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Old 01-15-2014, 02:17 PM   #1
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Oil Changes

This is the first car that I have owned that tells me what % life my oil is at. I just hit 3000 miles on my car and it is still showing greater than 40% oil life.

Here's the question: Do you change your oil based on what the car is telling you % wise or just go by the mileage, IE every 3k, 5k, etc. miles?
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Old 01-15-2014, 02:22 PM   #2
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I did my first at 1500 miles. After that, I go by the Oil Life Indicator. GM didn't spend millions developing that just for looks.
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Old 01-15-2014, 02:23 PM   #3
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I do mine every 5K, but that's because I get free oil changes for life from my dealer.
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Old 01-15-2014, 02:28 PM   #4
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I did my first at 1500 miles. After that, I go by the Oil Life Indicator. GM didn't spend millions developing that just for looks.
Since you also live in AZ, I'd like to ask about how long on average are your oil changes with the monitor? Since AZ has harsher conditions than other places and requires changes more often.
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Old 01-15-2014, 02:35 PM   #5
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Always have made it a habit of no more than 3500 including the filter. I haven't found too many mechanics that will tell you 5000. If I don't hit that mileage in 3 or 4 months I change it regardless. Keeping your oil fresh is the cheapest insurance you can get. I have never followed what reads on the dash board.
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Old 01-15-2014, 02:42 PM   #6
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I do oil & filter every 5K miles, regardless of the % life remaining. Just a number I've always gone by.
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Old 01-15-2014, 02:43 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JTruckenbrod View Post
Since you also live in AZ, I'd like to ask about how long on average are your oil changes with the monitor? Since AZ has harsher conditions than other places and requires changes more often.
Generally about 8-9 months. I have just hit 45,000 miles and not a single engine related problem. Actually, the oil looks pretty good after 8-9 months.
Where in Arizona are you? I'm in Tucson.
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Old 01-15-2014, 02:45 PM   #8
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I usually change my around 20% which is around 4500 miles for me. GM engineered a complex algorithm that takes into account many factors such as how quickly you accelerate and so on to determine oil life, so I use that instead of the "Come waste your money every 3k miles!"
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Old 01-15-2014, 02:47 PM   #9
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What type of oil. If u are using standard oil 3-5000 miles no more then 3-4 months. Full synthetic 5-10000 and no more than a year.
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Old 01-15-2014, 02:49 PM   #10
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Only reason they made a "dexos approved" oil is to A) Bail General Motors out of debt and B) synthetic is healthier for your motor. They didn't even add a additive called "dexos" to the oil, it just has to meet a certain grade with all the additives for it to be dexos approved. This is really the only reason you are able to get 5-6k oil changes out of the vehicle. I still however do 3k oil changes just to be on the safe side with synthetic dexos approved oil.
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Old 01-15-2014, 03:31 PM   #11
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Some very good information here. With my situation I don't put a lot of miles on my car to begin with. I believe that my mechanic puts in a Synthetic Blend. I usually get an oil change once per year (due to the Synthetic and low mileage).

My last oil change was in April of 2013, and as of January 2014 it says 60% Oil Life Left. I feel I should probably be just fine waiting until April again, I only have three more months to go.

Even with Synthetic and Low Miles, I still wouldn't wait longer than one year (even if the oil life monitor was still relatively high). I know cars today don't need the old fashioned "3 months or 3,000 miles" like yesteryear's cars did, but going longer than one year...even if the car could handle it...is just something I can't do.
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Old 01-15-2014, 03:40 PM   #12
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I would change your oil now and then every 5000 miles if you are using Mobil one. why I am saying now is to get rid of any contaminates left over from the manufacturing process.
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Old 01-15-2014, 03:48 PM   #13
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I would change your oil now and then every 5000 miles if you are using Mobil one. why I am saying now is to get rid of any contaminates left over from the manufacturing process.
Thank you for the advise, and I would certainly do it (about getting rid of the contaminates), but that's already been done. I bought the car in April of 2011, then April 2012 was my first oil change, April 2013 was my second (that I mentioned in my first post), and now my third is coming up.

Other than that you are definitely right about clearing out stuff from the manufacturing process, something everyone should take note on when buying any new car.
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Old 01-15-2014, 03:49 PM   #14
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I bought the car in April of 2011, then April 2012 was my first oil change
You might want to put on your flame suit right about now.
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