How does an oil life monitor calculate oil change intervals?

Basic oil life monitors simply track your miles driven against a mileage interval programmed at the factory. As long as the oil level and temperature remain where they should, the system simply reminds you in the driver’s information display when you need another oil change.

What oil life percentage should you change your oil at?

With fresh engine oil, your percentage is 100\%. It drops over time as you put miles on your Honda. So at 40\%, your oil still has 40\% of its lifetime remaining to do its job before it needs to be replaced.

Should you wait for the oil change light?

Over time, oil accumulates contaminants and loses viscosity (the ability to flow into every nook and cranny). Contaminants cause friction as parts rub together. Waiting for the low oil light to come on can be the worst thing you can do to your engine. You shouldn’t see that light unless your oil level is low.

How low should you let your oil percentage go?

My dealership recommends it be changed at 15\%. It’s going to be a personal preference if you want to go less than that. I would definitely not go below 0\% though as there may be some data left in the car that could be pulled and impact a warranty issue if one was to arise.

How long can I wait to get an oil change after the light comes on?

On vehicles with an oil change light, an oil change is needed when the light remains on after startup. It’s best to schedule the oil change within one to two weeks. If you primarily do highway driving, you have a little more breathing room than city driving.

How long can you wait after oil change light comes on?

Generally speaking, you have about 2 weeks or 500 miles of driving before a flashing oil light turns into a legitimate problem. But once it hits that point, things can go downhill fast, leading to serious mechanical damage. So, try to get your vehicle into a mechanic sooner rather than later.

What is the oil life monitoring system in a 2007 Honda Fit?

The oil life monitoring system in a 2007 Honda Fit Sport owned by an Edmunds.com editor signaled for an oil change at 5,500 miles, due to a lot of around-town driving. Later, under highway conditions, the system (which Honda calls a “maintenance minder”) came on at 7,600 miles.

Do you need an oil life monitoring system?

Most modern cars come with an oil life monitoring system that alerts drivers when it’s time to change the oil. But before totally relying on such systems, you should read the fine print in your owner’s manual. Few of us like to spend time in a car dealership.

How does it know how long my oil is good?

It can’t – it simply estimates oil life based on an algorithm. Oil life monitors track climate, driving habits and other conditions. The algorithm calculates mileage, idle time, engine temperatures, trip times, engine loads, and ignition starts and stops.

Why does my oil life monitor keep triggering?

That’s why your oil life monitor may trigger even though the oil in your engine still has thousands of miles to go before requiring a change. In such cases, you can safely use the oil for the full drain interval recommended on the label.