Oil Change Question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 9
From: Alabama
Oil Change Question
At what percentage on the DIC should you look to get your oil changed? It's about time for me to get my changed but I was just wondering whats the lowest you can go and be safe? Thanks!
Derek
Derek
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,909
Likes: 1,858
From: Hot Springs AR
It all depends on your comfort level. Oil isn't that expensive (esp. if you DIY), just go back with a full synthetic. Personally, I run mine down to 0%. I've had my oil analyzed by Blackstone labs several times now, and everything is just fine.
A friend of mine changes his when it gets below 50%. Why? Because it makes him feel better.
Another friend changes his track car ('99 FRC) oil every other track session. Again, because it makes him feel better.
According to your owner's manual, you need to change the oil either once a year or when the DIC gets to 0%. Experience has shown the DIC to be a pretty good monitor.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
A friend of mine changes his when it gets below 50%. Why? Because it makes him feel better.
Another friend changes his track car ('99 FRC) oil every other track session. Again, because it makes him feel better.
According to your owner's manual, you need to change the oil either once a year or when the DIC gets to 0%. Experience has shown the DIC to be a pretty good monitor.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
From: Chesterfield, MO
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
oil
i just changed mine, it was 25%. It was becoming dirtier than I wished it to be. Remember oil never wears out, it just gets dirty, and some of the additive package evaporates or is less effective over time.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 752
Likes: 1
From: Tulsa OK
I have other older vehicles that could not justify the expense of full synthetic (96 Tahoe) that I drive a lot more than the vette. They get an oil chnage every 3,000 miles or 3 months.
When oil change time comes for the beater, I dump the vette crank case and put the vette's used full synthetic - which still has plenty of service life left - into the Tahoe and put new oil in the vette.
Both cars seem happy.
Its like passing down clothes from the older kids to the younger ones.
When oil change time comes for the beater, I dump the vette crank case and put the vette's used full synthetic - which still has plenty of service life left - into the Tahoe and put new oil in the vette.
Both cars seem happy.
Its like passing down clothes from the older kids to the younger ones.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
I have a 1998 C5, it uses the earlier 10,000 miles maximum based oil change algorthym (sp?), rather than the later years 15,000 mile maximum. I have 102,000 miles on it. It uses no oil between approximately 6500 mile change intervals. I change oil when the DIC is close to 0%. I use Mobil 1. I have done several oil analysis, each one says I have more oil life left. TRUST THE DIC.
There is a site that did an oil study on a LS1 (Camaro), they got 18,000 miles on Mobil 1 oil (they changed the NAPA Gold Oil Filter at 12,000 miles when analysis said insolubles level reached 0.5%)
Running 3,000 miles on oil is old fashioned, wasteful, and just plain stupid
There is a site that did an oil study on a LS1 (Camaro), they got 18,000 miles on Mobil 1 oil (they changed the NAPA Gold Oil Filter at 12,000 miles when analysis said insolubles level reached 0.5%)
Running 3,000 miles on oil is old fashioned, wasteful, and just plain stupid
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
If you never get to zero, I would change it at least every 6 months, unless you are not driving it at all!!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 202
From: Lyons Il
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
my 2 cents
I changed my oil 3000 miles ago and the monitor reads 66% left. It has spent the last two months in the garage, idling for 15 minutes once a week. I am changing mine once a year regardless.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: exeter CA
change mine at 50%, which is about 4,000 miles, and seems to happen every summer. Last change I went to 5W-30 instead of 10W-30.
with about 25,000 miles, I have changed the ATF twice, last time to Dextron IV.
keep on driving?
with about 25,000 miles, I have changed the ATF twice, last time to Dextron IV.
keep on driving?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 1
From: Orlando FL
It all depends on your comfort level. Oil isn't that expensive (esp. if you DIY), just go back with a full synthetic. Personally, I run mine down to 0%. I've had my oil analyzed by Blackstone labs several times now, and everything is just fine.
A friend of mine changes his when it gets below 50%. Why? Because it makes him feel better.
Another friend changes his track car ('99 FRC) oil every other track session. Again, because it makes him feel better.
According to your owner's manual, you need to change the oil either once a year or when the DIC gets to 0%. Experience has shown the DIC to be a pretty good monitor.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
A friend of mine changes his when it gets below 50%. Why? Because it makes him feel better.
Another friend changes his track car ('99 FRC) oil every other track session. Again, because it makes him feel better.
According to your owner's manual, you need to change the oil either once a year or when the DIC gets to 0%. Experience has shown the DIC to be a pretty good monitor.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
well said. using the DIC is fine down to 0%. Some people like to be conservative and go a little sooner. 