gm991

Do you guys do it at 5k with synthetic oil or do you wait till the % meter on the trip computer says it's time.
Thanks

TheChamp531

iTrader: (3)

Please search. This has been discussed over and over times a million

The first 5 pages have about 10 oil threads.

Go by MID if my recommendation.

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

I usually change my oil around 50%-40% on the MID.

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

go by the MID. and yes there are many other threads on the issue...

if you change your oil more often say the traditional 3K or 3 months, you're throwing money away.

i usually only get about 4K miles per change based on my MID (change when i hit <15% or <10%), when i can get it done. others with lots of hwy driving can get over 7-8K miles per change. some will change every 5K regardless of MID status. i believe most of us go by the MID, as will the dealer and acura (its in the owner's manual).

ch1zo

iTrader: (1)

Ive been using Motul synthetic x-cess 8100 and I change every 7-8k or whenever the computer tell me.

anx1300c

iTrader: (2)

Once a year, about 8-10k.

mau108

Unless your motor is modded there is no reason NOT to follow the MID. Acura's Maintenance Minder system for the most part is pretty conservative and the TL's system was based around regular oil not synthetic.

I know people are going to say that oil is cheap but a motor is expensive, but motors are becoming more efficient and oils are getting better so there is no reason not to trust the engineers at Acura/Honda.

Use a good quality oil (Synthetic if you want, I know you folks down in the US get good deals even on brand name synthetic oils) and follow the MID (save the environment and save some $$$). This is what I've been doing for the RDX and the internals are spotless and problem free with 80k on it now.

SpiderX1016

If I were to follow the MID, I'd be changing the oil every 4,000 miles. No thank you.

I'll go with 8,000 miles.

Bearcat94

By the MID I change my oil about every 4500 miles.

Works for me.

ParaSurfer1979

well you are giving your motor mor wear. the mid follows what the sensor sense in the oil. it isnt based on mileage for TL's with maintanance reminders which has sensors that sample the oil. you running your car vwith shitty oil for 4k miles is doing more harm than good.

SpiderX1016

What sensors are you talking about?

If the MID had taken account of me using Synthetic oils. Then I would follow it.

Bearcat94

No, that's not how it works. There is no "oil sensor" that "samples the oil".


The MID is based on a variety of factors including time, mileage, rpms, temperature, etc. Those factors a used in some sort of algorithm to predict or estimate oil life.

If your driving habits are pretty stable, the best thing to do is send used oil to a place like Blackstone Labs for an evaluation. Over the course of a few samples you can hone in on the ideal mileage for the way you drive the car and the oil you use.

mau108

If you're going 8K with a synthetic fine, but not on regular oil. And as BearCat has stated there is no sensor for the vehicle to sample the oil but it does exactly what BearCat has stated to factor in the optimized oil life

Parker75

Excellent suggestion and a coincidence since I just got my 3rd used oil analysis report from Blackstone Labs. My car had 98,731 miles on it and this recent report had 8,138 miles on the oil and their comment was the oil had more useful life and suggested I go to 10K miles.

At this point, I am more concerned about the oil filter (Purolator PureOne) and how long it can last. What they tell me is that the fact of low solubles found in my used oil (0.5%) it would not be a problem to go to 10K miles.

My question to the tribologists here is can car oil filters last that long?

Thanks in advance for sharing your insights and experience.

Chessie724

I go about 500-1000 miles past 0% on the MID to account for the full synthetic I use. I don't beat on the engine, so I get about 6,000 miles on the MID-calculated life.

lilsid112

iTrader: (7)

I usually get about 6300 miles per oil change on a full synthetic oil and I replace it when ever the MID gets to 15%.

SpiderX1016

Yeah, I use Pennzoil Ultra or Mobil 1 EP. I'd bet they can go longer than 8k but that's where I draw the line.

The Pureone filter is fine for 10k. If you don't feel comfortable with it, try a Royal Purple, Amsoil, M1 or K&N Filter. They're all great filters.

PDJ3.2

For the people who are changing their oil less often than what the MID suggests, do you reset the MID when the reminder flashes? Or do you wait to reset it until you actually change the oil?

vietxquangstah

iTrader: (7)

i just let the mid keep flashing everytime i get in the car. i just press the button to make the orange screen go away.

recently my screen said i was 2399 miles past service due



i was running on mobile 1 ep with a mobil 1 filter for 7500 miles that time. going for 10,000 this time around

Bearcat94

Consider this: The oil you sent Blackstone was filtered with a filter that had 8,138 miles on it.

If your filter were insufficient, this would be reflected in the oil.

csmeance

If you want a better filter, I believe redline makes one that lasts upto 20K!

3gstealth

iTrader: (2)

Can you post your Blackstone analysis please? What oil were you running?

anx1300c

iTrader: (2)

Redline doesn't make filters. I'm guessing you're thinking of Amsoil; they have 15 and 25k filters. I'm running a Royal Purple filter now, but may try the Amsoil next year.

rkan121

i do 3000-3500 miles every change with conventional oil. engines are expensive and i dont care about $20 here or there cause i change my own oil. Also after every oil change I feel a nice amount of personal gratification. I just enjoy putting money into my car in a positive way. Although I will be moving to Mobile 1 here soon, just havent made the move yet, but im sold on it. As for MID i just reset mine when it hits 0%. I keep a personal record in my garage as to oil milages for both my cars

Davor519

Hello all

I am relatively new and this may be answered in one of the other threads for oil changes but what I am understanding after reading all the posts is...........my TL does not know if I have synthetic or normal oil. It starts count km after a service and there is a predetermined formula that will judge oil life. Such as lots of low speed (city) driving and the car will tell me to change around 4000 km, lots of high speed (highway) driving and it will tell me to change around 6000 km. Or similar numbers.
If that is true then it sound like a dumb system to me. Am I wrong?? Like i said in the beginning I am new so do not crucify me, but it sound like a dumb system if there is no sensor.

Thank to all

Suprstar

Twice a year. Late Spring and and late Fall.

Bearcat94

Few (VERY few, if any at all) cars have an actual sensor. Almost every car on the road with an Oil Life Indicator is based on an algorithm of environmental factors and driving habits.

It's probably pretty hard to do a UOA "on the fly".

Acura assumes you'll use conventional oil. In the Owners Manual it says (paraphrasing), "You can use synthetic oil, but you still have to follow the MID for warranty purposes."

mau108

There is nothing dumb about it. It's been tested thoroughly and works out well. Although Acura does pad in variance. If you are anal and want to get every pennies worth of oil life out of your oil/filter get a UOA done and follow that to find out the max you can drive on a single oil change.

Since oil is cheap I say just follow the MID. I love changing my oil!

anx1300c

iTrader: (2)

I wouldn't say all oil is cheap. It costs $75-$80 to change it with Redline and a high end filter.

TVL65

I can't make it any easier, every 5,000 miles with synthetic at the dealer plus a tire rotation. Air filter every 15,000 miles & Trans fluid every 20,000. 5,000 mile intervals is alot easier to calculate then 7,000/8,000 miles.

ez12a

eh..i just wait for specials on the "full synethetic" valvoline/pennzoil specials. Yes i know they're not "real" synthetic but for 30 bucks including the filter...yea.

vietxquangstah

iTrader: (7)

so you don't change your oil at all until autozone or oreily has specials for oils?