When do you change your vehicles oil?

2000 GMC · May 18, 2002

I know that some GM vehicles have the computer that tells them when to change the oil. Computer counts the number of revolutions the engine does or something like that. On average my light comes on between 3600 and 4200 miles, depending on my driving. I use Moble 1 and K&N oil filters in my vehicle so I just wait until the light comes on.

How many of you wait until the "Change Oil" light comes on and how many of you change the oil every 3000 miles?

Greg · May 18, 2002

Every 5,000 miles with Valvoline full synthetic. I never see the light turn on - except blinking as it's reset before I drive out of the oil change place.

Markeaux · May 18, 2002

I know that some GM vehicles have the computer that tells them when to change the oil. Computer counts the number of revolutions the engine does or something like that. On average my light comes on between 3600 and 4200 miles, depending on my driving. I use Moble 1 and K&N oil filters in my vehicle so I just wait until the light comes on.

3600-4200 mi seems awfully low doesn't it? I use Mobil1 in my 01 5.3 Tahoe and have been going about 7K mi between changes and the light never comes on before then ... and I tend to drive "spirited" all the time (no that does not mean I'm "under the influence", oh wait a minute, oh yeah - yeah that's right, *not* under the influence :lookaround:

2000 GMC · May 18, 2002

I know that some GM 3600-4200 mi seems awfully low doesn't it? I use Mobil1 in my 01 5.3 Tahoe and have been going about 7K mi between changes and the light never comes on before then ... and I tend to drive "spirited" all the time (no that does not mean I'm "under the influence", oh wait a minute, oh yeah - yeah that's right, *not* under the influence :lookaround:

I think you’re correct about the mileage being low. I think it has to do with me letting the vehicle idle during the winter here in Alaska. There were some mornings and after work I would let it warm up for 20-30 minutes, more if we were out in -40 weather and the truck wasn't started for a couple of days, over an hour idling.

Last oil change was toward the end of March and I have a little over 3400 miles on this oil change now and no light yet and oil level is still full. Noticed during the winter it would be about a 1/4 to 1/2 a quart low when I would change the oil.

Think during the summer months I should get close 6000 miles since I don't have to let the truck warm up

Shaners · May 18, 2002

I cahnge the oil when the light comes on. I've read several articles about the algorithm that GM uses to determine oil changes, and seems "right on".

They have compared vehicles run under totally different conditions. One vehicle had the light come on at low miles and the other had high miles. The used oils were compared, and they ended up being very similar as far as contaminants, and break-down.

I used to change every 3000 miles... but not any more

MountaineerTom · May 19, 2002

I change mine every 3000, or as soon as I can after 3000, which usually is much. That's just me, but I feel confident that I could let it go longer like some have mentioned already.

sincityZ71 · May 19, 2002

I changed mine at 3000 for the first two oil changes but now that I am running Mobil 1 I am just going to wait for the light to come on.

radrado · May 19, 2002

I used to change my oil when the light came on. Depending on how I used the truck it would come on between 3000 and 5000 miles. I think it came on so soon because I do a lot of stop and go driving in high temperatures. Now that I drive the truck less I change oil every 3 months. I'll typically drive 2000 miles in that time.

HillHound · May 19, 2002

I change mine every 4000 miles with regular Pennzoil and I've used a K&N oil filter the past few times.

EDZ Z71 · May 19, 2002

I change mine about every 5000 miles and all has been great. I use Mobil 1 and Fram oil filters.

95Yukon · May 19, 2002

I used to use Fram until I read this

http://www.frankhunt.com/FRANK....am-ph8a

I use AC or Purolator PureOne filters now and use Castrol GTX 15w50 every 3-4 thousand. I used to use Mobil1 full synthetic, but oddly enough, it used to get out of my rear main seal and leave a small spot on the driveway. Went back to non-synthetic, and the leak went away. I have read articles on how synthetics can find their way out of seals easier than conventional oil due to their tiny molecular structure. I thought it was bull, but I guess they were right in my case. (my truck has 130K miles on that seal now, so if it were new, it probably wouldn't leak past) but it retains conventional oil just fine..not a drop comes out.

bscottb · May 20, 2002

I cange oil every 3000 miles. I don't care when the light says it is time. Oil is cheap insurance. I don't trust GM to come up with a formula to determine when the change oil light comes on. Heck, they can't even build an engine that doesn't knock.