Oil changes
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
For those of you changing your oil at 2-3k, I sure hope you're saving that oil and running it in another vehicle, because it's a complete waste to drain that oil and give it away to the recycling center, when it's still got lots of life left in it.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,672
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From: cincinnati ohio
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
you do need to change it once a year with an annual mileage of 2,000. You need to throw away the moisture that will sit in the pan during the 4 or 4 months of winter. That is why you change it before you "store" it
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
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Follow the manual's recommendations and trust your DIC. Lots of time and effort went into creating an oil life monitor.
Following the 3000 mile oil change regimen went out with carburators and distributors.
Following the 3000 mile oil change regimen went out with carburators and distributors.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,960
Likes: 0
From: Issaquah Wa.
Originally Posted by eiswerth
Just bought a used '04 C5. Less than 10,000 miles on it. The previous owner (like most Vette owners) was manic about maintenance. It's had three oil changes in its life. I don't intend to put more than a couple thousand miles per year on it, and am wondering about oil changes. Do I keep with the 3,000 to 5,000 mile interval (using synthetic oil, of course), or do I (as my neighbor who works for a local Chevy dealer suggests) pay at least as much attention to time as mileage? He recommends changing oil every few months, even if the car sits in storage.
Its simple,.........What is YOUR "life view"? If you want to be a maintanance,.....FREEK,......(like me) change the oil every time you dont like what your oil looks like! 
(About every 3k mi.) If you arnt intrested,........don't
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Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
Originally Posted by jsdanehy
you do need to change it once a year with an annual mileage of 2,000. You need to throw away the moisture that will sit in the pan during the 4 or 4 months of winter. That is why you change it before you "store" it
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
Originally Posted by Patman
If you're only doing 2k a year, I wouldn't even bother changing it every year, I'd go two or even three years! ...
If the DIC says change oil, I do. That seems to meet warranty requirements.
If you MUST do something about your oil and can't wait for the DIC, then just change the filter more often and top off the oil. That'll save you lots of $$$ over the years, especially if your car is a garage queen.
Good luck!
..rickko..
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,146
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From: NM
Originally Posted by Jet-Jock
I was a little surprised to read in the owner's manual 15K per oil change 
This is from the '04 Owners Manual:
When to Change Engine Oil
(GM Oil Life System)
Your vehicle has a computer that lets you know when to
change your engine oil and filter. This is based on
engine revolutions and engine temperature, and not on
mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at
which an oil change will be indicated can vary
considerably. For the oil life system to work properly,
you must reset the system every time the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is necessary.
A CHANGE OIL SOON message will come on. Change
your oil as soon as possible within the next two times you
stop for fuel. It is possible that, if you are driving under the
best conditions, the oil life system may not indicate that
an oil change is necessary for over a year. However, your
engine oil and filter must be changed at least once a year
and at this time the system must be reset. Your dealer
has GM-trained service people who will perform this work
using genuine GM parts and reset the system. It is also
important to check your oil regularly and keep it at the
proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change your oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your
last oil change. Remember to reset the oil life system
whenever the oil is changed.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
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From: Lake Mary Florida
It was under the section 'when to change your oil' :
The mileage between oil changes will vary depending on how you drive your vehicle -- usually between 3,000 miles (5 000 km) and 15,000 miles (25 000 km) since your last oil and filter change. Under severe conditions, the system may come on before 3,000 miles (5 000 km). Never drive your vehicle more than 15,000 miles (25 000 km) or 12 months (whichever occurs first) without an oil change.
That's the excerpt.
The mileage between oil changes will vary depending on how you drive your vehicle -- usually between 3,000 miles (5 000 km) and 15,000 miles (25 000 km) since your last oil and filter change. Under severe conditions, the system may come on before 3,000 miles (5 000 km). Never drive your vehicle more than 15,000 miles (25 000 km) or 12 months (whichever occurs first) without an oil change.
That's the excerpt.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
From: State of Perplexity California
SOOO many variables. I'm less informed than many (most) here. But, since my environment is often very dusty, I'm going to be changing more often than the DIC suggests. Especially since my aftermarket air filter may pass more silica than the factory setup. I'll probably do an oil analysis or three, and go from there. I figure every 5K miles for me to start, look at the UOA's, and go from there.