[zroger73]

It will hit 5% before it hits 0% then it starts indicating the number of miles past due. It's not like the oil instantly fails the moment the MM indicates 0% remaining. Think of the expiration date on a carton of milk - it's usually good for days to a week or more past that date. My OCD requires me to change the oil (and that gallon of milk) the moment the MM hits 15% and the first notifications appear, but my knowledges knows this is a bit of a waste. Enjoy your trip and don't worry about your oil. Make sure the oil level is okay and you'll be fine.

 

[zroger73]

No worries. Do it when it is convenient for you, but as close to the MM as possible.

And for what it is worth, the dealer isn't typically going to do any better of a job than any other oil change venue. Most dealers use the same type of personnel and products as the chain oil change places use. Just make sure they use 0W-20 and a change the filter. Don't let them pump the oil from a barrel, it may not be 0W-20. It will likely be 5W-20 conventional.

Agreed. The employees doing oil changes at dealerships have about the same skill level and receive the same low pay as "quick lube" employees. About the only thing they have in their favor is more consistency in the models they see which can slightly increase the chances of a proper job using the proper oil. The trained and certified employees making twice as much money aren't changing oil - they're diagnosing electrical problems and replacing engine blocks. Don't let the fact that they all wear the same uniforms confuse you.

 

[zroger73]

[...] and believe it or not the Honda "Earth Dreams" initiative states that the Honda Oil filter only needs to be changed every other change [...]

This method goes dates back long before "Earth Dreams" ever existed and is not specific to Honda. The maintenance section in my grandmother's 1976 Chevrolet Monte Carlo owner's manual said the same thing.

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115154