When to change oil?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 18,643
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From: Norman Oklahoma - The Only State in the Union with no Blue Counties!
What a waste! You need to drive it more. 
I follow the DIC and get it ready when it gets down under 10%.
Oh yeah, I do change the filter between 50% and 55% oil life remaining, only because I think the synthetic oil can go the distance but not the filter. Easy 5 minute job.
I follow the DIC and get it ready when it gets down under 10%.
Oh yeah, I do change the filter between 50% and 55% oil life remaining, only because I think the synthetic oil can go the distance but not the filter. Easy 5 minute job.
Not a bad idea but as I usually only get 3-5K on the clock between DIC oil change suggestions, I haven't done that. Someone told me the computer takes into account such things as average RPM, peak RPM, mileage, etc., into the DIC recommendations on oil life. I don't know if that is true for sure but it wouldn't surprise me either. Oil Life DIC does seem shorter if I have been pushing the car at the track, etc.
If anyone knows, I would love to hear about that!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
It still never ceases to amaze me at how critical people are of the way I maintain and/or drive my car. As far back as I can remember, I've changed the oil in my cars prior to the recommended mileage. That's just me. I have a 2007 TrailBlazer SS (my daily driver) that I've had for 15 months and it has a little over 4,000 miles on it. I change the oil in it every 1,500 miles. I'm retired and most of the driving I do is 3-4 mile trips around town. Am I wasting money? Perhaps, but it's my money.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: ZHills Florida
St. Jude Donor '08
There is some merit to this point. My car had a fresh oil change when I bought it and it used a liter of oil every 1000 miles until I changed the oil. It doesn't use any now with Royal purple.
I'd bet it was dino oil in there.
Drifting
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There is no reason you can't go by your oil life monitor, unless you just don't drive it enough to require an oil change at least once a year. I changed mine usually when the oil life monitor was at about 45%, but that was because it was right at a year between changes (just didn't drive the car enough). Many change theirs more often (every 3K miles or so), and if that's what they want to do, it's no skin off my back.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 955
Likes: 4
From: Union City, CA
Not a bad idea but as I usually only get 3-5K on the clock between DIC oil change suggestions, I haven't done that. Someone told me the computer takes into account such things as average RPM, peak RPM, mileage, etc., into the DIC recommendations on oil life. I don't know if that is true for sure but it wouldn't surprise me either. Oil Life DIC does seem shorter if I have been pushing the car at the track, etc.
If anyone knows, I would love to hear about that!
If anyone knows, I would love to hear about that!
From the owners manual:
I just had my first oil change after buying the car at the end of August '08.
I go by the DIC. Also, if the manual says it, I follow it.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
I just think driving it less than 100 miles a month is a waste. Might as well just leave it parked in the garage and just look at it, except that vettes are meant to be driven, not just looked at, in my opinion. In the end, do what you want, but I'll still have the opinion I do.
I enjoy just knowing that it's in the garage and that I can take it out on a nice, sunny summer day if I like. Hell, I've even been known to put on a Beach Boys CD, open a beer, light a cigar and just look at it. That's enjoyment to me. My car was paid for years ago and I was busting your chops about paying for it. If we were all the same, this would be a pretty boring world.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
I think it's great that many people drive their cars and put lots of miles on them. I really do, and I'd never be critical of anyone who does. I guess what bothers me is that because I don't drive my car very much, people think I'm not enjoying it.
I enjoy just knowing that it's in the garage and that I can take it out on a nice, sunny summer day if I like. Hell, I've even been known to put on a Beach Boys CD, open a beer, light a cigar and just look at it. That's enjoyment to me. My car was paid for years ago and I was busting your chops about paying for it. If we were all the same, this would be a pretty boring world.
I enjoy just knowing that it's in the garage and that I can take it out on a nice, sunny summer day if I like. Hell, I've even been known to put on a Beach Boys CD, open a beer, light a cigar and just look at it. That's enjoyment to me. My car was paid for years ago and I was busting your chops about paying for it. If we were all the same, this would be a pretty boring world.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 813
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From: N E area of state Kansas
yes to each there own. Don't rip on somebody for the mileage that they don't drive. There car, there choice, end of deal. I put a good number of miles on mine, but if Devil Dog doesn't that does not bother me one bit, and shouldn't bother anyone else. We should try to help each other out, not tell each other how to live.
To the OP, I try to change mine at %25 oil life. I have had the car for 5 months, and got it changed upon purchase to know for sure when it was done. I have had to change once since then, but I do not drive mine very easy.
To the OP, I try to change mine at %25 oil life. I have had the car for 5 months, and got it changed upon purchase to know for sure when it was done. I have had to change once since then, but I do not drive mine very easy.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
yes to each there own. Don't rip on somebody for the mileage that they don't drive. There car, there choice, end of deal. I put a good number of miles on mine, but if Devil Dog doesn't that does not bother me one bit, and shouldn't bother anyone else. We should try to help each other out, not tell each other how to live.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,658
Likes: 25
From: Rochester Minnesota
Originally Posted by 427435;
I would change it now. I would bet the dealer used his cheapest oil----not a synthetic.
Once you have an oil that you know meets GM4718, then believe the oil monitor.
Once you have an oil that you know meets GM4718, then believe the oil monitor.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 955
Likes: 4
From: Union City, CA
As soon as I pulled her in, I was escorted to a booth that the staff uses. He pulled up my contact info on his terminal and instantly typed Mobile 1 Syn. I figured cool, he knows what the Vette's should get.
I'm not going to lose any sleep over it, but it does make you wonder when they drive it away out of sight.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
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From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
It's not that it "bothers" me per se, it's just that I don't think vettes are THAT special that they shouldn't be used for what they were built to do, that is, be driven on the street, not sit in someone's garage all the time to be looked at. That's just my opinion, just as you and DDII have your own opinions.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Title town, Champs live here.
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I think it's great that many people drive their cars and put lots of miles on them. I really do, and I'd never be critical of anyone who does. I guess what bothers me is that because I don't drive my car very much, people think I'm not enjoying it.
I enjoy just knowing that it's in the garage and that I can take it out on a nice, sunny summer day if I like. Hell, I've even been known to put on a Beach Boys CD, open a beer, light a cigar and just look at it. That's enjoyment to me. My car was paid for years ago and I was busting your chops about paying for it. If we were all the same, this would be a pretty boring world.
I enjoy just knowing that it's in the garage and that I can take it out on a nice, sunny summer day if I like. Hell, I've even been known to put on a Beach Boys CD, open a beer, light a cigar and just look at it. That's enjoyment to me. My car was paid for years ago and I was busting your chops about paying for it. If we were all the same, this would be a pretty boring world.
The beer and cigar were acceptable . and back to the topic once a year here.