Do you really trust the oil life indicator?

[=Stephens=]

So I am at 35% remaining life, which is more that 3000 miles. And I am going to change my oil today. What do you change yours at? This has probably been posted about before but there are new members who might not have seen a post like this or don't want to go searching for it.

[yellowrs]

I change it every 3-5K miles or every six month, whatever comes first.

[batman53201]

Originally Posted by yellowrs

I change it every 3-5K miles or every six month, whatever comes first.

ditto

[DagoCountyGee]

Originally Posted by yellowrs

I change it every 3-5K miles or every six month, whatever comes first.

If you only drive 1k miles in 6 months, do you still change it every 6 months?

[jd10013]

I follow the OLM. usually puts me right at 6500 miles. not telling anybody what to do, but 3000 is just a waste of money. that's a standard that was set back in the 60's with vastly inferior oil, and dirty cast iron blocks. truth be told, with a good synthetic you can probably do 10k. but it is cheap peace of mind. just know you don't need to.

[ChrisBlair]

The oil life indicator? You mean that thing that's been around for a decade and which GM service centers "forget" to re-set in my car with predictable regularity even though it's on a checklist that they pencil-whip after the job is done?

[tmcclint]

Originally Posted by DagoCountyGee

If you only drive 1k miles in 6 months, do you still change it every 6 months?

I'd like to hear the answer to this as well. I've heard that due to the condensation build up inside the crank case, you should change the oil every 6 months regardless of how many miles. I live in a really arid climate (was <2% humidity last week) so I don't think the condensation is an issue. Someone on here posted a week or so ago that GM says change the oil at least every 10 months regardless of mileage (I need to look that up in my owners manual).

I wonder if any of the Oshawa guys can chime in here...

[Caddyroger]

I do not trust the oil life indicator. I change mine every 5000 miles with Mobil one no matter what the oil life indicator reads

[jd10013]

Originally Posted by tmcclint

I'd like to hear the answer to this as well. I've heard that due to the condensation build up inside the crank case, you should change the oil every 6 months regardless of how many miles. I live in a really arid climate (was <2% humidity last week) so I don't think the condensation is an issue. Someone on here posted a week or so ago that GM says change the oil at least every 10 months regardless of mileage (I need to look that up in my owners manual).

I wonder if any of the Oshawa guys can chime in here...

the owners manual says at least once a year. at least for the LS, LT, and SS.

[meissen]

Originally Posted by jd10013

I follow the OLM. usually puts me right at 6500 miles. not telling anybody what to do, but 3000 is just a waste of money. that's a standard that was set back in the 60's with vastly inferior oil, and dirty cast iron blocks. truth be told, with a good synthetic you can probably do 10k. but it is cheap peace of mind. just know you don't need to.

Same folks that check their oil weekly.

[mydreamcar]

Originally Posted by tmcclint

I'd like to hear the answer to this as well. I've heard that due to the condensation build up inside the crank case, you should change the oil every 6 months regardless of how many miles. I live in a really arid climate (was <2% humidity last week) so I don't think the condensation is an issue. Someone on here posted a week or so ago that GM says change the oil at least every 10 months regardless of mileage (I need to look that up in my owners manual).

I wonder if any of the Oshawa guys can chime in here...

If your mileage application is really low then you should still change it every 6 months, I work at a truck leasing company, while they are two different animals diesel trucks and cars the concept of the oil breaking down is the same. Over time despite different weather conditions oil will break down and lose its properties, viscosity etc. my service manager gave me a long winded answer but that's what I got out of explanation.

[yellowrs]

Originally Posted by DagoCountyGee

If you only drive 1k miles in 6 months, do you still change it every 6 months?

Yup.
I do mine myself.
But seriously why would I only drive one mile living in beautiful Arizona?

[redleader]

Originally Posted by yellowrs

I change it every 3-5K miles or every six month, whatever comes first.

Me too


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[shine2013]

I follow it, took a while to get used to.