morganrules

I don't drive many miles in a year, so I usually have the oil changed in my 2013 RDX annually. I most recently had the oil changed on 7/15/15 when the car had 19,094 miles on it. Since then, I've begun telecommuting almost exclusively, so the car only has 19,793 miles on it now and the oil life indicator says I only have 40% oil life remaining. It seems virtually impossible that I would use 60% of the oil life driving only 700 miles. Most of the driving I do is when I drive to the office, which is about 25 miles away and virtually all freeway driving, so these are not a lot of very short trips. Does it seem likely that the dealership forgot to reset the oil life when they changed the oil in July?

mrgold35

The M.I.D. might be calculating the long sitting times and low mileage in the severe range for oil life. The M.I.D. might not be smart enough to know the difference between one 700 mile trip compared to 700 one mile trips in one year. It might just be a mileage X calendar time X engine run time calculation = oil change interval.

I'm usually 4500-5500 miles for my TSX and RDX. I'm arond 7500 miles for my MDX; but, I put between 10,000 - 20,000 miles per year on avg.

You might be stuck changing your oil early with it sitting for so long.

NBP04TL4ME

It's possible they forgot to reset it. I am only currently putting about 6-7K miles a year on my car and if the MID doesn't get to the 10-15% mark, I get the oil changed anyway.

mrgold35

I'm thinking if Acura forgot to reset the oil life indicator, it would still scream for maint every-time you started the vehicle and run the overage mileage in negative numbers? It might be interesting to see what other service(s) might pop up when you get to 15% (like a 3 service for the transmission)?

NBP04TL4ME

I don't have an RDX but would transmission service be necessary at 20K miles? Again OP said the MID says 40% so I'm doubting any service indicators popping up -

mrgold35

In the +9 yrs with the M.I.D., I haven't figured out the math, magic, or SWAG (Scientific Wild Ass Guess) to the system. I've never seen the system give an "A" or "B" oil change without a 1-6 service attached to it? I don't know if the M.I.D. can just give an "A" or "B" alone? I figure vehicles on the Acura lot might even sit longer with less mileage than the OP vehicle?

I think I would just change the oil when I get down to 5%-0% and think about the $$$ I saved in gas for having it parked for so long.

vbgregg

Only if the oil life indicator was already down to 15% or less. Based on the OP's statement, though, it seems likely that the oil was changed at 1 year, even though the MID may have still been way above 15%. I bet they simply forgot to set it back to 100%.

mrgold35

After thinking about it, I would lean more or Acura tech forgetting to reset the M.I.D. on the last oil change compared to a severe maint condition for the RDX. I do maint early sometimes like an "A1" service and I have them do the transmission as well. My techs can go into each individual M.I.D. service code and reset anytime with their handy-dandy scan tool. I can only reset the code showing on the displayed in the M.I.D. when I get at/below 15%. I've never tried to reset the oil indicator above 15%.

It sounds like your oil life % and change intervals are off and the Acura techs need to reset on the next service.

ceb

I suspect the OP was at 50% or so when the oil was changed last and nothing was reset - ergo the 40% now.

vbgregg

I hate to admit it, but I was messing around with the settings soon after we got our RDX and mistakenly reset the oil life to 100% when it was only down to 90% (so it is possible to reset it even when above 15%).

Mr_MDX

Its is calculating / recording many data points. Engine load, eng temp, and tranny temps amongst others. If a person has suddenly changed their driving style this will effect things but I'd think a 60% drop in 700 miles is just too odd. Either they didn't reset it or maybe there is something else brewing.
Don't forget that the service schedule includes more than just oil. It covers many other things too.