CHANGE ENGINE OIL DIC Message

[mjwencl]

How soon after your "Driver Information Center" Engine Oil Life percentage reaches 0% does your display show the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message?

 

I'm ready to perform the oil change but the actual message to do so hasn't come on yet. This is the first time I've used the Oil Life Monitor system to tell me when it's time to change. I also wanted to see how many miles it would take before activating.

 

Thanks!

 

Michael

[tmf6902]

I think it probably comes on before you reach 0%. I can usually go between 5-7K miles before mine comes on depending on the season and where I am driving. It takes some getting used too.

[fastdrvr23]

*EDIT* The real description is below for the oil life system*EDIT*

 

I've only seen it one time on mine, and it was at ~5500 miles. I always just reset it when I change the oil, and forget about it. Since I use full synthetic, I change mine every 5,000, and still have only seen it that one time. Good luck!

[redvett]

Here is the whole story about the oil life monitor.

 

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.

[Shawn T]

Here is the whole story about the oil life monitor.

 

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.

 

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I think the only issue that we all have with it is this. How does it tell the thermal breakdown of the oil? Is the viscosity up to par? Is the oil dirty? Has the filter failed? None of these variables can be determined by RPM's or temperature credits or debits. Some brands and types of oils last longer than others. You could run your truck smoothly for months on end and the oil will just eventually start to break down(dino oil especially), regardless of sporatic high temps or revolutions. IMO I won't go over 6000 miles, whatever the EOL meter says. Until it is a more thorough system, with about three other variables involved, it is kind of sketchy to trust, especially if it keeps going beyond 7000 miles.

[mjwencl]

So when does the CHANGE ENGINE OIL display appear? Sometime after you've reached 0% I'm guessing. Mine reads 0% on the DIC and yet no message in the display yet to CHANGE ENGINE OIL. Not even at startup. How long to I have to wait to see it displayed?

 

[biochemist]

So when does the CHANGE ENGINE OIL display appear? Sometime after you've reached 0% I'm guessing. Mine reads 0% on the DIC and yet no message in the display yet to CHANGE ENGINE OIL. Not even at startup. How long to I have to wait to see it displayed?

 

 

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Just change it every 3000 and reset...mine usually has 60-70% left when I change the oil...I know what the manual says but it is just easier to do it every 3000 that way you know and it never hurts to have fresh oil, does it????...later

[facn8me]

No one knows for sure. It can go up to 7500 miles. The above article said when the warning comes on you have a 600 or so mile cushin. Just change it now then you can wait and see when it would have came on with peace of mind. Reset it when it comes on and decide then if you want to go by it.

[BBSilverado]

Are there two stages to this oil life meter?

The reason I ask is the message "check engine oil" comes on long before it reaches 0% and I have checked the oil level and it was still high in the safe zone.

Does another message appear later when its near 0% saying "change engine oil"?

I have never waited long enough after getting the "check....." message to see if a "change...." message shows up.

[redvett]

Are there two stages to this oil life meter?

The reason I ask is the message "check engine oil" comes on long before it reaches 0% and I have checked the oil level and it was still high in the safe zone.

Does another message appear later when its near 0% saying "change engine oil"?

I have never waited long enough after getting the "check....." message to see if a "change...." message shows up.

 

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The oil monitor and the low oil warning systems are 2 different systems. My 2001-03-& 04 all came on at 6%. If your low oil light comes on you should see the dealer is probably defective.

[lisak421]

Hey guys, I think what mjwencl is asking is if your dic say's "engine oil life is 0%", then when do you get a message saying "change oil" I understand he needs to change the oil soon, but what he is asking is why doesn't he get a message to change his oil too? Is there something wrong with his dic? (no pun intended) I think I like the old "message center" better)

[redvett]

Hey guys, I think what mjwencl is asking is if your dic say's "engine oil life is 0%", then when do you get a message saying "change oil"  I understand he needs to change the oil soon, but what he is asking is why doesn't he get a message to change his oil too? Is there something wrong with his dic? (no pun intended)  I think I like the old "message center" better)

 

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If it dosent come on around 6% then its time to see the dealer.

[mjwencl]

Now to answer my own question. Yes my DIC is fine. Once the Oil Life percentage reaches ZERO then the next time you start your truck or just turn igntion on you will get the message CHANGE ENGINE OIL. It may not happen right away but soon after it reaches ZERO percent you can expect to see the DIC message very soon.

 

My DIC displayed the message today after I started the truck to head home. I changed the oil and filter shortly after arriving home.

 

5.7 Liters of MOBIL1 5W-30 and an AC DELCO UPF44 filter. I'm happy now!