OLM set for dino or syn?

[LaserBlueZ71]

I have always run Pennzoil Ultra with NAPA gold filters in my 2011 5.3, the good stuff.

 

Here is what I am wondering.

 

Is the OLM system calibrated for normal dino oil, or synthetic oil? My monitor is down to 15% or so after 5 or 6,000 KM, not miles. I think it is a total waste of money to use $10 per L oil, then change it out every 3,000 miles.

 

Do you think I could safely change my oil once per year, and just reset the monitor when it nears 0%? I only put on 10 - 12,000 KM a year. My drives average 30 minutes each, 2 to 3 times per day. Mostly stop and go traffic with an average speed of about 70 KM/H.

 

Thanks!

[Jsdirt]

+1 for both above posts.

 

I would NEVER trust an electronic device designed by GM to tell me when it THINKS I should change my oil. I want my expensive equipment to last as long as possible, before becoming an 8 cylinder oil pump ....

 

Remember ... GM is in the business of selling NEW cars/trucks - not making them last forever. Same reason I would never run any GM fluids in my Chevy, or Polaris fluids in my Sportsman 800, or Yamaha fluids in my '74 RD350. I run the best of the best (in my opinion) synthetic oils, and change them based on oil analysis, or when I feel like changing them ... which ends up MUCH sooner than that OLM ever recommends.

[Doug_Scott]

If you did not have an OLM what would you do? It is just a gadget installed to remind the brain dead that they should change the oil once in a while. It does not take any actual samples of the oil, or even know what viscosity/type/grade of oil being run. It does provide a SAFE oil change interval though. Short changing the oil is always going to be the safe thing to do.

 

Back in the 70s we used to put a little box at the bottom of the dash with a little plugin thing that would burn out in x number of hours of engine running. Once burnt out, it would turn a bulb on in the box that lit up the stencil in the front of the box that said to "Return vehicle to [our dealer name] for servicing.". We would install an new plugin thing after servicing the car. Was a great way to remind people to service their vehicles. This was a predominantly farming community, and the cars were being driven by the wives. The trucks with the box rarely came back for service, but the cars usually did.

[txab]

Have your oil tested at your next oil change and see what the recommended OCI is after that.

 

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

[88m53453]

I have an 05 Sierra with a 4.8 and an 03 Tahoe with a 5.3. I have over 225k on the 4.8 and over 204 on the Tahoe. I have run the better synthetics now since I purchased them , each had about 50k on them. I have run 7-9k between oil changes and both still run great with minimal oil useage.

 

I did an analysis once on each after a 10k oil interval and the verdict was, whatever you are doing, keep doing it, oil was great.