2006 DIC/oil change question

WT2k6 · February 18, 2007

If cross-posting is against the rules please accept my preemptory apologies and gas this thread.

2006 Silverado (v6, auto trans)

My truck is more or less the base model. As far as I can tell from the owner's manual it has some rudimentary form of the DIC (message only I guess). I was under the impression that it will tell me when to change my oil based on some kind fluid-monitoring calculation. I've gone a little over 7k with no change. I started expecting an indication around 4k but I decided to wait on the system to prompt me. I'm getting nervous at this point but I don't want to mess up the system's calibration. I read something on a GM website about how you can expect to go up to 10k between changes under certain circumstances. My driving is about a 70/30 mix of highway/city.

My questions are:

1. Do I even have a DIC or DIC-like system that will prompt me to change my oil based on something more scientific than "every 3-5k miles"?

2. If I do, why hasn't it piped up yet?

3. A corrollary to question 2: Should I just go ahead and change the oil without the indication? If we can somehow determine that I do have the system but for some reason it isn't working properly, how do I reset it after I change the oil?

Thanks in advance.

Tyler_LS1 · February 19, 2007

I always try to change my oil every 3000-5000 miles. mostly closer to the 3000 mark, regardless of what is recommended.

It keeps peace of mind, and makes me feel better.

Its better to be safe than sorry.

redvett · February 19, 2007

If your truch does not have the steering wheel buttons it has no or little DIC. All GM vehicles have the OLM.

Here is info on the operation.

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.

Ductape · February 20, 2007

I don't have my manual here, but IIRC the reset procedure involved turning on the key and pressing and releasing the gas pedal. Should be in your owner's manual too.

Mike