10000 mi oil changes?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,918
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From: Hot Springs AR
I run mine down to 0% on the OLM, and while I don't beat on my car like Au G Egl does, she does get tracked several times a year.
The OLM takes into account many things. If you're driving your car on the highway, the OLM could take you beyond 10K miles. If you're racing, it might be 2K miles.
And, it's not just the cost of changes; it's also the time and effort (if DIY), or the risk of some moron mangling the oil change, and also keeping track of it (let's see, I went 2400 miles last time, so I need to change when the odometer gets to xxxxx.....).
I haven't done multiple labs, but have sent the past several oil changes to Blackstone, and they say that with the OLM at 0% I've still got a decent amount of the additive package left and the wear counts are nice and low.
OTOH, if frequent oil changes make you feel more comfortable, then do them. Vettes typically aren't work cars; if you want to take one down more frequently to do maintenance, it's not that big an issue.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
The OLM takes into account many things. If you're driving your car on the highway, the OLM could take you beyond 10K miles. If you're racing, it might be 2K miles.
And, it's not just the cost of changes; it's also the time and effort (if DIY), or the risk of some moron mangling the oil change, and also keeping track of it (let's see, I went 2400 miles last time, so I need to change when the odometer gets to xxxxx.....).
I haven't done multiple labs, but have sent the past several oil changes to Blackstone, and they say that with the OLM at 0% I've still got a decent amount of the additive package left and the wear counts are nice and low.
OTOH, if frequent oil changes make you feel more comfortable, then do them. Vettes typically aren't work cars; if you want to take one down more frequently to do maintenance, it's not that big an issue.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Originally Posted by Darkness
...There was a test run in NYC taxi cars a few years ago in which they changed oil every 3000mi on certain cars and 10000 on others. After 100k mi the engines were checked and no differences in wear were observed. All cars ran synthetic. Now if I could only remember what entity ran this test!
I have a copy of this document on Synthetic Oil on my hard drive. There's a lot of good data in it regarding oils in general and particularly the benefits of using Synthetic oil. (It's even formatted to print out in booklet form.) Anyone that would like a copy of it, can PM me with an email address.
I personally think that Tom (AU N EGL) might be going a bit overboard with his oil changes, but he like John Shiels run their cars hard and if anyone can justify shorter intervals they certainly can.
Like Tom, I find the time spent under my cars changing the oil both enlightening and reassuring. There are few better ways to keep track of the overall condition of your vehicle than crawling under there and taking a good long look...Unfortunately they both (as are most here on the Forum) are well out of the norm with many car owners today when it comes to changing their oil... if at all.
I would definitely be willing to own a car cared for by Tom any day, over one from "Aunt Sally" that hasn't had an oil change in five years...
Good luck... GUSTO
Last edited by GUSTO14; Jun 23, 2006 at 10:29 AM.
Race Director
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CI 7, 9, 10 & 11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I believe in the Beer Fairy
I do change mine every 3000 miles, but it takes me right at 12 months to accumulate those 3000 miles so I feel that I owe it to the car to have some nice fresh oil each year.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,772
Likes: 1
From: Tampa FL
Originally Posted by John Shiels
I know when I change the oil in something it seems like it is better but that is in my head.
Testing the oil is 25 dollars for the full or better test for additives in the oil. 3000 miles is a waste of money, time , and resources.
Testing the oil is 25 dollars for the full or better test for additives in the oil. 3000 miles is a waste of money, time , and resources.i'd say anywhere between 5000-7500 is a good interval .. i run mine 7500-10,000 .. but the 10,000 runs were all 1,300 rpm hwy miles .. now i do more city driving and change around 7500 ..
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 50,808
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From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
I tested my diesels which I was changing at 7500 with non synthetic `15W/40. Dodge I was told go 8500 and the Ford 5,000 due to fuel in oil. Testing pays off and that is why fleets do it. Some guys on the Dodge forum turbodieselregistry.com go 20,000 on synthetic on the Cummins diesels and just do filters and add oil. They have tested it and some have over 300,000 on the engines which is the life expectancy for a Cummins with some over one million.
Last edited by John Shiels; Jun 23, 2006 at 07:57 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
Actually, if anyone is interested, there is a wealth of information on Bobistheoilguy.com that is dedicated to just oils and lubricants. And there are some very knowledgable people over there (I'm not one of them 
)
)
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 132
From: Plano TX
Here is a better question... How many oil related (motor) breakdowns have C5 owners had? As a matter of fact.. on any car??? I've had high performance cars for over 20 years and have never had an oil related breakdown.. I have run the crap out of all of my cars and never had an issue. Before Synthetic Oils I did a 3000 mile oil change, on my cars with no problems. Trust the DIC on your vette! I do a change 2 times a year. Fall and Spring.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 869
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
St. Jude Contributor
Too bad Evil-Twin isn't here to any more chime in! 
He worked on the oil-life monitor algorithims while he was at GM (he says and I have no reason to doubt him...) and his recommendation is to take the oil life to zero but not beyond. There is a safety factor even at zero but don't push it! In other words, trust the monitor for "normal" driving.
He worked on the oil-life monitor algorithims while he was at GM (he says and I have no reason to doubt him...) and his recommendation is to take the oil life to zero but not beyond. There is a safety factor even at zero but don't push it! In other words, trust the monitor for "normal" driving.
Last edited by billjax; Jun 24, 2006 at 08:55 AM.
Race Director
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CI 7, 9, 10 & 11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Originally Posted by billjax
Too bad Evil-Twin isn't here to any more chime in!
He worked on the oil-life monitor algorithims while he was at GM (he says and I have no reason to doubt him...) and his recommendation is to take the oil life to zero but not beyond. There is a safety factor even at zero but don't push it! In other words, trust the monitor for "normal" driving.
He worked on the oil-life monitor algorithims while he was at GM (he says and I have no reason to doubt him...) and his recommendation is to take the oil life to zero but not beyond. There is a safety factor even at zero but don't push it! In other words, trust the monitor for "normal" driving.
Seemed to be one of the guru's around here. Shame to see him go.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,572
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From: Rehoboth MA . . . NRA Life Member
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
I also belong to the Once a Year Club, but then again I don't put allot of miles on my Z06 living in New England
Last edited by BobbyG; Jun 24, 2006 at 07:03 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 1
From: prescott AZ
Does GM want people to keep their cars for 10 years and keep them for 150,000 to 200,000 miles?
I saw a Z06 i was going to buy and when the owner said he never changed the oil in 3 years because the car only had 2,000 miles on it I passed on that Z.
I would never go over 1 year on the oil and for me 4000 is absolute max.
I saw a Z06 i was going to buy and when the owner said he never changed the oil in 3 years because the car only had 2,000 miles on it I passed on that Z.
I would never go over 1 year on the oil and for me 4000 is absolute max.
I told him he better change it before he returned it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Jacksonville FL
St. Jude Contributor
Originally Posted by vettenuts
Where did he go?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,661
Likes: 67
From: Ocean Springs MS
Originally Posted by billjax
He got pissed off once too many times and quit the forum. I believe it was in the midst of another oil life discussion, as a matter of fact.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
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From: Waldorf MD
Originally Posted by vettenuts
I have done an oil analysis every year since I have had the Vette, and had Terry Dyson conduct his own analysis on the oil sample results. Some years mileage is more than others, but every year the oil has had plenty of life left in it as measured by TBN. Some of this will be based on how you drive. The oil life monitor is pretty darn accurate based on the oil analysis I and many others on BITOG have done, so yes 3K miles is just throwing away money unless you are at the one year mark and need to keep with the warranty requirements.
I too have had oil anaylsis done, you won't go wrong with the oil monitor.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,307
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From: St Clair Shores MI - GO HOKIES
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
I have seen the math behind the EOLM and it works, there are penalties for cold starts, hot rodding, 100 degree days etc.... it is very trustworthy. In my daily which is an 05 Canyon I finally changed it at 10000 miles because I got to a year and that was regular oil. The secret here that everyone is missing is the ALUMINUM block. IT dissipates heat better and for whatever other reasons just not burn up oil like iron blocks. The oil at 10K in my truck was still like new and honest to God I have never been off the full line on the dipstick in that thing. You may choose to use your money as you see fit, If I have any aluminum block engine I am a) trusting the EOLM and b) usually hitting the one year mark with my truck. Now that being said I have had the same oil in the vette for 14 months, oil life is still way up and it is still clean...couple trips to the track and then I will change it 
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,661
Likes: 67
From: Ocean Springs MS
Originally Posted by hokievette03
Now that being said I have had the same oil in the vette for 14 months, oil life is still way up and it is still clean...couple trips to the track and then I will change it
