how does the oil life function work?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Texas
how does the oil life function work?
i just heard that our Corvettes have a function to tell us the oil life. How does it work? Is it accurate? I just bought it and the sticker says my oil change was due months ago, but I still have 1500 miles worth of driving left until the oil is bad. I would like to know what the Corvette has to say about it ... if it is accurate!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 5
From: Stark County Ohio
It takes into account many factors such as engine heat, engine speed, and engine load, all over time. It does NOT factor in dusty environments, so beware of this and change the oil long before the recommendation if operated in dusty environments.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 881
Likes: 2
From: hill billy hell
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
i just heard that our Corvettes have a function to tell us the oil life. How does it work? Is it accurate? I just bought it and the sticker says my oil change was due months ago, but I still have 1500 miles worth of driving left until the oil is bad. I would like to know what the Corvette has to say about it ... if it is accurate!
1) RTFM ... the Owner's Manual is there for a reason. There are many many functions available in the car that you should learn about ... Competition Mode .... Oil Life Monitor .... programming user options through the DIC .... whatever.
If you don't have an Owner's Manual ... go here for a PDF copy. You can even print it out if you want to.
https://www.mygmlink.com/pdf/go2cont...01corvette.pdf
Your profile has a picture of a 2001 .. so I've pointed you to the 2001 version.
2) You should fill out your profile. Go to the top of this page and click on USER CP in the red/brown band. On the next page, on the left, select EDIT PROFILE.
3) To see remaining oil life, push the TRIP button for the DIC and continue to press TRIP until you see "OIL LIFE REMAINING 50%" ... or whatever percent yours actually shows.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
It is accurate and you can run until it says 0... If fact you are fine if you change your oil within 500 miles of 0 life.
BUT most of us baby our cars and like to change the a lot more frequently that required. Personally I change mine every 5K miles. it usually shows something around 50% remaining oil life.
BUT most of us baby our cars and like to change the a lot more frequently that required. Personally I change mine every 5K miles. it usually shows something around 50% remaining oil life.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 866
Likes: 0
From: Madison Wisconsin
It is accurate and you can run until it says 0... If fact you are fine if you change your oil within 500 miles of 0 life.
BUT most of us baby our cars and like to change the a lot more frequently that required. Personally I change mine every 5K miles. it usually shows something around 50% remaining oil life.
BUT most of us baby our cars and like to change the a lot more frequently that required. Personally I change mine every 5K miles. it usually shows something around 50% remaining oil life.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
Early years C5's used 10,000 miles as the maximum, but later years used 15,000 miles. The computer "subtracts" from this maximum.
I have a 1998 and have done oil analysis, I always have plenty (over 1,000 miles) oil life left at 0%. I change mine at 0% which is about 6,500 miles.
I also use Mobil 1 oil in all my other cars. I change them at 7,500 miles.
I have a 1998 and have done oil analysis, I always have plenty (over 1,000 miles) oil life left at 0%. I change mine at 0% which is about 6,500 miles.
I also use Mobil 1 oil in all my other cars. I change them at 7,500 miles.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,915
Likes: 1,870
From: Hot Springs AR
And, using a good full synthetic oil, you'll be in good shape at 0%. I personally change mine after it gets below 10%, just to get rid of the DIC message.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
Sorry, it's NOT a mileage indicator. As mentioned above, it takes into account many parameters monitored by the PCM (which is why it doesn't measure dirt that gets past the air filter). I autocross and cruise mine, so the OLM goes to 0 somewhere in the 7-8000 mile range. A day at the autocross or Drivers Education events will knock off 20% or so, with very few miles (say less than 100) driven.
And, using a good full synthetic oil, you'll be in good shape at 0%. I personally change mine after it gets below 10%, just to get rid of the DIC message.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
And, using a good full synthetic oil, you'll be in good shape at 0%. I personally change mine after it gets below 10%, just to get rid of the DIC message.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
Last edited by Oldvetter; Oct 12, 2007 at 08:44 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 132
From: Plano TX
Motor oils today far excceed what they did 20-30 years ago.. Especially the Synthetic oils... People over react and are brainwashed that you should only go 3000 - 4000 miles between changes... Trust your DIC.. Blackstone laboratories will do an oil analysis and breakdown a sample of your motor oil for a minimal amount ($25).. Mobil-1 Synthetics still have plenty of life in them with little breakdown at 7000 miles.. Its possible to accumulate moisture in the oil pan during the winter months or when the car sits for long periods, mainly the winter time in cold climates.. Make sure to park the car in the living room during winter months
Last edited by David426; Oct 12, 2007 at 09:42 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles
The primary function of the OLM is that it counts engine revolutions. This is FAR MORE ACCURATE than counting miles. Trust it, use it and save money. The 3,000 mile oil change is a thing of the past. What's harder on the engine, 2,000 miles in second and third gear in the city or 10,000 miles on cross country trips? The OLM knows the difference. Counting miles tells you nothing.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,124
Likes: 105
From: Pensacola FL
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 1
From: Monmouth County NJ
I change it at about 4000 miles. Some including the manufacturers of the car and oil say you are wasting your money and oil by doing this. I don't care though. For the same reason I wash and polish it all the time 
, I like the car!
, I like the car!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
The service manual also includes an "Annual Change" irregardless of miles or what the OLM says. I usually go by that as I don't put enough miles on the car to get near the 0% mark. On my daughter's Envoy (she racks up the miles) we usually do it when she gets down near 0% or thereabouts, more a matter of convenience and my time to change it at that point. Other thing to remember is the C5 and the Envoy hold a lot of oil. My wife's BMW also uses a 15K mile oil change (I do 7,500 on that car) but it too holds 7 qts.
