Oil Life Monitor

CdnChevy · February 6, 2004

Hey everyone, have a 2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 LT. It comes with the a OIL LIFE MONITOR. The dealer states to just wait until it tells you to get the oil changed. So run about 4000 KM on it and its at 51% remaining. So extrapulating thats about 8,000 KM for the oil change. I have read that its best to follow the monitor vs the 5000 KM rule as it monitors engine run time not just KM travelled etc. Yet the dealer just sent me a notice saying i should be due for my 5000km oil change. So they say use the monitor yet say get it changed at 5000?

Thoughts?

redvett · February 6, 2004

Here is what GM says.

GM OIL LIFE SYSTEM...HOW DOES IT REALLY WORK

This is taken from the May 2003 GM Techlink publication

How often should engine oil be changed? 3,000 miles, 5,000 miles, 7,500 miles, 10,000 miles? Actually, all of these are correct, depending on operating conditions. Oil life is affected by many factors other than just miles driven. The type of driving, temperature, and engine load all play a part.

That’s why GM has developed the GM Oil Life System, an electronic watchdog that keeps track of all these variables and notifies the driver when it’s time to change oil. This system has become standard equipment on nearly all GM products since 2000.

Briefly, the Oil Life System is programmed with a certain number of engine revolutions. As the engine runs, this number is reduced until it reaches zero, and the Oil Life light or message comes on. But there’s more. Operating the engine under low or high temperatures, and under high load conditions subtracts (penalizes) extra revolutions, so the light comes on sooner. Changing engine oil according to actual need rather than an inflexible schedule provides several benefits.

First is simplified determination about when to change oil. No more decisions about normal conditions vs. severe conditions. Second is reduced operating costs for GM’s customers, who now have to change oil only when it’s needed. Third is minimizing the amount of used oil that must be disposed of. And fourth, engines will always be running with sufficiently fresh oil, for long life.

Traditionally, the vehicle maintenance schedule has been based on miles or time, while the oil change interval is now based on the GM Oil Life System.

When the change engine oil light or message comes on, it means that service is required on the vehicle. I should be serviced as soon as possible within the next 600 miles. It is possible that, under the best conditions, the engine oil life system may not indicate that vehicle service is necessary for over a year. However, engine oil and filter must be changed at least once per year, and at this time the system must be reset.

The dealer just sends out a notice to everyone that bought a car there. Follow the oil moniter.

Shaners · February 7, 2004

I don't have the same driver info system as you do, but I go by the "change oil" light I get on the dash in my '01 HD.

I honestly believe that the quality of todays oil and the newer engines don't require a 3000 mile change. Heck, Mercedes has been recommending a 10K mile oil change for a long, long time...

tmf6902 · February 7, 2004

I use the oil life monitor on mine too, it usually goes off at about 5500-6000 miles... I have no idea what that is in KM

sschevyz71 · February 7, 2004

sgiangregorio · February 7, 2004

Even though it shows 51% left, it won't make it to 8000kms, close maybe. It will drop off quicker towards the end...my guess is around 7000kms (about 4400 miles) the first time...

CdnChevy · February 7, 2004

Thanks everyone for the input! Guess I watch the dash.

TROYROBO · February 7, 2004

i have always gone by the computer --5000-6000 between changes

hihosilver · February 7, 2004

I don't trust anything like that with something as important as having good oil. I almost always change mine every 3000 miles and reset my change oil light afterward. I've only had the change oil light come on once when I was at 3,500 miles since the last oil change (I was slacking that time). I'm just stating what I do in contrast to the other posts.

RyanZ71 · February 7, 2004

I guess I must admit that I feel somewhat uncomfortable trusting the computer to tell me when the oil is bad. Anyone else feel that way? What about those who are running the Mobil-1 or Amsoil and get the "change oil" message after say 4000 miles yet the analisys of the oil by Amsoil indicates that the oil is still good?

Thats my big concern.

Import Hater · February 7, 2004

I go by the monitor every time. And use Mobil 1 every time, even though I'm sure I am wasting some of the benefits of synthetic oil. I'm sure if the truck was factory filled with Mobil 1, the oil life monitor calibration would allow for a longer interval. Liek it does with the Corvette. Under optimum conditions, the Corvette can go 15,000 miles before telling you the oil needs to be changed.

Rob

tmf6902 · February 7, 2004

I guess I must admit that I feel somewhat uncomfortable trusting the computer to tell me when the oil is bad. Anyone else feel that way? What about those who are running the Mobil-1 or Amsoil and get the "change oil" message after say 4000 miles yet the analisys of the oil by Amsoil indicates that the oil is still good?
Thats my big concern.

I use mobil one and like I said I get 5500-6000 miles out of my oil....in that time I may have to add a quart, my truck uses very little oil.