sara

Hello

I hv just put 5000 miles on my Acura TL & I have to get the engine oil change. Should i go to the dealer or anyone since its just oil change & tire rotation.

Also should i go for regular or synthetic oil

Thks folks

Happy driving.

chill_dog

I'm guessing you don't want to any of this yourself. With that in mind, go to whomever you feel comfortable with. I've taken my car to the dealer for all of its oil changes, but that was due to getting other things done at the same time (mainly rattle fixes). They did a good job each time. However, for me, there is a very good, very competent quicky lube near my house that I will probably take the car to in the future if I don't need anything else taken care of. A lot of people don't have these near them (or good dealers)...only you know what you've got.

I would recommend getting synthetic...it will run you about $40, whether at the dealer or at a quicky lube. The dealer and the quickly lube can both do the tire rotation, again, usually around $40 (I do my own).

CAHobbs

Any good shop can do the oil change and rotate the tires for you or you can even do it your self. Just keep a record of when you did it and all receipts to appease the "warranty gods".

I use Mobile 1 in the TL, great reviews and even my Service Manager advised it.

BTW, I take mine to the dealer because they let me bring in my own oil so I only get charged for the filter and labor (saves me considerable amount of cash).

Good Luck!

Tripp11

Sounds as if you're getting the oil changed because you have 5,000 miles on your car and NOT because the MID is calling for an oil change/tire rotation/service.

I thought that's the whole point of having the MID in the TL - to get away from those mileage based service intervals.

KJW73

I have my oil changed at the dealership every 3,000 miles, regardless; but I did notice that when I had it changed at 3,000 miles the oil life was at 10%. Does the MID tell you to get your oil changed when it is at 0%; do you know what the MID's warning is?

datmrman

Did they reset your MID after they changed your oil? If not, you should make sure they do on the next change or you can do it yourself. Its in the manual or you can search on here.

I currently have 5,700 miles on mine and the MID is saying "<20%." Getting an oil change this weekend since I know the MID will prompt me once it hits 15%.

Tripp11

I do not know off the top of my head what the warning level is; however, I do know that I get a "Service Due Soon" warning and then finally a "Service Due Now" warning. Both indicate which service is due such as B1.

Will Y.

I think the MID sends out its message when the TL senses oil is <15%. My TL's MID reminder popped up earlier this week for the "B" service, and oil was <15%.

Will Y.

Sara,
Go to an independent mechanic you trust. I received a referral to someone when I moved to Southern California.
My independent Honda/Acura mechanic has always done the work properly and charged a lot less than the dealers for everything, from oil changes to major services with timing belt changes.

KJW73

They did reset the MID; I am now at 4,400 miles and my oil life is 80%.

subinf

wow you managed to get it all the way down to 10 percent at 3k? lowest ive ever seen my percentage has been 50 at 3k...and i thought i drove the car hard

KJW73

Yea, I am a little heavy on the gas pedal probably. I am still used to being able to shift myself and make it go, go, go the way I want it to go, go, go; so now I am probably over-compensating by being heavy on the gas so I can get-up-and-go.

It was definitely 10% at 3,000 miles.

SodaLuvr

She probably made many short trips. Higher RPMs and a more aggressive driving style will lower oil life and the Maintenance Minder system is accounting for it by recommending a more frequent drain interval.

subinf

I should drive like that...I change my oil 3k regardless, but maybe you wouldnt knock me about it Michael (actually I cant remember if you ever have or not, but its more fun this way)

BustedJack

really... hmm.. I change my at 4000miles. But once I let it go for nearly 6000 miles and the MID still had 10% left at 6000 miles. I use Mobil 1 BTW.