When to change oil: 5000 miles or 15%? Follow sticker or car computer? When?? ლ(ಠ益ಠ)ლ

[Reventon13]

thanks for your help, but i also have a few questions in the body of the thread. (im a forum noob)

[cascivic]

Depends on driving style (rpms cold starts drive cycles). The factory fill is just regular honda branded oil besides having a very high moly count. I personally left mine in till 15% on the clock. At 600 miles your rings etc are pretty much broken in thats another argument that's been around since the beginning of time (hard break in vs easy) in my experience you'll prob get about 6 to 8 k till your mm gets to 15%.

[cookieman214]

Look in the Fluid Dynamics section of this forum, your questions are already answered there.

The maintenance minder system shows engine oil life in the information display to let you know when it’s time to have the engine oil replaced and regular maintenance done. There’s no longer a maintenance schedule in the Owner's Manual.

The system shows engine oil life as a percentage, which drops over time as the vehicle racks up miles. It starts out at 100% with fresh engine oil, and winds down to 0%, signaling the oil life is over. The system counts down oil life based on engine operating conditions (both normal and severe). If the engine runs at higher temperatures and rpm, or at low temperatures during short trips, the oil life will deplete faster than an engine running under more normal conditions.

[II Kings 9:20]

I am at 2700 miles and 80%. I agree, much of this is covered in fluids. I found that section after I posted about synthetic oil for which there seemed to be zero discussion. Unfortunately many of us don't go to specific sections, I almost never go beyond 9th gen.

My 05 300C manual stated that brief periods of WOT (wide open throttle i.e. foot to the floor) during break in aids in the break in process. So much for granny driving in the first 1000 miles.

Of all the cars I have owned, AFAIK the only other manual that stated that was my '73 BMW Bavaria. It also recommended periodically driving for several minutes at 6000 RPM to clear the engine of deposits.

[SHINCHU]

i mashed to redline on the way home from the dealer the day i bought it.

did the same with the 2012 civic i had before that, too.
brought the civic in for an oil change at 4,500 miles and they said "no, because your oil life is still at 60%. we wont change it until its at 15%. there are break-in additives that we need to keep in there for a while."

straight from the service manager: "put your foot in it." me: "i already do!" "do it harder!"

lets just say my accord spends a LOT of time in VTEC country.

i also read on the civic forums from one of the engineers that builds the engines "when you accelerate at WOT, make sure you let it rev back down in the same gear, too. this helps bore the engine and seat the piston rings properly."
so in sport mode, i stomp up to 3rd, and let off, leaving it in third and let the engine rev back down with my foot off the gas. works great in 4th too.

i havent checked my oil life but the engine pulls pretty hard. my HF civic was pulling so hard i was able to keep distance form my next door neighbor's '90 240sx with some mods.
i have no idea how a 140hp civic was beating a 170+hp 240sx but i think it means i am breaking in my engines just fine.

[internalaudit]

Seems like I am the only one having the maintenance minder on our 2011 Honda Accord Coupe (Auto) go off every 8-10,000 miles, which I thought was great since I have to head to the dealership at 1/2 the usual frequency. I thought this was more the norm than the exception since for many other manufacturers, cars have to be taken in for servicing (or given an oil change by the owner if he/she is DIYer) every 5,000 miles (8,000 km here in Canada).

My wife drives about 60% highway / 40% city so I'm not sure if that makes a difference. We were also assured by the local Honda dealership in Toronto that they have been using synthetic oil (not sure which type but this is at the Honda dealership) for the oil changes and I believe with synthetic, 10,000 miles between changes is reasonable.

We bought an 8-year warranty on this vehicle and only have about 25,000 miles on it and so I told my wife not to bring it in for service until the maintenance minder drops to 15% (or perhaps 10%). I don't like having to go to the dealership too frequently since it is costly to do so for the Type C, D and E service types and going sooner will only accelerate these visits. I'm not as mechanically inclined to do my own servicing except for the tire rotations.

[guerrillax3]

Sorry if this is a repeat post, searched but couldn't find.

Based off of the % given on the dash, whats the best percentage to change the oil?

[glen e]

did you check the owner's manual?

[redhat]

And while were on the topic (no offense OP, seems like there a TON of oil/change/brand/type questions lately):

-Honda oil is good
-0W-20 is not bad for your car
-don't need fancy amsoil or royal purple - they're not bad oils but you're not a hendrick's racing engine turning 8-9k all day long
-yes the maintenance minder knows it stuff
-keep the factory fill in for the recommended duration, no need to change at 600, 1000, 2000, 3000, etc. miles

who wants to add some more?

[Technocrat]

Originally Posted by redhat

And while were on the topic (no offense OP, seems like there a TON of oil/change/brand/type questions lately):

-Honda oil is good
-0W-20 is not bad for your car
-don't need fancy amsoil or royal purple
-yes the maintenance minder knows it stuff
-keep the factory fill in for the recommended duration, no need to change at 600, 1000, 2000, 3000, etc. miles

who wants to add some more?

Great Reply, I too had similar dilemma. After speaking to few folks, decided to stick to Mineral oil & change when the indicator on dash says so i.e. once it goes below 10% Oil Life.

[ypsibird]

Originally Posted by Technocrat

& change when the indicator on dash says so i.e. once it goes below 10% Oil Life.

Now I'm not saying how you change your oil is wrong for you. But the manual indicates you should change your oil at 15% when you get an A or B maintenance code.

[Technocrat]

Originally Posted by ypsibird

Now I'm not saying how you change your oil is wrong for you. But the manual indicates you should change your oil at 15% when you get an A or B maintenance code.

Thanks, Haven't changed my oil yet but just checked the manual. It says that the service reminder would come up when the oil life is between 15% to 5%. It also states Pg # 308 "The 15 and 10 percent oil life indicators remind you that your vehicle will soon be due for scheduled maintenance".

So I think around 10 % should be good time for oil change

[guerrillax3]

Awesome, thanks guys. Yeh I got a long way to go, still at 60%

[drowned12]

I changed mine at 80% because I'm anal

[rszappa1]

I change mine every 5,000 miles. I have 183,000 on my 07 and it runs great. I use syn oil...