Especially for going to Jiffy Lube for that matter.

"Elmo P. Shagnasty" <elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote in news:elmop-
F4CA0E.18340223092006@nntp1.usenetserver.com:

I can be lenient with noobs on almost any subject, except this one.  You
don't know to read the manual?  The salesman should have gone over the
maintenance stuff at delivery.

Those places tend to use the wrong fluids (e.g. generic instead of
manufacturer-specific) and overcharge for their services.  In fact, there
was a news story recently about some of these places charging for services
that were never even performed.

They are a gamble. It's possible they will do a competent job of changing
the oil, but there is a real risk they will do some nasty damage.
Cross-threaded oil plugs are legion with the Quickie-lube shops and
replacing the oil pan to fix that will set you back a couple hundred
dollars. I don't know if anybody has succeeded in getting the JL places to
pay for that. More rarely they will put the entirely wrong fluids in or fail
to put oil in the crankcase at all. Those cases often show up on the TV news
"consumer advocate" spots. There have also been lots of complaints about
shops that claim to change the filter but clearly don't.

Personally, I do my own work and keep cars long past the point they have any
trade-in value. But if you expect to trade the car in when it is still new
enough to have value, you may find yourself many dollars ahead to have the
dealership or your regular mechanic change the oil and routine maintenance.
Verifiable service records are a crucial part of the difference between a
car that is in "good" condition and one that is in "excellent" condition,
and that can mean a thousand dollars or more in Blue Book value. Beyond
that, establishing a relationship with a shop before major trouble comes
along can pay off in many ways. Also, if they *do* cross-thread the drain
plug you can be sure they will make good on it without being asked. Shops
protect their business a whole lot more than fast lube places do.

Although... a bunch of years ago I heard about a place (in redneckland IIRC)
that offered topless oil changes (yes - women doing the work topless). It
was called "Boob and Lube." Kind of a specialty thing, I guess. Dunno how
that would look in the old service record.

Mike

There isn't one.

There's a maintenance minder instead.

RTFM.

Thought it was pretty straightforward and my 06 Accord. Per the manual, at
15% oil life you get an indication of the service needed which is
cross-referenced in the manual.  The "maintenance minder" apparently will
keep bugging you as your "oil life" decreases.  In the end, it would seem
that you should have had a service done arounf 7500 miles.  In my Accord, I
am at 20% oil life at 6300 miles, so I would think that I should have it
serviced at my Honda dealer at 7000-7500.

Because most of them do not do a very good job.  They cut corners, charge
for services that they never perform, sell you services that you don't
need.  Basically, unless you know what YOU are doing, I would never trust
them.  I use a local place for oil changes, but I watch every step that
they take, and make them fix anything that I see them do wrong.  I would do
the work myself, but it isn't worth the $5 savings for me to climb under a
car.  I'll just monitor their work...

The manual is very clear.  You just haven't read it right.  There is no set
schedule, except for maximums.  When things need to be done, the
maintenance minder will generally tell you.  

I had my first oil change in my Civic Si at around 5500 miles, when the MM
system told me it needed to be done.  That's just the way it works now.

If you are nervous about such, use the old ways.  Set up your own schedule.
Change oil at 3000 and rotate tires at 5000.  Change tranny fluid at 10000
if you wish.  Change the brake fluid every 3 years.

But, likely, you are better off doing it when the car tells you.  The
manual does have certain maximums in it (like that brake fluid suggestion),
and I would follow those, but otherwise, don't worry.

Because they make so many mistakes and are staffed by low-paid, poorly-
trained people. Sears and Firestone have the same reputation.

You are now supposed to use the Maintenance Minder" on the dashboard.

Read the section in your Owner's Manual that is called "Maintenance
Minder". It also gives some requirements in paragraph form.