oil change
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
the computer is ok, but driving style is a better indicator
I change my oil every time I go to the track. some say that is over kill, but heck it doesn't cost that much and I feel better.
If you only drive your car a few miles per year then I would change the oil in the late fall before storage and then again in late spring after you used it.
Normal driving I would use the computer.
BTW - I use Mobil1 5w-30
I change my oil every time I go to the track. some say that is over kill, but heck it doesn't cost that much and I feel better.
If you only drive your car a few miles per year then I would change the oil in the late fall before storage and then again in late spring after you used it.
Normal driving I would use the computer.
BTW - I use Mobil1 5w-30
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
From: Boston MA
There has been alot of posts on this subject and they have made a believer out of me. I run the oil life counter almost to zero. The manual says if you don't run out it out then as a minimum change your oil once a year.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 466
Likes: 0
From: Oswego NY
I change my oil once a year,thats about every 5 thousand miles.I change it just before I put it away for winter.The oil usage on the DIC says around 50% used.
Last edited by Tom337; Jan 26, 2006 at 10:48 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 7
From: 1994 LT1 Coupe 6-speed with FX3 & 2000 LS1 Vert 6-Speed with F45 Hunterdon County, NJ
Follow the manual, but at least once per year, and if you drive in a dusty area, remember manual then suggests changing at 3k (as the Oil Life Monitoring system cannot detect dust).
Use Mobil-1 oil and the Mobil-1 Oil Filter too.
If your temperatures NEVER drops below zero (farenheit), you could use 10w30, otherwise 5w30.
Use Mobil-1 oil and the Mobil-1 Oil Filter too.
If your temperatures NEVER drops below zero (farenheit), you could use 10w30, otherwise 5w30.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
Originally Posted by Ginzo
There has been alot of posts on this subject and they have made a believer out of me. I run the oil life counter almost to zero. The manual says if you don't run out it out then as a minimum change your oil once a year.
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Here is the low down
C5 corvettes use mobile1 synthetic oil. Which recomened changes are at 15,000 miles thats what the computer figures up or down on how you drive. Same goes for porsche's. New oil technology the old 3000 mile rule does not apply unless your not using the right oil.
The computer is dead on accurate unless you are in some sort of weird extrem conditions which very few people actually are. If you drive less then 10k miles a year. Just change it once a year. Walmart 5 quart container 5w30 is around $29 bucks here.
Roger roger
BIG 10 4
The computer is dead on accurate unless you are in some sort of weird extrem conditions which very few people actually are. If you drive less then 10k miles a year. Just change it once a year. Walmart 5 quart container 5w30 is around $29 bucks here.
Roger roger
BIG 10 4
Last edited by F355FTS; Jan 26, 2006 at 10:41 PM.
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 3
From: East Hampton CT
The filter looks easy as hell to replace on the C5 so I'm planning on continuing what I was doing on my LT1 Camaro. I was going 2500-3000 and then changing the filter and topping off the oil (usually approx 1 qt) and then changing oil and filter at 5000-6000. The problem is not the oil breaking down as much as it is the filter getting clogged and/or the oil building up residue and deposits. I have talked to a few people and it seems like normal/slightly aggressive driving will give you a 10,000 mi oil change interval according to the computer. I just bought the car but I'm at 58% now and I plan on changing everything, resetting and going from there.
As a side note, the LT1 Camaro had 160,000 miles on it when I sold it after having Mobil 1 from day one.....compression was still perfect, the car was putting down 270hp to the wheels (just exhaust and K&N filter done to it), and it didn't burn a drop of oil. I'm hoping my C5 is the same way.
As a side note, the LT1 Camaro had 160,000 miles on it when I sold it after having Mobil 1 from day one.....compression was still perfect, the car was putting down 270hp to the wheels (just exhaust and K&N filter done to it), and it didn't burn a drop of oil. I'm hoping my C5 is the same way.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
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Originally Posted by Billdog350
The filter looks easy as hell to replace on the C5 so I'm planning on continuing what I was doing on my LT1 Camaro. I was going 2500-3000 and then changing the filter and topping off the oil (usually approx 1 qt) and then changing oil and filter at 5000-6000. The problem is not the oil breaking down as much as it is the filter getting clogged and/or the oil building up residue and deposits.
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I use Mobil 1 5W30 fully synthetic oil. I change mine normally about once a year since I only put about 4000-5000 miles a year on it. If you drive it more, just follow the DIC and change it when it shows a low oil life.
or once a year
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 58,551
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From: The warm part of Anger Island
St. Jude Donor '09
I trust my DIC but also check the oil regularly. If the oil looks too nasty I will change it. Nothing beets checking it yourself. Also remember, unless you have a problem causing your oil to lose viscosity and you are using the full synthetic Mobil 1, that oil should last well over 5000 miles. No need to waste money on an expensive oil change if it's not necessary. I do change mine at 5000 (as recommended in the driver's manual) regardless of what the DIC says, though. Better safe than sorry.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
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Tech Contributor
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
Originally Posted by DeeGee
I'm a DIC man 
That sounded bad
That sounded bad
Just follow the DIC. We have a forum member who is a retired GM (corvette) engineer that worked on the algorithms that it uses. Like the manual says, at least once per year or as the oil life monitor indicates. If you drive in dusty environments you should change it a little more frequently as it can't detect dust as well.
The manual as well as the fill cap recommend Mobil one synthetic so that's what I use.
Paul
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,996
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From: Louisville KY
Originally Posted by F355FTS
C5 corvettes use mobile1 synthetic oil. Which recomened changes are at 15,000 miles thats what the computer figures up or down on how you drive. Same goes for porsche's. New oil technology the old 3000 mile rule does not apply unless your not using the right oil.
The computer is dead on accurate unless you are in some sort of weird extrem conditions which very few people actually are. If you drive less then 10k miles a year. Just change it once a year. Walmart 5 quart container 5w30 is around $29 bucks here.
Roger roger
BIG 10 4
The computer is dead on accurate unless you are in some sort of weird extrem conditions which very few people actually are. If you drive less then 10k miles a year. Just change it once a year. Walmart 5 quart container 5w30 is around $29 bucks here.
Roger roger
BIG 10 4
The logic programed into the computer is great!