Here's an interesting link . http://www.nordicgroup.us/oil.htm

Some software "engineers" (maybe not you) really do fancy
themselves on a par with degreed and experienced mechanical
etc. engineers.

Each group (software technicians and mechanical etc.
engineers) make their contribution, and they cannot do each
others' jobs, AFAIC. But lumping them together is
misleading.

Not that this will stop software developers from calling
themselves "engineers."

I did not know we were talking about the engineers who
actually designed Honda systems. (They overwhelmingly
modify, by the way. That's design but it's rare that an
automotive engineer actually innovates anything one would
call altogether new.)

I would put my money on many experienced technicians'
(including many amateurs') understanding of a Honda system
before betting on a picked-at-random mechanical engineer.

The really good, bona fide engineers admit what they do not
know and that of course a technician often will have more
expertise in certain areas than s/he. Same for the really
good technicians.

IMO.

And service departments never have strong opinions and are
never wrong?

Let's start with something simple, like the bullshit line
from the typical dealer that the engine oil has to be
changed every 3k miles.

Earle and I may not always agree, but Earle is one of many
contributors whose posts here I think are worth reading.

it cuts both ways dude.  misinformation in the motor service industry is
the rule, not the exception.  you may have been told something, and you
may even believe it, but it doesn't mean it's right.  every now and
then, you /will/ get a customer that knows more than you.  or who knows
someone else that knows.  when the monkeylube service manager is
bullshitting my grandmother about how her transmission fluid needs
changing urgently, she simply calls me on her cellphone and hands it to
him.  /i/ then politely tell him that i personally changed it last week
and that his inspection tech must have made a mistake and that i'll come
on over if there's any problem.  unsurprisingly, there is no problem and
she leaves without being ripped off, but will never return.  now, whose
food are you trying to spit in?  from where i sit, it looks like your own.

bottom line, you need to try being a little bit smart about figuring out
the customer.  if they know more than you, and you're not smart enough
to recognize that, and you go ahead and bullshit them anyway, you're
screwed.  did i ever tell you that i used to date a lawyer whose first
degree was in engineering?  there's a number of vehicle service centers
in san francisco that very much regret the day they tried messing with
her.  grow up and get smart, before you get sore.