I have a 2011 Honda Accord Ex and I was told to get an oil change when the maintenance reminder reads 15-20%. I now have 5000 miles on the car and the maintenance reminder is at 50%. At this rate, my first oil change will be at about 9000 miles. This doesn't seem right. Should I get my first oil a lot sooner?

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2011 Honda Accord EX

 

You can change the oil early for the first change if that will make you feel more comfortable.

I would look at the owner's manual to see if there are any special instructions for the first oil change. You can always call the dealership and ask about the first oil change.

 

if you have regular oil, you should change your oil at about 3 thousand miles or 3 months. if it has synthetic oil, it should be changed around 5 or 6 thousand miles or 5 or 6 months. i also wouldnt trust those oil life percentages, theyre usually calculated through time and milage.

 

As we all know, this is a highly debated topic, with no one right answer.

Just as PA Honda mentioned, it might be a matter of what makes you comfortable.

My 97 Accord has 175K on it, and I use regular 5w/30w oil and change it every 3000 miles even though the manual states every 7000. Cheap insurance I guess at the cost of about 20.00 an oil and filter change.

I recently purchased a new (2010) Chevrolet that has Mobil 1 synthetic as the factory fill, and also has an oil life percentage gauge. Now almost a year old and 3100 miles, the gauge is down to 66%. At that rate, If I waited until the oil life was at 20% the mileage would be at 5600 miles or so. I personally am going to change my oil and filter every 12 months or 5000 miles, whichever comes first.

Good luck!

 

That you everyone for the responses. I always instructed people to change their oil every 3000 miles when I worked at a garage. i have contacted the dealer and they say to get the oil change when maintenance minder reached 15-20%, which will be about 8000 miles. The say it's perfectly fine and the computer adjusts depending on the type of driving. i am mostly highway, therefore the interval is much longer. If I was in city traffic, I would have to get oil changes more frequently.

 

Rah,

That is correct. There is no oil sensor, just a computer algorithm that looks at several factors including temperature, mileage, rpms, highway or city driving etc.

If you drive mostly highway you can go longer between intervals.

If it was my car, I would not go until 20% though. I would be looking around 30% or 7000 miles. Just my opinion though!

 

Now that I have bent my oil-filter wrench and it is a lot more difficult for me to get those things out, i am of the opinion that 5-6k miles is a better interval than 3k

I wonder if those two things are related ;-p

as for your new car - i'd call the dealer - they might offer to do your first one for free. our local dealer did that on my wife's dealer-bought civic recently. of course she is significantly prettier than i am.

 

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums

Everything you wanted to know about oil (and any other fluid in your car) and then some. Tons of info there.

 

It seems like every 45 days or 4500miles I have an oil change. I drive a little bit more than above poster.

 

I use Mobil-1, and change out between 3-5k mi., or if it starts looking darker and I just feel like it, since I'm mostly a city-driver.