Changing it before the DIC says to is a waste of motor oil and money.
How Many Miles Between Oil Changes ?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 441
Likes: 3
From: Suwanee GA
How Many Miles Between Oil Changes ?
My 2000 C5 would tell me to 'Change Oil Now' after about 5K miles.
Now in my 2006 C6 same driving patterns it looks like I will get about 8K miles before the 'Change Oil Now' message.
Is there a reason for this?
Now in my 2006 C6 same driving patterns it looks like I will get about 8K miles before the 'Change Oil Now' message.
Is there a reason for this?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: OCEANSIDE CA
people 5,000 miles, but i change mine every 2,000 just because its my baby. don't forget to change the oil at the first 500 miles and than at 1,500 miles. its in the owner's manual, so look it up as i cannot remember presicely.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
If you have one that says that, you've got a manual with a misprint.
Many of us change ours when the DIC says to, and many of us get 8K miles between oil changes. But you use whatever schedule makes you happy.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 668
From: North Fulton Georgia
That is no where in the C6 manual that I can find. Where are you getting this information? You sure you are not quoting some dealer dogma? Some dealers would like you to believe that you need a major service every 7500 miles! Truth is that like many other modern cars it needs very little beyond oil/filter when the DIC tells you to.
Last edited by miami08VETTE; May 23, 2008 at 11:04 PM.
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Old Forge PA
Eh, I must be foolish because I change mine every 4,000 miles with synthetic. I know it can go farther, but I figure after spending the money to buy the darn car, why not give it a fresh oil change a little sooner.
I change the oil in my Jeep every 2,000 miles, but I use regular oil in that. 152K on the clock and it runs like the day I bought it.
I change the oil in my Jeep every 2,000 miles, but I use regular oil in that. 152K on the clock and it runs like the day I bought it.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert Arizona
I change mine based on time and not mileage due to the low number of miles I put on the car. Every 6-9 months for me. I do this because my understanding is that additives in the oil start to break down over time and can allow the oil to become acidic. I believe this is more prominent in a vehicle that is not driven regularly.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 801
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas Nevada
St. Jude Donor '10-'11
I go by DIC, but I havent had it long enough to change yet. Im shocked that a sports car can go healthy on 1 year oil changes. BTW I just checked my dipdtick the other day after about 3000 miles and it was full and the oil looked good.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,531
Likes: 0
From: Deerfield Beach FL
Changed the oil in mine, reset the DIC, and drove S FL to Dallas and back. This was a little less than 3000 miles and the oil monitor said 78% left. It really does look at the type of driving, around town-short trips the % goes down much faster.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 668
From: North Fulton Georgia
Synthetic oil is the magic that allows the long change intervals. It is engineered to do so. We, myself included, must let go of what we learned over the years of using dino oil. Flushing Synth oil after only 1500 or 3000 miles is a real waste of resources. GM gives us a 5 year drivetrain warranty. They would not recommend long intervals if it may cost them money down the road. Wait for the DIC or at least once a year if you don't drive it much. That is what the manufacturer recommends.
Luke, trust the Force!
Luke, trust the Force!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 928
Likes: 18
Food for thought
The oil we run is 12 microns thick, the oil filter media will only let 5 microns through it.
It's a math riddle---------NOT!
The filter media only attracts dirt from the oil, the oil doesn't actually pass through the filter media it flows by it and then goes through the bypass in the bottom without as much as even a screen in it's path.
Synthetic oils don't break down, so the weak link is the filter.
GM engineering recommends that if you track your car, you should change your oil after the event. Also recommends that you change your diff. fluid and trans oil after 10-12 hours of track use.
For me that $4.00 filter is cheap charlie insurance, or you can go by the DIC and let all that sheered metal particles run through your engine.
It's a math riddle---------NOT!
The filter media only attracts dirt from the oil, the oil doesn't actually pass through the filter media it flows by it and then goes through the bypass in the bottom without as much as even a screen in it's path.
Synthetic oils don't break down, so the weak link is the filter.
GM engineering recommends that if you track your car, you should change your oil after the event. Also recommends that you change your diff. fluid and trans oil after 10-12 hours of track use.
For me that $4.00 filter is cheap charlie insurance, or you can go by the DIC and let all that sheered metal particles run through your engine.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert Arizona
No, it is not overkill. I did my first oil change at 1K and the magnet on the drain plug was full of shavings. I did the second oil change at 3K and again the magnet was full of shavings. The DIC is an indication based on certain perimeters monitored by the ECU when the engine is running. It is not exact science. Your engine experiences the greatest wear when you first start it up in the morning.... If you let your car sit for weeks at a time then the cylinder walls start to form rust which amplifies this (-) effect... The DIC does not take this into account. Most likely the ill effects of sludge will never be experienced with synthetic oil but wear and tear on your rings etc is still going to be a factor. Costco sells Mobil 1 dirt cheap, heck, they just had a coupon for 8 dollars off a case. If you plan on keeping the car for a while or racking up a lot of miles then I would be **** for the first 20K miles. If not, then at least consider changing it early for the first couple of oil changes before following the DIC.