When to change oil?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Lake Jackson Texas
When to change oil?
i bought my 03 coupe last month and the dealership had just changed the oil. the computer said that it had 99% oil life. since then i have put 3000 miles on it and the oil life says 71%. if you do the math that has me changing the oil aroung 9000 miles. how many miles between oil changes. i know its common to go about 5000 miles on synthetic oil but 9000 sounds strange. i was planning on changing it at 5000 anyways but i am just curious how long everyone else goes.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 58,501
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From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I change mine at 10,000 miles or 1 year whichever is sooner. Keep in mind the car uses synthetic oil. Did you get a manual? Good info there.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
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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
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I trust my oil life monitor - I change it <10% oil life, 10K miles or 1 year, whatever comes first - usually 1 year. Right now I have about 32% oil life, but lately I've been driving the car more, so I think it will be changed before I reach the one year mark.
With the synthetics, it isn't necessary to change it at regular intervals like back in the days when the only oil available was Dino oil. But this is a topic that has been beaten down to the point that there are two divided camps.
Bottom line is that you won't hurt anything if you wait or if you change it more frequently - do what you feel comfortable with and promise that you'll never ask this question or raise this topic ever again!!!!
With the synthetics, it isn't necessary to change it at regular intervals like back in the days when the only oil available was Dino oil. But this is a topic that has been beaten down to the point that there are two divided camps.
Bottom line is that you won't hurt anything if you wait or if you change it more frequently - do what you feel comfortable with and promise that you'll never ask this question or raise this topic ever again!!!!
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Bakersfield CA
I change mine at 3000. Im sure the oil is still good at that point but im just running a gm oil filter. I dont have the facilities to change the oil filter myself so i have to take it to the dealership so i just have them change the oil while im there.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,969
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From: Lyons Il
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
oil change
It is a unique situation with these cars. Most folks do not drive them as DD's and the synthetic oil lasts longer. I have averaged 3500 miles a year in the three years I've owned my car. So I have changed my oil once a year, Mobil 1. Oil changes are cheap insurance, regardless if it has any real benefit.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 924
Likes: 0
From: Macedon NY
Never put 10K a year on the car, so change yearly. Usually has 60 - 80% life left. Car hibernates 5 mos. out of year anyway!
PS: The harder you drive it the faster those percentages will drop!
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Melting Slicks
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From: Bel Air Md
In case you did not get an owners manual click here.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...ual-links.html
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...ual-links.html
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Down the Shore New Jersey, Elev.3 feet
St. Jude Donor '17
I change mine every December.....except for the first year I changed it 3 times! The dealer gave me 3 free oil changes but they had to be used on the vette and in one year! Made no sense at all but I did it! I should have had them save the old oil for use in my Blazer ! lol
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
As Randy says, the DIC is accurate for synthetic oil
In my case now that the car is only out at weekends I hit one year before the 0% miles
Changing at 3k may make some members feel better but, based on the oil analysis I've seen, it doesn't help the engine
In my case now that the car is only out at weekends I hit one year before the 0% miles
Changing at 3k may make some members feel better but, based on the oil analysis I've seen, it doesn't help the engine
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,055
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
With lots of track driving each year my oil analysis shows changing once per year is fine with my car. I usually put somewhere around 4K miles per year on the car. Factory says you can go to 15K miles or once per year unless the monitor says to change it sooner.
Bill
Bill
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From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
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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.