Oil Change Question...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,903
Likes: 0
From: NC
Oil Change Question...
The dealer is recommending every 3K miles, and I'm around 6200 right now and due for my 2nd since I got the first at 3K.
However, the oil meter on the car is saying I have 69% oil life left and onStar is saying:
"Next oil change recommended at 20,100 miles"
So which is it?
However, the oil meter on the car is saying I have 69% oil life left and onStar is saying:
"Next oil change recommended at 20,100 miles"
So which is it?
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,893
Likes: 4,345
From: Lakewood Ranch, FL
Dealer wants to make money. Most recommendations say follow the DIC. The algorithm that calculates the interval does a good job by all accounts. That said - I change in the fall before it goes in to hibernation and again in the spring when it comes out...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 3
From: Goleta California
With synthetic you should acutally be good for 10,000 miles. I change my own oil so for 35 bucks I do it more frequently. I did my first at just over 1000 miles and my second at just before 5000 miles. I still haven't settled on a change interval but will probably go with around 3500 to 4000. For non synthetics I change at 2500 miles. As far as I am concerned you can't change your oil to frequently.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 57,408
Likes: 164
From: queensbury ny
oil
Let's see
1)the car's computer keeps a good log of when to change the oil.
2) It's been posted on here that techs at the museum (or factory,don't remember which) have stated that the cars computer is dead on and disregarding it is wasting money.
3) Synthetic oil,as a rule,is supposed to be useful in that it last's longer than regular oil.
So,why the helk would I want to change my oil every 3000 miles and still use synthetic???I did my first one at 2600 miles to get the gunk out,my next one will be when the computer tells me to or when 1 year has gone by,whichever comes first.
1)the car's computer keeps a good log of when to change the oil.
2) It's been posted on here that techs at the museum (or factory,don't remember which) have stated that the cars computer is dead on and disregarding it is wasting money.
3) Synthetic oil,as a rule,is supposed to be useful in that it last's longer than regular oil.
So,why the helk would I want to change my oil every 3000 miles and still use synthetic???I did my first one at 2600 miles to get the gunk out,my next one will be when the computer tells me to or when 1 year has gone by,whichever comes first.
Retired & lovin' it!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,475
Likes: 549
From: Jackson NJ
Originally Posted by ShockwaveTXB
The dealer is recommending every 3K miles, and I'm around 6200 right now and due for my 2nd since I got the first at 3K.
However, the oil meter on the car is saying I have 69% oil life left and onStar is saying:
"Next oil change recommended at 20,100 miles"
So which is it?
However, the oil meter on the car is saying I have 69% oil life left and onStar is saying:
"Next oil change recommended at 20,100 miles"
So which is it?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,289
Likes: 16
From: Skippack PA
St Jude Donor '13
With all of the above. My car is a weekend toy so it's pretty much an annual oil change for me. If your driving is a mix of highway & city driving you can probably go by the DIC - I do that with my '04 Saab that runs 0W-30 synthetic and have had 0 trouble with it. If you're more city than highway and/or you run it hard like at track events or autocross then you probably want to change it more often.
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 357
Likes: 0
From: Toms River NJ
I just call Kerbeck to schedule my first oil change and was asked the mileage by the service writer. When I told him 1800 he said that I had many thousands of miles to go till I needed an oil change. I told him that I knew that, but I was old school and was driving to Detroit for the Woodward Dream Cruise and just would feel better changing the oil. He said he could understand that, but after this(the first) oil change I should just go by what the DIC says. He said he knows it is hard to give up the 3,000 mile thinking, but that the oil life readings were the right way to go with these cars. Not used to having a dealer tell me not to spend money.
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Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Fruit Cove FL
For peace of mind, try to obtain a sample of your oil @ the time of change and send it for analysis.
You’d be able to compare the % of life remaining that the cars shows to the results of the test.
I’ve had good luck using these folks for testing: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/
You’d be able to compare the % of life remaining that the cars shows to the results of the test.
I’ve had good luck using these folks for testing: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
Originally Posted by VETFOR4
I just call Kerbeck to schedule my first oil change and was asked the mileage by the service writer. When I told him 1800 he said that I had many thousands of miles to go till I needed an oil change. I told him that I knew that, but I was old school and was driving to Detroit for the Woodward Dream Cruise and just would feel better changing the oil. He said he could understand that, but after this(the first) oil change I should just go by what the DIC says. He said he knows it is hard to give up the 3,000 mile thinking, but that the oil life readings were the right way to go with these cars. Not used to having a dealer tell me not to spend money.
This is an honest service writer, stick with him.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,027
Likes: 6
From: Shiloh Ohio
Originally Posted by Wayne88
I will not wait till 10,000 miles before I change the oil, no matter what that DIC says.
Just my .02
Just my .02
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,977
Likes: 38
From: Massachusetts , USA,
Originally Posted by jesse12804
Let's see
1)the car's computer keeps a good log of when to change the oil.
2) It's been posted on here that techs at the museum (or factory,don't remember which) have stated that the cars computer is dead on and disregarding it is wasting money.
3) Synthetic oil,as a rule,is supposed to be useful in that it last's longer than regular oil.
So,why the helk would I want to change my oil every 3000 miles and still use synthetic???I did my first one at 2600 miles to get the gunk out,my next one will be when the computer tells me to or when 1 year has gone by,whichever comes first.
1)the car's computer keeps a good log of when to change the oil.
2) It's been posted on here that techs at the museum (or factory,don't remember which) have stated that the cars computer is dead on and disregarding it is wasting money.
3) Synthetic oil,as a rule,is supposed to be useful in that it last's longer than regular oil.
So,why the helk would I want to change my oil every 3000 miles and still use synthetic???I did my first one at 2600 miles to get the gunk out,my next one will be when the computer tells me to or when 1 year has gone by,whichever comes first.
100% >>>>The Dog
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 53,282
Likes: 3
From: God Bless America
Originally Posted by Wayne88
I will not wait till 10,000 miles before I change the oil, no matter what that DIC says.
Just my .02
Just my .02
It is true that Synthetic oil provides better protection for moving parts than standard oil, however, Synthetic oil still gets dirty. I am not sure how the oil life monitor system works, but if I was guessing time and milage go into the calculation. I question how this system can determine how contaminated the oil is and know if the amount of floating particles are at an acceptable level. As I am sure all of you know the oil life indicator can be and should be reset at every oil change. If it is reset at 5,000 miles and the oil is not changed will it still say you have 98% life on the oil? The cleaner the oil, the more protection it is providing, so until a far more effecient filtering system is introduced to the market I would rather be safe than sorry.....