1st oil change question

[rado06]

I've been reading on here that some people change their oil around 1000-1500 miles and others don't change it for longer. So my question is, what is the correct answer? Do I change it at 1000-1500 or should I wait? And will it have any effects on the engine if i change it sooner? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[KeepItGreasey]

it's all hearsay. better sooner than later. would it hurt to wait? probably not. you're going to get a million different answers in response to your question. a million different answers from a hundred different guys who claim to have "broken in" 20 different vehicles of the years... guys who claim to build engines from the ground up... silver haired old men who will argue at each other over proper procedure and when the first oil change should be performed and how often it should be done after the first.

go with your gut.

[Stormyone]

Originally Posted by rado06

I've been reading on here that some people change their oil around 1000-1500 miles and others don't change it for longer. So my question is, what is the correct answer? Do I change it at 1000-1500 or should I wait? And will it have any effects on the engine if i change it sooner? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Oil Life System
What is the GM Oil Life System?
The GM Oil Life System is 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.

How does it work?
In all internal combustion engines, the primary driver in oil degradation is the combustion event. Every time the engine fires, a small volume of oil is directly exposed to, and destroyed by, this high-temperature, high-pressure event. Furthermore, combustion gases containing acids, fuel, and water get past the piston rings and react with, and degrade the engine oil. In addition to the combustion event, oil temperature plays a role in oil degradation. As oil temperature increases the oxidation rate of the oil speeds up, which can lead to oil thickening over time. On the other hand, colder oil temperatures increase the concentration of contaminants, such as fuel and water in the oil. The GM Oil Life System comprehends these oil degradation processes, and using an algorithm, calculates the optimal time to change the engine oil. While the basic algorithm is the same for all GM engines, each engine gets its own calibration specifically tailored to its unique needs.

How many GM vehicles are equipped with the GM Oil Life System?
More than 31 million GM Oil Life System-equipped vehicles have been sold in the U.S. since 1998. Today, over 97 percent of GM vehicles sold in U.S. are equipped with the Oil Life System.

How many miles can a vehicle go between oil changes when using this system?
The system allows GM customers to take advantage of the great strides that have been made in engine design and lubrication technology over the years. Depending on the vehicle/engine combination, driving conditions and driver habits, OLS equipped vehicles may extend oil change intervals significantly compared to the traditional 3,000 mile recommendation. However, based on driving conditions and type of vehicle the interval can vary. For instance, mild highway driving in a warm climate will maximize the interval between oil changes. Depending on the vehicle this could be in excess of 12,000 miles. On the other hand, short trip driving in a cold climate may limit the oil change interval to 3,000 miles or less.

http://www.gm.com/corporate/responsi..._qa_040104.jsp

Trust technology or trust tradition your choice.... I personally did my first oil change when the oil life monitor recommended, which was at 11,000 miles... but that's just me...

[MSG']

the oil life monitor was at 25% on my first oil change, i was alittle over 5k miles, the second time i waited till 25% again, it was 11k miles, this is the third time and I waited for it to go to zero, Im at 21k miles...changing oil today or tomorrow

[Tallboy]

Originally Posted by KeepItGreasey

it's all hearsay. better sooner than later. would it hurt to wait? probably not. you're going to get a million different answers in response to your question. a million different answers from a hundred different guys who claim to have "broken in" 20 different vehicles of the years... guys who claim to build engines from the ground up... silver haired old men who will argue at each other over proper procedure and when the first oil change should be performed and how often it should be done after the first.

go with your gut.

Bingo.

[Stormyone]

Originally Posted by MSG'

the oil life monitor was at 25% on my first oil change, i was alittle over 5k miles, the second time i waited till 25% again, it was 11k miles, this is the third time and I waited for it to go to zero, Im at 21k miles...changing oil today or tomorrow

The majority of my miles are highway miles which to me accounts for the Oil Life Monitor recommending the first change at 11k....I waited until it got down to 1%, then I changed it.... I guess I am willing to trust how they engineered the car and the monitoring systems, and if they are willing to give a 100k warranty, then they must trust the technology too.... There is also the study that shows changing the oil too frequently does more damage to the engine....

[joe h]

Extended life oil changing has become a cult like religion. Change the oil early and often. Also the 1500 mile rule comes from the owners manual telling you to change the differential fluid after break in if you plan on driving the car hard. If you change the oil, nothing negative will happen, if you wait, there is a very good chance you are creating a sludge monster and will have leaky seals.

[rado06]

Thanks for all the info guys. I"ve owned numerous new vehicles and I've always changed the oil between 500-1500 for the first change but I just wanted to make sure there wasn't going to be any bad effects from doing it on the Camaro. Once again thanks for all your opinoins

[Stormyone]

Originally Posted by joe h

Extended life oil changing has become a cult like religion. Change the oil early and often. Also the 1500 mile rule comes from the owners manual telling you to change the differential fluid after break in if you plan on driving the car hard. If you change the oil, nothing negative will happen, if you wait, there is a very good chance you are creating a sludge monster and will have leaky seals.

So are you saying that the GM engineers, and the study referenced here http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/mobil1.html are wrong?

[rado06]

Changed the oil and I think its a good thing because it was very black and it only had just over 700 miles on it. I didn't see any big metal particles but i'm sure there was some small ones that i just didn't see

[steverc]

I changed my v6 engine oil at 1800 miles. Looked fine. I was at 74%. I will go longer next change. I just use regular dino oil. No problems with any of my GM cars over the last 40 years. I usually trade for a new one at 60-70k miles. None were using much oil. I will still change 2x a year. I drive it about 8k per year.