Trust oil change message??
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 373
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From: Grace Valley: A small, peaceful & beautiful valley in the Volunteer State
Trust oil change message??
I've been driving cars for 45 years and have always changed my oil every 3,000 miles or less depending on driving conditions. Now I've entered the computer age with my C5 and it tells me when to change oil, but not based just on the number of miles driven. According to Mr. Goodwrench, the computer is analyzing a number of other factors I considered at a much early age 
in a much simpler time 
; when Elvis first appeard on the Ed Sullivan show. So should I trust GM's computer or just go back to the good'old days and change my oil every 3K?
in a much simpler time ; when Elvis first appeard on the Ed Sullivan show. So should I trust GM's computer or just go back to the good'old days and change my oil every 3K?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington NC
Originally Posted by vernrose
I've been driving cars for 45 years and have always changed my oil every 3,000 miles or less depending on driving conditions. Now I've entered the computer age with my C5 and it tells me when to change oil, but not based just on the number of miles driven. According to Mr. Goodwrench, the computer is analyzing a number of other factors I considered at a much early age in a much simpler time ; when Elvis first appeard on the Ed Sullivan show. So should I trust GM's computer or just go back to the good'old days and change my oil every 3K?
in a much simpler time ; when Elvis first appeard on the Ed Sullivan show. So should I trust GM's computer or just go back to the good'old days and change my oil every 3K?Trust the display. 3000 miles, unless you are in extremely dusty condtions, or drive you car less than that a year is a waste. If you want to play it safe change at about 30% but the computer does do a really good job of adjusting for oil heat cycles.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
There has been M U C H said about this subject and when I first had my 98 I was sceptical also. Many people have sent their in for the oil analysis and the results seem to justify the extra milage that the computer recommends.
Synthetic oil is significantly better than Dino and does NOT break down as fast and handles heat much much better!
I have 60,ooo miles on the 98 and ZERO engine problems. I have been able to go as far as 8500 miles on the oil computers recommendations and then again as little as 5000. It all depends on how the car is driven and when. (summer winter or both, highway or city short runs or long runs)
My recommendations: TRUST IT!
Dont waste your money on the 3000 oil change thing look who recommends it: Jiffy LUBE 
If 3000 miles is good, 1000 miles is much better and oh by the way, you can send me your old oil!
BC
Synthetic oil is significantly better than Dino and does NOT break down as fast and handles heat much much better!
I have 60,ooo miles on the 98 and ZERO engine problems. I have been able to go as far as 8500 miles on the oil computers recommendations and then again as little as 5000. It all depends on how the car is driven and when. (summer winter or both, highway or city short runs or long runs)
My recommendations: TRUST IT!
Dont waste your money on the 3000 oil change thing look who recommends it: Jiffy LUBE If 3000 miles is good, 1000 miles is much better and oh by the way, you can send me your old oil! BC
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,203
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From: Grants Pass OR
I'm with you. Old habits are hard to brake. However, oils have improved a lot over the last 30 years. Heat is oils number one enemy. Mobile one has shown to stand the heat better than conventional oil. It does not loose it's viscosity, which is what oil needs to do its job.
I'm going by the book, which for me is once a year. I'm only putting six to seven thousand miles on my car each year so I run out of time before my oil runs out of lubricating ability.
With Mobile one we should be able to go up to 10,000 between changes easily but I would rely on the DIC. GM has got that set up to change your oil based on heat, RPMs, etc.
Dan
I'm going by the book, which for me is once a year. I'm only putting six to seven thousand miles on my car each year so I run out of time before my oil runs out of lubricating ability.
With Mobile one we should be able to go up to 10,000 between changes easily but I would rely on the DIC. GM has got that set up to change your oil based on heat, RPMs, etc.
Dan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Originally Posted by vernrose
...... So should I trust GM's computer or just go back to the good'old days and change my oil every 3K?
That said, I usually change my oil when the index gets around 50% - about every 7000 to 8000 miles. My car is a daily driver and sees about 24,000 miles a year.
If you do a search you'll find lots of threads (and lots of opinions) about Oil Viscosity and Oil Life. I just follow the Owner's Manual and Service Manual instructions and use 5W30 Mobile 1. Engine tolerances on the LS engines are close and the heavier weight oils don't lubricate as well IMHO.
These are great cars, enjoy yourself.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,364
Likes: 38
From: King George VA
I agree that I would trust it if you are running a good oil.
Here is a related thread I just posted:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=859560
Here is a related thread I just posted:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=859560
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 7
From: South Florida
Yeah, but what about the super synthetic oils. Purple, redline, amsoil or something. Those manufacturers recommend alot longer than the dic indicates (which is calibrated for Mobile 1). I know redline says 20,000 miles or one year. I'm not sure of the others. I change my '00 at about 125% to 150% of the DICs recommendation.
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Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington NC
Originally Posted by SpyRacing
Yeah, but what about the super synthetic oils. Purple, redline, amsoil or something. Those manufacturers recommend alot longer than the dic indicates (which is calibrated for Mobile 1). I know redline says 20,000 miles or one year. I'm not sure of the others. I change my '00 at about 125% to 150% of the DICs recommendation.
Take a look at:
http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/s.../oil-life.html
Also see the earlier test where Mobil 1 went out to 18,000 miles (10,300 corrected for make up oil)
http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/mobil1.html