2015 Accord Maintenance Minder oil hitting early?

[wormwood1978]

I did the first oil change on my wife's 2015 Honda Accord last fall at almost 5000 miles with M1 (0W20). I reset the maintenance minder at that time.

Fast forward to now and the maintenance minder is now at 4% with just over 10000 miles meaning it wants me to change the oil out at about 5,500 miles. I am surprised because when I changed the factory fill out at 5000 miles, I recall the maintenance minder still being around 35% but now with its second oil change needed with significantly less miles. My only guess is that the system is taking into account winter driving and perhaps my wife idling it to warm it up?

I had hoped to stretch the oil to at least 7500 but plan on dumping it now to avoid potentially warranty issues. This is more of rant than anything.

Has anyone else experienced something similar?

Edited to add: 0W20 is the recommended oil for this vehicle and not made in a conventional formulation. I believe Honda 0W20 is a semi synthetic whereas nearly all other 0W20 oils are full synthetics. My assumption is that the maintenance minder is configured to account for at least a semi synthetic oil and should reflect more miles per oil change.

 

[Danno]

Worried about spending $40 a little early on a $30,000 car. Really?

 

[wormwood1978]

Try $20 when I do it myself and get the oil with rebates. Already have the oil and filter. I hate dumping what I think is still good oil with perhaps another 3,000-4000 more miles it could go.

 

[volodymyr]

Danno,

Originally Posted By: Danno
Worried about spending $40 a little early on a $30,000 car. Really?


I used to pay ~ 300 USD for oil changes in my car in Switzerland. And I was perfectly fine with that. However, if I know that I use "vollsynthetik motoröl" and I did only few thousands of miles and oil life monitor complains I would probably raise the same question on this forum.

But I does not mean I am cheap

It is just a question of rationalization.

 

[bigt61]

It's likely you could safely go a little past the OLM using Mobil 1 0W-20, just keep it topped off. 7500 miles will be fine. The OLM is figuring in some Maine winter cold starts and short trips as it's designed to do. You're also probably good for a 2nd stint of the oil filter which will ease the wallet pain somewhat.

 

[Sayjac]

What kind of driving is the Accord seeing? Shorts trips? Yes 'if' doing engine warm ups every morning and cold temps, those would be factors in shortening the MM % read out cycle.

So chill out. Relax. Serenity now. See what happens during the summer cycle. Perhaps you'll see improvement. Just speculating that you will. But either way, follow the MM. When out of warranty if you choose to stretch it some because using full synthetic then you can.

 

[demarpaint]

It sounds like the MM is doing what it is supposed to do. I agree with Sayjac and would change the oil, reset the OLM and see how it does in the warmer weather. Or you could opt to ignore the OLM and establish your own OCI, I'm sure a lot of people do that too. If I were going that route I'd probably do a shorter OCI than the OLM, not a longer one unless I had some data to back up extending the OCI beyond the OLM. Also keep in mind you have a factory warranty to comply with so extending the OCI is not in your best interest at this point in time.

 

[tc1446]

When you reset the MM did you then check to see that it was done?
Sounds to me like you the MM did not get reset.

My 13 Accord always gets to 9K or so with 15% left. I am in a warmer climate if that makes a diff.

 

[ragtoplvr]

Is this engine direct injected? There can be significant fuel dilution from the warm up cycles. I would change it as recommended. It will last longer in the summer.

Rod

 

[wormwood1978]

Originally Posted By: tc1446
When you reset the MM did you then check to see that it was done?
Sounds to me like you the MM did not get reset.

My 13 Accord always gets to 9K or so with 15% left. I am in a warmer climate if that makes a diff.


I'm "almost" sure I double checked that it was reset when I thought I thought it reset.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

I have a '15 Accord with the I4. I've done two changes on it, both at 15% OLM and mileage was right around 6k. I put commuter miles on it mostly.

The OLM is certainly smart enough to know how you're driving and adjusts accordingly. I've seen posts on the DriveAccord forums where a few guys are getting reminders at 10k because all they do is highway miles. Wed did a 2k mile road trip to Orlando right after I did the first change and the OLM only went down to 90% a week after we got back. But it quickly readjusted to my commuter driving and leveled out in the weeks and months that followed.

I'd worry less about 'wasting' what you assume is still perfectly good oil and instead make sure the changes are done to satisfy Honda's warranty because that's all the really matters at this point.

 

[ecotourist]

I have a 2007 Accord. The OLM system appears to take into account many things. Over the winter the mileage interval will be shorter, over the summer (especially if driving long distances) much longer. Mine has averaged just over 8000 Km (5000 miles) between changes (typically done at 10%).

Your OLM is probably working exactly as designed.

It's time to change the oil. Maybe even a little late.

 

[ecotourist]

The OLM doesn't know what kind of oil you're using. It doesn't analyse the oil, it analyses your driving conditions.

So I use 5W-20 SN conventional oil in my Accord and just follow the OLM.

 

[wormwood1978]

Originally Posted By: Bottom_Feeder
I have a '15 Accord with the I4. I've done two changes on it, both at 15% OLM and mileage was right around 6k. I put commuter miles on it mostly.

The OLM is certainly smart enough to know how you're driving and adjusts accordingly. I've seen posts on the DriveAccord forums where a few guys are getting reminders at 10k because all they do is highway miles. Wed did a 2k mile road trip to Orlando right after I did the first change and the OLM only went down to 90% a week after we got back. But it quickly readjusted to my commuter driving and leveled out in the weeks and months that followed.

I'd worry less about 'wasting' what you assume is still perfectly good oil and instead make sure the changes are done to satisfy Honda's warranty because that's all the really matters at this point.


That was input I was looking for from someone with the same vehicle. Thanks

 

[Droopy]

I've heard of this on the driveaccord forums and when I worked at the Honda dealership. When I had my 14 Accord sport with the 4 cylinder, I was going to 30% oil life left and based on the driving I did(65 city. 35 highway), I was at around 6k. I also let the engine run for maybe 2 minutes from a cold start. If your wife is romping on it so to speak, then the oil life monitor will reflect that.

 

[Dan55]

Last winter I drove my Acura down to Florida olm was at 40%, drove over 2500 mi and minder finally triggered a week after I got home. Trust the minder and change when indicated, and use 0W20 since you are under warranty!

 

[THORROMIG]

My experience -- on my Acura in sig. my last oil change was Quaker State Ultimate Durability 0W20 & the MM hit 1000 miles before it dropped to 90% and that was during a North East winter that was not that bad. This oil change is Pennzoil Ultra Pure Plus 5W20 & I have alittle over 400 miles on the OCI and it now states on the MM 90%. Go Figure???????????

 

[mrsilv04]

The OLM is compensating for a phenomenon that happens every year. It's called winter.

The OLM on my niece's car would go 5500 miles through the spring, summer, and fall.... and around 3500 miles through the winter.

According to her mother, she starts her car up, and lets it idle for about 15 minutes before she leaves in the winter. And the OLM knows it.

 

[Mark_Walk]

Originally Posted By: Danno
Worried about spending $40 a little early on a $30,000 car. Really?


Really?....who said it has anything to do with $40?......maybe he is more concerned about environmental issues and wants to run the oil as long as it can go.

 

[dan_erickson]

Mine does the same thing. I get around 6000 miles of mostly city driving.