Should I trust my oil life computer?

[VRMMMM]

I have a 2007 Tahoe, 2010 Camaro, and a 2011 silverado 3500hd duramax. I change the oil on them when they are around 30%. I do the oil changes myself, I use high grade synthetics, and filters. I think this reasonable protection for my investment. The days of 3k oil changes are gone, and a waste of time and money IMHO.

[BowlingSS]

Originally Posted by Obzen

I'm planning on sticking to 5000 mi. 3000 is too few for synthetic unless you don't drive much. Oil life gauge is probably accurate but I'm more comfortable doing it every 5000.

That is what I do. Every 5K if it needs it or not. Also I use K&N or Mobil 1 filter.

Bill

[MikeOD]

I like my money.

When I bought my car, it had 6945 miles on it, and the original owner had just changed it (without actually needing to...oh well).

I ran it until it said to change it...and then I drove until that saturday, and changed it...2:1 factor of safety...it's fine.

I'm still on that fill of oil now. The odometer turned 33K miles the other day and I think I'm around 18% left, I dunno...I'm more concerned with the tire pressure monitor than the oil life monitor...so I haven't looked at it in a while...when it says to change it, I'll drive it until it's a saturday (preferably a sunny one) and change it again.

My engine is fine...makes well over 400 horsepower to the tires, I let it fly over 6000 RPM all the time, it runs great, and I'm not concerned about it in the slightest.

[srairman]

Just follow the manual, you can't go wrong.

[joeaux]

LOL. Love these threads. Just changed mine in the 2SS, 9200 miles. Third oil change. God, wait, uh let's see. My wife hasn't changed hers all year. She's headed for the "once a year if you don't get prompted" thing here real soon. God, it's oil and a car. Just follow the manual. Sheesh.
-joe-

[NavyDood]

Currently have 11,307 miles in 4.5 months on this oil (Mobil 1) with a filter change at 50%. OLM says 18%.

[talltom]

Got a fresh oil change and drove hard from Houston to Sante Fe to Denver to Wichita to Dallas and back in a week. (Over a mile high in mountains from Sante Fe to Denver). Oil monitor says 78%.
Changed oil several months later (I waited till it was about 20%) and drove normally for TWO weeks. Oil monitor say 98%. This monitor is state-of-the-art.

[NavyDood]

Originally Posted by talltom

Got a fresh oil change and drove hard from Houston to Sante Fe to Denver to Wichita to Dallas and back in a week. (Over a mile high in mountains from Sante Fe to Denver). Oil monitor says 78%.
Changed oil several months later (I waited till it was about 20%) and drove normally for TWO weeks. Oil monitor say 98%. This monitor is state-of-the-art.

Shhh, don't relay factual findings that the OLM is a good thing. Ppl have a hard enough time wrapping their heads around the OLM in general.

[talltom]

I know right! Who wants to know about algorithms!!

Originally Posted by NavyDood

Shhh, don't relay factual findings that the OLM is a good thing. Ppl have a hard enough time wrapping their heads around the OLM in general.

[alexpdbz]

I think I have close to 3k miles on my Mobil 1 full synthetic oil right now and I drive my camaro pretty hard. My OLM states it is at 53% right now, but I can notice a drop in fuel economy as well. I also checked the oil levels and it was a bit low. I put in about a 1/4 of a quart and had it right in the middle of the normal levels on the dipstick.

I will be driving from San Diego to El Paso this week and was thinking about changing it before I hit the road for fuel economy reasons too, but not sure yet.

[KickToTheJunk]

Originally Posted by ctinatx

Here is a good thread to look at about oil life.
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=145143


If I remember correctly the ss comes full synthetic but the LT does not.

My dealer is so shady, I wouldn't be surprised to find out they drained the oil that came with the car, bottled it and resold it, then filled my car up with walmart super tech (used)