Maintenance Required Light and Service Interval

[Debasis Goswami]

I bough a 2004 Odyssey from Sloane Honda near Philadelphia. The sale was smooth. However, I found that this dealer always pushes for first and all subsequent servicing at 3,750 miles instead of Honda-advised 7,500 miles for normal driving. I drive between 2K and 3K miles every month and all highway. I am not sure if the dealer just pushes people too early for a few bucks in servicing. I called another dealer in NJ and they did not expect me to service before 7,500 miles for the first one.

In general, I am seeing poor customer service quality with Honda dealers/servicing. They don't drop off people or provide a loaner car if the car needs to be in for the day. I guess the reason is that these dealers are too proud of their brand name

Earlier I have always driven Ford for many years. While some of them are staffed by rude people, some others are nice. Particularly to the one I used to go to (Robin Ford). I could not buy a Ford for the minivan this time because of horrible quality of Ford minivans.

 

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

However, I found that this dealer always pushes for first and all subsequent servicing at 3,750 miles instead of Honda-advised 7,500 miles for normal driving.

Well, first of all virtually NO ONE satisfies the requirements for "normal" driving as outlined in the manual. Honda wants desperately to make the "normal" maintenance for its cars look good, so they (and every other manufacturer) twist "normal" to meet what they want it to look like. Realistically, your driving probably falls in between their "normal" and their "severe" driving. What most people call normal, the manufacturer calls "severe".

That being said, the dealer wants you in as frequently as possible. That makes him money. OK, so what does that get *you*? In some cases, it gets you peace of mind--knowing that should anything happen, your dealer will take care of you, period. In fact, some dealerships are smart about that; they'll take it upon themselves to warrant the vehicle for 7 years/100K miles as long as you take the car to them on the maintenance schedule they specify. That's not a bad tradeoff in many cases.

Me, I came up with a 5000 mile schedule. It's a compromise between Honda's "normal" and "severe" schedules, and is very easy to remember. It took me awhile of studying their recommended maintenance schedules to come up with it, though.

 

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

In general, I am seeing poor customer service quality with Honda dealers/servicing. They don't drop off people or provide a loaner car if the car needs to be in for the day. I guess the reason is that these dealers are too proud of their brand name

Earlier I have always driven Ford for many years. While some of them are staffed by rude people, some others are nice.

Honda dealers are no different. What you're seeing is a concentration of rude Honda dealers *in your area*.

Fact is, auto dealers are independent businesses with virtually no ties to the manufacturer. Honda can't specify what a dealer does or doesn't do with respect to rides, loaners, etc. It's up to each independent businessman how he wants to run his business.

I assure you that there are plenty of places in the country where you'll find a friendly Honda dealer amidst a concentration of rude Ford dealers.

You can't make a blanket statement about Honda and Ford based on what you're seeing. Not by a long shot.

 

[Woody]

At 2-3k miles a month and highway driving there is nothing wrong with changing oil at 7500 miles unless those highway miles are abusive, high speed and you have a lead foot. Don't use the dealer as he will maximize his income. If you don't service it yourself use a quality service shop. The dealer cannot refuse you warranty service because you use a 3rd party service shop unless he provides the service free. Use quality oil and change at 7500 miles. Have the oil analyzed once in a while for the record...

 

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

Don't use the dealer as he will maximize his
income. If you don't service it yourself use a quality service shop.

Now, that's a broad, broad statement. The dealer *may* maximize his income IF you just wave your hand and say "whatever" when you're asked what needs done.

If you're specific in your business dealings, like you should be, no dealer would have a chance at fleecing you.

And in fact, my dealership *is* a quality service shop.

There's no need to avoid the dealer at all. And remember, if you don't do it yourself you stand a chance at being ripped off by EVERY shop you go to.

So the advice "find a quality service shop" is good advice, but don't assume the dealer is any worse than any other shop as you shop around for a service place. In fact, the dealer may be better than any other shop around--and you don't want to miss out on that.

 

['Curly Q. Links']

I bough a 2004 Odyssey from Sloane Honda near Philadelphia. The sale was smooth. However, I found that this dealer always pushes for first and all subsequent servicing at 3,750 miles instead of Honda-advised 7,500 miles for normal driving. I drive between 2K and 3K miles every month and all highway. I am not sure if the dealer just pushes people too early for a few bucks in servicing. I called another dealer in NJ and they did not expect me to service before 7,500 miles for the first one.

In general, I am seeing poor customer service quality with Honda dealers/servicing. They don't drop off people or provide a loaner car if the car needs to be in for the day. I guess the reason is that these dealers are too proud of their brand name

Earlier I have always driven Ford for many years. While some of them are staffed by rude people, some others are nice. Particularly to the one I used to go to (Robin Ford). I could not buy a Ford for the minivan this time because of horrible quality of Ford minivans.

Deb,

Whatever you do, don't do the first oil change prematurely. There's special oil in there and it's helping your engine 'break in' properly. Read your owner's manual religiously and you'll be smarter than the salesman (perhaps).

'Curly'

 

[Woody]

Spoken like a true dealer employee...

Now, that's a broad, broad statement. The dealer *may* maximize his income IF you just wave your hand and say "whatever" when you're asked what needs done.

If you're specific in your business dealings, like you should be, no dealer would have a chance at fleecing you.

And in fact, my dealership *is* a quality service shop.

There's no need to avoid the dealer at all. And remember, if you don't do it yourself you stand a chance at being ripped off by EVERY shop you go to.

So the advice "find a quality service shop" is good advice, but don't assume the dealer is any worse than any other shop as you shop around for a service place. In fact, the dealer may be better than any other shop around--and you don't want to miss out on that.

 

[Debasis Goswami]

Deb,

Whatever you do, don't do the first oil change prematurely. There's special oil in there and it's helping your engine 'break in' properly. Read your owner's manual religiously and you'll be smarter than the salesman (perhaps).

'Curly'

I learnt the same after doing a little research on the internet about the servicing schedule. In fact, the user's manual explains this also. Therefore, I have decided to wait till 7,500 miles before first servicing. All subsequent servicings may be done at a shorter interval but not the first one. In fact that may benefit the engine. Thanks.

 

[123.bam]

Deb,

Whatever you do, don't do the first oil change prematurely. There's special oil in there and it's helping your engine 'break in' properly. Read your owner's manual religiously and you'll be smarter than the salesman (perhaps).

'Curly'

I am still skeptical of the first oil change at 7500 miles as the best approach. Here is my reasoning. Special "break in oil" or not, if you let the minute particals float around in the engine to "establish a wear pattern" those particals can and do cause un-needed wear. Its in the best interest of the dealer and owners manual to suggest this long service interval, the damage that could be done in the first 7500 miles may actually decrease the total life of the engine by several 10's of thousands miles, hence earlier replacement.

Im a bit of old school when it comes to engines, Ive done oil changes after the first 100 miles after a rebuild, and 1500 miles following that. Then I switch to 5000 mile intervals. The amount of crap floating around the engine when new can plug the oil filter causing it to bypass all filtration when the engine is cold. Changing the oil and filter early in its life reduces a lot of wear.

mabey make a compromise on what the manual and dealer recommends and change the filter after the first 1500-3000 miles and top the oil back up. This might be the best solution.

 

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

Spoken like a true dealer employee...

First of all, top posting is WRONG. Stop it.

Second, I'm not a dealership employee.

You, on the other hand, sound like you closed your mind a long time ago, never to open it up again.

Can't believe that a dealership would be straightforward with its customers, can you? You also probably can't understand what a dealership *can* offer to its long time customers. It's no different than any other business relationship.

But, I guess you wouldn't know what a long time business relationship can get you.