Hi al - real newbie question here. I’m on a three year lease in a 2020 Advance. Oil life at 15% and I’m getting the “maintenance due soon” alert. So: how soon? Do I need to go to a dealer, or will anyone do? If I go elsewhere, what kind of oil should I ask for? Thanks.

 

Personally, I would take your RDX in as soon as possible. I have taken my Acuras to either a dealer or Jiffylube depending on whether I need annual minor maintenance / inspections performed at the dealer along with an oil change. If all I need is an oil change I'll take it to Jiffy or similar. In terms of what type of oil to use, I would use what is recommended in the owners manual.

 

I take mine to a local shop and use a oem filter and mobil oil

 

You technically don't have to do anything at 15%. And, actually, you probably don't need to do anything at 0%, either, if I want to stir up a lengthy and boring argument on the board about modern oil. But the answer is basically that it depends on your driving habits. Like if you really care, just pay attention to how quickly the percentage is falling and you'll know how long you'll roughly have for 15% to go to 0%. But the lazy way to do it is to just schedule an oil change at 15%. (If you do your own oil change, you can literally wait until it hits 0% or longer and do it at that time.)

You can take it to anyone or do it yourself. If you take it to a dealer, just use the dealer oil. If you take it to a quick lube place, you can just ask for any oil or just have them use their "standard" oil. It really won't matter.

 

I have had two oil changes so far and take it to the dealer, but not for the oil change but because they know what to do with the remainder of the maintenance (the letter and number). It's not mandatory to take it to the dealer for that, either, but otherwise you have to take out your manual and tell them what you need done.

 

What 1 should be doing is going by the manual...(can find it for free online)...as you will learn everyone on car forums are "experts" especially when it comes to what oil and gas to use, lol Do check with ur local honda/Acura dealer as often they do give good prices on oil changes as it is a good way to get u in and then get more bussiness from ya! I think the Acura dealer in laurel md, charges $55. Enjoy the new ride

 

coffeemaker-

Check your owners manual and you’ll see that even though your display says 15%, that does not mean you have exactly 15% left. That is a range. You could be between 15% - 11% and as low as 6%.

Myself, being an OCD oil changer between 5K - 7K on my 2004 TSX...that’s just me LOL

Your RDX being a lease, and I’ve had leases before and had the final inspections before I’ve turned them back in, you want to make sure you have all your i’s dotted and T’s crossed with your owners manual maintenance and paperwork; but I’m sure you’re on top of that.

Hope you’re enjoying the ride!

 

Just did DIY change with Mobil1 EP. paid $25 for 5qt at walmart (plus getting $12 rebate) and $10 for oil filter. Had to buy 1qt for $9 because it needs more than 5qt.

 

Dealer does mine for free so I just go with the maintenance minder and I do a lot of highway driving to and from work.

 

nothing is “free”, but I get what you are saying.

 

It’s free!

 

Take it to the dealership. You wanna build a relationship and service history since you have 4 years warranty with them.

After warranty take it to a trusted mechanic shop.

 

No thanks, I always did oil changes myself, and had no issues getting warranty work. They are always happy to do warranty work to get money from manufacture. I use dealer for things I do not do myself, like brake fluid, ATF change, coolant and etc.

 

Cool flex

 

You can do service yourself and technically not impact your warranty: True. Also true: If you should ever have an unusual problem where there are questions then its always best to have had the car serviced by the dealer. I have seen many "Good will" freebie repairs done on cars where the call could have gone either way but the manufacture covered it since the car had been dealer serviced and had complete records. Also, dealers will normally be more willing to go to bat for you with the manufacturer if you have had regular service done at the dealership.

But, in the end, legally DIY does not void your warrant but I would keep receipts where and when you bought the parts just to support your work.

 

It is true that after sending gobs of money with Acura dealer for overpriced service packages they "might" throw you a free bone for a goodwill warranty. There is an obvious problem here, overspending and also "might", which is no guarantee.
Yes, I keep a detailed log of oil changes and receipts. My car will go to dealer for rear-differential, brake fluid, and ATF change, coolant, spark plugs, new brakes. So it will all be recorded. I've been going to this dealer for past 20 years, never had a problem with them complaining why I am not doing oil change with them. They know me and that I spend money with them.

Oil change is pretty fundamental, thats why steps are mentioned in owner manual, they are OK with you doing it.

 

So basically, to summarize: if you want to take it to the dealer, you can, or if you don't want to, then you don't have to. Amazingly, I'm pretty sure that's what everyone already does in this world.

This forum tries to turn everything into an argument.

 

Yes, there is no right or wrong. Everyone does what they feel comfortable with. Not everyone wants or knows how to change oil, thats cool. But if you like it and know how to do it, thats cool also.

 

True, this has gotten fairly far afield from my original question. I assure everyone that I was not going to change the oil myself. In any case, I just called the dealer. They don’t normally offer loaners, but in Covid times, I am not wild about waiting an hour and their waiting room. In any case, when I told him it was at 15% and telling me “maintenance due soon”, they said not to bring it in now, but to wait until it’s At 5% and says “change oil now.”

 

Just keep documentation that it was changed timely.

 

I did my own oil and filter. It's as easy as an other car in the last 40 years.

My problem is the constant reminder every time you start it with still 15% left. That's approximately 1150 mile early! That could be (and was for me) months early. That's months of always having to shut off the alert every time you drive.

How about 5 warnings at 15% and 5 warnings at 10% and constant at 5%?

It's a scam to bother people into changing their oil early and making money off of them at the dealer. I'm sure Honda isn't the only ones to do this though.

 

yep, its annoying, I still wait until 5%. Dealer also now send you emails because they get info from car.
oil change is easy on this car. If you like doing this stuff, and got all the equipment and garage, nothing wrong with it. It actually saves me time and I do it better than dealer.

 

Page 531 of the 2019 owner's manual staes how to rest the MM.
"With the maintenance svreen displayed, press and hold the right selector wheel to enter reset mode. Roll the wheel to select the item to reset, or select ALL.Press the wheel to reset..

 

Don't you get complimentary maintenance for the first 20K miles? Or is that no longer a thing?

 

nope, they even stopped offering first oil change for free in many dealerships. Used to be standard thing in the past for all Acura

 

First 3 oil changes with filter and a rotate were included in my lease. 2 years now and have used 2 leaving one which will take me to the end of the lease. Even if they were not free I would still take the vehicle to the dealer. Only have 11k miles on the vehicle. I lease vehicles as its way less hassle all the way around for me.

To add to the original posters question, I make appointments for my oil service and just wait 30-45 minutes. All Acura dealers should offer quick turnaround.

 

things that are offered by dealer as part of sales deal are independent. Years back, Acura corporate provided first oil change free, regardless of the dealer or sales deal. They stopped this for some reason, I guess $40 is too much money for them 😀

 

My dealer gave me my first oil change for free.

Also, you're busting on Acura for being too cheap to give you a free oil change. But if it bothers you that much, then couldn't the same "I guess $40 is too much money for you" be said about you?

 

I would still buy this car if I paid $40 more for it, and included oil change in any deal is a good gesture. Its not about the money, people expect certain things in a new car. If I got the free oil change, I would not use it and DIY, but thats just me.

 

I think it has to do with the idea that people think they are getting something for free. Which is rarely the case.

 

nothing is free, its obvious, but there is a certain expectation in peoples mind for things to be “included”. Its one of the reasons BMW is continuing with their included maintenance package in all new cars. They could have dropped the package and lowered the price of the car, but they think this is a better package to sell.

 

Free oil change voucher for new and used Acuras at my Canadian dealership. Guessing its upto dealership how nice they are.

If you dont want to wait long. Tell them to skip the complimentary car wash (baked into the inflated oil change price).

 

Or it could just be that BMW is actually ripping off their customers because Acura's actual car -- the product -- is considered to offer much more standard at a far lower price. I mean, yeah, if you were going to pay an extra $50,000 for a car, I probably would expect an oil change or two. I'd also be pretty pathetic being all happy that I got an oil change that I just paid $50,000 for, so I think you know where I stand on BMW owners.

 

What does that say about Toyota, Subaru, and Hyundai, who all offer complimentary maintenance? Are they ripping off their customers too, and Honda is the only one who's being fair?

 

It doesn't say a lot because, for example, ToyotaCare offers maintenance for the first 2 years. Which, for me, was like two oil changes and one service. I think that comes to under $100, but like I said, if that really dazzles you because they say "TWO YEARS," there's nothing stopping you from getting a Toyota for more.

 

What do you mean by "for more"? I understand that nothing is free, but at the same time, they didn't raise their prices more than normal when they introduced the program, and they didn't cut content for same-generation cars. If anything, you could argue that they're giving you slightly more for the same price, and Honda is giving you less for that price...

Do you complain about free roadside assistance and warranty coverage and complimentary loaners and free car washes? Because all that isn't "free" either, but because everyone else offers them it's become a de facto expectation, and anything less reflects poorly on the brand (case in point, my local Acura dealership charges $25 for a loaner, which really sours the experience).

BMW also has a very valid reason for why they would offer free maintenance. They know the majority of their owners lease the cars, and that also means they're less likely to actually perform proper maintenance on the car. That can lead to poor long term reliability down the road, which negatively impacts the perceived reliability of the car. We all know German cars need proper maintenance or they become a bottomless money pit, and I'm sure BMW knows that as well. That would also explain why they've reduced their plan from 4 years to 3 years, as 3-year leases have started to become more popular than 4-year leases. No point in giving free maintenance to the longer-term owners when it's all about protecting the cars from the leasee's negligence.

 

For more means that you'd be buying the Lexus NX and building it up to include the standard features of the RDX. (Actually, I don't know if Lexus offers free maintenance, so that may even be pointless.) Or if it was just Toyota, then I guess you could enjoy a ...uh ...Sienna? That's the only non-sedan they have, right?

 

1) Why are you only talking about non-sedans?
2) CHR, RAV4, Venza, Highlander, 4Runner, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, Supra, 86, Tacoma, and the Tundra are all non-sedans... you can throw in the Yaris and Corolla Hatchbacks too to be complete. Hell even the Prius is technically a liftback and not a sedan.

 

1. Because I assume that people on an RDX sub-forum would be buying a non-sedan.
2. OK, sorry, I'm not familiar with Toyotas. You can enjoy any of those cars, as well. There's nothing stopping you, if you value the $100-200 so much.

 

Clearly you don't know much about cars, so I question how valid your argument about complimentary maintenance being a ripoff is. Seems pretty asinine to me. But go ahead and keep your head in the sand instead of having higher expectations from your brand of choice. Ignorance is bliss I suppose. Hope you enjoy the $100-$200 you "saved" when Acura got rid of the complimentary maintenance program. I'm sure they reduced their prices accordingly or added some additional content to those post-program cars, right?