Q: I have a 2007 Honda Civic EX with 22,365 miles on it. The owner's manual says to change the oil when the dashboard indicator displays 15% oil life, and the indicator has never gone below 80%. Yet every year the dealer tells me that the oil needs to be changed on an annual basis, period. And every year the dealer finds hundreds of dollars of fixes that need to be done. Does that seem reasonable? And even given the age of the car, should I really be taking it in every year for a checkup, if I'm not having any problems?
P.R., Chicago
A: I preach the gospel of following the oil life monitor—most of the time. If your owner’s manual calls for an annual oil change, do it. Short trips allow contaminants to build up, which causes the oil to degrade—even without driving.
