Pug

I'm following the MID on when to change the oil. I was expecting it to run down to 0% life at approx 7500 miles, but actually got there at 5200 miles. I understand the Oil life calc takes into account accumulated engine RPM, but I thought I would have been on the lower end. For example, most of my miles are on the highway in 6th gear (6MT). Also, I live in Central NJ so the temps haven't been too extreme yet. Just curious what kind of miles others are clocking before making the first oil change.

rets

I changed my oil when MID indicates between 5% and 20%. Based on environment, the car status and driving habits, everyone gets their own schedule. My 5AT is about 3.5-4k. Friends' in CA have 7-8k...

Not everyone could have 7.5k interval, and the a little early change isn't bad, either.
:o

spidey07

Got my little message that service is due at 4200 (mid showed 15%).

I do drive pretty hard though - hard acceleration, heavy throttle.

andrewx2

My MID showed 5% oil life at about 6k miles. I tend to drive it pretty hard. :smokin:

dcarlinf1

I changed mine for the first time at 6800 miles, <5% oil life. I drive city, highway and country roads about equally.

jdimaria

MY MID said <5% oil life at 5600 miles. So I changed the oil myself and reset the MID.

soljc

I changed at 4,800 miles with MID showing about 30% life.

jdrasin

I had a question about this. I am at about 1500 miles, yet my indicator still says 80%. Extrapolating that gives me 7500 miles, can it really go that long? Even if I'm about to change to 70 that still is over 5000 miles.

Joe

rets

Perhaps, it's only my illusion. My MID is running faster after the middle of the interval. I ever expected to have some decent mileage in the end while having 80% at about 1200 miles. Actually, I got less.

IMO, if you cannot stay where you are and how you drive in the whole period, it's hard to get that expectation.

hokietl

Had my first oil change at 2k miles. Changed to 5W20 Penz oil..... Plan to change
oil & filter at every 3k miles interval, same as my old 93 legend that has over 180K .
The Legend used 10W30.

=============
Deep Green Pearl, 5AT, no navi

Ron A

I am at 3,892 miles now and thge MID shows 50%, so 7,500 miles doesn't seem unreasonable. I will probably change around 6,000 miles, which should be around 15%, unless it goes downhill faster than projected.

Maybe towards the end of the cycle it adjusts itself accordingly and speeds up the process a little.

Aegir

Changed mine at 15% - 4860mi.

caball88

10% 4100 miles

abqhudson

4000 miles -- 50%

Jim

pedalermike

30% at 5800 miles

achadha100

changed at 3900 with 10% left

¿GotJazz?

Just hit 20% @ 6400 miles. Probably about 80%+ highway miles.

FasTL

I don't care what the manufacturer says but my first oil change is going to be at 1000 and every 3000-5000 after that. I'm also going to use synthetic like the rest of my cars.

ray85158

5600 miles at 30%

TBone2004

IMO you really shouldn't be waiting so long for that first oil change folks. I mean, to each his own and when it comes down to it - it probably doesn't make a huge difference, but I guess I come from the old school of get any metal filings etc. and junk out of there that are prevalent in the first oil change. Follow the MID later on, but that first one really should come out a lot sooner than that. Additives in the oil - I have heard conflicting stories surrounding that - besides, any additive has long done its job by then. If there even is such a thing.
Just my opinion - everyone has to do what makes them sleep better at night. Important thing is to make regular oil changes, keep the filter cleaned and try to use quality products. Just like some people argue till they are blue that synthetic oils are best...not being a scientist I cannot prove that if I change every 3-5k, that my oil is any less protecting than the synthetic. A lot of marketing goes into this stuff. Same with anything - waxes, polishes etc. Just do whatever you feel comfortable with or have experience with and what works for you and your car.

Just my .02.

elessar

I'm a little over 6100 miles and the MID says "Oil life < 20%." I just made an appointment with Davis Acura to get it serviced 2 weeks from now. I didn't want to wait any longer, because my GF & I are gonna drive down to Baltimore & DC for a little vacation, so I figured I should take care of it before we go.

As to what TBone2004 said about following the MID later on, but doing the first oil change early: When I called to set up the appointment, I told the guy my mileage, and that it was my 1st service, and he asked, "Is your car saying to do it now?" So it sounds like, at least according to this 1 Acura service guy, you should follow the MID, even for the first one. I can't imagine them not wanting the extra work ($$$), in any case.

TBone2004

I hear ya. If there was a chance to make more $$ they would for sure. The MIDs would work according to Acura month end budgets and just trigger as appropriate. Ha, Ha

Ok, Ok I still have the oil in the container I store the waste oil in - I'll put it back in the car!

stealthy

7354 mi < 15%

rets

You've been fulfilling Acura Engineering Dept. expectation... Great...

mrpete

My first 5% or less indicator was around 6,500 miles. The second at about the same interval.

Most of my miles are hwy miles as well. I do run this motor HARD at times too.

Most of my car savvy friends love the fact that my car monitors oil life. This is a very good feature and idea.

FYI ~ America is the ONLY place the 3,000 mile oil change is scared into us. Overseas most others (UK, etc) reccommend oil changes at 10-20,000 miles. While agreeing more often than this is safer we do overdo it by a large amount.


Pete

Rocketsfan

I did my first oil change after the MID indicated 5% for a while. It was still 5% when I got the change. The odometer read 6890 miles.

I'm at 12700 miles right now and the odometer is at 30%.

varanelli

Right now I'm at 5,800 miles and 30%.

I drive average to slightly below average in terms of hard driving. I do about 75% suburban driving and 25% highway in suburban DC.

I do notice that the MID goes in "spurts." That is, it went quickly from 100% to 80% then stayed at 80% for a while. Also went quickly from 50% to 30% and now has been at 30% for a while.

Road Rage

I am not going to follow the mid, other than the first oil change to preserve the warranty. The algorithm Acura uses does not take into consideration synthetic oils, which can provide substantially extended drains. European makes like Mercedes are the opposite - they base their algorithms on synthetic, and it is not unusual to see OCI's of 10-12k miles. They got into trouble when they recommended mineral oils in the US - the computers said the oil was OK, when in reality it was long gone. Subsequent premature wear occured, and Daimley settled a class action in the tens of millions.

I will enter in my maintenance spread sheet whatever the computer says, but in practice will do what my experience and UOA's tell me is right. I know that Acura says to use the same intervals for min or syn, but that just makes no logical sense.

Excellent choice in a 5w20 is the Motorcraft synblend, which is made by Conoco - it uses some advanced amines that are the leading edge of lubricant technology, as the CF-4 specs approach. The UOA's of this oil show outstanding wear protection and long-life. I was keptical of the 5w20's, but they are proving themselves. That may not be true for the minoil's, however.

luckydog700

5900 <10% left

alvon

4300 miles at 30%

Changed to Motorcraft 5w20 synblend, plus a bottle (16oz) of MLEP, and Honda filter.

04acura tl

so what kind of oil is in our cars from the factory is it syn oil??? I also agree with an earlier post about changing our oil at 3k when most of our owners manuals from different makes say 5 to 7500 miles... I think the 3k rule came from people like those oil change places....syn oils are good for at least 7500 miles and probably longer like 10k