desibaba

I have a 2005 Acura TL w/ nav. I bought the car from the dealer and got an oil change done (looks like they reset the oil life monitor). So far i have put 4500 miles on the car and the system still says i have 80 percent oil life yet. I didnt get full synthetic oil. Should i change the oil every 3k miles like they say or trust the oil life monitor and wait till it goes down to 30 percent or so before getting the oil changed?

ttribe

Follow the MID, you'll be fine. Did that for five years with my '06 without a problem.

desibaba

Looks like the oil change places want your money so they want you coming back every 3k miles.

ttribe

Yep.

Motor oil quality has improved dramatically in the last 15-20 years, as have the internals of most car engines. It's just not necessary to change the oil so often. My M5 really only requires a change every 15K miles with some top-offs in between, for example.

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

Go with the OLM. 3k for new oil is over kill

Moog-Type-S

Follow the display. 3k mi is overkill in this day and age.

meowevil

iTrader: (1)

MID is good

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

By 5000 would be fine. Follow the display.

newbster

13K on same oil for Pontiac G8 results.

http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtest...-mile-oil.html

PortlandRL

I started my Santa Fe out on synthetic blend at the most recent change (11,000) and am going to stretch my change intervals to 7,500 miles as it's draining mostly clean at 5K.

chill_dog

Been following the MID for over seven years on my 04...no issues.

paz840

iTrader: (2)

Same here. Follow the MID.

Legend2TL

Follow the MID, I run Castrol Syntec 5W-20 and change oil/filter at 20%.

1995hoo

I agree, follow the MID.

Other thing about the oft-cited 3,000 mile interval is that if you followed the traditional Honda maintenance intervals, you'd be changing your oil too often. That is, Honda traditionally specified a 7,500/15,000/30,000 maintenance cycle on most vehicles (though if my memory is accurate the first-generation Legend followed 15,000/30,000/60,000 and that last was hideously expensive). Every one of the services included changing the oil and filter. So if you were strict about following the 3,000-mile oil change regimen but you also followed Honda's schedule, you'd be changing your oil at 3,000, 6,000, 7,500, 10,500, 13,500, 15,000, etc.....see what I mean about how you'd be wasting money on extra oil changes? Back when I drove a 1982 Accord I aimed for changing the oil around every 3,750 miles for precisely this reason. Now with my 2004 TL I just follow the MID. I've never gotten to "Service Past Due" on the display, but I have reached "Service Due Now" once or twice.

6MTrules

MID, as others have said. Although, OP, I'm surprised that you are only down to 80% with 4500 miles. All highway? I'm usually at about 15% with 5000 miles with suburban driving.

I hate cars

It seems like the same thing needs to be said every time one of these threads comes up.

The OCI is calculated, not measured. It doesn't know nor does it make a difference if you have synthetic or not, it will call for the same interval.

3K is not always too short. I've had the MID tell me to change mine at around 3K when I was doing super short trips every day.

People only look at the oil and forget the contaminate load. The oil is constantly getting contaminated by combustion byproducts that get past the rings. The oil by itself would go 50,000+ miles. You change it to get rid of all the crap in the oil. When you look at the ultra high mileage cars that make headlines, most of the owners are using a 3k oil change. I'm not saying to go by that, I don't, but it definitely isn't worthless.

An M5 has double the oil capacity of the TL which is directly related to how long it can go without being changed. It also specifies a high end synthetic 10w-60.

You can not determine wear by a $20 UOA. Wear metals are useless in those tests.

coykiam

I had an argument with my Service Advisor about this when he blamed the oil in my car when my TB broke at 50K and caught him in BSing which he knew. He said I should change the oil every 3k miles to keep it clean and not use synthetic. So I asked if I should follow what he says or what Acura engineers designed or Oil Engineers recommend(MID vs 3K miles), not to mention the advancement of oil throughout the years.

Bottom line just follow what the MID says.

KidoPham

I follow the MID which is approximately every 5-6k miles and use full synthetic

LasVegasTL

Follow the gauge like everyone else said.

deepen03

you do know the guage is not really a sensor right? it goes off at 3K miles by itself.. and you can reset the guages with the hold down button 10 secs while starting thing and it will still say 100PCT oil life even if you are over mileage.. I do go by it. but you can go past it with no problems.. 5K miles is OK.

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

Don't lnow exactly what you're trying to say. If the MID gets down to 15% <3000 miles, that's notification that it's time for a change, but you can reset it, never change the oil, then reset it again and never change the oil and keep doing this and you'll have 50k on the oil without a change.

It's there for a purpose, change it when notified or 1 year max.

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

I followed the MID and got 7700+ miles on my last change.

RyanCHICL

iTrader: (1)

I do yearly OCI's on my TL since I do not put a lot of miles on in a year. I change it every July, and this past July, my MID was still at 60% when I changed it.

GoldenShoes

I'm not really a fan of using the MID. I run Mobil 1 EP but still change it every 3,500-4,000 miles. it doesn't matter to me that oils have changed, and there's a gauge to tell me when to change it. I'd rather have peace of mind by being safe rather than sorry.

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

It's overkill, but if it makes you sleep better at night then do what you like.

ohsixMTee

iTrader: (2)

I plan on going in 5K intervals regardless of the MID. With my last car following religious OCI's there was not one ounce of sludge in the oil pan when I pulled it to change the sump O rings @ 177K, bought it at 119K in horrible mechanical condition.

All I really did was degrease the walls a bit, the bottom internals were all about as clean as you see.

And yes, those PS lines you see were the reason the damn job took so long. The Volvo was a great car, extremely DIY friendly aside from the super expensive parts. lol



3K with our mileage is overkill IMO and 7500+ just doesn't sound like a good idea. I think 5K is a safe OCI.

You can't really judge it by it's appearance, clean oil can be contaminated.

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

I think 7500 is fine if you use a synthetic oil and a great filter. I'm running M1 EP right now with the M1 filter and I'm running that to about 10k/1 year. Its good for 15k and I would hesitate to run 15k with that stuff. I know my engine is clean and runs clean. I usually run all my fully synthetics to about 8k.

Of course this isn't using a OLM since my car doesn't have one. Also the OLM doesn't know if its synthetic or dino. I'm guessing it's probably tuned for dino but one would have to check the owners manual.

TampaJim

You should use the MID to forecast fluid changes. It is an algorithm based on the FIS and it is a solid theory. The calculation is based on engine temps, engine load, mileage, trip duration, driving speeds and RPMs.

Today's fluids are MUCH more sophisticated (base stocks and additives) than in the past. As a society, we change oil far too often - usually at the encouragement of oil companies and service providers.

The MID will offer more than adequate protection with the use of semi-synthetic oils (basic Honda/Acura). For those with fear in their hearts, an upgrade to a full synthetic will offer protection well beyond need.

You REALLY are just fine, in all but the most exotic and extreme cases, following the MID.

nj2pa2nc

if you follow the oil life-wait until it gets to 15%-it will then show a code on what service needs to done.

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

this is what your MID is for. the car tells you when all is said and done with the oil and when everything else needs to be chnaged except brake fluid and power steering fluid.

the trust the MID vs mileage thing has been discussed numerous times (the car has been out for almost 8 years now)...if one actually went to the 3G garage you can find these:


https://acurazine.com/forums/showp...49&postcount=7
https://acurazine.com/forums/showp...83&postcount=5
https://acurazine.com/forums/showp...2&postcount=10

this also gets discussed in the other models as well...so let's beat it to death some more.

follow your MID, don't follow your MID....in the end its your money. the MID was designed for the non car people that haven't a clue about the maintenance of their vehicles. you don't hear stories of an engine dying b/c someone forgot an oil change or it was caused by crappy oil in the engine.

i've followed the MID since i bought the car in '05. no problems. i usually change when it hits 15% and codes pop up. my typical mileage per interval has been 3700-4500 mi. this is based on my driving style and conditions. welcome to suburban DC driving. if you drive more hwy that mileage will go in upwards of 7500+ before a change is needed. hwy driving as we all know is not nearly as hard on the car as stop and go traffic.

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

nj2pa2nc

when I visit my mom I use her 08 honda accord. The majority of the driving is very short trips in traffic. We do not follow the oil life as it would take forever to get to the 15%. Every Nov I take her car for service.

ParaSurfer1979

I agree. Even my 98 Prelude Type SH was every 7500mi changes per the owners manual so you've been going way over board with your changes.

ParaSurfer1979

Taking forever isn't an issue or the maintenance minder would adjust for that as well. The sensor is constantly sampling the oil in your car and hence how it tells you your oil needs ti be changed. I got my oil changed just before i got meningitis over 2 months ago. When I started driving again last week my MID still said my oil was at 100%.

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

It's use the MID, or if the oil change inerval hasn't been reached in 1 year, it's then time for a change.
MID or 1 year max.

Years ago when I purchased the TL the MID came on and was changed at 7900/8000 miles. , since that time, the car sees maybe 5k per year, so the schedule is 1 year.

Got to love these oil threads. Maybe it will sink in over the next 30 or 40 pages.

deepen03

we have an 07 tl.. the oil change was 15 pct.. but the mileage was just over 3K.. last oil change in June.. I am taking it in now to get it done.

deepen03

I call BS on that.. because I just reset it to 100pct without getting an oil change because it was just 3K miles since the last one.. and if the sensor was "sampling" oil, it would drop to 15 pct again.. so obviously that's a load of crap and Acura is just trying to make people go in for early oil changes.

TampaJim

Unless something has changed, the maintenance minder operates off an algorithm based on vehicle operation, more specifically the calculations generated by the fuel injection system - not a sensor.

It is real simple ... operate off the MID. I recommend Honda/Acura lubricants and a Honda/Acura certified service provider (OEM or aftermarket shop ... but AHMC educated, regardless).

Maintenance is a minimal expense when measured against the cost of the vehicle, fuel, insurance, taxes, etc. IMO, it doesn't make sense to skimp on the approximate 1% related to service.

I hate cars

There is no oil life sensor, the MID calculates the interval based on many things. The ones getting the most weight are total engine revolutions and warm up cycles/average run time.

I've had mine take me out to 10k with pure freeway driving and 3,500 with all short trips. I do 5k regardless.