Oil change interval?
 

hey all,

I can't seem to find the oil change interval....I Was going to go by the "computer" but feel; it's already been a while and I should be gettting an oil change soon.

No oil change intervals provided by Honda/Acura. How many miles since your last oil change? I would only worry if it goes over 10k miles since your last oil change.

It's a brand new car and I'm at 6500ish miles right now.

Follow the maintenance minder and change oil once you get to 15%.

Oil change reminder
 

Just in case it is not obvious to some of the group, oil degradation is only partially related to miles driven. It is more accurate to base it on run-time hours on the engine and, to a lesser extent, on the way you drive. In the old days, it was asking too much for owners to keep track of the run-time hours, so manufacturers converted to the easier 3000/5000/10,000 mile oil change concept. Now that the engines can track run-time hours and oil viscosity using the pressure drop across the filter, the much more precise calculations are used to determine if the oil is still good.

Changing your oil before 0% life left just wastes oil, which has to go somewhere. On the other side, no one wants to go below 0%, so 5% usually gives you plenty of time to get the car in for a change. On the other hand, nag screens that start at 15% would certainly encourage me to get it changed then.:rolleyes:

Currently showing 550 miles on the OD and oil life indicating 90% so, I would estimate that around 5k miles I'll get the 15% notification. Drive ~74 miles per day with mix of freeway and country roads with elevation change of 2000 ft. Most the the elevation change takes place over a 3 mile stretch. By the way, this seems to be much sooner than the CR-V which was around 10k miles per oil change. Perhaps the turbo puts higher demand on the oil than a non-turbo?

IIRC the stock oil in our RDXs is full synthetic, and the thin 0W-20 formulation is great for fuel economy. There would be minimal/zero gain in switching to another full synthetic engine oil. ( But I always use M1 if I DIY oil changes when they are due. In the big 5 quart jug from Wally World. )

The usual recommendation is not to change out the original engine oil until MM calls for it, because it contains "moly" ( molybdenum disulphide, incorporated from engine assembly grease ) that assists with the break-in process. But this is one of those topics that can incite a riot amongst otherwise rational car enthusiasts. :tongue:

I suspect twisting the "dynamic mode" dial counterclockwise and lightening the load on the accelerator pedal would have vastly more effect on fuel economy than anything else you could do with the vehicle.

That and avoiding stop-and-go traffic. If you can't avoid stop-and-go traffic and you are concerned about fuel economy, a hybrid drive train might be worth considering.

Agree. I have a tough time deciding between Rattlesnake oil and Black Mamba.

Don't these engines have the fuel-dilution issue with oil? If so, I'd consider changing more often than when the maintenance minder indicates.

A few anecdotal reports on the forums, but not well documented as a wide-spread issue for the 2.0T, IMO.

most DI engine, I believe, maybe I am wrong?

A higher occurrence than NA simply due to the increased compression. But as long as the engineers take that into account and build the engine with adequate piston rings, it shouldn't be a problem. For some reason I was under the impression that this one had more than usual but that's just based on a few things I've read. no concrete evidence. It would be interesting to see if Blackstone would be able to determine this based on an oil sample.

There is a well documented fuel dilution issue with Honda's 1.5T. It seems to manifest most strongly in cold weather, vehicle driven for short trips. There is now a campaign with a mitigation attempt.

I hope it works because I bought my daughter a CR-V with that engine, and despite my best efforts I doubt she could find the engine oil dipstick if she tried. But after our sloppy weather the past few months, she can refill the washer fluid, so that's something. :rolleyes:

But I'm not aware of an issue with the 2.0T.

Does the service reminder sensor change when full synthetic oil is used? On my Mazdas, the dealer who does all of my service recommends changes every 5-6K miles here in the desert with our extreme heat conditions. I plan to use full synthetic on the RDX but have no experience with the Acura dealer, so I may choose a private shop for my preventive maintenance.

No, the computer does not know the difference between synthetic and conventional.

your acura's owner manual will tell you to change oil sooner if you live in extreme conditions.
and the computer/MID usually does a 6-7k interval, so....might as well just wait until the computer tells you to change the oil

it's like really easy. when the computer says...OIL change! get an oil change.

Good point about "severe service" recommendation in the Owner's Manual, but for 2019 RDX there is no specific recommendation for engine oil other than changing it after 12 months if the MM hasn't flagged it sooner. Rear diff fluid, engine air filter, and cabin filter get "severe service intervals". ( OM Page 529 )

I was under the impression that extreme ambient temperature is one of the factors for the Honda/Acura MM calculation of oil change interval. But I could be wrong.

Oh, and I don't think the recommended engine oil weight range, 0W20, even exists aside from full synthetic. But I could be wrong about that too.

Having said that, I'm told that not all "full synthetic" oils are created equal. But aside from racing applications, I'm not sure how much it matters.

My understanding that computer uses two inputs into its algorithm: RPM count and miles driven.
So when your car idles in traffic it will come sooner because of RPM count. I dont think they made any improvements to their algo since first gen rdx

it seems like most people are taking their car into the dealer for their first oil change?

I did because it cost me $18 to have them do it when I supply 5 quarts of Pennzoil Platinum and an OEM filter. For $18, I'll let the dealer provide the labor while I watch them do it:thumbsup:

Good idea, I never knew dealers were willing to do the work if I supplied the parts, I do that with my other shops but since this is a new car id like to take it into the dealer the first few times... i'll have to ask them the next time im there.

My concern is that since I am putting an aftermarket KTuner flash on mine (I have a terminal case of “modomanic severetium” with my cars, so I put the best oil I can find in there more often than required so as to maintain the maximum lubricity and all that good stuff.

Dave, I don’t know your symptoms but I got something similar. I like to go the extra mile and use the best motor oil and change it more frequent. I also stick with OEM oil filters. Someday I will crack open the engine and see every moving parts nice and shiny :)😆.

I will wait for the warranty to run out before I do any mods especially flashing the ECU.

Best oil and OEM filter? Why not spend a bit extra and get a better filter

Is this not an oxymoron??? I agree with @russianDude above. Why use the BEST oil money can buy with gold plated particles in it and then use an OEM Honda filter??? Doesn't sound like the "extra mile" to me either:whyme:

There are aftermarket wik filters they claimed better than OEM but I rather stick with the engineers who design the engine and know it best. Between two cars I had over 200k miles using just OEM filters with full synthetics.

I might consider Frame and Mobil1 filters...might take some convincing.

Also I have more than 20 Honda/Acura oil filters. I stock them up when they are on sale. It’ll take several years before I run out.

Why the hate on OEM Honda filters?? I think they work spectacularly :shrug:

No hate on Honda filters...I use them too. I just think a few of us found it funny that someone would buy the best oil money could buy and then use an OEM filter when there are certainly better filters on the market that would pair better with the best oil money can buy:confused: