I just got a 91 accord ex 5 speed. On my gauges in the very left bottom corner there looks to be some sort of dial or something but it looks like you need a screw driver or soemthing to do anything with it, what is it? I can't figure it out.

 

Stick your key in there, it will reset the 3,000 mile maintenance reminder. They turn red when when you go past 3,000 miles since you last reset it.

 

its alot longer than 3000 miles! for some reason honda has this thing about saying that you can go alot longer between oil changes mine says like 5 or 7500 my girlfriends 03 civic says like 10000 in the manual. im guessing that honda is figuring that isone way to get people to buy new cars faster is get them to sludge their cars up and ruin them. just my $ .02 i am **** about gettin my oil changed every 3000 and the lil "service reminder hickey-ma-dodger" i think is set to like 7500.

 

New 07 Honda Pilot, after 1000 miles, it shows 90% oil life. In the manual, it recommended 10,000 mile change. I will trust Honda, warranty covers it.

I used to change my oil every 3000, but work and all are just keeping me from being the mechanic guy that I was once.

 

If you use synthetic oil, you can go a lot longer than 3,000 miles. I would be willing to bet even conventional oild will be fine up to 5,000 miles, but don't quote me on that. I think the 3,000 mile oil change interval was something started by oil change shops that needed to get more business. Just my $0.02.
I still change my own oil every 3,000 miles though. I haven't switched to synthetic yet. I use Valvoline High Mileage 10w30 (I live in Mississippi). For a 5 quart bottle it is only $12 at WalMart. I use Purolator or PureOne filters (range from around $3.50 to $5.50) Much cheaper than the $40(+or-)oil changes at an oil change place.

 

I let my car go for about 4500 miles once before I got it changed and the mechanic said it looked horrible. The only way to truly know is run for 3000 miles, have an oil sample tested and adjust. Every engine is different and the area you live in can make a difference too...

 

that is the maintenance required indicator and it goes from green to red the closer you get to 7500 miles, wich is what Honda says is the normal routine maintenance schedule for that particular generation, however, if I were you I would just go with the 3000 mile maintenance.

 

check it every couple hundred miles. if its dark or smells burnt, it needs to be changed.

and the maintenence required light does NOT mean you can wait that long to change the oil. It means other maintence BESIDES changing oil needs to be done, check your manual for the exact things you need to do. you should change your oil when it needs to be changed. BEFORE 7500 miles is up.

 

3000 is a myth. 5000 is good. 7500 is about where dino oil starts to break down. 7500 should be good for synthetics but I do 3000 on dino and 5000 on synthetics. Look at bobistheoilguy.com

 

warrantys expire. nothing will happen before 36,000 miles. we have people that do their first oil change at 36,000 miles, heh.