New Civic oil change question

The new Civics have a digital readout on the oil quality. The dealer said
we should change the oil at 40%. Is that just the first oil change or all
changes? Should we wait until 10% or less?

Thanks, Wayne

 

Crack the manual open. The dealer is just trying to get you in sooner/more
often for increased revenue.

The maintenence light doesn't come on (indicating time for an oil change
among other items) if I remember correctly till 15%. Also, I'm not sure if
it still holds true for 2008 models, but previous years the owners manual
strongly warns to NOT do the first oil change prematurely for proper engine
break-in.

 

what does the OWNERS MANUAL say?
I'd follow that before I'd listen to a dealer who says otherwise.

 

Just to make them look like idiots, ask them to tell you where in the
book it says that you should change it at 40% and then find a new
place to get your car serviced at because if that shop hoses you on
this, you can imagine what else they will be taking you to the
cleaners on.

You should leave the break in oil as long as possible but no sooner
than 15%. If you can leave it at 10 or 5 the better.

 

Heh. My dealer now comes to me after each service reporting that they
have a new service schedule that they recommend, rather than following
the maintenance minder. Oil changes at 3500 Miles, and changes for
everything else as well...

I laugh at them each time, tell them to keep thier pamphlet, and walk
out... ;-)

 

no, there's a much more appropriate place for them to locate it...

 

I've stopped getting most of my services done there anyhow, especially
now that the warranty has expired on my '06. The dealer I used didn't
offer Mobil-1, anyhow, so I have been using a local car wash that also
has a "fast oil change" that they added about 6 years ago.

These guys are more thorough than a couple of the dealers I have dealt
with, and all of the fast-lube chains. They always change the drain
plug and crush washer on every Honda, without it needing to be
requested, and they have never given a bad recommendation (air
filters, cabin filters, oil or tranny "flushes", etc). If anyone is
in the Western NY Area and looking for a place they can trust, I
HIGHLY recommend the Delta Sonic chain, especially the location on
Delaware Ave in Buffalo.

Now enough of the commercial... ;-) Not too often you find a
service place you can really trust, though, and I have put them all
through the paces locally... ;-)

 

Bullshit. Please read your owners manual. It will answer this question and
it is loaded with all kinds of other useful information.

 

I can't BELIEVE that people would seek 'advice' from newsgroup posters
before their own new auto's owner's manual.
Especially on something like a new car's oil changes.
Or that anyone would trust a "digital readout of oil quality".

 

Well, in this case I believe that the owner's manual says to trust the
"digital readout of oil quality"...


At least mine does...

 

We agree up to your last line. If someone is going to follow their Honda
owners manual, then he will pay attention to the Maintenance Minder display.
From what I have been reading on this and other forums, people love their
Hondas and trust the engineering behind them, except when it comes to oil
changes. Regarding oil and filter changes, many people want to change the
oil following the same schedule that grandpa did on his old Chrysler or
whatever, rather than the following the recommendations of Honda. It
escapes me why some people fancy themselves as more knowledgeable about
their car's maintenance requirements than the engineers who designed the
cars in the first place.

 

Don't drive a Civic, but a 2008 Ridgeline.

Dealer told me to use the maintenance minder when I purchased the car.
Haven't changed oil yet.

Now at 4800 miles-display says 30%. Figures out to change oil at 6800+
miles.

We agree up to your last line. If someone is going to follow their Honda
owners manual, then he will pay attention to the Maintenance Minder display.
From what I have been reading on this and other forums, people love their
Hondas and trust the engineering behind them, except when it comes to oil
changes. Regarding oil and filter changes, many people want to change the
oil following the same schedule that grandpa did on his old Chrysler or
whatever, rather than the following the recommendations of Honda. It
escapes me why some people fancy themselves as more knowledgeable about
their car's maintenance requirements than the engineers who designed the
cars in the first place.

 

Now tell us HOW that maintenance minder arrives at the 30% figure of "oil
quality".

 

don' know Jim.

From what the dealer told me, driving habits figure in the computation.

I'm a lightfoot.

Now tell us HOW that maintenance minder arrives at the 30% figure of "oil
quality".

 

"driving habits"? sure! "driving" is part of the computation too!

as i understand it, the math is done on things like # of cold starts,
time idling, time at high revs, full throttle use, engine temperature, etc.

i believe # of cold starts is the biggest factor for the average driver.

 

My wife's '07 Accord first oil change was at 6800 miles and my '08 Fit first
oil change was at 8000 miles.

 

From my 2008 Fit <drum roll> owner's manual:

"Based on the engine operating conditions and accumulated engine
revolutions, the onboard computer in your vehicle calculates the remaining
oil life and displays it as a percentage."

See? Full of all kinds of useful information. ;-)