WestPalmCorvette

Are you guys following the computerized oil life for the first oil change? I have read/heard that the first oil change should be earlier to remove particles that may have accumulated during the engine's first 1000 miles or so.

Thanks

Adam

Gary '09 C6

FWIW, I will have the first oil change done on mine when the DIC indicates 20% remaining life or one year,
whichever comes first (likely the latter).

MachAll 2005

Changed ours yesterday ....

- total miles 12630,
- 7388 miles on oil/season,
- OLM 25%,
- 45.1 mph ave,
- very little "fuzz" on the drain magnet (much less than Z06 ever had)
- used 1/2 qt during the year.

Now sleeping for the long winter

Snake.Oiler

@ 500 to 1500 miles is always a good time for a first oil change on any new engine. After that, just follow the oil life light.

timvette7

I agree with the exception of never going over 5000 miles on a oil change. Also, I think it really depends on how you drive it and what kind of driving you're doing. If you're on the track a lot then you should obviously change it sooner. If you push on it at least one or two times every time you get in it like me then you should probably change the oil every 3 to 5000 miles. I wouldn't always trust the computer about changing the oil. Their has been problems with the oil life computer making the car go to many miles before signaling a oil change is needed. You pay to much for a car like this not to take extra precaution by doing frequent oil changes. I just wouldn't push the boudaries of oil life on these cars. I did my first change at 850 miles mainly because the oil in my car was already 1-1/2 years old ( brand new )when I got it.

Bill Dearborn

The OLM is very accurate and GM has been selling cars with them since 97. I use the OLM all the time. My Tahoe gets around 6K miles per oil change with dyno oil, my Malibu gets around 8K miles and the Vettes get changed once per year. I sent samples of the oil from my 03Z to Blackstone Labs for analysis when I changed the oil at the end of a year. This was with 12 track days on the car, quite a few autocrosses and just normal driving that added up to about 5K miles. The OLM read 35% and the oil analysis showed the oil was still good and there was no abnormal wear occurring in the engine. You don't need to go overboard on the oil changes even when the engine is new. I keep my cars at least 6 years and the Tahoe is 9 years old at the end of the year so don't want to be paying for engine repairs that I could avoid. So far the OLM has been trustworthy for me.

Bill

GOLD72

It's a matter of opinion and I have done first changes at 500 to 1000 miles on past cars. But most recently I have waited to the first 5k on the 06Z, CTS Wagon and 2011 ZR1 to do the first changes. The OLM allows 7500 miles for me on the 06Z and ZR1 and 10k on the CTS. So that is what I am following on subsequent changes after the first. I use AMSOIL ASL in all cars so I know the oil is good for well past 0% on the OLM. Your results might vary.

agentf1

I do mine (not a ZR1) every year or 3000 miles. I would go 5000 miles MAX between oil changes.

Now our BMW 335i gets it every 15000. Now that it is out of warranty and I am doing it myself (BMW paid for it under warranty) I will do it every 7500. I am actually kicking myself for not doing it at 7500 between their changes since new but they swear it is not needed. Car still runs like new at 65000 miles.

timvette7

It is not smart to always trust in computers. I assure you they will fail sometimes and give you false information. Just use common sense about this . The Olm doesn't compensate for break in. For one a new engine needs a oil change sooner because of the amount of wear and metal shavings that it is producing. I do understand and agree that the synthetic oils used today are much better at protecting your engine than they used to be but I will never go beyond 5 to 7000 miles on a high performance car such as the ZR1. This is my opinion and also the opinion of a lot of gm mechanics I know. Plus I have torn down engines and seen the difference that frequent oil changes make vs. engines that have been pushed to the limits of oil changing. Hey, but if you want to trust that Olm go right ahead. You more than Likely will have no trouble but I bet my engine will last longer than yours.

Tim

Larry Myers

Change the oil on my D13 at every 50,000 miles or about every five months. Fifteen years ago the oil change interval on this engine was 10,500 miles.

Run my ZO6 Vette from spring to fall including eight to ten track days, about 8,500 total miles. Am about finished driving for this year and intend to change all drive line lub prior to putting the car away and heading to FL. The DIC indicates 46% life left. Using Red Line 5W40.

Tim's engine may last longer than Bill's but, imo, it won't necessarly be because of the difference in oil change interval.

My Vett's OM says change oil when the OLM reaches zero or every year. Thats good enough for me. I don't, however, as a matter of course, run it all the way to zero. Nowhere does the om mention mileage. My 05 Envoy's om says the same thing. Tim, on the other hand, believes engine oil should be changed based on mileage. And that is a ok. Its a free country, at least for the time being, so if he wants change his oil every so many miles it's his choice. As I wrote earlier, in addition to eng. oil, will change gearbox and rear end lube prior to putting my car away for the winter. Nowhere does the manual say to do this. So in our own way Bill, Tim and my are pretty much the same.

WestPalmCorvette

Thanks for the replies
I guess its mostly a matter of personal preference
I have a 2011 with only 1000 miles but the car is a year old
Computer displays shows 85 percent oil life remaining, guess I'm wondering if I should change the oil as the car is a year old

911/Q45

The owners manual says to change the oil at least once a year regardless of mileage or DIC indication.

3LZZ06

The manual does say one year intervals if mileage doesn't warrant an oil change.

Once a year is a good rule of thumb...

Gary '09 C6

it's really to change-out the filter, IMO. The synthetic oil with low mileage won't deteriorate that badly...

ZR1/Z06

First change at 1000 miles. Every 5000 miles or once a year after that.

WB6HRO

Don't waste you money changing the oil more than once a year or when the DIC is near 0%.

I've alway changed the oil in my 02 Z06 and 2009 ZR1 and always take an oil sample and send it in to Blackstone Labs for analysis. The oil is still perferct at 0%. I have run both cars on the track the Z06 mostly and the only comment was the the Chromimum count was slightly elevated which made sense running it high RPM on the track.

timvette7

I disagree. The more miles you you put on the car the more contaminants that build up in your engine hence the oil gets dark in color . The filter just can't catch them all. Changing the oil is just to cheap and easy to do yourself not to do it at least every 5000 to 7000 miles. I have never sent my oil off to be analyzed but I have torn down the engines these oils flow through and seen the difference that frequent oil change makes verses non frequent and pushing the limits of how long or how many miles I can get before changing the oil (sludge build up etc. ) . Change your oil frequently people, your hand built LS9 deserves it.

slacker1201

After the first 1000-1500 miles, then once a year or 5000 miles.

b4i4getit

Oil life monitor is very accurate. To change before it says is a waste of money and oil.

slacker1201

Have you reset the oil life monitor without changing the oil? I'm just sayin....