I have heard second-hand that the new ACURA MDX has an oil change interval calculator as part of the vehicle design - and supposedly it uses rpm and other engine management inputs.....

....I have a strong feeling (partly from my own experience) that the 05/06/07 FEH oil change indicator is a 10,000 mile counter.

Ford recommends 10,000 mile changes in the FEH and 5,000 mile changes in the regular 4 cyl Escapes....using the same synthetic blend (in a dimensionally similar engine).

Each individual should probably estimate how much he/she goes into EV and adjust from there. Like I said before, I want my ICE to outlast atleast two HVBs

 

Another consideration that I use to "justify" changing my oil sooner than 10k miles is that the manual states that Canadian vehicles have an oil change interval of 5000 km (about 3000 miles). One can only assume that this would be due to colder temperatures. There isn't much difference between the Canadian climate and the northern parts of the United States. What about Alaskan vehicles? Which maintenance cycle would you use?

The hybrid components are warrantied for longer time and mileage than the gasoline engine. You could probably never change the oil in the first 36000 miles and not have a problem. Better safe than sorry.

 

My owners guide say to change oil every 15,000km which is very close to 10,000 miles.

Under "special driving conditions" is says to change oil at 5000km if you:

-Tow a trailer or use a roof top carrier
-Extensive idleing, such as commercial delivery, taxi, or patrol
-Operate in dusty conditions such as unpaved roads
-Off-road use
-Extensive Max. A/C use
-Extensive heater/defroster use with engine running

This is common sense. Mostly things that create engine on / idle time or dusty / dirty conditions. The cold by itself is not a factor. In the cold, you can simply use lower weight oil. It has nothing to do with your car being "Canadian". It is the same car, after all!
Maybe Canada has different laws regarding warranty claims or something???

 

I looked again and it specifically says Canadian vehicles, has a separate Canadian maintenance schedule and has a * next to all the items with a reduced maintenance interval. If I get really bored later maybe I'll scan it and post it in the gallery.

Maybe your manual is wrong.

 

I agree. I did change my oil a while back(I use Mobil1 0/20 weight), but I didn't reset the oil change indicator just to see what it would do.

I was on a trip this weekend from Rochester NY to Cleveland OH(my son is looking at John Carroll college). On the way home, my 06 FEH hit 10,000 miles on the odometer. At the exact instant it turned to 10,000 miles a beep sounded & it said in the message center "change oil now".

~John

 

Thats what the manual essentially says it is. From what I've read there it would be a 10,000 mile counter with POSSIBLY a timer that expires in 12months.

 

My engine has been starting rough lately. Would that be an indicator of a needed oil change?

The whole car vibrates a lot more for about 10 seconds.

 

It needs to be looked at but I doubt it has anything to do with an oil change.

 

Are you sure you're looking at the Hybrid service schedule? Mine shows 15000Km intervals. Mine came with both schedules in the owner manual.

The wife has the FEH today and I really don't want to hook up my scanner anyway but here is a link to FORD.CA and the online Service Interval Tool http://www.ford.ca/maintenanceSchedu...sh/tabZC9.html

Edit: For the record I change mine every 10000 kms due a lot of highway driving. I'm at 40,1**kms right now and the Oil Change Indicator is showing 37% or something like that (pretty much spot on for a 15000km count).