CRV 18k mi OCI, significant sludge buildup

I have a Honda HRV that gets short tripped mercilessly. The Honda maintenance minder hits 20% oil life remaining at about 3500 miles and that's when it gets changed. Any Honda that is 6 years old with only 18k miles, and is badly sludged, has probably had the maintenance minder reset repeatedly without having the oil changed. I previously owned an Accord that would hit 20% oil life remaining at around 10k-11k miles but that car was driven 300-400 miles every time the key was turned.

Does Honda program time limits into the MM? That is, if you don't drive it much, will the light come on after a year?

GM started programming hard time limits into their OLM recently (1 year max for most cars, 2 years for the Volt)
 
Does Honda program time limits into the MM? That is, if you don't drive it much, will the light come on after a year?

GM started programming hard time limits into their OLM recently (1 year max for most cars, 2 years for the Volt)
I don't believe they do but I could be wrong. As far as I know, it's just some verbiage in the owners manual that says if the MM hasn't called for an oil change by the one year mark, change it anyway.
 
I don't believe they do but I could be wrong. As far as I know, it's just some verbiage in the owners manual that says if the MM hasn't called for an oil change by the one year mark, change it anyway.

Do you think it's possible for the light to have not come on at all in the OP's case? :unsure: :cautious:
 
At 35 seconds into the video, the tech says the oil life minder "has probably been reset about 5 times".
Yeah I wonder how he figured that to be honest.

I don't believe they do but I could be wrong. As far as I know, it's just some verbiage in the owners manual that says if the MM hasn't called for an oil change by the one year mark, change it anyway.
I can confirm it does not factor time into the MM.
 
Of course modern Synthetics can go 10k miles between changes. But that same oil in an engine infamously known for diluting...all bets are off for anything over 5k (in my book).
 
I’d assume it was likely well over a quart low if there was no top off during those 18k miles. With a 4.5 sump and likely a large percentage of oil loss, that remaining oil would’ve sludged up quicker. There would be higher oil temps due to decreased oil volume. Compound that with depleted additives and a filter likely in bypass and things were bound to get out of hand.
 
If you change your oil at 5000 miles you will be fine. Modern synthetics like you said can only be trusted out to 10,000 miles under certain conditions.

If you want to keep your car for a long time forget about the Honda OLM and just do a 5000-mile OCI. With the price of a UOA and there are a few companies out there, the cost is better spent on just doing a 5000-mile OCI.

Meh.. i mean, i mostly followed the MM on my 2012 Civic Si and even "forgot" to change the oil filter one time when i went to paternity leave (see below) and the engine is still perfectly fine more then 300k miles later.. might consume a cup of oil per OCI.. might.. not even sure..

So about that one time i forgot the filter.. My very pregnant GF was about to give birth and i was going into paternity leave for a couple of months. I wanted to do an oil change as it was due (MM at 10%). Problem is, when i did the OC at work the day that would have been the last for a long time, i forgot the oil filter home. So i did what Honda tells to do but i "never" did before, i left the old filter there and only changed the oil (PUP 5w30). Some times later, i remembered that the same thing happened the last time so that filter was actually at it's 3rd OCI.. Well, i can tell you those old Fram Ultras that are wire backed are very well made because that one was probably there for something like 30k miles and when i cracked it open, the pleats didn't even moved a bit and it wasn't showing signs that it suffered.. posted these pictures here a while back, probably on an old accou d that i forgot about..
 
This will blow you're mind. 13' CRV AWD EXL / 70k / Took to the dealer to replace the VTC valve. Mechanic says " you know, there's A LOT of sludge build up in that engine..." I was like WHAT !!!!!!!!!!!! I did OCI every 3k. Original owner. Good synthetic oil with a good filter. Combo of highway and city driving. Yeh, something smells fishy in Denmark. I think BIG OIL is pullin the wool over our eyes !
 
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