01-22-2019, 09:37 AM | #1 |
Drives: 2011 RS/SS Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Alabama
Posts: 35
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Oil Life %?
I check the oil life about every week on the display and its been hovering in the 40% range for a little bit now.......but up and down (41-44-42-etc..). Is that normal? I drive it about 25 miles a day....
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2011 Silver 2SS/RS LS3
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01-22-2019, 12:10 PM | #2 |
Drives: 2014 2SS RS, 6 sp man Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Marlton, NJ
Posts: 461
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yes. it changes depending if you are doing highway driving vs city. Same as the miles left to out of fuel. Get on the highway and it starts going up. Hit the city and it starts going down.
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01-23-2019, 01:41 PM | #3 |
Drives: 2SS RS ABM A6 Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Pahrump, NV
Posts: 273
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The exact computation of the oil estimator algorithm is a GM trade secret.
Generally speaking, it looks at the oil temp, RPMs, miles driven, etc. For example, if you're letting the oil get to ~215 degrees Fahrenheit, then it's boiling off the condensation (a good thing). If you're always driving at 6k RPM, it'll "wear out" faster than 2k RPM.
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Jack Bilger
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01-23-2019, 07:29 PM | #4 |
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Drives: 2010 Camaro 1SS LS3 Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 4,018
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So they've got something in these things actually 'tasting' the oil to see if its good, or is it just calculating rpm and mileage and other factors, and coming up with its best guess?
I only ask this because on a recent oil change, I the car for the first time in its life warned me that I had only 4% left of oil life, even though I know I clearly changed it only a few k miles ago... I could have forgotten to reset the system after the change - but not sure, I don't really remember. I guess if it were 'tasting' it the car would not have to be reset manually after every oil change, right? Curious how far technology has come... |
01-23-2019, 08:40 PM | #5 | |
Drives: Miss Con Ception Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 2,999
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Quote:
Stop-and-go is harder than highway, cold and hot produces more wear than ideal temps. Throttle opening (higher load), average RPMs, high RPMs (racing), etc. My ex, with her 3 mile commute, always showed lower life than my vehicle with 20 mile commute per mile. Over time, it was nearly the same. Which means her oil was changed with less miles than mine, though nearly the same number of days. And yes, you probably didn't reset it.
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2011 1SS/RS LS3 CGM
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01-23-2019, 09:23 PM | #6 |
Drives: 2013 Camaro SS Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Arvada, CO
Posts: 686
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I always thought it counted the number of revolutions your engine made. That is how come of the first cars to have engine life indicators worked. But maybe they have come up with some better way to figure it over the years.
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01-26-2019, 03:29 PM | #7 |
Fast Cars and Old Guitars
Drives: 2015 2SS RS (L99, baby!) Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: N. CA
Posts: 3,972
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It is an algorithm that probably monitors more systems thru the ECM than Apollo 11 had on the moon. You can bet they try to nail the change interval closely enough to help make it live through the warranty period. It’s kinda up to the owner to actually heed its warning.
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“I don’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member.” - Groucho Marx
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01-26-2019, 10:39 PM | #8 |
Drives: 2015 2LT RS Convertible Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 298
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It always comes out to be around 7500 miles when mine says it’s time to change the oil. Funny how that always works out.
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01-27-2019, 12:35 AM | #9 |
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Algorithm. If you plan on keeping your car, change more frequent than the manual suggests. Don’t care? Not going to keep it? Who cares. Do it whenever.
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2013 VR Camaro 2SS/RS LS3
Small, but effective mod list: Roto-Fab Intake, TSP 2" Long tubes, TSP catless mids, MSD spark plug wires, stock catback, Elite Catch Can, APEX washer relocation and scoop, VMAX throttle body, Diablo InTune-Tuned by Matt@FSP, and a JacFab license plate bracket. |
01-27-2019, 03:49 AM | #10 |
Drives: LT W/2LT,blue metallic Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: central florida
Posts: 4,916
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i change at 5000 miles,even though according to the % meter its not close to that time.
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01-27-2019, 06:12 AM | #11 |
Drives: 2013 2SS Blue Ray Metallic Join Date: May 2013
Location: Eldersburg MD
Posts: 377
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I have a 2003 Avalanche with 226,000 miles and always changed the oil based on what the algorithm told me. Still runs great.
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01-27-2019, 09:24 AM | #12 |
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5.3? I have a 2004 suburban with the same engine and it takes an it’ll take an ass whipping too. My friends company has dozens of 5.3s with 300k+ on them and they changed the oil at 5k intervals. However, I’ve seen too many tensioners, oil pumps, lifters, etc go on the 6.2L. I’d rather not chance it is all I’m saying.
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2013 VR Camaro 2SS/RS LS3
Small, but effective mod list: Roto-Fab Intake, TSP 2" Long tubes, TSP catless mids, MSD spark plug wires, stock catback, Elite Catch Can, APEX washer relocation and scoop, VMAX throttle body, Diablo InTune-Tuned by Matt@FSP, and a JacFab license plate bracket. |
01-28-2019, 12:57 PM | #13 |
Drives: 2002 Camaro SS SOM; 2015 Malibu LTZ Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Queens, NY
Posts: 4,021
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Its ok, but check your dipstick level, and monitor your total mileage. It is safer to change oil in the lower mileage intervals, but if your level indicates full or above a half a quart, then you're fine but continue to monitor the level with both the dipstick reading and the oil life (stopwatch) monitor. Try not to add oil excessively unless you are below a quart or more; At that point you should change your oil body.
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'02 CAMARO SS SOM; 5.7L LS1/FLS6B
'08 TBSS AWD Black Granite Metallic '15 Malibu LTZ 2LZ Turbo '14 CAMARO ZL1 Blue Ray Metallic |
01-28-2019, 01:07 PM | #14 |
Account Suspended
Drives: Camaro V6 Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: U.S.
Posts: 1,722
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Full synthetic every 5-7K miles or every year, whichever comes first, works for me.
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