Honda/Acura Maintenance Schedule

mmotley · January 17, 2016

I started my shop as specialty shop that solely worked on Toyota/Lexus/Scion. I've decided we are going to add Honda & Acura to our line up, but I've run into one issue. I can't seem to find a concrete maintenance schedule. All I can seem to find is the owner manuals that say just to do whatever the maintenance symbol calls for. That's great, unless they have just been taking it to the 'time-it lube' places where they just drain the oil, spin on a filter, and reset the light.

So how do I start to make recommendations for replacing coolant, spark plugs, brake fluid, etc? Does anyone out there have any input/experience with these cars and when to make the recommendations? Or do I just wing it and come up with my own schedule?

ATLAuto · January 17, 2016

There is no concrete schedule, since it is all based on algorithms and driving behaviors. For example "A12" will pop up at different times for different people based on how they drive.

A lot of shops dislike the Honda/Acura system, but I personally love it. It removes the liability from the shop and makes it a really easy sell. People walk in and say, "My car says B12345 service, can you do that for me?" Then, we translate that to what it means on paper and get it done. No selling, just doing. Works great, as timing belts and spark plugs are included in that.

With that said, if a customer has skipped services (ie done just an oil change and reset the rest), we stick to the following with Hondas and Acuras:

- 5k oil change (synthetic)

- 30-60k trans fluid

- 100k spark plugs

- 60-100k timing belt

SMMotors · January 17, 2016

I too specialize in honda. The. Only thing I would add is to do the trans every 25k, and valve adjuster every 60. Trans service is and easy sell. I charge $150. A new trans is 6-7$k.

I also do the BG program for the warranty and flush the ps system every 30k and do the fuel services when I'm doing the valve adjust. Brake fluid every 2 years as well.

alfredauto · January 21, 2016

I would establish a baseline and then follow the dash indicators. For example, a 2012 crv with 70k miles comes in do all the services; diff fluid, oil, trans, plugs, cabin ait, brake fluid, yada yada then you don't need to worry about what was missed. If you pull out a new air filter oh well put it back in. I think it's funny Honda says adjust the valves if noisy. How many times do worn valves result in excessive clearance? In 25 years I've only found worn valves reduce clearance, or get tighter as they sink into the head.

ATLAuto · January 23, 2016

Good point on the valves. Are you guys adjusting these on Honda and Acuras?

We have not. I'm not really convinced that it is necessary.

J.P. GLENN · January 24, 2016

I started my shop as specialty shop that solely worked on Toyota/Lexus/Scion. I've decided we are going to add Honda & Acura to our line up, but I've run into one issue. I can't seem to find a concrete maintenance schedule. All I can seem to find is the owner manuals that say just to do whatever the maintenance symbol calls for. That's great, unless they have just been taking it to the 'time-it lube' places where they just drain the oil, spin on a filter, and reset the light.

We are Honda/Acura specialists and are adding Toyota/Lexus/Scion this year! I completely understand, and have my own concerns about Toyota schedules...

You are 100% correct on the idea that if the light is reset at at lube store, then no one will ever see those codes again (until next time they are due). The system is not liked by us at all. We have chosen to use the older schedules as the Maintenance Minder system seems to come fairly close to these anyways. Here is what we do on vehicles with that system: (all others are in identifix/alldata/Honda Service Express,etc with mileage/time reccomendations)

For services:

We stick to the 30,000 mile interval for almost everything. The services typically include: oil change, brake fluid, trans fluid, engine air filter, cabin air filter, rotate tires, clean and adjust if drums, full inspection etc. We do the differential services at this time as well if the vehicle has it (Honda technically says some need it at 15k, some 30k, and some 60k but with the maint. minder set-up you will never know unless you do all of the service to that vehicle). This is our way of keeping it simple and we do explain our reasons for doing it this way to each customer.

Coolant:

5yrs or 60k miles. We like using mileage over years unless the car has really low mileage. Obviously you can test some aspects of coolants as well (during inspections I hope).

Timing belts and spark plugs:

Due every 105k miles except for older models (usually pre 2000 or 2002 depending on model)

I too specialize in honda. The. Only thing I would add is to do the trans every 25k, and valve adjuster every 60. Trans service is and easy sell. I charge $150. A new trans is 6-7$k.

For transmissions we only drain and fill once every 30k and have no issues with our regular customers typically going over 200k on the original trans. With that being said, in my opinion you cannot do the trans fluid too much on these vehicles. I am also all for doing the valve adjustment every 60k (see below).

Good point on the valves. Are you guys adjusting these on Honda and Acuras?

THEY ALL CAN USE IT! (not really all, but they do need it at some point). From our experience any Honda engine over 100k can benefit A LOT from it and the driver will see an improvement in fuel economy and/or drivability as a result. We love doing these on higher mileage cars as almost every time we get a call a few days later about how nice the car runs. The newer "K-series" engines have been the ones that benefit the most and we also see high mileage V6's get misfire codes due to lash being out of adjustment. With the right tools they are great jobs for everyone involved and they really are good for the customer and the vehicle.

..... I think it's funny Honda says adjust the valves if noisy. How many times do worn valves result in excessive clearance? In 25 years I've only found worn valves reduce clearance, or get tighter as they sink into the head

It is very common to find them tight which means the days of listening to them on a cold engine to hear the "ticking" are long gone. I have never understood Honda stating that is the way to find out if it is needed or not.

ANY ADVICE ON TOYOTA MAINTENANCE??

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Honda/Acura Maintenance Schedule

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