[kapps]

[mod edit]
Split from an unrelated topic here:
http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/vie ... 4&start=15
[end edit]

And Honda has made the first step in eliminating the "argument" completely. The new 06 HCH has an oil condition monitor system. OC's don't have a specified interval. The change light starts blinking when the sensor indicates the oil has reached its service limit.

Are you sure the sensor is measuring quality or does it just keep a record of driving style, number of cold starts, extended idleing, etc? The latter is what our MINI has. The factory service interval is about 10k miles but since we drive longer distances and don't drive the crap out of it, our service is more like 20k miles :shock: . There's no way I'll wait that long to change the oil.

The best thing to do is send a sample of oil to get analyzed after each change. Extend the interval a thousand miles each change. When the oil comes back with issues, then you know how far you can push it.

 

[Insightful Trekker]

Your right. I don't have an 06 ETM or Service manual to confirm the "type" of system. But the never ending argument won't care either way.

S.B. 05-055. "2006 Civic Hybrid: PDI and New Model Information" specifies that; "This new feature monitors the condition of the engine oil and transmission fluid deterioration." Also that the deterioration data is stored in the PCM and must be transferred when replacing PCM's.

So it could simply monitor usage history and conditions plotted against a map of predicted oil deterioration. IMO too much "slop" to reasonably work since there can be large differences in oil. e.g somebody dumps in some cheap stuff vs. 100% synthetic.

As far as oil analysis its data over the long term and watching for any gradual changes that best predict the engine's future. Different models vary in results and usage patterns can cause data blips. Fleet management is where it shines.

A much better question for Ricky in our Other Honda Hybrid forums so I'll end it here.

HTH!

 

[Rick]

Yep, new Civic has an oil life monitor. I'm at 3000 miles and it's still saying 70% oil life remaining. This is from memory, but I think it will indicate it's time to change the oil when it gets down to 15% and will stay on solid below 10%, and then if you go all the way to 0% it will keep track of the miles over you drive it.

While I admit I feel like it's time for my first oil change I guess your supposed to be able to trust those oil life monitors. My understanding is it counts engine revolutions as it's main determinant.

That said, you can send a sample in to be analyzed to see how much life is left in it. On my Insight I changed the oil ever 3500 miles figuring Arizona was extreme enough, but even the Mobil1 came out looking almost new. Synthetic oils tend to turn black earlier than conventional oils (color of the oil is no indicator of it's condition lifewise), so I imagine it would have been fine for several thousand more miles, but my maintenance records sure do look good.

 

[Rick]

Well, I'm nearing 4000 miles now and I just took a look at the oil. It looks beautiful. I know the color isn't really a good indicator of oil life, but it's barely got a tinge of black to it, and the level is perfect. I'm still contemplating a 5000 mile change though. My oil indicator is still showing 70%, but then again it's driven fairly nice and with the recent 80 degree temperatures if I wasn't dealing with traffic I know I could be pushing 60mpg with it.

 

[Resist]

Most oil changes are done way to early to begin with. Trust the oil life monitoring system, it takes into account many factors. The days of 3,000 mile oil changes are over. Engines and oils are much better than when this practice was used.

 

[john18]

We just purchased both a new Insight and a new Fit and we do drive in the Phoenix metro area, so we are in an extreme climate at least five months a year.

The service adviser, who was one of the reasons we bought two cars from that dealership because he is that good, made sure to tell me that I should forget the old 3,000 mile/ 3-4 month rule and drive the cars until they say 5% remaining and then get them in at that point. He said anything else is wasting a natural resource due to a premature change and that did include the initial tank of oil.