I had my firts oil change when the car had about 5200 kms (3200 Miles). I thought I was driving from Vancouver to Utah so I wanted to do it before I left. Service manager at Acura said it was fine to change it then.

I just changed the oil myself today at 11000 kms (6800) and it was black as night. I couldn't believe it. My service minder indicates 60%. I'm not suggesting the service minder is wrong. I'm suggesting waiting until IT tells you to have your oil changed is absurd.

This is coming from someone who, until I got this car, changed his oil every 3000 kms (1864). So maybe I'm a little retentive about it but it's the cheapest and probably the best thing you can do to increase the life of your engine, especially one that makes peak hp at 7000 rpm.

I'm not looking for suggestions on why my oil may have been so dirty etc. Just letting you guys/gals know that the service minder IMO is bunk when it comes to oil changes.

 

You do realize that the color of your oil says pretty much nothing about anything, right?

 

Sure, but it was also on the thin side. I do understand it's 5/20...Are you suggesting that waiting until the service minder tells you it's time for an oil change is reasonable?

 

Yes. There are people here who have sent their oil out for chemical analysis and it has been shown to have plenty of life left in it well beyond the time the minder starts its nagging. Chemical engineers are not generally stupid people.

I'm more worried about the filter than the oil itself.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the inteligence of Chemical engineers, I had no idea. Seriously.

I hope no one here changes their oil without changing the filter as well....so if your are concerned about the filter why would you wait?

 

Yeah, motor oil might be one of the most highly scrutinized liquids on the planet. It's nothing at all what it was even just 10 years ago.

I'm not saying I would wait, I actually just go by the maintenance minder (just a little dot that changes color in my '04 actually). I meant I would be concerned about going longer than that with a normal filter. I suppose you could you change the filter without changing the oil and there are non-disposable filters out there than can be cleaned and reused, but I'll just go ahead and do the change while I'm in there.

I like to run a half can of SeaFoam through the engine every other change or so. I don't know how much this matters with today's oil but it will do a lot keep the upper block free of any deposits that might be left behind.

 

I change mine every 5,000 miles regardless of the maintenance minder. This is how I've always done it running synthetic blend, regardless if the oil has more life left in it or not. I don't have as much faith in the filter beyond that point.

I also don't want to get yelled at and have my car stolen like Jerry Seinfeld did by his mechanic, Tony.

 

I just brought my car in for its second oil change at 9200 miles..I asked the guy to do a general inspection also and he said the air filter needed to be changed...so the next day I took it out, it really was pretty filthy so I blew it off with the compressor hose at work its good now I guess I'll take a picture for you guys yous can be the judge

 

Ditto on the Seafoam (good stuff) and 5k intervals, if nothing else, to get the filter changed & all I have to remember is that if the mileage is divisible by 5, it's time to change it.

I like Mobil1 if for no other reason, if I'm in Pahokee, Florida or Booneville, Missouri and need a quart, Wal-Mart always satisfies. (Gotta go to AutoZone or PepBoys for a filter, though.)

 

I was in the automotive biz for most of my life, sold the company over a year ago, my father started the company and I had been surrounded by cars my entire life. It was not long ago the 3,000 mile/3 month rule was the way it was, but times have changed and in a big hurry! I was stubborn about acknowledging this, I refused to believe longer intervals were possible, I thought it was all some conspiracy by the auto manufacturers to have people buying more cars. I don't recall who it was but one day it was explained to me and a light went off in my primitive head.

At the same time oil change intervals went up so did new vehicle power train warranties. Not to mention when in recent times have you heard of a modern engine "blowing" unless there is an outside factor? For example a timing belt breaking causing interference, something causing a rapid oil leak, etc... Simply put, it is actually hard to make a modern engine "blow" you actually have to try! I would then argue that these extended intervals would cause a loss of power as the engine wore and a decrease in fuel economy, not only is that not true there is some evidence to support the exact opposite.

Bottom line do what the manufacturer suggests, you'll be fine and have an excellent warranty behind you.

 

I follow the maintenance minder on my 06 tsx. I average 600-650 miles for each 10% of oil life. I get the filter changed each time. My car just hit the 70,000 mile mark.

 

I don't understand why the manual only calls for a filter change every other oil change. That's just stupid.

 

Well I just had my first A1 service and it states "oil and filter" change on the receipt. So I guess they changed both. I had 7200 miles before I hit 15% (actually went off at 71xx) but i had it changed at 7200.

Car runs much better with fresh oil.

 

Mainly because filter media has been much more advanced over the last few years and can handle longer intervals.

 

I change oil and filter every 6 months reguardless of mileage.
and I tend to put no more than 5k miles on either car per that time frame.

 

Do that with our 07 Mitsubishi Raider truck since we put very few miles on it. we bought the truck, new, 11/11/07. It now has 5,300 miles.

 

I'm getting my first oil change and everything else as part of B1 maintenance today. I have about 7700 miles on mine.

 

hmm, that's strange.. im at 17 almost 18xxx and have not gotten B maintenance yet? whats wrong?

 

Here are my thoughts / 2 cents worth on the subject:
- In my experience factory recommended oil change do seem to be increasing over time ... e.g. interval for my '98 Corolla was 6000km, interval for my 2004 Camry was 8000km
- I think you can safely assume factory engineers know what is best / have done a lot of testing
- I'd be more worried if maintenance was free (i.e. paid by Acura / Honda) for the first few years. This is not the case here however
- Manufacturers have a vested interest to recommend an appropriate interval (e.g. because they don't want to get a reputation for engines that sludge or blow up)
- Compared to new car sales, maintenance services are a high margin part of the business (i.e. profitable) for dealers. It is in the best interest to get you to come in as often as possible.
Bottom line: After some initial discomfort I am following the maintenance minder and enjoying the savings.