The Maintenance Minder on my 2007 Civic EX takes 11,000 - 12,000KMs before the oil life reads 15%. The dealership said that would be normal for the first few oil changes but its still happening 2 years later. Everyone knows you should change the oil every 5000KM. Even the guys at Mr. Lube said there's no way I should be going 11,000KM between changes. Do you think something needs to be re-calibrated?
Thank you.

 

The maintenance minder system is monitored by onboard computer which takes into account the type of driving you do, i.e. highway vs. city, short trips vs. long trips, engine rpm's. coolant temps, etc. It is possible to go quite a long time before the maintenance minder will tell you you need to change the oil. Read up on it in your owners manual. I believe though that it tells you not to exceed 1 year between oil changes. Everything that you used to hear about oil change intervals is moot now that computers are doing the monitoring of engine conditions so you have to readjust your way of thinking. Sure, the guy at Jiffy lube would love to sell you an oil change. The only thing it really doesn't monitor that is important for you to determine is if you're subjecting the car to dusty conditions. (Dirt roads, for example) Then you should change it sooner than the maintenance minder suggests.