Oil change interval
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 49,384
Likes: 3,924
From: Best Island in the U.S.
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '17
The OLM has nothing to do with any 3,000 mile interval and it's not part of the calculation.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,032
Likes: 173
From: Upstate NY
For Z51 and Z06, the first is at 500 miles because of possible metal filings.
2015 gets 4 free changes over 2 years and 2016 gets 2. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I have 150 miles on my 2015 (just bought it new). I plan to do a change at 500 miles. I won't put many miles on it so I will do another late Fall and next year late Fall. I will never use the fourth.
My question is: did your local dealer cover that first 500 mile oil change?
I have a mailer from Chevy telling me that I get 4 and says I t needs the 500 but isn't clear on whether the 500 is covered. I assume it is.
Also, I plan to use a dealer closer to me that where I bought it. Hope they are cool..
2015 gets 4 free changes over 2 years and 2016 gets 2. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I have 150 miles on my 2015 (just bought it new). I plan to do a change at 500 miles. I won't put many miles on it so I will do another late Fall and next year late Fall. I will never use the fourth.
My question is: did your local dealer cover that first 500 mile oil change?
I have a mailer from Chevy telling me that I get 4 and says I t needs the 500 but isn't clear on whether the 500 is covered. I assume it is.
Also, I plan to use a dealer closer to me that where I bought it. Hope they are cool..
Make sure they do not overfill. I ask the Corvette Tech to put in 9 quarts, take home the other quart, fill as needed. My Z51 so far with 2 oil changes did not need any extra oil added other than 9 quarts.
(Manual states 9.8 quarts)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 339
I change my oil at every fuel fill up. Everybody knows Chevrolet purposely programs their OLM to make your engine fail at just after the end of warranty so that you have to buy a new car.
It may cost a little more but I get the piece of mind that comforts me.
Has anyone seen my chrome wheels and accessories? Pics to follow.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,949
Likes: 1,336
From: Houston Tx
I love oil change threads. We need more. Maybe one a day. Searching is such a chore.
I change my oil at every fuel fill up. Everybody knows Chevrolet purposely programs their OLM to make your engine fail at just after the end of warranty so that you have to buy a new car.
It may cost a little more but I get the piece of mind that comforts me.
Has anyone seen my chrome wheels and accessories? Pics to follow.
I change my oil at every fuel fill up. Everybody knows Chevrolet purposely programs their OLM to make your engine fail at just after the end of warranty so that you have to buy a new car.
It may cost a little more but I get the piece of mind that comforts me.
Has anyone seen my chrome wheels and accessories? Pics to follow.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 339
Sorry. I didn't mean to insult anyone. I was just trying to point out the fact that searching "oil change interval" in various forms only pulls up 245 to 249 threads. How can anyone possibly find any useful information in such a small sample?
Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 586
Likes: 124
From: Florida
I discover valuable nuggets of information in most threads even though you sometimes have to sift through a lot of garbage (like your posts) to find them. If you think you have seen a lot of threads on oil in the car forums, visit the Bob is the Oil Guy Forum (BITOG). Never ending stream of exhaustive oil related threads. Most of the guys on that forum are dedicated to finding ways to getting the last possible mile and day out of an oil change. They also love UOAs and will spend a fortune on them instead of changing the oil. Frequented the site for a few years and then quit. Just could not stand it any more.
Last edited by BladeSilver2015; Mar 15, 2016 at 05:52 PM.
Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 677
Likes: 151
From: SoCal
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 34
Likes: 10
As I see it from these threads, we Vette owners view oil change intervals personally and have developed patterns we are comfortable with. And why not? There is so much confusion regarding oil properties from various marketers, most of us do not possess the necessary facts regarding the quality of any oil. I do not know what oil was the factory fill for my 2015 C7 base, but I am glad I changed it at 500 miles due to its dark black color and water-like viscosity. My guess would be a Dexos blend. Following the OCM would be a good idea based upon all of the engineering used to determine the calculations. However, I trust myself more than anyone else doing my oil changes and have been doing them for as long as I can remember. Once a year with an average of 5,000 mi. before I put her to bed. Nice topic, guys. Best to all.
Ralph
Ralph
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,825
Likes: 2,477
From: Ft Lauderdale
Tech Contributor
You now longer can look at the color of oil And have it determine anything… The way the EPA has got these cars running hotter, the oil turns dark almost immediately.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 850
Likes: 415
Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 586
Likes: 124
From: Florida
Not true with my 2015 C7. Not true with my 2014 Ram. Not true with my 2006 HD. Was true was some of my older vehicles like my 2000 Impala and 2001 Ram. Would be interested in your credible source for your statement.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 49,384
Likes: 3,924
From: Best Island in the U.S.
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '17
I love oil change threads. We need more. Maybe one a day. Searching is such a chore.
I change my oil at every fuel fill up. Everybody knows Chevrolet purposely programs their OLM to make your engine fail at just after the end of warranty so that you have to buy a new car.
It may cost a little more but I get the piece of mind that comforts me.
Has anyone seen my chrome wheels and accessories? Pics to follow.
I change my oil at every fuel fill up. Everybody knows Chevrolet purposely programs their OLM to make your engine fail at just after the end of warranty so that you have to buy a new car.
It may cost a little more but I get the piece of mind that comforts me.
Has anyone seen my chrome wheels and accessories? Pics to follow.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,253
Likes: 4,363
From: Chirper Island
I'm coming up on what I think is the eighth change, seven of which were because of the OLM (first at 2000, before the 500 mile notification came out, but I knew to not let that first oil sit there for 7 or 8 thousand miles).
Those who designed the OLM get paid to make the car tell us when to change the oil, and I find no reason to disbelieve it.
I just hit 10% today, so I will be getting an oil change this week.
Those who designed the OLM get paid to make the car tell us when to change the oil, and I find no reason to disbelieve it.
I just hit 10% today, so I will be getting an oil change this week.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,044
Likes: 12,410
From: NE South Carolina
As I see it from these threads, we Vette owners view oil change intervals personally and have developed patterns we are comfortable with. And why not? There is so much confusion regarding oil properties from various marketers, most of us do not possess the necessary facts regarding the quality of any oil. I do not know what oil was the factory fill for my 2015 C7 base, but I am glad I changed it at 500 miles due to its dark black color and water-like viscosity. My guess would be a Dexos blend. Following the OCM would be a good idea based upon all of the engineering used to determine the calculations. However, I trust myself more than anyone else doing my oil changes and have been doing them for as long as I can remember. Once a year with an average of 5,000 mi. before I put her to bed. Nice topic, guys. Best to all.
Ralph
Ralph
That is why we're lucky to have a person like LDG who posts on these threads!
Oils are supposed to trap the carbon containing and other deposits; changing because it's dark is not rational!
5-30 viscosity is thin at room temperature! (I recall when we worked with Dale Inman at Petty's shop he told me they used a viscosity like 00 or some very low number to get more power and better mileage! I asked if that protected the engine, and he said for the 500 miles we need! They also only start the engine once!)
However the C7 OLM has fixed the one problem of my C6, older Vettes and many other cars. Their Owner's Manual instructed to change at a minimum of every year BUT did not incorporate time in their algorithm! Guess they needed a better clock!?
For those who do not put a lot of miles on their car (and also don't start it up and not allow the oil to get hot before putting it away that shortens oil change requirements) could have ~50% time showing left after a year. They had to read the manual (unfortunatly some don't) and remember when it was changed last!
The C7 incorporates time. So as you are doing with a once a year change your OLM will tell you to change. In fact if you go over 12 months it will continually remind you to change.
Last edited by JerryU; Mar 16, 2016 at 07:00 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 136
From: Simi Valley California
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'10, '15. '22-'23
I go by the oil life indicator when it gets under 10% I change it. It's a daily driver and I end up at about 7000 mile intervals between changes. Which seems fine to me for Mobil 1.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,477
Likes: 2,248
From: Southern NJ
Out of curiosity, for those that actually drive their Z51 as opposed to letting it sit in the garage most of the time. What is the mileage of your car when the Monitor tells you to change oil. I'm just over 5,100 miles at 6 months of ownership and the monitor tells me I have 44% oil life. I'm no math wizard but I'm thinking about 9000 miles will be the first interval considering I had the first oil change at 500 miles. Seems a bit high to me as I used to change oil in my C6 every 5000 miles although I think 7500 was suggested on the C6.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
I normally change Mobil 1 every 10,000 miles. Once I drove 13,500 miles on a cross-country trip in my C4, I sent it to oil analysis, and it had 20% left.
On my Z06 the dealer did the 500 mile, and told me to come back at 5,500, and the 3rd free at 11,000.
On my Z06 the dealer did the 500 mile, and told me to come back at 5,500, and the 3rd free at 11,000.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,044
Likes: 12,410
From: NE South Carolina
Out of curiosity, for those that actually drive their Z51 as opposed to letting it sit in the garage most of the time. What is the mileage of your car when the Monitor tells you to change oil. I'm just over 5,100 miles at 6 months of ownership and the monitor tells me I have 44% oil life. I'm no math wizard but I'm thinking about 9000 miles will be the first interval considering I had the first oil change at 500 miles. Seems a bit high to me as I used to change oil in my C6 every 5000 miles although I think 7500 was suggested on the C6.
Been posts about how the algorithms were developed and why they are much better than the 20+ year old change at xxx!
My Z51 is a DD. I avoid making short runs and typically my drive to town is 16 miles each way. The oil gets hot, not as easy with a dry sump. I don't put on a lot of miles so the year will typically come up and that is when I change.
Made the the first oil change at ~1500 miles. That was a ~year before GM said to change at 500 miles. However my oil was never overfilled and since I change my own I keep it half way in the hatched area (about 1/2 quart below max.)
When I added a cold air intake checked for any signs of oil in the air intake duct or OEM filter-not a drop!
Your car do as you wish.
Last edited by JerryU; Mar 16, 2016 at 07:34 PM.