As far as I know the dash light comes on every 5k miles, period...(I wanna say the "required soon" comes on at 4500 and the required now at 5k or something, don't remember from the last time it happens, but the point is it has no idea the condition of your oil or when it was last changed, only how many miles it has been since the last time the warning was reset)

 

The light is activated by counting ignition/fuel pulses between resets, based on what the OEM feels is needed. I base my OCI on reality/fact = UOAs.

Koz

 

Isn't Kurtz and Koz response contradicting each other?

So what I gather is basically I can wait till the "required soon" light comes on and then get it changed soon afterwards.

Also what is OCI and UOAs?

 

I think it occurs on Mars only. Because the service reminder is based on mileage only.

 

Where in my post did I say anything about them denying warranty coverage for doing something aftermarket? Please read it again.

 

As far as I'm concerned the warning light is useless when you are using quality oil and extended OCI.

OCI = Oil Change Interval
UOA = Used Oil Analysis

Koz

 

From what I've seen, experienced and read I would recommend maintenance as follows;

Dino oil and filter - Every 8K miles or 1 year (Which ever comes first) I don't even use dino oil in my lawnmower
Synthetic oil and filter - Every 15K miles or 1 year (Which ever comes first) Group 4 oil only (Amsoil 0w-30 or 20)
Diffs - 1 time to a quality synthetic (Amsoil Severe 75-90)
Auto Trans - Don't touch
Anti-freeze - Every 4/5 years with quality Extended life fluid (OEM is good stuff)
Brake fluid - Every 30K miles (Use the best fluid you can find within OEM spec)
Air Filter - Change to Cotton/oil filter and clean every 20K miles
Spark Plugs - Every 50/60K miles (Use OEM NGKs)
Front brake pads - Every 25K miles (Use the OEM dustless)
Rear brake pads and tires (As needed) NEVER summer tires!
Replace all bulbs to LEDs (except headlight and vanity mirror)
Change shocks to coil-overs ASAP (When money is available)
I avoid mods like lowering and bigger diameter wheels.

Koz

 

Thanks for the explanation!

 

I'm curious if you avoid lowering why you'd switch to coilovers.
(the factory design is already a coil over a shock, so why bother swapping parts if you never plan to change ride height?)

 

Coil overs are not just for lowering the car. Better handling, above 100mph the suspension is not as tight as I would like. Regardless of what most people say, lowering and bigger diameter wheels will only have a negitive affect on the street.

Koz

 

You drive over 100 mph on the street frequently?

I haven't noticed much issue, but I've got the OEM sport suspension which is a bit tighter anyway.

 

Driving over 100 mph on the street would be illegal!

Koz

 

Yes, and in this case Kurtz is right. The warning is based strictly on mileage: the "Oil Maintenance soon" warning is displayed for a few seconds after starting the car from 4,500 to 4,999 miles after the last reset, and the "Oil Maintenance required" with the bright exclamation point is display full time when you pass 5,000 miles after reset.

Doing so will give you the (nominally) 5,000 mile oil change interval prescribed in the owners manual.

 

Like someone else said...ask for an oil change and not a 5,000 or 10,000, etc. mile service. That will save you a lot of money at the end of the day.