Does the MID take into account the amount of time passed?

When I bought my TL as a CPO it was at 100%. After about 13 month of driving it only dropped to 60%, the dealer said the oil will go bad within a year and I need to change it immediately.

I do mostly city, but I am very light footed.

 

Acura says to change the oil when the MID says or 1 year whichever comes first. That being said, I use synthetic oil and most of my driving is highway as well. I don't have any problem leaving it in longer than a year and changing it when the MID prompts me to.

 

Unfortunately it does not. It uses an algorithm that calculates the life remaining based on numerous factors, but time is not one of them.

I prefer to play it safe and use synthetic, because I just feel a bit uneasy going 7-8k between oil changes. It helps that I do my own so the cost difference is not significant.

I know the Acura engineers know the tolerances of our engines better than anybody, but it still doesn't feel right going that long (I'm actually at 8k now and MID shows 20%). I change mine as soon as the indicator comes on at 15%, so that combined with the synthetic helps me to sleep a bit better at night

 

The below link is from an Acura dealer so I am not sure of the validity. However, it does say that the maintenance minder accounts for time as well.

http://www.curryacura.com/acura-main...inder-faqs.htm

 

^^^ That's only engine operating time though. It doesn't account for the vehicle being parked.

 

ah...

 

I just changed my oil in my 2011 for the 3rd time. I have about 26K miles on it. On the decal that they post on the windshield to remind when to change your oil next, the dealership wrote "15% or 31k". I guess the dealership likes for me to use the MID notification.

 

i have a '12 TL AWD 6MT and i changed my oil twice. once at around 5,000 then the next at 10,000. i do about 30% city & 70% highway and i wait till i get to 10% on the MID. it looks like my next one will be a 15,000 because i have 13,250 and it says 45% on the MID so i think i safe to say that ill be changing the oil every 5,000. i go to the dealer every time and it gets full synthetic since the first oil change from the dealer. i guess as long as i dont hit 10% on the MID, ill be changing it every 5,000 miles just for peace of mind and its easy to remember also.....

 

I just bought a 2012 TL with 20 miles on it. Manufactured in July 12 and received by the dealer in Sept 2012 where it sat until April. I have a decent commute and will probably put close 1500 a month on it. Do I need to change the oil earlier than the MID because it sat on the lot for so long? If so when: July 1 year form manufacturer, September 1 year for the time it arrived on the lot or should I just wait until November which is when I expect I will hit the 15%?

 

What's the best synthetic oil to put in a 2011 TL 3.7? Is Mobil 5w-20 any good?

 

Once you make the switch to a synthetic oil, it is recommended you stick with synthetic. The price point is a consideration, as if you are driving under normal conditions, synthetic is overkill for the price.

 

$25/5 gal is over priced?

 

Re-read my post. I never said it was "over priced."

It's $9.50 a quart (mobile1) here in Oregon compaired to standard oil at $4.99 a quart (QuakerState).

Perhaps you have access to a better deal than I.

I use Mobile 1 in the RDX and whatever the dealer puts in the TL (Both vehicles have free oil changes for life from the stealership).

It would be great if you could share your source for that $25 for 5 gallon price on Mobile1. I'm sure there are more than a few of us that would jump on that shit.

 

i think all Walmarts have it for around that price range. ive been picking it up from there for the past 5 years.....just realized...25/5GALLON!!! yeah, didnt think it through myself, its 25/5quarts