My '11 LX is leased, so I'm just servicing it in accordance with the prompt as instructed by the dealer (besides, I was manic about maintaining my '99 Accord and it died at 150K so I've lost incentive to be so **** about it)

The little wrench light comes on at 15% oil life left, but do I really need to change the oil now or when it gets closer to 5% or so?

TIA

Depending on the mileage

if you plan on keeping the car for a while, a switch to synthetic, or synthetic blend will keep the engine happy
I'd change out the factory oil the first day i get the car, then keep a 5,000/3month (whichever comes first) oil change schedule

It's not really being ****, just rather safe than sorry.

modern oils and engines can go way further that they used to. ofcourse its been drilled in that 3k-5k is the max you should go when in reality lab tests show there are many oils that are perfectly fine for 10-25k miles. i have heard of people going 40-50k on one oil change and the cars now have over 150k on them. ofcourse i wouldnt recommend it, i stick with 10k intervals for me cause i drive harder than normal. if you are using a synthetic oil, there is no way you should be changing the oil more than once every year or 10k miles.

I have been using Penzoil Platinum since my 2007 CRV was done with the OEM oil and I have been getting between 10-11K per change cycle. Just for grins I had the oil checked and found that additive package was still good in the oil for another 3-4K depending on driving conditions. That being said, I will do the same for our new 2011 Civic EX when the light goes on for the first time; we are currently at 5100 miles and at 40%.

Love those Honda!

WE are over 90K on the CRV and just getting it broken in

yeah i will be sending some oil to the lab next 10k cause every time i change it the stuff still looks like it could go another round lol