1. Oil degrades over time. One year is considered the appropriate maximum time by many manufacturers regardless of mileage. (Please don't tell me your deal old mom drove only to church and back for 10 years without an oil change and never had a problem. Good for her!)

2. I don't trust manufacturers to have my best interest in mind by recommending anything over 5000 miles change intervals, especially if you have free oil changes for the first X miles. If you want your engine to last over 200,000 miles, change the oil every 3000 to 5000 miles with the correct oil grade and rating. Currently API SP is the recommended rating for oils, especially on turbo and/or direct injection engines.

Is another 500-600 miles going to end your engine? Probably not. But get a service done soon after that.

 

I have a 25 Ridgeline and was told that the free oil change is at 6500 miles.

 

It may be true that your dealer won't provide your free oil change until you're at 6500 miles. Some dealers are sticklers about the free oil change mileage while others are more lenient. But the larger truth is that your Maintenance Minder will let you know when you're actually due. On your 2025, remember that your rear differential fluid change will be due at your first oil change after 5,000 miles and that's not a part of the free oil change. Also, if you get your oil changed before the Maintenance Minder prompts, resetting it will keep it from automatically popping up the maintenance that is due.

 

I was there too. I have the lifetime oil change. I asked them to change it and they didn’t hesitate.

 

You shouldn't have had to change the oil for 7,000 that's normal with a new truck check with dealer to see if a sensor is not working correctly

 

My 2024 is on course to flag a A16 service at around 7K miles. The Ridgeline is 9 months old (bought it early January this year) and is used mostly around town.

While my trips are mostly short trips I pay attention to the coolant temperature. And it appears the engine warms up pretty quick.

Still short trips are short trips. Which means more cold starts.

 

2022 Ridgeline here....bought new in December 2021.

Oil change recommended ever 10k...I have always changed at 5k.

Had the dealer's "free" first oil change done at 7500 miles. I next changed it and rotated the tires at 15k...and every 5k after that. Now has 36k.

Had my local guy change out the complete transmission and differential fluids with a kit bought from Honda.

Now averaging an honest 28 mpg in the general driving here in NH. Just got back from a trip to western Maine and was 28.2....about 25% was on an interstate at 70mph...the rest back roads...

Very happy with the vehicle...my dealer keeps sending me offers to buy a new 2025 at a discount but why bother when it's the same vehicle...

Bob

 

I hope you did the transfer case while you were at it. Very cheap insurance.

 

For folks who trust the oil life percentage display, or those who believe the manufacturer/dealer that 10k miles is OK, this is for you.

 

There's no one here that's driven over a million miles in 17 years in a few vehicles like I have experience. That is when I did the 10k changes, with no motor issues at 300,00 or even 400,000 miles. My CVT transmission finally gave out at 400k on my Altima. I sold it about eight years ago. The new owner (my neighbor and service station owner) put in a used CVT tranny and gave it to his daughter. She drove it thru High School and College, and I saw it sitting in the driveway when i was back home last month. Last time I talked to him, it had over 500,000 miles and no other issues. He stuck with my 10k oil changes (Penzoil Platinum/Pure One filter).
But that when i was obviously driving a ton of highway miles. I'm semi-retired now and don't put that kind of miles on my vehicles. My wife will drive the Honda less than 5k per year, so it will likely just get annual oil changes.

 

I trust the MM. I do a lot of five-mile trips and i typically reach 15% oil life at just under 5k miles, which is also about one year. When i do longer trips, the MM counts down slower. After reading Honda's research paper, I'd easily trust it over GM's algorithm.

 

Update:
After 300 miles, my oil life is still at 15%.
But today, the codes changed to Oil - 1 (tire rotation) and 6 (change AWD oil is on the message display).
6 is for the Diff fluid change - but the chart shows 7,500 miles - right?

I have an appointment at our dealer on Monday for the oil change.
IF the diff really needs changed at 5,000 miles, I'll do that myself.

 

6 is for the Diff fluid change - but the chart shows 7,500 miles - right?

After confirming when the 2024+ models drop the code 6, I updated the tables. The new table for 2024+ model years has the Code 6 at 5,000 miles.

Here are new tables along with a PDF version so you can more easily print your own copies:

https://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/threads/maintenance-minder-service-interval-tables.248931/