Oil Life Calculation
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,244
Likes: 13
From: Laguna Woods, CA
Oil Life Calculation
Please explain to me how my oil life expectancy calculations can be accurate: I change the oil in December 02 and have driven 3600 miles. I rarely drive less than ten miles in any given trip. No traffic jams, etc. Fresh quart of oil at 2800 added due to oil use.
Regards,
Garibaldi
[Edited sneaky emoticon]
[Modified by Garibaldi, 3:29 PM 10/14/2003]
Regards,
Garibaldi
[Edited sneaky emoticon]
[Modified by Garibaldi, 3:29 PM 10/14/2003]
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,630
Likes: 8
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
Re: Oil Life Calculation (Garibaldi)
That's why it's hogwash...I change the oil/filter every six months regardless of the mileage (I usually put on about 1,500 miles in a six month period).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,706
Likes: 552
From: St. Peters MO
C7 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2018 C7 of Year Finalist
Re: Oil Life Calculation (Mark S.)
Well, I wouldn't call it hogwash. It's actually a pretty sophisticated way of calculating for the "average" driver.
For those that don't put many miles on (me included) the 6 month regardless of mileage rule is a good one. :yesnod:
For those that don't put many miles on (me included) the 6 month regardless of mileage rule is a good one. :yesnod:
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 442
Likes: 2
From: San Clemente CA
Re: Oil Life Calculation (Garibaldi)
Hi,
Brief summary:
Every combustion event contaminates the oil so hi rpm is bad.
Optimum oil temp is 210F, so colder or hotter is bad.
Computer doesn't know that you added oil between resets of DIC.
Running at 210F at low rpm gives longest oil change interval in miles.
From the General:
http://service.gm.com:8083/gmtechlin...pdf/3_00_e.pdf
An old Forum thresd:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=637058
Ain't technology grand?
Good luck,
Steve
[Modified by SNW Vette, 8:28 PM 10/14/2003]
Brief summary:
Every combustion event contaminates the oil so hi rpm is bad.
Optimum oil temp is 210F, so colder or hotter is bad.
Computer doesn't know that you added oil between resets of DIC.
Running at 210F at low rpm gives longest oil change interval in miles.
From the General:
http://service.gm.com:8083/gmtechlin...pdf/3_00_e.pdf
An old Forum thresd:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=637058
Ain't technology grand?
Good luck,
Steve
[Modified by SNW Vette, 8:28 PM 10/14/2003]
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Re: Oil Life Calculation (BlackC5Vette)
Synthetic oil.. and old school changing habits... seem to collide here on the forum.... a lot of old guys like me.... Synthetic oil is tough stuff... the oil life monitor, take many things into account... time, rpm, oil temps, etc.... it doesnt analyse the oil... the books says oil changes can be anywhere from 3,000 miles , to ten thousand miles... someone driving daily at 70 mph @1500 rpm.. can get many more miles out of an oil change , than a guy who drives in the city and never gets out of third gear,,,
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Re: Oil Life Calculation (Garibaldi)
Most people say its cheap insurance to change more frequently... oil changes are getting more expensive... painting your house every year will insure the wood will last... but painting the house every year with paint that last for ten years is a waste... getting your house shingled every year will insure you never have a leaking roof... even with that 20 yr guarantee...
Synthetic oil samples seems to support a much longer life before thermal breakdown.. than a petro product... Ive seen very high numbers... contaminents can be harmful... but overall technical data supports... new thinking on changing oil intervals...
Synthetic oil samples seems to support a much longer life before thermal breakdown.. than a petro product... Ive seen very high numbers... contaminents can be harmful... but overall technical data supports... new thinking on changing oil intervals...
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 23,121
Likes: 301
From: Do or do not there is no try YODA
Re: Oil Life Calculation (Garibaldi)
Switch to Amsoil synthetic, and change it once a year, or every 25,000 miles. Use an Amsoil filter, and change it every 6 months/12,000 miles as recommended, and fuget about it! It's good stuff, backed by an iron clad warrenty, that in 30 years has never had to be used! I know this is hard to imagine after the years of brainwashing, but it is accurate. By the way, it does not void any warranties. A specific brand ( mobile 1 ) can only be demanded by a warrenty when it is provided at no extra cost to the consumer. ( Magnuson- Moss Act ); it only has to perform to desired specs, and Amsoil exceeds even at extended drain intervals....damn I ought to be salesman!
:D :thumbs:
[Modified by WydGlydJim, 10:48 AM 10/30/2003]
:D :thumbs:
[Modified by WydGlydJim, 10:48 AM 10/30/2003]
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax Station VA
Re: Oil Life Calculation (WydGlydJim)
Amsoil... , backed by an iron clad warrenty, that in 30 years has never had to be used!
The only thing Amsoil is guaranteed to do (as compared to Mobil 1) is lighten your wallet more.
The warranty reminds me of the following:
A guy is walking down 5th Avenue in New York City. He sees another guy standing on a corner snapping his fingers. The first guy asks the second guy, "Why are you standing there snapping your fingers?" The second guy says, "I'm keeping the elephants away." The first guy says, "There aren't any elephants withing 5000 miles of here." The second guy says, "See how good it works?" :jester
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 23,121
Likes: 301
From: Do or do not there is no try YODA
Re: Oil Life Calculation (Ron Cleaver)
The only thing Amsoil is guaranteed to do (as compared to Mobil 1) is lighten your wallet more
:nono:
Looks like it does at least five other things better
http://www.amsoil.com/performancetes..._vs_mobil1.htm
I will give you, that this comes from the corporate website, but if it weren't true, I would think Mobil 1 would be raising hell!
:yesnod:
:nono:
Looks like it does at least five other things better
http://www.amsoil.com/performancetes..._vs_mobil1.htm
I will give you, that this comes from the corporate website, but if it weren't true, I would think Mobil 1 would be raising hell!
:yesnod:
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,244
Likes: 13
From: Laguna Woods, CA
Re: Oil Life Calculation (Garibaldi)
Thanks for the info. There must be a date calculation in the software. I think I'm very reasonable with my driving, so I don't think that would be an issue. I've had oil tested on a number of vehicles and always came in at the high end of mileage recommendations. I can only guess that because the oil was changed last November before I mothballed the car, the software doesn't like it. I agree that people who say do 3,000 mile oil changes are too exhuberant and the changes are probably unnecessary for the average driver.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Lakeside Or.
Re: Oil Life Calculation (Garibaldi)
I thought this to be interesting!!
http://www.xl7500.com/testimonial.htm
Hasbeen
[Modified by Hasbeen, 5:06 PM 10/31/2003]
http://www.xl7500.com/testimonial.htm
Hasbeen
[Modified by Hasbeen, 5:06 PM 10/31/2003]
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax Station VA
Re: Oil Life Calculation (WydGlydJim)
Looks like it does at least five other things better
So to me the tests lack ANY credibility.
[Modified by Ron Cleaver, 12:07 PM 10/31/2003]
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Plano Texas
Re: Oil Life Calculation (Evil-Twin)
Most people say its cheap insurance to change more frequently... oil changes are getting more expensive... painting your house every year will insure the wood will last... but painting the house every year with paint that last for ten years is a waste... getting your house shingled every year will insure you never have a leaking roof... even with that 20 yr guarantee...
Synthetic oil samples seems to support a much longer life before thermal breakdown.. than a petro product... Ive seen very high numbers... contaminents can be harmful... but overall technical data supports... new thinking on changing oil intervals...
Synthetic oil samples seems to support a much longer life before thermal breakdown.. than a petro product... Ive seen very high numbers... contaminents can be harmful... but overall technical data supports... new thinking on changing oil intervals...
I'm with you, let's have some faith in the improvements in technology which enable us to get more than 3,000 miles out of oil that we now pay $5/quart for. Remember, our oil no longer comes in a container that requires you to have a can opener to open! :yesnod:
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Re: Oil Life Calculation (Garibaldi)
I've gone a whole year (about 5000 miles) without changing and my D.I.C. says that I have at least 15% oil life left. Of course, I will be changing the oil next week, but I have full confidence that my oil, if tested at the lab, would be just fine.
BTW, I drive about 10 miles to work and the same back every working day.
BTW, I drive about 10 miles to work and the same back every working day.