Oil Life Still 62% At 3000 Miles

[illMATTic]

So on my 07 the oil life does not match the miles I am driving. I have put 10k on it since I purchased it. Now at just under 20K total. It is always at around 60% for 3k miles. I am going in for my third oil change soon.

 

Why is the life meter so off? The manual states, I MUST change the oil every 3K inspite of what oil life % is.

 

Matt

[WilliamBos]

I hit 6,500 miles before it gets close to zero. Why so low, GM told me 6,500miles/10,000 kms between changes.

[Walk9508]

I think the manual says change at 3k from the last change if the oil life system is accidentally reset.

[brims]

I think the manual says change at 3k from the last change if the oil life system is accidentally reset.

 

You are correct

"When to Change Engine Oil

.....

If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must change the oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your last oil change. Remember to reset the oil life system whenever the oil is changed." Page 5-20 of the 2008 Silverado Owner's Manual

[illMATTic]

Ahhh Haaaaaa. I went out to re-read the manual. I have been using a syn-blend so I figured I was good for a bit over 3K. I'll let it run and have a look around 5500.

 

thanks, Matt

[txab]

Ahhh Haaaaaa. I went out to re-read the manual. I have been using a syn-blend so I figured I was good for a bit over 3K. I'll let it run and have a look around 5500.

 

thanks, Matt

 

If your curious as to how well your oil holds up to your change schedule, you can have an used oil analysis done on a sample. Some engines and oils work better together than others. I've got one truck that can only go about 4500-5000 between changes no matter what synthetic oil is in it. After that mileage it begins to really shear the oil pretty badly.

[Zembonez]

At 5000 miles mine always says 45% remaining or more. I change every 5K usinf full synthetic.

[1990ss]

Does anyone ever go by how many months anymore? Would you still change it at 5k if the oil was a year old? Just curious. I've been changing mine every 4 months or 4k miles using Mobil 1 synthetic. Am I over doing it? I only put about 2k on it in 4 months.

[thearborbarber]

I put on 5000 miles a year on my truck. I only change it once a year. I also send samples to blackstone labs. 5000 miles a year is about all I can get out of Mobil 1.

[Zembonez]

Does anyone ever go by how many months anymore? Would you still change it at 5k if the oil was a year old? Just curious. I've been changing mine every 4 months or 4k miles using Mobil 1 synthetic. Am I over doing it? I only put about 2k on it in 4 months.

Every 5K for me is about 9 - 10 months. Oil doesn't just go bad... at least not is that short of a period. At 5K the oil coming out of my truck doesn't look very much different than it did going in... just a little darker.

[bubba33]

Does anyone ever go by how many months anymore? Would you still change it at 5k if the oil was a year old? Just curious. I've been changing mine every 4 months or 4k miles using Mobil 1 synthetic. Am I over doing it? I only put about 2k on it in 4 months.

 

 

I think your over doing it. I use to go 5000 miles on my cummins with regular oil. I put full synthetic in this one the last time. I will go at least 5000 miles before I change it.

[txab]

Does anyone ever go by how many months anymore? Would you still change it at 5k if the oil was a year old? Just curious. I've been changing mine every 4 months or 4k miles using Mobil 1 synthetic. Am I over doing it? I only put about 2k on it in 4 months.

 

I'd say it would depend on how you put that 2k on. If you only drove short drives everyday and your oil never really warmed up, I'd consider changing by time over mileage. I'd have an oil analysis done to verify. But if you drive a respectable distance every time and your engine gets good and hot, then I'd have no problem going longer on time between changes

 

A friend of mine only makes short drives of 4 miles or less, 5 days a week. It's a 20 year old truck. You can be sure it gets changed by time. Too many things build up in the oil and never get burned off.

[Irv]

I put on 5000 miles a year on my truck. I only change it once a year. I also send samples to blackstone labs. 5000 miles a year is about all I can get out of Mobil 1.

 

It is not the oil in question, it is the "YEAR" factor that matters. Any oil out there needs to be changed at 1 year, even Amsoil with their 25,000 mile OCI recommends 1 year if it comes before the 25,000 mile mark.

 

I have no trouble trusting Mobil-1 until the 25,000 mile mark but I know I would hit the year interval long before I hit the mile mark.

[99_4.8_LR4]

Well MATT if you put 20k on it then the oil should have been changed 6 times already and well , at 1500 miles the first time .

 

I see you haul a boat with it as well .

 

That's cool with me , I was a marine mechanic for 8 years and have hauled more boats (and large ones too) than I could shake a stick at with the old 99 .

Hauling is severe duty , especially up here , we have hills !

 

BTW the O.E. filter is 4 dollars and 6 qts is'nt much $ either , around $20 for both. You can literally change your oil in 5 minutes with a 15mm wrench without any lift or ramps or anything if some ape didn't wind the filter on too tight . 3/4 of a turn after seating is all you need .

Use a good quality oil in it (GTX conventional) , and change the oil and the FILTER (with OE) at 3000 .

I love how everyone talks about the kind of oil they use .

 

Everyone overlooks the filter . Bypass mode is bad .

 

ANother thing , I would venture to guess that millions of engines have survived intact (with 3k mile interval oil+ filter changes) well beyond 300k -400k and beyond BEFORE SYNTHETICS.

Isn't this proof enough that we don't need Syn Oil ?

 

But hell from the looks of these boards you guys don't keep them for very long anyway and to be honest I could care less if you never change the oil .

[rogerf]

At 5000 miles mine always says 45% remaining or more. I change every 5K usinf full synthetic.

That is about where mine has been tracking. Think mine was changed the last time @ 35% & 6000 miles but had been in the truck for over 9 months and over the Winter months. Recall my Honda Civic was easily past 7500 miles and still showing 30% at the last change.