I usually change around 3000-3500 miles.
When to do the oil?
Pro
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Tsawwassen BC
I go by the DIC...about 10k.....but I use the best oil I can get....and this year it's MOTUL..... my Lexus dealership swears by it as does my Victory dealer for my bike.
but good oil is very common these days....I also love Royal Purple
but good oil is very common these days....I also love Royal Purple
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I do not put enough miles on mine each year to have the oil life monitor go down to 5-10% where I would normally change the oil. I change mine once a year right as I am putting it in storage for the winter. But if I drove more, I would go by the oil life monitor and change it at about 10% or so.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
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I changed mines about 3 times a year...that comes to every four months no matter.... how many miles i put on my car. I figure i can swing $300 plus a year for my car!!!!! Come on fellows you drive a high performance car on of the best.
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From: Fremont CA
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So why not flush the radiator every six months? Maybe new tires annually? Perhaps new paint every other spring? Millions of dollars in research has shown that you changing the oil every four months is a waste of money and resources.
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2007
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From: Taylorsville North Carolina
Seems like the Blackstone analysis is the way to go. It is like $25 and if it shows you are changing needlessly, then it will also pay for itself over and over. Also, if there are other issues, it could manifest itself thru the oil analysis. Cheap way to go from opinion to fact and peace of mind.
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One of the engineers that helped design the oil life monitor system in the C5 used to spend a lot of time on here. He went into great detail on how the system determines the remaining life and the redundant tests that GM performed to make sure the system was sound.
The system works - trust it.
The system works - trust it.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
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I was just thinking about this the other weekend as I changed my oil. The DIC told me to "Change Oil Soon," then as if it were mad at me it said, "Chang Oil Now." Haha, I did as she demanded and reset the DIC. But it left me wondering how often others changed their oil, I mean it doesn't make sense to change it any sooner if Chevy made it this way you know.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: N E area of state Kansas
I start thinking about it at about 25% DIC. which means I usually get it done between 15 and 20% Car runs great, oil comes out clean, and it does not use a drop. It is looking pretty good.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Utica NY
I'm just not comfortable taking advice from someone who refers to themselves as "Dog"
JK, Good Advice ! And provides some much needed peace of mind for many.
JK, Good Advice ! And provides some much needed peace of mind for many.
Let me save you some money. I have sent many samples of my engine, transmission, and differential oil to Blackstone labs for analysis ($25 per sample). My car is a commuter/track car (advanced group-hard use). I use the DIC and change fluids around the 0% time. It varies with use, but I usually get 9-11,000 miles before the car says its time to change the oil.
Every one of my analysis reports have come back completely clean with no indications of any problems. A few of the reports indicated the oil was fine and could have lasted a while longer. None indicated that it should have been changed earlier, or that there were bad things like engine parts in the oil.
This does not mean that every other Corvette engine will be exactly the same, but you can infer from my results that using the DIC to calculate oil change intervals is probably pretty darn safe. Likewise, it can be inferred that changing the oil much sooner (like 50% or similar) is probably not needed and just an additional expense.
Its up to you.
Dog
Every one of my analysis reports have come back completely clean with no indications of any problems. A few of the reports indicated the oil was fine and could have lasted a while longer. None indicated that it should have been changed earlier, or that there were bad things like engine parts in the oil.
This does not mean that every other Corvette engine will be exactly the same, but you can infer from my results that using the DIC to calculate oil change intervals is probably pretty darn safe. Likewise, it can be inferred that changing the oil much sooner (like 50% or similar) is probably not needed and just an additional expense.
Its up to you.
Dog
