monacm2

Since my TL was new I have requested the dealer use synthetic oil in my vehicle. I forgot to ask at my last service appointment so I called about 30 mins later when I got into the office. The service rep told me my car was being worked on and she would run in and inform the mechanic.

Now, is there an easy way to confirm synthetic oil was used?

I was definitely charged for it. The reason why I am asking is because my oil life is indicating time for another oil change with is half the amount of driving in the past??

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

The mileage indicator in no way is representative of the oil being used, as it is determined by vehicle speed, time etc.
If you used regular Dino 5-20 or synthetic 5-20 the change indicator would be at the same interval.

The extra $$$ for synthetic is a waste of money as the car will perform, and last, with regular 5-20.

To answer your question, there is no way I can tell what they used without an oil analysis.
Was the indicator reset when the oil change was performed? How many miles? Normally should be in the range of 5,000 to 8,000 miles

01tl4tl

pull the dipstick- does it feel extra slippery?

you can go from dino to synth and back with no issue to the engine

1islandparadise

Hmm...this is a good question. My first oil change my TL went to 30% oil life with almost 3K miles. This was done at the Acura dealership. My second oil change was Mobil 1 5-30 full synthenic from Express Lube and I am only at 50% oil life with over 3.5K miles. I wonder why. Anyways I have my appt schedule with the Acura dealership tomorrow for Mobil 1 5-30 full synthetic.....

nfnsquared

As stated earlier, the MID has no idea what kind, brand, or weight of oil is in your engine. It determines oil change intervals strictly from a set of driving conditions (rpm, time, temp, highway vs stop and go, etc). The more severe the driving conditions, the lower the interval.

From your owner's manual:

"Based on engine operating conditions and accumulated engine revolutions, the onboard computer in your Acura calculates the remaining engine oil life."

pwr2panda

so you can use conventional and the MID calculations still apply? cuz that sucker goes up to almost 6000 for me IIRC.

BradE

The MID is calibrated for using dino oil. The more often you hit 4k + RPM, the faster the oil life % will drop.

nfnsquared

Where is that written? Just asking, thanks!

S PAW 1

^

Yes, I would like to know as well

I hate cars

You could put water and the MID would have the same calculation. It's purely math, no "oil sensor".

As it's been said, it is calibrated for dino oil. In my opinion it's a little liberal with the mileage. Run a synthetic and go by the MID and you'll have a nice safety cushion.

You can't tell by looks or feel if it's syn or not.

I hate cars

I've seen the actual parameters before but I can't remember where.

Going off of memory some of them are:

Total rpms, not mileage
Peak oil temps
Average oil temps
Number of Cold starts
Number of Warm up cycles
Average load
Average run time from start to finish
Ambient temps

And a whole lot more that I've forgotten.

nfnsquared

I agree, it probably is calibrated for dino oil. Other than assuming as I am, either of you have any references?

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

I would assume also,as Dino 5W-20 was,and is the recommended oil. Now, on the other hand, I would also assume that the Service Indicator on the Bimmers is calculated with synthetic oil in mind as the oil change intervals are around 15000 miles.

nfnsquared

Hehe, if I had a dollar for every time I've seen someone say that on this forum, I'd be a hundredaire

vinnier6

iTrader: (1)

when you read your owners manual it tells you what kind of motor oil to put in...then it says you can use synthetic motor oil if you so choose, but you need to still follow the mid for oil change intervals...that tells me they are using conventional motor oil for the mid intervals...

nfnsquared

Another assumption, as noted earlier. Thanks.

I hate cars

I honestly don't feel like searching for it. I found the link over on bitog a long time ago. It learned what I needed from it and forgot about it. It's not my job to do the research for other people on a subject that I'm already well educated in.

The car comes with dino oil. The mid is calibrated for dino.

Think about it for a second if the mid was calibrated for a synthetic and everyone runs dino. The manual and the oil fill cap would highly stress the use of synthetic only if this were the case. Acura would have many warranty claims.

vinnier6

iTrader: (1)

its not really an assumption, you just have to be able to read and comprehend...

Majofo

Change it yourself.

Souljah

Pull the dipstick and lick the oil. If it taste good than you have syn

01tl4tl

for the OP- if the service writer said they would run out and tell the oil change tech synthetic- it probably did happen-
dealer can get royally screwed legally if they bill for synth and didnt use it- thats called FRAUD
So in all likelyhood- a phone rang and tech was told- use synth on that car in your bay- ok Sir!--
techs and SW are on cell phones with each other now- eleminates misunderstanding and running back and forth to communicate--
at least at my local dealer,, I watched that occur as they tried to find the right code for my replaced under warranty nav drive.

skyfox23

Holy sh*t, they expect you to wait that long to change the oil...I couldn't do that EVER!!! Too old fashioned I guess, 3mo, 3K miles is what I was always taught!! Now anyone correct me if I'm wrong but have they made advancements in oil that would allow you to go longer than 3K??? I run synthetic 5w20 Mobil 1 at Acura dealership and want to change it at 6K thinking you can obvisouly go longer on synthetic than you can on conventional but my service writer tells me I can go longer, keep in mind my 08 TL-S only has 7K miles on it and was changed in Aug 09 and I want to change it on the theroy of 6mo...twice as long as 3mo conventional but he says a year would be fine with the way I drive my car...oil looks dark to me, but its only had 1 oil change and thought I read something about a darker color for the first 2-3 changes???? I just want to do whats best for my baby

I hate cars

A major part in the super long change is not just the synthetic but the super high capacity sump. Many Bimmers hold 8-9 quarts of oil which will let you go significantly longer on a change.

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

I change it when the MID idicates the need for a change. Usually around 7800/8000 miles on Dino. And yes, the oils today are quite superior to the oils of old and the 3K mile oil changes go out the window. Rule of thumb, MID or 1 year and it will be fine.

BradE

^ This.

And some engines are designed in a way that is much easier on oil than others are.

Big sump + good filtration = Lasts awhile.

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

Amsoil, I don't use synthetics, touts their Signature Series for the Acura TL, 35,000 miles or 1 year, and that is with the OE sump 4.5 qts. No extra capacity here.

I hate cars

LOL. I wouldn't try it except in a beater.

They seem to overlook one thing. The oil may have some life left in it but you still have the contaminate load that just gets circulated through the engine continuously. Sure, there are dispersants that keep everything from clumping together into larger particles but it's not enough IMO.

The only good thing is that you'll probably need some make up oil along the way so you replenish the add pack and freshen things up a bit. They also state 35,000 or 1 year. Who drives 35,000 in one year? If you do, you're running it on the freeway 10 hours a day every day which is about the easiest scenario for the oil.

I'm slowly working my way up. I do 5,000 changes with my Redline and 90% freeway miles. I know I could do more but I'm not going to push my luck and again, there are the contaminates. If I'm too busy to change on time I know I have a very large safety margin so I don't sweat it if I accidentally go 5,500 or 6,000.

monacm2

I just wanted to thank everyone for there opinions and advice. I will get my oil changed next week and talk to the service rep about continuing on using synthic oil and following the MID.

R33kTLs

Sorry for being OT but how much do you guys pay for syn oil at the dealership? I was quoted $80. It seems a bit high but you never know.

01tl4tl

sounds high as can be!

oil change is easy DIY, synth oil runs 4-5 bucks a qt, good oil filter 10-12$

they wont use the best stuff either- rather, what they can buy in bulk for cheapest~
that may be plain mobil1 synth which is NOT the same as the `good m1` high mileage