The they would love to have you get an oil change more frequently than recommended, more money in their pocket, less in yours.

There can be legitimate reasons for more frequent oil changes due to OD though.

 

It's full synthetic oil. Lasts longer.

 

That would be a dealer that is in violation of Honda recommendation to owners. If they press it, I would report them to Honda Corporate.

IF you are not in the "every 3 months or 3000 miles" camp, and if you are not having any incidence in oil rise due to some fuel dilution (weekly check and monitoring of your oil via dipstick) .... then just follow the MM for when to change your oil.

The MM is very smart in how and what it measures and calculates to determine when it is time for an oil change in your CRV.

 

With my driving style, have yet to reach 4K miles before the MM displays.

 

Same here. But I know a few CRV owners that generally go about 7K before the MM pops for an oil change. My wife generally goes 6-7K on her 2018 Accord before the MM pops.

The intelligence in the current generation MM is an asset for low mileage drivers like you and me.

 

That's simply not true. It took me a while, but I've learned to trust the maintenance minder system.

 

^^^^^^You got that right.

 

Yes as many have mentioned, the MM is your friend. Two things though, never let oil/filter go more than a year and brake fluid every 3 years regardless of mileage.

 

Lots of traffic here. My MM hits 15% at about 6200 miles. I go by the MM.

 

I go every 5000 because I rotate the tires exactly every 5k, so it just saves me time to do both jobs at once.

 

This is what I do. Plus most mechanics recommend changing synthetics every 5 months/5000 miles along with a tire rotation. Yes, good synthetics can go WAY above that, but some companies also provide high mileage engine guarantees by sticking with their recommendations Plus, you can reset the tire rotation/oil change MM both at once.

 

Can the MM tell what brand of oil is being used (good or not so good synthetic) along with the viscosity?

 

No. It is not a sensor, it is a computer algorithm that takes input from a lot of sensors and bases it's decision on those.

 

You are correct.......I was being facetious toward a couple of previous posts.

 

? I kinda thought so. I thought, "this guy has 3,000 posts, he's gotta know this"

 

My past 2009 CRV always went about 10,000 miles between MM oil change reminders. She was a great vehicle with very few problems and we traded it in with 123,000 miles on the clock.

Our current 2014 CRV routinely goes 9,000 miles between MM oil change reminders. I don't have an explanation for the 1,000 mile difference since driving habits are the same.

 

Different algorithm maybe.

 

Per having the oil tested, the oil was no longer protecting adequately after 3000 miles. With 3500 on the oil, the MM said that there was 90% left on the oil. The testing is scientific.

 

Given the OD issue on the DI engine, it’s pretty cheap insurance to just change it more often than the MM says. I stick to 5000 miles or 6 months.

If you’re concerned about the environment (which you should be), there are other things you can do that don’t put your $X0,000 purchase at risk, like eating less meat, take shorter showers, carpool, etc. that will have a bigger impact than 1 gallon of oil every 6 months.

 

All I can add to what the others have said, is that the MM often reflects your own personal driving habits On my '18 CRV, it prompts me to change the oil every 5,000 miles. But then that car sees mostly short trips around town. My '16 Pilot on the other hand usually goes about 9,000+ miles before the MM says to change the oil. That car often gets 1,000 mile long highway drives, which is easy on oil.

 

Any dealer saying that is only concerned about his service department's profits. I've used only Mobil 1 extended life (Gold Cap) and changed oil every 15K or every year. I've owned Hondas since 1977 and NEVER have spent $1 for engine repairs (beyond consumables like oil, filter, belts & hoses). If you drive low miles, I'd do annual oil changes and if not do 10K - 15K so as not to waste oil and load up land fills with used filters. Since the MM is only a simple algorithm and not a sensor, it will always waste extra good synthetic oils and I completely ignore it

 

**2017 EX-L with Nav & Turbo. Extreme conditions can change the recommendations; otherwise, use the Maintenance Minder (MM) schedule. I use Full Synthetic & live in Houston, Tx. MM just turned to 50% of oil life remaining & I have driven about 3,800 miles since my last oil change.

 

I helped develop the oil monitor on GM vehicles decades ago. Unless Honda is different, they are set to about 50%. Non synthetic oils tested in the early 2000's - they were good toward 10K miles. Synthetics go much further. But there are conditions that might reduce that. My Honda store puts a sticker at the top of the windshield saying 5k miles, but the advisors say look to the monitor for 15% remaining oil life. Everyones driving and habits are different. The old 3k or 5k for everyone is crap.

 

If you notice that your oil level climbs over the full mark on the dipstick between changes (like my 2018 CRV EX) then you are experiencing some oil dilution (i.e. gas is getting into the oil). As a precaution I change my CRV's oil (but not filter) when the MM reaches 50% oil life - and then I have the dealer do a full oil/filter change (so it's documented) when the MM says 5% life left. I use an oil suction/sump to pull the oil out via the dipstick tube so it is a quick, easy and clean job.
I sleep better knowing that I've renewed the viscosity of my fuel-diluted oil. REMEMBER, the MM does not have any sensors to detect oil dilution or reduced viscosity - so with these 1.5L engines you may be gambling if you completely trust the MM regarding oil change intervals. But each person is free to decide what is best for their engine's longevity.

 

So.........when my MM displays at <4K miles, that’s crap?

 

If you aren't experiencing oil dilution then I think following the MM is perfectly fine. I follow and trust it on our 2014 Ody.
I just re-read your post... If your MM is saying you need to change your oil at 4,000 miles that would seem to indicate that the MM "brain" thinks you are driving in a manner that is hard on your oil - maybe lots of short trips, stop and go driving or idling? Those are just guesses. I drive mostly highway miles and my MM thinks I can go 8,000+ miles between changes (but as I mentioned I change it when it says 50% life remaining).

 

The hand book states 12,500 miles, I get mine serviced every 12 months, about 10,000 miles by my local UK Honda dealer. Don't even take out the dipstick between servicing. Been the same with my series 1,3 and 4 models.

 

You are like most people - myself included initially - who saw no reason to check oil levels on a new car. Unfortunately, here in the States (and Canada) - many CRV owners who do check their dipsticks have noticed the "oil" level rising (due to gas getting into the oil) - which is how we discovered we have oil dilution. I suggest all 1.5L CRV owners start checking their oil levels to see if they are experiencing oil dilution. If you are then change your oil more frequently and hope for the best.

 

More frequent oil changes it's one of the recommendations to mitigate the oil dilution problem. Check out YT for Scott Kilmer and CarConnection videos on this subject. I doubt you will find official sources recommending this solution since the official response is the problem has been fixed by a software update.

 

Here you go. It IS used in other vehicles.

re-refined motor oil

 

AOC says we have 12 years left........and she said that about a year ago.