http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/auto...MzMDAwLW9pbA--

I didn't realize our oil life gauge was that complicated, but I like it.

 

so I shouldn't change my oil every 3,000 even though I take it to the track once in a blue moon and get on it sometimes ?

 

The wife has an '07 Honda CRV and they keep turning her away for oil changes because her gauge was at 20%.

I thought that was very odd.. turning away business.

 

The article make sense though. It nice to know that its not something that just goes down and hits 0% after 3000 miles.

for GM

 

Yeah. Unfortunately no matter how many articles come out there are always people who will insist on cahnging their oil every 3,000 miles. I have been telling people for years to use synthetic and you don't have to change your oil every 3,000 miles but people still believe the hype by oil change shops that you HAVE to change your oil ever 3,000 miles no matter what.

There is actually a web page out there that has the exact calculation for how the GM oil life monitor works. I know it uses coolant tempurature, outside temperature, and engine RPM in a formula to calculate an estimated safe oil life.

 

waiting for the guy that says better safe than sorry or that they don't trust the computer. never fails

 

I have Chevrolet change it out around every 5,000 miles. I am due for my third oil change.....

 

i will change my oil every 3k becuase my car is pushing the limits and i like to keep things safe.

 

All these oil life monitoring systems are being force-fed to the auto manufacturers by the EPA. The EPA doesn't give a damn about your car, and it doesn't want any high-mileage cars on the road, because it is abnormally concerned about the small amount of polution that high-mileage cars produce.

While a 3000 mile oil change sounds conservative at first, look at the information they left out of the article:

Engines run hotter than they ever have, due to the fact that they have to to properly meet new emissions standards.

Vehicles are being driven is worse conditions than they ever have: Traffic in the majority of US cities is worse than it ever has been. City, stop-and-go driving, is the very worst type of driving on your vehicle.

 

...well I'm at about 6% right now on mine

 

I use Mobil 1 Synthetic. My oil life gauge usually dips to around 20% to 30% when I end up changing it, which ends up being around 4,500 to 5,000 miles at every change.

 

That is why for the oil life monitors to work properly you need to use synthetic. Synthetic does not break down like conventional oil and has a MUCH higher tolerance for higher temperatures. If you use conventional oil it is still a good idea to change the oil at 3,000 miles.

Also if you have MAJOR mods and pushing high horsepower, plus you run the car hard, it is probably a good idea to change your oil more often. With lots of mods and running the car hard you are putting alot more stress on the engine and components.

 

I dont even make it to 70% on mying before the dealership starts calling me to bring it in for it oil change. I nicely explain to her that i'm only at 70 %. They then call again at around 65%, then again at 50 %. This is usually when i bring it in for the oil change. I only use regular oil, as synthetic get a wee bit expensive when haveing the dealership do it.

 

If you read up on oils a bit, there are currently semi-synthetic blends that perform better than some of the "fully" synthetics out there. Ford Dealers now use Motorcraft Semi-synthetic as their regular oil. This oil is 20% synthetic, 80% conventional, and in testing shows it to be 80% as good as Motorcraft Fully Synthetic, which tests BETTER than Mobil 1. Furthermore, Mobil 1 is now only grade 3 Synthetic, the good stuff is grade 4.

I still haven't seen anything that beats AMSoil overall.

 

i want to get amsoil for the next change. but i usually go 4500-5000 miles in between oil changes

 

I change my oil at %50, but I am also pushing the absolute limits of the motor, and pretty much beat the **** out of it everyday.

 

I change mine when it gets to 20% and seems to work for me.

 

I ran mine right down to 3 % this time and i use amsoil 5 30.

 

usually got close to 4 months which is around the 70% mark. I know the car would go longer w/out much problem but being safer is better, you wouldn't *** in a condom two or three times, that is not safe.

 

Haha, when desperate!? No because thats how midgets are made...

but seriously...ive been telling people for years to go by the oil life guage at our shop. They put it there for a reason. If GM didnt trust it even a little, then they wouldnt put a warranty on it.

 

GM gets better incentives from the government for having it than they payout in engine replacement warranty claims. So, yes, they don't trust it and yet still put it there, because it makes economic sense to do so.

 

but at the same time, GM has put a TON of time and resources into developing the system of each individual car that they have. like I said...they wouldn't have put it in the car if it weren't trustworthy.

 

usually 60% for me...I'll probably go longer now that oil is insanely high

 

I've ALWAYS been a 3000 mile oil change fanatic (more than 45 years)! But then I read the following http://www.gmols.com/raisingawarenes...FAQs031708.pdf

If you want to take a nap read http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...m/t-42259.html

Bottom line, the GM Oil Monitor system in your Cobalt works with the oil specified by GM for your engine and calculates the remaining oil life on how you drive.... AND I'm not planning on changing the oil in MY Cobalt every three months!