Prelude oil and filter change

[Liverfluke5]

Yes it's quite confusing – and the official service schedule is just as unclear! It calls for servicing every 12,500 miles/12 months - whichever comes first.

But then it goes on to require an engine oil change every 6,000 miles in normal driving conditions, and every 3,000 miles in severe conditions (short journeys, extreme temperatures, dusty environment, etc). It also routinely requires visual inspection of certain items every 6,000 miles. In any case, I agree with you that 12,500 miles feels like quite a stretch and I certainly change the oil in all of my cars more frequently than that.

What are you planning to do? 6,000 or 12,500 miles? Or will you just follow whatever the onboard Maintenance Minder says…?

I’m currently undecided at 1,500 miles over two months.

If I had the time, facilities and inclination todo my own oil and filter changes, like I did on MGs and Minis when I was a youngster, then I certainly would do a change at 6,000. But since I am unlikely to do more than 8,000 before the 1 year service interval comes up, I will probably leave it. I bought a 5 year service package from the dealership and they say 12,500 miles or one year is confirmed by Honda so they will do no more than that, unless I pay extra.

I just don’t like the inconsistency between manual and all other official sources of information.

As an engineer myself, I expect someone put 6,000 miles in the manual for a reason. From my past connections with the motor industry, I know that historically, manufacturers have stretched service intervals to reduce the service cost of corporate fleets. But in a low-stress, computer controlled, Atkinson cycle engine, that doesn’t run all the time,

 

[Alfettaman7]

Your approach sounds very sensible and pragmatic! I do share your concern about the constant pressure on manufacturers to reduce servicing costs: it's good for the fleet buyers, but arguably not so good for subsequent owners.

Here's the relevant page from the user manual, setting out the service requirements. I'm glad it's not just me that thinks it's confusing and inconsistent...

 

[Liverfluke5]

Your approach sounds very sensible and pragmatic! I do share your concern about the constant pressure on manufacturers to reduce servicing costs: it's good for the fleet buyers, but arguably not so good for subsequent owners.

Here's the relevant page from the user manual, setting out the service requirements. I'm glad it's not just me that thinks it's confusing and inconsistent...

View attachment 287

Yeh, that’s the page.
It’s not really ambiguous at all, is it?

 

[Alfettaman7]

Yeh, that’s the page.
It’s not really ambiguous at all, is it?

Here's my interpretation (yours might be different):

"Your new car should be serviced every 12,500 miles, or every 12 months - whichever comes first. But it will also need an engine oil change every 6,000 miles. There are some other things that routinely need to be done every 6,000 miles too, like checking the brakes and maybe changing the oil filter as well. Turning the page, we'll also need to inspect tie rod ends, steering/boots and suspension every 6,000 miles. Oh, and you should get the tyres rotated at the same time. So the service interval is definitely 12 months/12,500 miles - apart from all these other things that need to be done sooner. If you have a pre-paid service plan, your dealer will probably ignore all the extra stuff at 6,000 miles and might just stick to the 12 months/12,500 mile interval. Of course the Maintenance Minder built in to your new car might say something different, so you could either follow the service schedule that we've set out here (in the official manual that came with your car), or you could follow the Maintenance Minder (although it might not flag up the 'every 6,000 miles' items - you'll' have to wait and see). Alternatively, if you'd rather keep it simple, you could just ignore everything we've said here and instead go along with the 12 months/12,500 miles that your authorised Honda dealer is intending to do under the terms of your service plan ."

All clear now..?

 

[PR76UDE7]

I'll eat my shoe if any standard dealer service plan honours that properly and doesn't just stick to the 12.5k/12 months. Of course they should, be they won't.

 

[Alfettaman7]

I'll eat my shoe if any standard dealer service plan honours that properly and doesn't just stick to the 12.5k/12 months. Of course they should, be they won't.

Moments like this make me glad that I can do my own servicing - as well as getting some (rather random) 'official' servicing done by the dealer if I choose to...

 

[Liverfluke5]

Here's my interpretation (yours might be different):

"Your new car should be serviced every 12,500 miles, or every 12 months - whichever comes first. But it will also need an engine oil change every 6,000 miles. There are some other things that routinely need to be done every 6,000 miles too, like checking the brakes and maybe changing the oil filter as well. Turning the page, we'll also need to inspect tie rod ends, steering/boots and suspension every 6,000 miles. Oh, and you should get the tyres rotated at the same time. So the service interval is definitely 12 months/12,500 miles - apart from all these other things that need to be done sooner. If you have a pre-paid service plan, your dealer will probably ignore all the extra stuff at 6,000 miles and might just stick to the 12 months/12,500 mile interval. Of course the Maintenance Minder built in to your new car might say something different, so you could either follow the service schedule that we've set out here (in the official manual that came with your car), or you could follow the Maintenance Minder (although it might not flag up the 'every 6,000 miles' items - you'll' have to wait and see). Alternatively, if you'd rather keep it simple, you could just ignore everything we've said here and instead go along with the 12 months/12,500 miles that your authorised Honda dealer is intending to do under the terms of your service plan ."

All clear now..?

Yes, thanks, you have confirmed my interpretation.
All clear now.