I have a 2015 Honda Civic LX. I know it is often suggested to leave the factory oil in for a full normal OCI, particularly with Honda. I drive about 75% highway, and reasonably conservatively, but I traverse two mountains everyday. I got to about 6000 miles and the oil life finally dropped from 80% to 70%, meaning it had 70% of its life left. The manual recommends changing it between 0 and 15% left.
I'm not sure if the monitor is linear or not, but it seems to be. So the oil loses 30% of its life over 6000 miles, this would mean leaving the factory 0W-20 in for 18,000 miles to get to 10% oil life! Also, Honda recommends a filter change only every other oil change, and to not change it on the first oil change. This would mean leaving the factory filter on for 36,000 miles! This sounds ridiculous and I would never do it. At 6000 miles I scheduled an oil and filter change with Honda dealer. I had to practically fight with them to do it, even more so with the filter. They did do it however and reset the monitor. I never heard of a dealership not wanting to take your money.
I've now driven another 6000 miles and the reading again just dropped from 80 to 70%. This time I bought a Honda OEM filter (wow, is it small) and got the oil changed at an independent shop. (I have bad knee arthritis and this car is a real PITA to change the oil and filter.) This time I didn't reset the oil life monitor and I'll see how many miles it takes to get to 15% life, then probably take it to dealer again for oil and filter change, as they are quite reasonable with the prices and they shouldn't fight me since this time the monitor will say to change the filter.
But this oil life monitor seems extremely optimistic. I'm not going to rely on it and probably settle into these 6000 mile changes, alternating between indy and dealer. This way I will satisfy Honda by getting an oil and filter change at each time the monitor tells me to, but also doing one in between for my own peace of mine. Once out of warranty I'll probably move to a 7500 mile OCI, which should be fine with the 0W20, which is whatt I've done with my 05 Civic, which uses 5W20 dino, and is coming up on 300k and running great and not burning any oil.
But WHY is that monitor telling me to go so many miles, especially with an only every other change on the filter? This HAS to be a case of the manufacturer trying to keep cost of ownership figures low. Nobody can convince me the little OEM Fram made filter is good for the first 36,000 miles of life of the engine, which holds 3.9 liters.
I'm not sure if the monitor is linear or not, but it seems to be. So the oil loses 30% of its life over 6000 miles, this would mean leaving the factory 0W-20 in for 18,000 miles to get to 10% oil life! Also, Honda recommends a filter change only every other oil change, and to not change it on the first oil change. This would mean leaving the factory filter on for 36,000 miles! This sounds ridiculous and I would never do it. At 6000 miles I scheduled an oil and filter change with Honda dealer. I had to practically fight with them to do it, even more so with the filter. They did do it however and reset the monitor. I never heard of a dealership not wanting to take your money.
I've now driven another 6000 miles and the reading again just dropped from 80 to 70%. This time I bought a Honda OEM filter (wow, is it small) and got the oil changed at an independent shop. (I have bad knee arthritis and this car is a real PITA to change the oil and filter.) This time I didn't reset the oil life monitor and I'll see how many miles it takes to get to 15% life, then probably take it to dealer again for oil and filter change, as they are quite reasonable with the prices and they shouldn't fight me since this time the monitor will say to change the filter.
But this oil life monitor seems extremely optimistic. I'm not going to rely on it and probably settle into these 6000 mile changes, alternating between indy and dealer. This way I will satisfy Honda by getting an oil and filter change at each time the monitor tells me to, but also doing one in between for my own peace of mine. Once out of warranty I'll probably move to a 7500 mile OCI, which should be fine with the 0W20, which is whatt I've done with my 05 Civic, which uses 5W20 dino, and is coming up on 300k and running great and not burning any oil.
But WHY is that monitor telling me to go so many miles, especially with an only every other change on the filter? This HAS to be a case of the manufacturer trying to keep cost of ownership figures low. Nobody can convince me the little OEM Fram made filter is good for the first 36,000 miles of life of the engine, which holds 3.9 liters.