Oil changes
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2
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Oil changes
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.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 992
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From: Granville Ohio
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16'17-'18-'19-'20-21
Originally Posted by cenzo
If you're only putting 2000 miles per year, I'd change it once a year - right before storage if you do so.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,454
Likes: 288
From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
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.
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 391
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From: Boston MA
Originally Posted by StephenT
Where are you getting this misinformation from? The car has an oil life monitor, if you read your manual it will tell you to change your oil when it is at 0% or once a year.
Do what the manual says. In your case once a year!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,329
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
Mid-TN Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I've put 7K miles on my C5 since I bought it back in 9/02. I change mine once a year regardless of mileage.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
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From: Lake Mary Florida
I read a white paper from a GM Powerplant engineer, who recommends using the seasonal oil change schedule. That is the first day of each season. If you drive the average per year (12K) it works out to about 3K between changes.
I was a little surprised to read in the owner's manual 15K per oil change
I was a little surprised to read in the owner's manual 15K per oil change
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
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! Oil analysis has proven that synthetic oil doesn't have a one year time limit. I proved it myself with my mom's car. She only drives 4k a year, and I felt it was a waste of good synthetic oil to drain it so early. So I let the oil go two full years, and 8000 miles, and as I always do, I had the oil analyzed. The oil analysis report came back with low engine wear and it showed that the condition of the oil was still good! There was no water or fuel in the oil either, even though my mom does a lot of short trips!
So if you're only putting 2000 miles a year on your car, and every time you drive it you fully warm up the oil, there is no logical reason to change it out after just one year.
Heck, when you're only driving it 2k per year, there is almost no possible way you'd wear out that engine in your lifetime anyhow.
So if you're only putting 2000 miles a year on your car, and every time you drive it you fully warm up the oil, there is no logical reason to change it out after just one year.
Heck, when you're only driving it 2k per year, there is almost no possible way you'd wear out that engine in your lifetime anyhow.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 3
From: Orland Park Illinois
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
3000 mile oil changes are a thing of the past. Modern day motors no longer require them. Follow your monitor (if it reads 0%) or change oil once a year, which ever comes first.......Just read the owners manual...
Good luck....
Good luck....
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 3
From: Richmond Va
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Originally Posted by hotwheels57
...OPEC loves you...
These cars have an oil life momitor for a reason. They are fairly accurate. I change mine between 10 & 15%.
Bob
OPEC makes synthetic? 
