Hi all,

I have a couple of questions about the oil life percentage display on the dash.

1. I had my first oil change with the dealer (complimentary) at about 7500 miles when it reaches 20%. After getting the oil change, the percentage goes back to 100%. Now this time, I got somebody else to change my oil. This time the reading stays at 30%. Is there something wrong with the sensor or does this percentage only reset when I get my oil change at a dealer?

2. As I mentioned earlier, I got somebody else to change my oil at 30% and about 14500 miles (I put about 75% freeway miles on my car, I guess that's why it lasts so long). When he emptied the old oil, and the oil is VERY VERY dirty. Is there something wrong with the sensor?

Thank you all for your help.

Tony

 

i can answer #1. you have to reset the oil life indicator on your own, it's not done automatically. you can look in your user's manual for instructions on how to do that.

as for #2, i wouldn't trust the oil life indicator because i really don't know how it's calculating the life of the oil. besides mileage, what else does it take into consideration? if you're concerned, i would start taking UOAs (used oil analysis) of your oil to see what's going on with it and decide at what point should you be changing your oil.

 

To answer your question, yes the dealer will reset the oil life indicator after an oil and filter change. The instruction can also be found in the owner's manual.

The oil life indicator takes into account your driving style as well as mileage, but there is something really wrong with yours as there is no way you can drive 14,500 miles to reach 30%. My car usually goes to 20% in 7000 miles or 11,000km. Take it to the dealer to check it out.

The other remote possible explanation is that on your first oil change, the dealer only change the oil and not the filter.... But that does not explain how you manage 14K plus miles to reach 30%

 

i'm sorry my first post was confusing.

I got the first oil change at about 7500 miles and they reset it to 100%. I got my second oil change at about 14500 miles. So from 7500 to 14500, I went from 100% to 30%.

Let me see where I can reset my oil counter in my manual. Thanks a lot for your help!

 

Not sure about ur 2G TSX but my 3G TL-S and the wife's 1G TSX you just hold the reset button on the steering wheel for 10 sec's when you are viewing the oil life indicator. From there it will give you more menu's to reset it yourself.

 

OK, that makes a lot more sense. The second oil change occurred at 14,500 mile mark which is 7,000 miles after your initial oil change at 7,500 miles. Depending on the area you are driving, (dusty, lots of construction, smog and other pollutants) can make your oil dirty very quickly. Should check your air filter too.. They are probably black.

 

So, how does this system work?

Is it based on an actual sensor that examines the oil on a continuous basis, or operating hours, time, driving profiles, pressure, viscosity, or a combination?

 

The MM system doesn't analyze the oil in your car. From what I have been told and read about it, it is based off of how many starts, run time, RPMs etc.

I can tell you that the percentage goes down significantly faster when I am going on short trips around my area, vs. highway trips (which you would expect).

Even with mostly highway miles I only average about 4500-5000 miles (I like to open my car up) on my Gen1 TSX.

 

My 1A service light came on when my 2010 hit 7500 miles @ 15% oil life.

 

Same here 90% highway driving the 0% hit exactly 7,500

 

to reset the oil life, just hold down the rest button for aprox ten seconds. Then it will ask you do you want to rest or cancel. to reset, just hit the reset button again, and you'll be back at 100%. Just did it this morning, fresh in my memory.

 

Well I was going to give you some constructive feed back but everyone gave you the same information.

Key points:

driving patterns found via memory of rpms, speed, and duration of trips calculates percentage degredation.

Percentage only goes in 10% incriments ..

I personally change my oil every 5000 miles, and I changed it at 1000 miles when i first got it, out of pure lack of trust.

You also need to research on when you're suppose to do things yourself. Don't always wait for the system to tell you what service you need..

That being said the dealer will tell you, that you don't need it.. Up to you if you believe them. I just had my transmission oil changed at 40,000 miles and they told me i don't need to till my car says so.

However the last 10k miles have been amazing in regards to shifting it's like brand new!

A lot of things don't NEED to be done. A little early never hurt anyone though.


Also, I'd recommend rotating your tires every 5k miles, easier to keep track of then oil changes. Which may or may not be different in mileage.
Hence why i change my oil every 5k miles why not get it all done at the same time? Clean oil never hurt anyone..

Typically 5k for me is about 40 - 50 % oil life left.

Dyno oil was made for 10k miles though, so I just don't feel comfy letting it sit in the engine for 10k miles... or 0%


Enjoy your car take care of it. Google what you want to know about normal car maintenance.. Not much has changed in the last 100 years. especially the last 10.

Except of course computers!!!

 

when the oil life reaches 20% it then goes in 5% incriments-at 15% it will show service due soon and a code that will let you know what service needs to be done.

 

This is a bad idea. Your car came with special break in oil and you didn't allow your car to break in with it. It is most important to follow the MID recommendations for the 1st oil change, after that, change it early if you feel like it.

 

Yeah dealership told me it was a bad idea, but I still Just knew what i've done the rest of my life. so I did it. Lol put 45k miles on it in the first year.. and its running very healthy Couldn't have broke it too much

 

can some one tell me whats the engine oil quantity to fill up our engines.

 

it's in the manual.

 

OT: has anyone actually burned off any of the break in oil?

 

4.5 quarts