Just wanted to share this. Called up to make an appointment since I wanted to have the oil changed. Car has 3500 miles and this dealer wanted me to come in at 3500. Was told to just show up . So got up early and was first one at the service entrance. Service writer places TL in lot and it gets picked up and driven by the tech into the dealership seperate "oil change only" section. Tech proceeds with the job. I notice a special tool is needed to remove the tiny oil filter. DIY get ready to spend some $$ for that one. But I just could not get over the miniature filter!! It was smaller than a soda can. Is it because of lack of space that it had to be that tiny? It certainly can not hold any decent amount of trapped particles or go for extended lengths of time. Tech does use new washer on drain plug and puts in new oil. I have a friendly chat with him and want confirmation that he knows about the correct amount which my manual says is 4.5 quarts. He insists it has to be 4.8 and lets the hose fill it with 4.8. When we check the dip stick together it is 1/2 inch above the top hash mark. He claims " the oil just runs down the dip stick when I pull it out and its OK! I declined the free wash and was pleasantly suprised when the invoice from the cashier was N/C. Went to the service writer and thanked him for the freebie. Also asked him if the next one at 7500 was N/C. He replied that he was not supposed to do the first one N/C anymore and that future oil changes ofcourse had to be paid for. I quess he did this since I bought the car there. Asked them about using 5W30, reply was typical corporate: No can do, must follow the guide lines., 5W20 only. Then asked him if they could put in synthetic the next time since I wanted max protection. He said that could be done for $60. When asked what the viscocity was he said 5W30!!! Wow, is there a contradiction here or what. I just went home after that one. But now the overfill is bugging me, am inclined to go back and have them reduce it to spec! COULD one third of a quart of excess oil DO DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE OR CATALYTIC CONVERTERS? Sorry about the long ramble but I think you can relate to my concerns. Your thought and input would be appreciated. Thank you all. Regards .

 

Acura recommends that you wait for your first oil change until the service light comes on at 15 % oil life.

 

A small overfill will not hurt anything - engine oil capacity is often set low because it figures into TCO estimates, especially for cars that are candidates for fleet or corporate sales.

 

I would rest easy with the slight overfill you had. I had a friend who took in his TL to have the oil changed at the stealership. He brought his own oil and asked for empty containers (synthetic is expensive and he wanted to be sure they used his oil). He purchased and brought in 6 quarts of oil (special deal on 6qts at the local auto parts store).

Now it gets good

He goes to pick up his car and checks the empty containers......all 6 are empty!! He asks for where the other 1.5 qts went? "What do you mean" was the response. He advised he brought in 6, the car takes 4.5, which leaves a 1.5 qt difference. He asked the service manager if the tech used all 6 quarts? "No way these techs are very familiar with these cars". Well needless to say his care was a quart and a half heavy on the oil (it was WAY above the full line). He had the tech drain 1.5 qts before he left.

Can you imagine if he just left and started driving!?!?

The stealership would have denied they overfilled the car, you can almost guarantee it.

From your thread, and his experience it appears these techs DON'T know how many qts of oil to use.

 

Diy.

 

I have a same problems the dip stick is 1/2 inch above the top hash mark, after first free oil change. When I check oil level on next day, I have them reduce it to the top hash mark, they did no ??? ask.

 

Where I bought my TL, first two maintenance is free plus free oil change for life of the vehicle as long as I bring it back to where I purchase the car!!!!!! I thought everyone had this!!!!!

 

Just one more reason to do it yourself.

 

 

No, it isn't a special tool and no, it isn't expensive (unless you buy Honda's over priced, over engineered item).
I picked up a end cap wrench at NAPA - at the dealers suggestion - that fits perfectly and have since found them at several auto parts stores in my area. They are readily available for a price comparable to any other end cap wrench.

 

Yep, and a standard (quality, mind you) filter wrench also works fine.

Road Rage offered a very good suggestion a little while back for removing the filter. Use a 1-gallon Zip-Lock bag and slip it over the filter after you have loosened it enough to remove it by hand. Then just continue to unscrew the filter until it can drop into the bag. Just be sure that the top of the Zip-Lock stays above the top of the filter and be careful when you lower it to seal it so that you don't spill any oil.

 

You aint just whistlin' Dixie, brother!

Now if I could get the right $1 clip to fix my glove box......

 

Yikes! This reminds of that scene from the remake of The Fly, with Jeff "Gettin Weirder Looking Every Year" Goldblum.

Geena Davis says:

"No, be afraid - be very afraid!".