to? He then said, then just come in at 20000. That's 8000 miles from now, so I won't like run out of oil or anything before then? And then he was like ok then just come in when the maintenance minder tells you to. Basically he had no idea when I should come in again (again, he might have been new).

Now, my question is, what should I do? go in at 15000? wait until 20000? or just go with the maintenance minder? If I go in at 15000, won't that mess up the service item letters that the maintenance minder will give me from then on? (like the maintenance minder will tell me A & C next time, but I'll be getting just A if I go in at 15000) or is maintenance minder smart enough to know what service it needs regardless of how often or at what mileage I go in? (which I think it may be, as it said A, A & B1, and then A again for my last 3, while the maintenance schedule states A, A&B1, and A&C for the first three...)

Regardless, I'm just confused.... and this post got way longer than I intended....

aaronng

You won't run out of oil. 0% doesn't mean that there is no oil in there. But still check your oil level monthly. I'd follow the maintenance minder for oil changes. The air filter, follow the service schedule (20000 or 25000, can't remember), pollen filter, change it yourself when it is grey/black in colour (buy your filter online).

If your car is a 5AT, then change auto transmission fluid every 1.5 or 2 years.

SoCaliTrojan

The maintenance minder is supposed to take into account various things and make a judgement call. For example, it might notice that you tend to make alot of short trips, so your car has alot of cold starts. My guess is that it looks at the mileage, and given ideal conditions, it'll instruct you to come in every 5,000 miles. However, depending on your driving style, etc...it'll reduce the mileage recommendation (Maintenance Minder: aha, hit red-line? minus 100 miles...something like that).

zdr81

so is the maintenance minder more of a timer based on your mileage? as opposed to something that checks how "burnt out" your oil is? I am already at 3800 miles and it says 50% oil life .. and I feel more comfortable changing my oil now. SO what happens if I change it now? does the minder know that and automatically reset to 100% or do I have to reset it manually or something? curious exactly how this maintenance minder works for oil..

aaronng

You have to reset it manually.
It doesn't measure your oil. It does an estimate based on mileage, RPM, driving time and probably throttle position as well.

jlukja

IMHO you should follow the maintenance minder for oil changes only. Pollen filter changes and other fluids should be determined by the mileage on your odometer and/or the age of your car .