A Look at GM's Oil Life Monitoring System

[Inferno]

In the end it's still an alogorithm not a real time sensor.

[franknbeans]

Originally Posted by GRYGOOS

No, I believe it is calibrated for synthetic

I assume it is calibrated for what is one the oil cap. Our cars, Synthetic.

[changprice]

I always changed my synthetic oil when is around 15% left

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by HashimAzzouz

THe bastards here (GM Dealers) insist to change the Oil every 3,125 miles (5,000k/m)!! But thanks for the post anyway

Cheers

Why do they insist? if you change it every time before the factory oil life monitor says to then you are following the manual and there should be no issues if a warranty clam should arise. no matter what the dealer says it's GM that determines if you followed proper maintenance. and since the oil life monitor is what the Owner's manual says to go by then they really cannot insist you change it every 3,000 miles. UNLESS you go over the time limit that is in the manual, I think it is 6 months.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by Sir Nuke

There IS something, but it has to do with the same V6's in Caddy's (same engine in our Camaros). I have one, and I got the notice in the mail about a month ago. It was labled as a RECALL but all it said was, and I ask my service manager about the specifics, they (GM/CADDY) recalibrated the system, no parts were changed. The deal is, in the Caddy's, there have been reported timing chain failures and/or advanced wear based on the oil change frequencies based on the monitor system alone. SOOOO it was time for me to get the oil changed anyway, had the dealer do the oil/filter change and do the update to the monitoring system while they were at it.

Seeing as how I have typically done all my oil changes at the 50% mark, which was normally at or about the 10000 mile mark or aq little more.....I figure I was more than safe.

I wonder If mine already had the updated intraval, I always change mine at 50% and it seems to come around at 5,000 miles where on My HHR it will be 8 to 10,000 miles to reach 50%

[Tallboy]

Changed mine at 8% which was about 7800 miles. Sent a sample of the oil [synthetic] to Blackstone, they said the oil was just about done, and 10% would be a good time to change.

[NavyDood]

Originally Posted by ssummit camaro

but what you are using a full syn oil, is'nt this much better than the dexos. I thought i read somewhere that dexos is now required for all year gm vehicles.

Only for 2011 and newer is Dexos required. 2010 and older only needs to meet GM4718M spec. GM has also said that if Dexos is not available, using GM4718M is the approved alternate. Dexos1 or Dexos2 is nothing more than a reformulated additive package for the base oil.

Originally Posted by Tallboy

Changed mine at 8% which was about 7800 miles. Sent a sample of the oil [synthetic] to Blackstone, they said the oil was just about done, and 10% would be a good time to change.

Bravo. Someone that actually went that extra step to get the facts.

I am actually very surprised that the oil didn't hold up longer though. What oil and filter? Filters can play a big part in oil longevity. Could you post your analysis results?

[Tallboy]

Originally Posted by NavyDood

Only for 2011 and newer is Dexos required. 2010 and older only needs to meet GM4718M spec. GM has also said that if Dexos is not available, using GM4718M is the approved alternate. Dexos1 or Dexos2 is nothing more than a reformulated additive package for the base oil.

Bravo. Someone that actually went that extra step to get the facts.

I am actually very surprised that the oil didn't hold up longer though. What oil and filter? Filters can play a big part in oil longevity. Could you post your analysis results?

I used Pennzoil Pure Platinum Synthetic and an AC Delco filter. I also poured the old oil back into the old containers to recycle, and had a hair under six quarts. No oil added during the interval. I've got the analysis results on the computer at work-I'll post 'em up next week...

[detroitjohnny]

Originally Posted by joe h

The thing is, unless you lose oil pressure or break your timing chain/belt, no engine is going to die before 100,000 miles. Trannies on the other hand have been getting worse over the years. So GM backing up their olm with the extended warranty is just bs. The only reason the cars have been given an extended warranty is because GM and Chrysler were getting slaughter by Hyundai and Japanese brands.

BTW I have a 2001 Lumina and Cavalier that I have been giving 3,000 mile oil changes and the cavalier is at 310,000 and the lumina is at 250,000. Maybe when others can start claiming the same while following the OLM religiously, I will change my ways.

My 2005 Chevy Avalanche has 310,000 miles and is still going strong. Have always used mobil 1 5-30 at the OLM intervals.

[OIFVeteran2010Camaro2SS]

Great info thanks for shareing!

[nascarnate326]

Oil threads are the best.

M1 in my cobalt. I follow the OLM and go around 10-12k between oil changes. I do change the filter at 50%.

My LT1 Camaro has 160k miles and has Walmart supertech oil and a fram filter. Runs great. I change the oil in April and in July. Going to send my oil in, after my next change

[camarolt76]

I am surprised to read that there is no oil condition sensor on the car. I am a hydraulics engineer so I assumed there was a sensor which would tell the computer how much contamination was in the oil. That is what we do with hydraulic oil, but not so with engine oil I guess. It is good to know so much time went into the development of the oil life monitor. It gives me even more confidence that my 2010 Camaro can go much longer than my 76 Camaro between oil changes!

[DGthe3]

With regard to contamination in the L99/LS3 ... how much junk do you think it takes to make nearly 9 quarts of oil unusable?

And, for those that swear by changing their oil early & often ... what would you do if you owned a Volt? Not saying many of you are the target market for that car but ... that engine probably has the lightest duty cycle in the industry, do you think it still makes sense to follow the old rule of thumb for oil change intervals?

[cruznls]

We like to "Change the Filter" every 3000 to 5000 miles then
top off the oil...