As advised in the Owners Manual of my 2016 Honda Accord, I rely on the car's computerized maintenance minder to recommend the oil change, I usually get about 3,800-4,000 city miles before the maintenance minder hits 0%.
Due to the pandemic I haven't been driving much, so since the last oil change nine months ago, I have only driven 1,600 miles and the oil maintenance minder is at 70%. I do use synthetic oil. Should I be changing the oil on a fixed interval, regardless of mileage and what the Manual says?
Go by what the book says for severe driving conditions. That maintenance minder is a gimmic.
As I said in the original post, the Owners Manual only advice on changing oil is to follow the maintenance minder, there is not mileage or time recommendation for an oil change, whether mild or severe use.. I checked just now to confirm that fact , and I noticed a footnote as follows:
"*1: If a message SERVICE does not appear more than 12 months after the display is reset, change the
engine oil every year."
So I guess the Honda manual answers my question.
The minder is a guess by the computer, based on your driving.
I also get phone calls from dealerships telling me that their computer indicates I need service. I ignore them too. Everyone, dealers and manufacturers, want mo money. I know miles driven and time between services and am grown enough to do what is needed.
1. Don't listen to dealers pay attention to your owners manual
2. the computer is not always going to work so keep your guard
3. I believe there should also be a time interval. Does it say anything about like "change according to computer or no more than 12 months" or something? There should be an interval there.
https://www.auto123.com/en/auto-parts/maintenance-schedule/?presetmakeid=&make=Honda&makeid=23%7CHonda&lcarids=1162300104%7CBerline+Sport&year=2016&model=Accord
On this site it says if it does not tell you to change the oil after 12 months, change it. So change it every year if it does not say you need an oil change.
Thank you, that's the info.