Change Oil light

2470 Views 19 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Gold Country Russ, Jan 22, 2017

GANGSTA

Discussion Starter · Mar 11, 2015

Does this message come on because of the amount of miles driven since the last reset or because it is sensing the condition of the oil?

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

rshadd

· #2 · Mar 11, 2015 (Edited)

Neither really, it's just making an educated guess.

The GM Oil Life Monitor System is not a mileage counter. It is actually a computer based software algorithm that determines when to change oil based on engine operating conditions. There is no actual oil condition sensor. Rather, the computer continuously monitors engine-operating conditions to determine when to change oil.

Over the years, millions of test miles have been accumulated to calibrate the system for a variety of vehicles. The system was first introduced in 1988 and is now on more than 10 million GM vehicles.

08Canyon

· #3 · Mar 11, 2015

A mediocre job of sensing oil condition.

Don't wait for the light to come on to change or you may be waiting for a while.

BlackZQ8

· #4 · Mar 11, 2015 (Edited)

rshadd said:
Neither really, it's just making an educated guess.

The GM Oil Life Monitor System is not a mileage counter. It is actually a computer based software algorithm that determines when to change oil based on engine operating conditions. There is no actual oil condition sensor. Rather, the computer continuously monitors engine-operating conditions to determine when to change oil.

Over the years, millions of test miles have been accumulated to calibrate the system for a variety of vehicles. The system was first introduced in 1988 and is now on more than 10 million GM vehicles.

Good info, Rich. I've had my light come on a week after an oil change :th_crazy:

FrEaK_aCcIdEnT

· #5 · Mar 11, 2015

I just let mine go until i changed my oil at 6500 miles. I have a habit of not resetting it when I change my oil. So this time I reset it right after I changed my oil. So the software starts from the right point. New Oil Change... not 1/2 way through.

I will go 6500 to 7000 miles and see what it does.

1BADI5

· #6 · Mar 11, 2015

Yeah I do mine on AVG of every 7000-7500 miles or annually

GANGSTA

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 11, 2015

Yeah, I changed my oil about 2800 miles ago and the light came on yesterday. I think i put a 15000 mile oil filter on it the last time I changed the oil. I was kind of puzzled at first and I am hoping that their is nothing leaking into the oil.

GANGSTA

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 11, 2015

Hopefully nothiong bad happens

edubs77

· #9 · Mar 11, 2015

You guys wait that long to change your oil? I was always told 3000-5000

fitsector

· #10 · Mar 11, 2015

I change the oil every 5000 but I have to admit that the GM algorithm is very accurate, just one day or maybe two after I do the oil change the light came up.

FrEaK_aCcIdEnT

· #11 · Mar 12, 2015

I use Mobil1 5 qts. Plus 1qt lucas synthetic and a M1-212 longer than stock filter. I could probably go longer. I drive 30k miles a year. A lot of hwy miles.

I'm going to start using BG MOA with my oil as well. That stuff is supposed to be good.

Iceman62

· #12 · Mar 12, 2015

edubs77 said:
You guys wait that long to change your oil? I was always told 3000-5000

That's "old school" oil company retirement plan boosting methodology. You don't need to change, depending on conditions, until 7K miles (average).

dilespla

· #13 · Mar 12, 2015

I read an article from Popular Mechanics, or Consumer Reports, a few years ago comparing actual oil life vs. "recommended" change intervals.

Most conventionals were in the range of 7k, while the synthetics were up around 10k. Those were the averages for a combination of driving styles.

Joe canyon

· #14 · Mar 12, 2015 (Edited)

I change my oil when it is dirty. Truck that change oil warning light never used it . I have a simple system I go by and that works for me.

Sarge

· #15 · Mar 12, 2015

The oil stocks in my IRAs thank you guys who change your oil at 3K.

Meanwhile I'm over 30K since my last full oil change. But I also have an oil cooler and a bypass filter setup which brings my capacity to around 8 quarts. Change both filters every 10K, drain an extra 3-4 quarts of oil and refill.

cart7881

· #16 · Mar 12, 2015

Oil change intervals and oil brands are two discussions that will probably go on forever. Each DIYer has his own opinion regarding each and some guys are quite adamant that there system/brand is the ultimate.

With that said, my last truck was a 2001 4.7 Dakota. The oil I used was Mobil 1 and the change interval was 5,000 miles. At every oil change, I pulled a sample and sent it to Blackstone. Kind of anal, but it provided a history so that I would get advance warning of unusual internal wear and I was planning on keeping the truck "forever". Truck got totaled. The test results always came back with the recommendation that I extend my change interval, but I never did

I don't follow the same procedures with my Colorado, because with the thousands of cell phone drivers on the road, my truck is "living on borrowed time". :shrug:

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Unfettered

· #17 · Mar 13, 2015

I change oil on both my Colorado and Malibu when the indicator tells me (ok usually a week or so as it takes a few days to get it scheduled at the shop I prefer to use). I have 172,000 miles or so on the Malibu and still have NOT had any oil related engine issues. I do have a front crankshaft seal leaking, but it is a common issue with the 3.5L. It started at 165,000 miles.
I have continued this on the truck and have over 75,000 miles with no oil related issues.
issues. I have noticed that the interval changes depending on how the vehicle is driven.

tweenerlj

· #18 · Jan 19, 2017

So, digging up an old thread. I have been following a practice of changing the oil on daily drivers every 5000 miles using synthetic oil. It is an easy system for me, just by watching the odometer. Those of you who change using the oil life monitor system, what are the typical intervals you are seeing? Meaning, how many miles do you drive before the light comes on?

My wife's car has an oil monitor on it as well and it will display the % oil life left. Using the 5000 mile interval, it typically states that I have 20-25% remaining. Just curious where I'm at with the Colorado since it does not give that kind of feedback.

GANGSTA

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jan 20, 2017

oNE THING iVE BEEN DOING IS USING THE FRAM 15000 MILE GOLD FILTER AND THE CHANGE OIL MESSAGE WILL COME ON AROUND 8500 MILES AFTER I CHANGE THE OIL. I TRAVEL ALOT FOR MY JOB AND IVE PUT ABOUT 60000 MILES ON MY TRUCK AND HAVENT HAD ANY PROBLEMS.

Gold Country Russ

· #20 · Jan 22, 2017

A while back Ford was voiding warrantee's on failed catalytic converters & engines damaged by plugged converters. I think it was on 2.3L Escapes and the problem was traced to too many oil changes (think 3,000 miles) were loading up the converters with additives from the oil. Sometimes more is not better.
I change oil at about 7,000 miles on our fleet (Honda, GMC, ZX3, ZX3) using conventional oil & quality filters. The only exception would be in the summer if I had a heavy tow upcoming and the truck was at over 5,000 miles.
Warning, never get a WallyWorld oil change as they use terrible oil filters!

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