First Oil Change

cbsmith · August 1, 2005

My 2005 Sierra 1500 Crew Cab has 5800km (3600 miles) on it. The dealer said that the truck has the Oil Life Omitoring system on it and the DIC will tell me when the oil needs to be changed, usually at about 5000km for the first change.

I have not had a message saying to change the oil on the DIC yet and am just wondering at what mileage the message will come up? The driving has probably been about half city and half highway driving with no towing.

Thanks,

Chris

JimG · August 1, 2005

The Oil Life Monitoring system uses an algorithm to determine when the message comes on, see here: http://www.gmtechlink.com/images/issues/may03/TLMay03e.html

Personally I never use the thing. Somewhere b/t 3,000 and 4,000 miles I change my oil; that's about every 10-12 weeks. Oil Life message comes on well after I've change the oil. For the price of repairs/new truck, the oil's cheap insurance.

Plus it's brand new - you should definitely change it. Mine had a lot of metal shavings on the plug.

dgood · August 1, 2005

On new cars, I always change oil when I get it home, 500 miles, and every 3000 miles after that. Like was said above, *cheap* insurance, and effective. You get all the leftover metal out of the engine after assembly and give it the best chance at a long life.

I think the oil monitoring system is there just to extend the dealers pocketbook "Change it every 15k miles, it's fine... oops, you need a new engine!"

redvett · August 2, 2005

I have been using the oil life monitor on my vehicles since 1993 and never have had a problem. Usually get 120000 mi. If it wasnt any good i wouldnt trust it to to 94 ZR-1 i bought new where the replacement engine is $25000

Ape0r · August 2, 2005

I would go ahead and do it or get it done at your current mileage, since you've just undergone the breakin period. After this change, go ahead and use the oil life monitor, it won't hurt anything. Some people would have you believe your engine will blow up at 3,001 miles! Personally, I run 6k between changes. Just did a change today, that stuff sure does come out dirty. Kind of made me feel fuzzy all over seeing the nice clean oil on the dipstick again! Anyway, I'd go ahead and do it now, and maybe a second change after another 3k, and then go by the oil life monitor if you want to, certainly won't hurt anything.

If you are going to follow the oil life monitor, I would insist on the use of a premium motor oil. I'm working at a Chevy dealer for the summer, and we use this service pro s**t that I wouldn't want in my lawn mower! You don't need to use synthetic, however, I wouldn't want to run 12k miles on that service pro crap we use at the shop!