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30,000 mile service

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#1 ·
Hey everyone! Long time lurker, first time poster!

I took my 2018 RTL-E in for it's oil change yesterday and was told it was due for it's first major service, the 30,000 mile one. In addition to the oil change he said they inspect a bunch of things, change out the transmission fluid, the rear differential and transfer case fluid, the brake fluid, wiper fluid, rotate tires, replace wiper blades and install a Kuerig in the front dash. For a car that still feels brand new to me this sounded like a lot of things to do. After he told me the price, I was a bit floored and I said thanks but no thanks. I then came back to my trusted forum and saw that many were complaining about this service costing as much as $419. The advice has been that yes, that is a bit high, but that these trucks like new transmission fluid, but we aren't supposed to go by those maintenance intervals anyway and should rely on the maintenance minder (MM). The reason I felt I had to register and join was that my dealership quoted me $795 for this service, which included a "special" they were running for $150 off the normal price of $945. This is the same dealership I bought the truck from, and have had all my oil changes done at. So I'll ask the group here, how "special" do you guys think that price is?
 
#2 ·
First off, that seems quite high and personally, seems very unnecessary. Second, you are spot on with the maintenance minder. Why would Honda put that in place and not publish a standard interval if they expected you to do anything outside the MM. Dealers have to make money and they do that with service.

Some people like to go over and above the maintenance minder and that is up to each owner to decide. My happy medium is because I have read plenty about the transmissions, I will do a drain and fill on that probably every 10-15k miles and everything else I will follow the maintenance minder.
 
#3 ·
I'm assuming it's just because it's in the list format you used, but I'm vexed that they'd not just top off wiper fluid but also "change out" wiper fluid as well...but to reiterate @gti16vman yes, MM is the trusted roadmap unless you tow a bunch (for transmission fluids) and brake fluid is changed every 3 years according to Honda's manual itself, so that dealership is giving you the cable company treatment with their "Bundled Super-duper One Time Offer Service." Hard pass on all the unnecessary stuff and just have them change what the MM codes indicate need changing, and nothing else. And if the MM hasn't gone off yet and your oil isn't low, you get a few extra 1000 miles.

Also, there's no way they'd install a Keurig - that's the only thing in the waiting room that they can use as "generous complimentary service for loyal customers." ;)

With that said, welcome!!
 
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#4 ·
I had my first rear diff service pop at 20K on my 2019. Did it myself in around 20 minutes. My dealer does not push service packages, they state to not touch it until the MM pops with the item. Sounds like a way to lighten your wallet. Are your wipers bad? Do they need changed? A couple inserts will set you back around 20 bucks. A good set of replacement blades around 60. All fluid changes can be easily done at home (with the exception of brake fluid) for a minimal cost and a few hours time.
 
#5 ·
PNWAdam said:
Hey everyone! Long time lurker, first time poster!

I took my 2018 RTL-E in for it's oil change yesterday and was told it was due for it's first major service, the 30,000 mile one. In addition to the oil change he said they inspect a bunch of things, change out the transmission fluid, the rear differential and transfer case fluid, the brake fluid, wiper fluid, rotate tires, replace wiper blades and install a Kuerig in the front dash. For a car that still feels brand new to me this sounded like a lot of things to do. After he told me the price, I was a bit floored and I said thanks but no thanks. I then came back to my trusted forum and saw that many were complaining about this service costing as much as $419. The advice has been that yes, that is a bit high, but that these trucks like new transmission fluid, but we aren't supposed to go by those maintenance intervals anyway and should rely on the maintenance minder (MM). The reason I felt I had to register and join was that my dealership quoted me $795 for this service, which included a "special" they were running for $150 off the normal price of $945. This is the same dealership I bought the truck from, and have had all my oil changes done at. So I'll ask the group here, how "special" do you guys think that price is?
Click to expand...
Welcome to the Ridgeline Owners Club, @PNWAdam!

"30,000-mile service" is something that is completely made up by the dealer. Honda expects you to follow the Maintenance Minder and the instructions in the owner's manual.

The rear differential fluid should normally be replaced when code 6 appears on the Maintenance Minder. Maintenance codes will only appear once the remaining oil life reaches 15%. If you always have your oil changed before prompted by the Maintenance Minder, you'll never see codes for other maintenance items.

It sounds like you're at least 10,000 to 22,500 late on your rear differential fluid change depending on driving conditions.

30,000 miles is premature for transmission and transfer fluid (code 3). These services normally become due once the oil life reaches 15% at around the 45,000-mile mark.

If you change the transmission and transfer fluids before code 3 appears, a dealer must use an HDS (Honda Diagnostic System - their "scan tool") to reset only code 3 in the Maintenance Minder.

The moral of the story is: Follow Honda's instructions - not a dealer's recommendations.
 
B
#6 ·
PNWAdam said:
The reason I felt I had to register and join was that my dealership quoted me $795 for this service, which included a "special" they were running for $150 off the normal price of $945. This is the same dealership I bought the truck from, and have had all my oil changes done at.
Click to expand...
I can't comprehend why anyone takes their vehicle to the dealership for service.

Unless you are independently wealthy and have lots of spare time on your hands, no one should be going to the dealership.
 
#7 ·
I personally prefer a mileage based service plan, rather than relying on a maintenance minder, and in looking over the list provided by the OP, I see little wrong with using this as a reminder to check these items at this time, though, it would cause me to pause and contemplate how much the dealer is charging for this service, just like the OP. Most of these items can be easily done by the owner.

Onto a related topic, maybe the timing is not quite right here specifically for 30,000 miles, but there is one thing that I really do not like is how the transmission fluid change is handled where only the fluid in the "pan" is replaced. This leaves a majority of used and dirty fluid in the system which makes no sense to me. Unless my thinking is incorrect, changing the fluid the first time leaves approximately 2/3rds used dirty fluid in the system. Changing the fluid a second time again leaves 2/3rds used dirty fluid. So, isn't the used dirty fluid just continually accumulating? With this in mind, I am thinking that when we choose to change the transmission fluid, I believe that we will use a method in which actually removes most of the used dirty fluid and replaces it with new.

Bill
 
#8 ·
All true so IMO, just change it more frequently. That's the beauty of the 6AT you could just drain and fill every other oil change for about $25 bucks and have pretty fresh fluid. When TSB's come out recommending fluid changes to solve problems I'm skeptical of the MM intervals on the 6AT. Hopefully, the 9 Speed is just plain good and will behave like a lifetime fluid transmissions as it's expensive to change. Price of the fluid has come way down though.
 
A
#10 ·
I just called my dealer who quoted me a price of $650.00 for the 30,000 mile service. I'm looking at what should be done at this mileage and can't believe the charge so much. I had my local mechanic perform the 15,000 mile service and it looks like he will be getting this job too. It's hard to support your dealership at the prices they charge.
 
#12 ·
Honda has no "30,000 mile service" or "15,000 mile service". That's something completely made up by the dealer to generate additional service revenue.

Your vehicle is equipped with a Maintenance Minder that will prompt you for service each time the remaining oil life reaches 15% based on how the vehicle is driven. You should follow it. Your wallet, the vehicle, and the environment will thank you.
 
#16 ·
Interesting.
Some dealers service profit margins are higher than others. One possible option is to asked the service advisor for a price breakdown for service costs, i.e. parts, fluids, and labor. Examine the cost breakdown compared to the recommended service listed by the manufacturer for the vehicle, and than make an informed decision about the best course of action for having your vehicle serviced.
 
#18 ·
One point about the dealers services (such as this thread is about), your truck will not be undermaintained. It will be over maintained. And some of us are guilty of doing that on the home front, we just minimize the cost hit by providing our own labor. While we may have our reasons for doing more maintenance than specified by Honda, it is not a profit driven motive. ;)

And yes, we know who we are. :D
 
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#23 ·
Perhaps I'm the outlier then. When I change the oil at 6500-7000 miles, that's at 0% remaining on the MM.
 
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#24 · (Edited)
So I'm a retired guy and don't drive much as I have no commute and once a week to the store. My 19' RTL has 12k miles on it now and my MM reads 70%. It's been almost a year to the day that I changed the oil (1st change, around 8k)

I don't tow anything over 2k, very occasionally. Should I change oil and filter now since it's been almost a year, or should I wait until the MM gets to 15%. I hate to waste time, money, and the environment by changing it but it's been in the crankcase for a year and 3,500 miles.

I checked it today and it's pretty BLACK. Would I mess things up with the MM if I changed the oil, and left the MM at 70% and not reset it? I keep paper records so I wouldn't forget any maintenance items.
 
#25 ·
I think you'd be fine to change the oil and filter and just leave the MM alone. You should also be getting a prompt for the iVTM-4 unit too... assuming it's on the same schedule as the VTM-4 unit in the G1 Ridgeline.
 
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#26 ·
I just had my 2020 RTL-E in at the dealership for the first oil change and tire rotation. $60. 6,400 miles and oil was at 30%. Nice truck!
 
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#27 ·
They also had prices listed for brake fluid ($79) change and transmission fluid ($99) change. It's very reasonable and I will certainly have both completed per Honda's maintenance schedule.
 
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#28 ·
If you were following Honda's maintenance schedule, you would have waited until oil life was 15% or less to change it. Perhaps you were following the Honda dealer's schedule (which is often different from Honda the manufacturer's schedule)?

Let's hope that if they reset the MM, that they used the HDS tool so that your other maintenance comes due on the proper schedule.
 
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