| Maintenance Minder, does it really do something?
- Click HERE for Original Thread
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| panamamike |
| Does the maintenance minder do anything to analyze the fluids or does it just "guess" based on several variables? Just wondering if it's reliable. |
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| N_Jay |
quote:
Originally posted by panamamike
Does the maintenance minder do anything to analyze the fluids or does it just "guess" based on several variables? Just wondering if it's reliable.
I think a "guess based on several variables" would be called an estimate.
No it does not measure the fluid quality directly in any way.
It uses the information that the engine controller has to make the decisions. |
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| rocky |
quote:
Originally posted by panamamike
Does the maintenance minder do anything to analyze the fluids or does it just "guess" based on several variables? Just wondering if it's reliable.
Theres more information at the Honda ownerlink on the maintenance minder system. |
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| Jewelz |
| To reset it, can you just disconnect the battery for a couple of minutes? |
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| humanoid |
You don't have to worry about it because you don't have one. Only 2006+ Pilots had the MM.
quote:
Originally posted by Jewelz
To reset it, can you just disconnect the battery for a couple of minutes?
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| whizmo |
The reset procedure is in the OM.
- Mark |
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| macphanatic |
| It doesn't monitor the condition of any fluids directly. It is algorithm based, using many variables to determine a schedule. Things like driving conditions, speed, operating temperature, etc are some of the variables that are most likely used in the computation. |
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| ctobio |
quote:
Originally posted by Jewelz
To reset it, can you just disconnect the battery for a couple of minutes?
Probably not, and it's a bad idea to do this as it will cause your engine and transmission to need to relearn your driving habits, leading to poor performance and fuel economy until the system is all "learned". |
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| panamamike |
quote:
Originally posted by ctobio
Probably not, and it's a bad idea to do this as it will cause your engine and transmission to need to relearn your driving habits, leading to poor performance and fuel economy until the system is all "learned".
I'm a new '06 owner, and I'm trying to determine how I do I know if I should take the car in if it doesn't present any major issues?
Being that I bought used, I'm wondering if I should take it into the dealer for some sort of overall condition evaluation and have some preventative work done on it.
For example, I suffer from the steering wheel vibration, I don't know if it's just the tires or if there might be some transmission issues.
Mike |
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| Jewelz |
quote:
Originally posted by whizmo
The reset procedure is in the OM.
- Mark
I've tried finding it in there but no luck. Do you have a page or chapter handy? Thanks. |
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| macphanatic |
Did you look for "Maintenance Minder" in the index of the manual? It's on page 232 for the 2007 model year.
1. Turn ignition to the On position.
2. Press the select/reset knob until the engine oil life indicator is displayed.
3. Press and hold the select/reset knob for more than 10 seconds. The engine oil life/maintenance item code will blink.
4. Press the select/reset knob for another 5 seconds. The maintenance codes will disappear and the oil life will reset to 100. |
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| Dummy |
Owner of 07 Pilot. Drive about 5k a year. Since last oil change in 11/07, have driven <4k for the past 9 months. Still have 20% oil life.
Do I need to change the oil now or continue following Maintenance Minder? |
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| youbetcha |
I had an oil analysis done 4,000 miles after an oil change, and my MM showed 50% (read: between 40% and 50%). I thought for sure the analysis would show the MM was way off but it wasn't -- maybe a bit long of an estimate, but not way off. The lab said their experience with MM was that over time it did get more accurate.
After MM ticks down to 10% you get reminded to change the oil anyway when you start the car.
If you don't trust MM then get an oil analysis. I used Blackstone Labs (www.blackstone-labs.com). They do a nice job and you get an explanation written by a person -- nice touch. |
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| Jewelz |
Found it. Its on page 65 of the 2005 manual. Thanks!
quote:
Originally posted by macphanatic
Did you look for "Maintenance Minder" in the index of the manual? It's on page 232 for the 2007 model year.
1. Turn ignition to the On position.
2. Press the select/reset knob until the engine oil life indicator is displayed.
3. Press and hold the select/reset knob for more than 10 seconds. The engine oil life/maintenance item code will blink.
4. Press the select/reset knob for another 5 seconds. The maintenance codes will disappear and the oil life will reset to 100.
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| ctobio |
quote:
Originally posted by youbetcha
I had an oil analysis done 4,000 miles after an oil change, and my MM showed 50% (read: between 40% and 50%). I thought for sure the analysis would show the MM was way off but it wasn't -- maybe a bit long of an estimate, but not way off. The lab said their experience with MM was that over time it did get more accurate.
That's been my observation. I hedge by using synthetic. I usually let the MM go to zero, and synthetic shows plenty of life left when I have an oil analysis run. I average between 6500 and 7000 miles between changes. A quality conventional oil would probably be pretty close to end of life at that interval. I also think that the MM is probably a hair on the conservative side in its calculations.
For what it's worth, in the 3 years I've been reading this forum, I only recall one case of an oil related failure, and it was a guy whose brand-new Pilot failed after a couple of hundred miles due to a defective oil pump. Not an oil choice issue, to be sure.
That reminds me, I need to take a sample of the transmission fluid and send it to Blackstone. I've got nearly 40k and no change yet (no towing or anything like that), and the MM hasn't thrown the change transmission fluid code. |
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| youbetcha |
quote:
Originally posted by ctobio
That reminds me, I need to take a sample of the transmission fluid and send it to Blackstone. I've got nearly 40k and no change yet (no towing or anything like that), and the MM hasn't thrown the change transmission fluid code.
I'd be really interested to hear what they say. I was thinking about sending a sample of the ATF. I bought their pump so I can draw fluid out between changes, but haven't tried to see if it fits down the tranny dipstick yet. |
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| ctobio |
quote:
Originally posted by youbetcha
I'd be really interested to hear what they say. I was thinking about sending a sample of the ATF. I bought their pump so I can draw fluid out between changes, but haven't tried to see if it fits down the tranny dipstick yet.
It should. A 1/4" polyethylene line would go fine down the dipstick tube.
I made my own pump- I happened to have a vacuum pump laying around, and I fabricated a fitting for their oil sample bottles. |
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| sjlee |
quote:
Originally posted by Jewelz
Found it. Its on page 65 of the 2005 manual. Thanks!
You're confusing Maintenance Minder with the Maintenance Required Indicator (which is on page 65 of the 2005 owner's manual).
Maintenance Minder (which is the topic of this thread) wasn't introduced in the Pilot until 2006. |
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| Jewelz |
My bad. Thought it was the same thing. Sorry for the mix up!
quote:
Originally posted by sjlee
You're confusing Maintenance Minder with the Maintenance Required Indicator (which is on page 65 of the 2005 owner's manual).
Maintenance Minder (which is the topic of this thread) wasn't introduced in the Pilot until 2006.
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| southtex |
Just traded the 2004 Pilot for a 2008. I perform the normal maintenance myself and was wondering about the typical maintenance minder intervals for some routine items such as:
- engine oil change
- transmission fluid change
- tire rotation
I would typically change engine oil at 5k, rotate tires at 7.5k, and drain/fill the trans at 15k. I know the MM will have the trans fluid change at much longer intervals but how about the other items? I would like to use the MM as much as possible since it appears that once you get off the intervals it recommends, you're on your own to keep track of the intervals. Not really a show stopper since that is what I did in the past but I wouldn't mind giving the MM a try for most items.
Any comments/suggestions regarding the MM intervals would be appreciated. |
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| ctobio |
It really depends on the type of driving you do, but on my '06, it breaks down like this:
20 minute daily commute, nearly all parkway (warm up is accomplished on the way to the parkway) @ 75mph, essentially about 20 miles each way.
From 100% to 0%, the interval comes out to about 6700 miles, well within what Mobil1 0W20 is capable of supporting comfortably.
I think all other services are keyed off of the OCI- basically X service will be required provided it will likely not exceed the normal mileage based interval. So, for example, my first VTM-4 change came at 13000 miles with the second oil change (normal would be 15000, but the next oil change would exceed that) and the second VTM-4 change is coming at 39,000 miles (normally would be 45000 miles, but the next oil change would exceed that.) I would be absolutely shocked if any MM code came up that was not accompanied by A1 or B1. I doubt you would see any of the other numbers not coupled with an oil change.
for those of you who are zealots about changing your transmission fluid, I'm going to be sending a sample to Blackstone labs of my transmission fluid at 40,000 miles and seeing what they say. |
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| southtex |
Thanks for the info
Looks like they are kind of "forcing" certain maintenance items to fall under the oil change intervals. Based on my remaining oil life, it looks like I'll be due an oil change around 6500 miles or so. Almost like they came up with an interval a bit longer than some like to see on the oil changes and a bit shorter than some like to see for tire rotations. That way you can take to the dealer and get several things done at one time (good for dealer). I guess I could stretch the oil changes a bit (from my old 5k routine). I would probably do the oil change one weekend morning and wait another week or two for the tire rotation on another weekend morning; probably have over 7k by then. Just my preference. Had been using conventional oil at 5k. Might bump up to synthetic if I'm going 6 - 7k between changes. |
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| N_Jay |
quote:
Originally posted by southtex
Thanks for the info
Looks like they are kind of "forcing" certain maintenance items to fall under the oil change intervals. Based on my remaining oil life, it looks like I'll be due an oil change around 6500 miles or so. Almost like they came up with an interval a bit longer than some like to see on the oil changes and a bit shorter than some like to see for tire rotations. That way you can take to the dealer and get several things done at one time (good for dealer). I guess I could stretch the oil changes a bit (from my old 5k routine). I would probably do the oil change one weekend morning and wait another week or two for the tire rotation on another weekend morning; probably have over 7k by then. Just my preference. Had been using conventional oil at 5k. Might bump up to synthetic if I'm going 6 - 7k between changes.
Hu???
I think you think about this stuff way too much.
There is little magic to any of the numbers.
They provide a better way to decide when to do maintenance and everyone wants to find a conspiracy behind it. |
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| mainerunr |
I kinda liked the system in the Accord we traded for the Pilot. Now I'm approaching the first oil change on the Pilot and am hoping it calls for the same filter the Accord used (which also happens to be the same as my frontier uses). I know the oil is different than the truck uses (but so was the car) and I know I need a funnel with a longer neck on it. Already have a few crush washers too so unless I get a free oil change mailer, I'll probably be under the Pilot this weekend.
iirc, the explanation posted on one of the Accord forums was that when it's time for an oil change, it looks at all the other maintenance items and detemines whether they will need to be done before the next estimated oil change mileage. If something does need to be done, before the next oil change, it looks at how close to the next oil change mileage it would need to be done and if the next oil change will fall within some tolerance it will put it off until the next time, otherwise it adds the code to have it done now. (yeah, it was explained much better than that but it's late...) |
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| southtex |
never mentioned a conspiracy
My point is that if the MM calls for an oil change at 6500 miles, it will look at other maintenance items to see if they will be due before the next oil change. In this example, rotate tires would typically be due at 7500 miles (like previous Honda guidelines and most other manufacturers). Well, the MM will add the rotate tires to the 6500 mile maintenance. That's what I meant by "forcing" maintenance items. In other words, forcing other maintenance codes to show up based on the oil change intervals. As others have mentioned, oil changes are the main driver to the MM. Other maintenance items are piggy backed on the oil change intervals and the intervals for those items will typically be shortened to match the MM oil change cycle. Not a big deal. You just end up performing some maintenance items sooner than you may need to. I'd rather see the MM spit out each item as needed. Example: Show an oil change due at 13,000. Then next month show a tire rotation at 15,000. I know I can perform maintenance at my own intervals anyway. I do see how it would be easier to group things together if one lets the dealer do the service. They can knock several things out with one trip. |
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| N_Jay |
quote:
Originally posted by southtex
never mentioned a conspiracy
My point is that if the MM calls for an oil change at 6500 miles, it will look at other maintenance items to see if they will be due before the next oil change. In this example, rotate tires would typically be due at 7500 miles (like previous Honda guidelines and most other manufacturers). Well, the MM will add the rotate tires to the 6500 mile maintenance. That's what I meant by "forcing" maintenance items. In other words, forcing other maintenance codes to show up based on the oil change intervals. As others have mentioned, oil changes are the main driver to the MM. Other maintenance items are piggy backed on the oil change intervals and the intervals for those items will typically be shortened to match the MM oil change cycle. Not a big deal. You just end up performing some maintenance items sooner than you may need to. I'd rather see the MM spit out each item as needed. Example: Show an oil change due at 13,000. Then next month show a tire rotation at 15,000. I know I can perform maintenance at my own intervals anyway. I do see how it would be easier to group things together if one lets the dealer do the service. They can knock several things out with one trip.
Guess when I see "They" and "Forcing" in the same sentence, I read "conspiracy". ;)
But the 7500 miles for tire rotation is just a rough estimate, so in the end, does it really matter? |
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| ctobio |
quote:
Originally posted by southtex
I'd rather see the MM spit out each item as needed. Example: Show an oil change due at 13,000. Then next month show a tire rotation at 15,000.
This would drive customers who don't service their own car utterly bananas. A trip to the dealership is an utter chore. No one's going to want to visit the dealership with that level of frequency.
You and I are a rare breed of person who changes their own oil. |
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