Oil Change Frequency for Clarity

My Clarity called for an A 01 Service at 3 months and 6000 miles. Have used car on two long distance trips but most of time EV around town. Dealer changed oil & filter for free but wheel rotation wasn't!
 
The MM better not be giving a Oil Change every 6000 miles. That is ridiculous. I will have less then 500 miles on the gas engine at 6k. Likely less then 1000 at 12k. I am over 95% EV.

Might be a small court claims case in the future. The MM sounds like it is not doing what they claim it is.
 
Kevin in CT said:
My Clarity called for an A 01 Service at 3 months and 6000 miles. Have used car on two long distance trips but most of time EV around town. Dealer changed oil & filter for free but wheel rotation wasn't!
Click to expand...

Is the first oil change free because of the deal with your dealer? My dealer did not mention anything about free first oil change


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
 
I posted this in the Clarity subtopic, but didn't realize there was another thread here. The press kit for the Clarity says that infrequent use of the ICE could extend the service interval: http://hondanews.com/releases/2018-honda-clarity-plug-in-hybrid-press-kit

"The Maintenance Minder™ system monitors operating conditions such as oil and coolant temperature along with engine speed to determine the proper service intervals. Depending on operating conditions, oil change intervals can be extended to a maximum of 12,000 miles, potentially sparing the owner considerable expense and inconvenience over the life of the vehicle. The owner-resettable system monitors all normal service parts and systems, including oil and filter, tire rotation, air-cleaner, transmission fluid, spark plugs, coolant, brake pads and more. To reduce the potential for driver distraction, maintenance alerts are presented only when the ignition is first turned on, not while driving."
 
Atul Thakkar said:
I read some where that the oil frequency is max 1 year or when it shows up on screen which ever is earlier. can some one who knows can confirm please ? Thanks
Click to expand...

Newbie here, just had first oil change after service reminder at 7200 miles. Didn't use Honda, went to my go-to independent service center. They had issue that after refilling oil and replacing filter they could not get engine to run in the service bay. Just had to drive it round the block with hard acceleration to get engine to kick in. I am sure for a conventional vehicle turning engine over to ensure oil is well distributed and therefore at correct level is routine.

We have maximized our EV miles and have probably purchased less than 50 gallons of fuel.
 
LarryC said:
Newbie here, just had first oil change after service reminder at 7200 miles. Didn't use Honda, went to my go-to independent service center. They had issue that after refilling oil and replacing filter they could not get engine to run in the service bay. Just had to drive it round the block with hard acceleration to get engine to kick in. I am sure for a conventional vehicle turning engine over to ensure oil is well distributed and therefore at correct level is routine.

We have maximized our EV miles and have probably purchased less than 50 gallons of fuel.
Click to expand...

A few ways might help:
1. Bring in with minimum charge, then you can use HV charge mode
2. Keeping cool AC on for 10+ minutes can turn on the engine.
3. Use the heat AC and drain the battery, then you can go 1
 
The car has a maintenance mode for this purpose. You can force the engine to turn on by doing the following steps.

1) Make sure the car is completely off.
Note: The rest has to be done within 60 seconds to take effect.
2) Press the start button without stepping on the brake pedal. Then a second time after a few seconds so that the lights come on around the P on the shift lever.
3) With the shift lever in P, press the accelerator pedal to the floor twice.
4) Push the brake pedal and move shift lever to N, release brake pedal. Press the accelerator pedal to the floor twice.
5) Push the brake pedal and move shift lever to P, release brake pedal. Press the accelerator pedal to the floor twice.
6) Push the brake pedal and push the ON button to start the car. The display will show maintenance mode and the engine will start after a few seconds.

When you are done, just push the power button to turn the car off.
 
Wow, great info Jeff on the official way to run the ICE after an oil change. I’m too old to remember all those steps so I’ll just hit HV and drive around the block a few times.
 
Jeff628 said:
The car has a maintenance mode for this purpose. You can force the engine to turn on by doing the following steps.

1) Make sure the car is completely off.
Note: The rest has to be done within 60 seconds to take effect.
2) Press the start button without stepping on the brake pedal. Then a second time after a few seconds so that the lights come on around the P on the shift lever.
3) With the shift lever in P, press the accelerator pedal to the floor twice.
4) Push the brake pedal and move shift lever to N, release brake pedal. Press the accelerator pedal to the floor twice.
5) Push the brake pedal and move shift lever to P, release brake pedal. Press the accelerator pedal to the floor twice.
6) Push the brake pedal and push the ON button to start the car. The display will show maintenance mode and the engine will start after a few seconds.

When you are done, just push the power button to turn the car off.
Click to expand...

Hi Jeff,
Where did you find this nugget? Couldn't find it in Owner's Guide. Sounds like a Honda technician's procedure. Thanks for that, my go-to mechanic will use this next time.

Larry
 
LarryC...quick question.

How do you feel about Honda telling you to change your oil after putting only 2500 miles on the ICE? (50 gals * 50 mpg = 2500 miles on ICE)

I am truly curious...do you feel it is needed and necessary at 2500 miles or are you just doing it because the Honda MM program told you to?

Is it because you worry about the warranty being voided if you don't?

Just on a fact finding mission. Thanks
 
LarryC said:
Hi Jeff,
Where did you find this nugget? Couldn't find it in Owner's Guide. Sounds like a Honda technician's procedure. Thanks for that, my go-to mechanic will use this next time.

Larry
Click to expand...

I saw it a when I was looking at documents on Honda's Service Express website.
 
David A said:
LarryC...quick question.

How do you feel about Honda telling you to change your oil after putting only 2500 miles on the ICE? (50 gals * 50 mpg = 2500 miles on ICE)

I am truly curious...do you feel it is needed and necessary at 2500 miles or are you just doing it because the Honda MM program told you to?

Is it because you worry about the warranty being voided if you don't?

Just on a fact finding mission. Thanks
Click to expand...

I did not feel that the car warranted an oil change due to low engine hours but as you surmised I wanted some evidence if I encountered a warranty issue later. On my 2007 Civic the algorithm seemed appropriate as the time between oil changes was not always the same as the car was not always driven on same commute schedule. Looks like Honda didn't go very far developing an algorithm for the PHEV as we all seem to be getting same MM message about the same mileage.
 
I got my car on August 30 and it said that my first maintenance is in 9 months. 1000kms / 625miles in now and it has dropped to 8 months. Some use of ICE. 3 bars on gas used from full tank delivered by dealer. Time will tell.
 
There is no way I'm going to change the oil when the MM tells me. I record all gas purchases and use that to tell me how many km are on the ICE. I had the first oil change at 17,000 km and now, at 24,000, the MM shows the next oil change due in 7 weeks even though I calculate that only about 1000 km were driven in hybrid mode. If Honda were to give me any warranty grief I would show them the gas receipts and take them to court if necessary.
 
LarryC said:
I did not feel that the car warranted an oil change due to low engine hours but as you surmised I wanted some evidence if I encountered a warranty issue later. On my 2007 Civic the algorithm seemed appropriate as the time between oil changes was not always the same as the car was not always driven on same commute schedule. Looks like Honda didn't go very far developing an algorithm for the PHEV as we all seem to be getting same MM message about the same mileage.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. That is what I figured and it is really a shame that folks are put between a rock and a hard place to do something that is totally unnecessary because they fear the warranty will be voided.

I have been vocal and very forthright in my write ups on this site reference the MM and frequency of oil changes in hopes someone from Honda does indeed read these threads.

Some industry folks are listening to these voices and points are well taken on some of the issues that are pertinent. The fight is against a industry and their arrogance when dealing with consumers on all types of issues...not just a misguided algorithm which is obvious to the most uninterested observer that it is nowhere close to being accurate.

Thanks again.
 
Jaketesla said:
There is no way I'm going to change the oil when the MM tells me. I record all gas purchases and use that to tell me how many km are on the ICE. I had the first oil change at 17,000 km and now, at 24,000, the MM shows the next oil change due in 7 weeks even though I calculate that only about 1000 km were driven in hybrid mode. If Honda were to give me any warranty grief I would show them the gas receipts and take them to court if necessary.
Click to expand...

Or other way to back up will be to keep hydro consumption proof: The Charge point app will precisely tell you how much hydro is used. The rest goes on gas if you are not charging outside.
 
second oil change du at 24,000 km (15,000 miles). ice engine run some time not for long in fall and spring. but somme time run for 5 minutes or less maybe but just for make humidity inside engine. at -20 and more cold the engine run a lot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top