zootjeff

I keep watching my oil life go down, I've put around 3000 miles on my TL since I last changed my oil last March. My oil life said 30%, then it said <20%. Is it going to eventually say <10%? Will at some point it pop up with "Maintenance Required?"

I'm going to change the oil anyway because it's been a while. Just wondering how low it goes on the MID before it whines at me..

Oil Life:
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
<20%
???
???
???


Can someone fill in the question marks for me?


-Jeff

Infamous_Ghost769

Mine has gone up to 15%

6MTUA5

iTrader: (2)

Just change it every 3K miles or 3 months, whichever comes first, and don't worry about what that thing says.

geronimomoe

I believe it will say 15%, then 10%, then 5%.. We have an Ody 06. Granted I don't have a TL (yet...) but I believe it will tell you maintenance is required. My guess is that you're getting a 10% drop for every 500 miles driven or so. So, by roughly 4500, you'll be down to 10%..

Our 06 Odyssey goes from 100% oil life down to 5% in about 4500-4700 miles and it's driven mainly in suburban northern NJ..

Follow the MID. If you're not comfortable, do an oil analysis (Blackstone), to see how the oil is looking. No sense in throwing away money.. The days of going every 3 months/3000 miles is old fashion thinking. To throw more insurance on top of it, use synthetic. Take your pick, Mobil 1, Royal Purple, Red Line, Amsoil. Personally I use Mobil 1 because it is readily available.

Good luck

JAB00

After <15% is <10% then maintenance due soon followed by maintenance due now. Follow the MID. It will tell you when service is due and what type of service is due. This is one of the luxuries of having a TL one doesn't have to guess based on miles.

SteveP66

Too funny - I just noticed <20% today and was wondering the same things. Guess I'll keep my eye on it until my 1st service visit.

shayan

iTrader: (1)

Come on, you should know this. You've been on this forums since Nov 2004(Just Kidding) Yeah, it will give you a reminder saying that you need to change the oil. If you need further explaination, check your owners manual

cristphoto

Once oil life gets to (I believe) 10% the MID display shows a warning that won't go out. You can acknowledge the warning and it then becomes smaller in the display but it still stays lit.

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

well said, the cars maintance reminder is set for synthetic 5k interval and if your dealership is only using conventional 3k motor oil then by waiting on your car to tell you its time for an oil change you would have gone over the time frame.

Desert_TL

False.

Repecat

What a bunch of drivel. The MID is NOT set for any mileage, rather it incorporates many factors into the OIC recommendation and using synoil is not one of them. I suggest you read the manual and use the search function for this forum. You will then be less likely to give out erroneous information.

Xpditor

The oil minder in the MID uses an algorithm based on mileage, rpms, temperatures, length of trips, etc. Definitely NOT just mileage.

Also, it does not assume synthetic oil. If it did, Acura would recommend synthetic oil which it doesn't. The owner's manual says synthetic is OK if you get the correct viscosity.

Using the MID and synthetic and a filter change is more than sufficient for good lubrication and some extra peace of mind.

billycuth

bingo. why people listen to the dealer who says its okay to let it go for 4,000-7,500 miles is beyond me. Remember, they're the ones trying to sell you a new car...

Tripp11

What a waste of money.

billycuth

^ i dont know about you, but I can tell the difference after an oil change at 3k miles. I don't think it is a waste of money. I think it is smart.

Repecat

Yep, smart for the oil companies. They love folks that change at 3000 miles.

Tripp11

Ahhhh, the infamous placebo effect.

I'll follow the instructions in my auto manufacturer's manual, and my manual calls for my TL to follow the MID.

gomezine

for you guys who get an oil change every 3k, do you go to the dealership? or do you go to your local oilchange spot? if so, who resets the computer for the next oil change? i just got my first oil change and i went over 5k. my indicator said 15%.

Tripp11

Reset it yourself or have your local wrench do it for you:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showpos...73&postcount=4

billycuth

give me proof that it's a waste. evidence.

as for mr. tripp, there is not "placebo effect". I can feel the difference in the engine revs pre-oil change and post oil change. If you can't, I can't help you.

fsttyms1

Its a waste!

Ive been changing mine at ever 8k with standard Dino oil till 100k miles, then went to 10-15k intervals with syn for another 100k on the same motor in my 2000. Changing every 3k is a waste of money and oil. Do you think the dealer knows the motor better than the guys who designed and tested it? You follow every thing else the manual says dont you? Why not the oil changes? I save alot of money changing the oil when i do. And i know its safe to do so just by having it tested on occasion and by the amount of miles i had on the motor. To the day i pulled it out of the car it never burned a drop, and the cylinder walls still had the original cross hatching on them.

billycuth

i have envirnmentalists (well, not really, but bush haters!) telling me 3k is good. you guys cant be serious.

I dont care if they designed the engine, they want you to buy more cars!

fsttyms1

So just because the dealer says every 3k you think they should be listened to more than honda them selves who designed the motor?? In the old days of engine building and oil 3k was a good idea. Today its not needed nearly as much if any.

billycuth

actually the dealers have not told me any such thing. they have told me 7500.

it doesnt matter. I bought my car at Car Sense. They have a "free engine for life" program that guarantees my car's engine will run for my lifetime as long as I follow their maint schedule. That schedule calls for 3k oil changes.

geronimomoe

Well, it is your money, your car, and your time (spent at the oil change place or doing it yourself). I used to have that mindset as well. If you're so worried about the oil, have it analyzed, as I said in my earlier post. I don't know of many oil analysis companies. However, one that seems to be quite popular with members of www.bobistheoilguy.com is blackstone.

Also, if you're using synthetic, that is an absolute waste of money going only 3K miles.

I've been using synthetic since 1994 using the every 6 month/7500 miles interval on my 93 SHO when I had it and our 96 Accord after 500 miles. Sold the SHO at 74K miles (never used a drop of oil) and our 96 Accord has 97K miles and the motor hasn't used a drop of oil and is clean internally as can be (I can see the part of the drive train from the oil fill hole).

geronimomoe

Don't agree with you. From what I can tell and read, the OCI have varied from 4500-5000 miles up to 8000-10000 miles, depending on a variety of factors and the oil is not analyzed for wear.

tallrussian

My MID goes as follows:

Oil Life 100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%

Maintenance due soon
Oil Life <20%
<15%
<10%

Maintenance due now
Oil life <5%

Maintenance overdue
1 Mi
2 Mi
...
7 Mi

I did not try to go beyond "overdue" farther than 7 miles, though. I'm sure it just keeps increasing at that point.

Tripp11

It's your money - do with it what you want, but by the sounds of it, you get an "engine for life" program if you follow THEIR maintenance schedule. So, by all means, follow it.

As for you wanting evidence, I need to look no further than my own vehicles and I follow the instructions in the manufacturer's manual. So, for my Acura TL, I follow the MID.

An "engine for life" benefit from a seller does me no good since I lease every single one of my cars.

Your mileage may vary...