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First post great site. Thinking about buying a 2020 and just curious about when oil changes, spark plugs etc... need to be changed. I downloaded the manual and read up on it but could not find where for example the first spark plug change is required. I note the built in maintenance minder system, is that how it is done now?
If so that is fine, I am assuming oil change about every 5000 miles, the spark plugs at 100,000 miles not sure about belts and other fluids. i am just trying to get a rough idea I know this can vary.
First post great site. Thinking about buying a 2020 and just curious about when oil changes, spark plugs etc... need to be changed. I downloaded the manual and read up on it but could not find where for example the first spark plug change is required. I note the built in maintenance minder system, is that how it is done now?
If so that is fine, I am assuming oil change about every 5000 miles, the spark plugs at 100,000 miles not sure about belts and other fluids. i am just trying to get a rough idea I know this can vary.
thanks
Yes, it is all done based on the maintenance minder - which is based on lots of factors, driving style, length of trips, engine temps, exterior temps and a zillion other things we don't have access to.
Oil changes will generally be required every 6500-8000 miles. Every second or third oil change will require engine and cabin air filters (do those yourself - literally a 5 minute job, no tools required and you won't get dirty). Brake fluid changes every three years. Other fluid changes pop up too.
I think the oil is a bit of a crapshoot....my first oil change (A or A1...whatever it said) showed on the maintenance minder at 2380 miles (5% on the MM) which was kind of surprising, but at that point the car was close to a year old so maybe that had something to do with it.
I think the oil is a bit of a crapshoot....my first oil change (A or A1...whatever it said) showed on the maintenance minder at 2380 miles (5% on the MM) which was kind of surprising, but at that point the car was close to a year old so maybe that had something to do with it.
Right. Oil changes are based on time as well (at least every year). The dealer should have reset it during PDI, but obviously didn't
It was at 100% when we bought it new...it's just over the course of about 12 months and 2380 miles...it was down to 5% and A or A1 showed up. So I guess (idle) time somehow affects synthetic oil...because surely the minimal miles we drove the RDX couldn't have...that much. 2380 seemed awful quick...even for oil change #1.
Oil change is by MM, everything else is by fixed mileage or time, but the MM will indicate when it is due. There is some variance in actual mileage because the MM adjusts intervals to coincide with an oil change, to minimize service visits.
Although mileage intervals aren't published, it's pretty well established that standard service interval for rear differential fluid ( AWD ) is 15k miles, then every 30k miles. ( 7.5k miles, then every 15k miles for "severe conditions" such as mountainous terrain or towing ).
Transmission fluid is probably every 45k miles, and same with front transfer case fluid ( gear lube ) for AWD.
Engine air filter and cabin filter every 30k miles, or every 15k miles for dusty conditions.
Brake fluid every 3 years, although lots of people ( most? ) probably neglect this, and engine coolant @10 years, then every 5 years. Both of these are to prevent corrosion.
Unlike previous Honda/Acura V6 engines, there is no timing belt to worry about, so that eliminates a big expensive service at about 100k miles.
Serpentine belt and Spark plugs are probably every 100k miles, but that's nothing like the timing belt.
There is a DIY section of this forum, if you want more information.
Here's a schedule from when Acura still published mileage schedules ( 2005 MDX ):
I think the oil is a bit of a crapshoot....my first oil change (A or A1...whatever it said) showed on the maintenance minder at 2380 miles (5% on the MM) which was kind of surprising, but at that point the car was close to a year old so maybe that had something to do with it.
If you only put on 2380 miles in one year, you either drove your RDX very infrequently or you used it for very short trips.
My wife used to drive her Honda Civic for 5 minutes in the morning to get to work, then drove home at lunch, then back to work after lunch, and then back home at the end of the day. Her oil was white and creamy after only 30 days of driving. Short trips like that cause condensation buildup in the oil, which greatly reduces it's lubricating qualities. Longer drives will heat up the engine enough to "boil out" the water, and increase the useful oil life. The RDX maintenance minder system is aware of the duration of your trips, and factors that into the estimated oil life.
Btw, short trips also allow water vapor to condense inside the exhaust system and cause early rust damage. Driving a little longer will heat up the exhaust system to the point that the condensation is dried up.
I can confirm time enters into the calculation. My car was parked for three months (we were out of town) and the maintenance minder lost 10 percentage points. Now, the RDX will hit its 6-month birthday next week and I expect the MM will click down from 60% to 50% with only 3K miles on it.
I can confirm time enters into the calculation. My car was parked for three months (we were out of town) and the maintenance minder lost 10 percentage points. Now, the RDX will hit its 6-month birthday next week and I expect the MM will click down from 60% to 50% with only 3K miles on it.
I would still prefer that Honda give us some ballpark data. Are the plugs expected to last 100K miles, or 40K miles in this turbo engine?
I object to the whole idea of telling us nothing except “take it to the dealer so he can lie to you about his ‘recommended’ service while he does our ‘required’ service.”
Good point, but the Owner's Manual and Owner's Guide do list the required services that correspond to the codes on the MM. In fact, I think they are even available through the infotainment system.
The OEM spark plugs are an NGK iridium tipped plug. They should last a long time, and it looks like the same one has been in the Honda Accord since 2018, so there is probably some data to be found on the Accord forums. In general, since essentially the same engine is used in mainstream Honda models, I don't expect maintenance costs to be exorbitant. A BMW or Audi this is not.
FWIW Honda/Acura wants $40 ea for the the spark plugs retail, but they sell for $10 ea aftermarket, or $30 ea from discounted Honda/Acura sources. And it shouldn't be more than an hour labor to install. I could do it in half that, including hunting down my torque wrench.
BTW, in previous Honda/Acura models, including recent models with the "earth dreams" DI V6, spark plugs are scheduled to be replaced along with the timing belt at about 100k miles, and that is a big expensive service because of the labor to get access to the timing belt.
The engine in 3rd-gen RDX has a timing chain, rather than a timing belt, and the chain should last a lot longer without service. Maybe 200k miles? Probably longer than most owners will hang onto these cars.
If I hang onto this car after the powertrain warranty expires, my concerns will be the turbocharger, the transmission, and the electronics, not necessarily in that order.
The non-turbo six in the 2007 BMW went 100K miles before a plug change. When they turbocharged the six in 2008, they changed that down to 45K miles.
That's interesting but FWIW I couldn't find a word in 2018+ Accord forums for MM code 4 or spark plugs. Dunno.
Both platinum tipped and iridium tipped spark plugs are considered "long life", but the iridium tipped are generally considered more durable. I wonder what flavor BMW was using in that era. ( Almost an epoch ago at the current pace of automotive tech ).
[ edit ] A quick scan reveals they may have been platinum tipped.
I would still prefer that Honda give us some ballpark data.
It seems whenever they give estimates or averages, people consider those to be minimums. Then, the first guy that doesn't meet the minimum throws a fit. You probably don't want to hear this but the computer knows best, just trust it (and don't kill the messenger).
It seems whenever they give estimates or averages, people consider those to be minimums. Then, the first guy that doesn't meet the minimum throws a fit. You probably don't want to hear this but the computer knows best, just trust it (and don't kill the messenger).
There are ways for them to get the word out, unofficially.
Trust in them is compromised when all they say is “pay the dealer”. I should have the right to repair something I have paid for and own. And have sufficient information to do so.
There are ways for them to get the word out, unofficially.
Trust in them is compromised when all they say is “pay the dealer”. I should have the right to repair something I have paid for and own. And have sufficient information to do so.
You DO have the right to use any vehicle service provider you wish, including yourself. Deciphering the MM codes will tell you what is needed and when it's needed, a few weeks or months in advance depending on how much you drive.
It may not be easy to plan your service years in advance, but that's seldom necessary. And as I've said, a lot can be inferred from past published service schedules.
But I don't make the rules, and I don't have a clue why Honda/Acura refuses to publish mileage schedules any more. Especially since everything except the oil changes is still based upon time or mileage, not conditions.
IMO, nothing about a 2.0 turbo 4 can be inferred from an NA V6.
But engine maintenance is a small component of vehicle maintenance, especially for an AWD.
Aside from oil changes, these engines are designed to go a long time without maintenance. Which is good, because some of these poor engines probably don't get anything more than oil changes, if they even get that.
BTW, I get it that no one likes a $1500 surprise service visit, but that's the advantage of not having a timing belt to deal with any more. I don't think there will be any such scheduled service during the time the vast majority of drivers own the car.
But engine maintenance is a small component of vehicle maintenance, especially for an AWD.
Aside from oil changes, these engines are designed to go a long time without maintenance. Which is good, because some of these poor engines probably don't get anything more than oil changes, if they even get that.
BTW, I get it that no one likes a $1500 surprise service visit, but that's the advantage of not having a timing belt to deal with any more. I don't think there will be any such scheduled service during the time the vast majority of drivers own the car.
I agree.
But many people just have no clue and think regular oil changes are a bother.
There are ways for them to get the word out, unofficially.
Trust in them is compromised when all they say is “pay the dealer”. I should have the right to repair something I have paid for and own. And have sufficient information to do so.
I'm not clear on what the MM messages have to do with being tied to the dealership. You can just as well infer that the message on the MM is saying, "Hey Madd Dog, change the spark plugs now." AFAIK, most or all maintenance items can be performed outside the dealer. I suppose some tasks might require special tools.
AFAIK, most or all maintenance items can be performed outside the dealer. I suppose some tasks might require special tools.
The notable exception is firmware updates for various systems, which may require the Honda/Acura HDS system with up-to-date software ( it's a subscription ). Independent shops may not have this, and very few owners will have it.
But that's not routine maintenance. Yet. Or is it?
11-17-2019, 11:52 AM
