My 2002 GMC 2500 with the 6.0 is used to pull a construction trailer with tools for work. I reset the oil change light at last oil change, and it's telling me to change the oil now about 3000 miles later. My question is whether or not this system is accurate? I used full synthetic 5w-30 oil (Schaeffer's) and was planning on going 5k between changes. I do work this truck pretty hard, but was thinking this motor was fairly easy on oil so 5k should be fine. I don't really want to do a bunch of UOA's to determine oil life. What does the collective think? Change it when it tells me to or stick with 5K intervals with synthetic? Thanks!
2002 GMC 6.0 oil life monitoring system question
- Thread starter Oscar11
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I've read that GM's oil life monitor in these years takes into account usage, like rpm, temp and other factors to determine when to change. It's not just a mileage counter. That's what made me think maybe I should change it. I would assume though, GM was programming it for regular Dino oil of the era, therefore using a quality synthetic would allow to go beyond the oil monitor. I'm probably overthinking, I've also read that the LQ4 6.0 is pretty bullet proof so I'm sure it probably won't matter too much.
How many months did it take to get to 3k miles? I would agree with everything in your last post. The 6.0 is great and 5k miles is probably fine as long as it's not a long period of time or a ton of short trips and idle time.
The oil life system, as mentioned above by others, does monitor specific parmeters to decide when to recommend an oil change...with that your system is base on conventional oil and I would agree with a 3k mile change based on the service you use it for. Now, with that being said - your plan for 5k mile changes using good synthetic oil is a perfect strategy and exactly what I do on my 2006 Sierra Denali 6.0L - been a 5k mile Mobil 1 OCI since new and motor is running great and is clean as new inside.
I'm not exactly sure but it hasn't been over 3 months I would guess, maybe a little less. I don't idle very much, but I do have some short trips. I also do some highway where the oil is for sure getting good and hot. 90% of my driving is pulling my enclosed trailer weighing maybe 5000-6000lbs. The truck definitely gets worked!
as I contrast, my new to me (June of this year) 2005 GMC Yukon Denali that sees no towing (and appears to not have had any in the past) is coming up on 4 months and 2K miles since it's last oil change of 5W-30 full synthetic (Farm and Fleet home brand) with an ACD PF46 filter and my OLM displays 67%...
everything I have read on this Engine (6.0 LQ4) says 5K miles under normal use...if you can afford it, I'd still follow the OLM to determine when to change my oil based on your actual usage...
Good luck with your GMC
Bill
everything I have read on this Engine (6.0 LQ4) says 5K miles under normal use...if you can afford it, I'd still follow the OLM to determine when to change my oil based on your actual usage...
Good luck with your GMC
Bill
are you sure you reset the oil monitor on the last oil go round.
how does the oil look and feel on the dipstick?
if it still looks good, reset the monitor and continue driving.
I'm 95% sure I reset the monitor. The oil looks great on the dipstick, but I know you can't go by looks alone. I'm leaning towards waiting until 5000 miles for the oil change but I'm still torn.
Understand that your OLM is programmed for 2002-era lubrication technology. Eons ago, when GM developed the OLM for your truck, we did not have access to the type of long-lasting synthetic lubricants that populate the shelf of your local Wal-mart today. At the time, it was very common to use so-called "dino oil." This was a type of lubricant manufactured by extracting a dinosaur carcass from the earth's surface and then compressing the dinosaur carcass in a large hydraulic press. "Dino oil" was obtained by filtering the fluid that came out of the press with some very rudimentary additives, such as bee's wax and ash from charcoal grills or wood-burning stoves.
Generally speaking, 3000 miles is about the normal life of a lubricant extracted from a dinosaur carcass. Modern synthetic oils are far more advanced. They are called "synthetic" because they formulated in labs by GPT-powered robots using MRNA technology to gene-edit mice into super-lubricant-rodents that, when placed in a hydraulic press, produce lubricants that are far superior to the dinosaur lubricants of yesteryear.
In short, the new stuff is pretty good and you don't need to change your oil nearly as often any more. Also, the above synopsis may not be *perfectly* accurate, but is close enough for the purposes of changing the oil in your Chevy!
Generally speaking, 3000 miles is about the normal life of a lubricant extracted from a dinosaur carcass. Modern synthetic oils are far more advanced. They are called "synthetic" because they formulated in labs by GPT-powered robots using MRNA technology to gene-edit mice into super-lubricant-rodents that, when placed in a hydraulic press, produce lubricants that are far superior to the dinosaur lubricants of yesteryear.
In short, the new stuff is pretty good and you don't need to change your oil nearly as often any more. Also, the above synopsis may not be *perfectly* accurate, but is close enough for the purposes of changing the oil in your Chevy!
Is that infrequent use but ideal conditions (like longer trips on the highway)?
The OLM is software based and doenst actually "lick" the oil so it has no idea of the actual oil condition in your sump, but uses a preset table of penalties to reduce from theoretical max.
It was likely designed for the API SL standard which has been superseded by at least 4 newer specs, and unless its old your sump of Schaeffers is modern top flight quality vastly outperforming the old dino sump.
"IIWM" I'd feel totally comfortable with Schaeffers and a 5K duty cycle towing.
Part of the reason Id be comfy with this is I run premium quality filters and magnets everywhere (on the filter and drain plug) in my tow vehicles to reduce wear, increase filter change interval and to act as a diagnostic tool to see if there is any change in the amount of debris from OCI and FCI.
It was likely designed for the API SL standard which has been superseded by at least 4 newer specs, and unless its old your sump of Schaeffers is modern top flight quality vastly outperforming the old dino sump.
"IIWM" I'd feel totally comfortable with Schaeffers and a 5K duty cycle towing.
Part of the reason Id be comfy with this is I run premium quality filters and magnets everywhere (on the filter and drain plug) in my tow vehicles to reduce wear, increase filter change interval and to act as a diagnostic tool to see if there is any change in the amount of debris from OCI and FCI.
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I'd keep going.. but since it is bothering you, you probably wont feel good about it until you change the oil.
FWIW I never use the oil life monitor.
I would go with 5k miles and even then that's a bit too often with today's synthetics. I have a 2004 GMC w/ 5.3 and it never tells me to change that often. I know they redesigned it for 2003- but don't know what all was involved other than the front end change for Chevy's and the interior was slightly updated, I know mine has an electronic throttle body vs the earlier ones with throttle cable.
One of the reasons I use it is that there is a significant difference in how fast it counts down in cold weather and our range of temperatures is -35c to +35c, or something like -20 to 90f. And my driving habits change frequently based on where I'm going for work. Short trips and long trips, sometimes more of one than the other. So it wouldn't make sense to go by mileage instead of olm.
I put a sticker in with the mileage and date I changed just to see how long it wants me to go but I change it when I get close to 0%.
my GMC is not my daily driver and I am retired...the mileage I rack up on it is a mix of city and highway driving with probably a 70% City and 30% highway mix...
my understanding is that if your GM vehicle has been back to the dealership after purchase your OLM may have been updated with more current parameters in the OLM but not so updated as to include synthetic oils benefits (as the original call was for standard/dino oil for my vintage truck)...mine was at the dealership for an oil change and scan in 2022 prior to my ownership
Bill
Interesting.. the OLM in our 05 Express doesn't come on for at least a year and half or over 10k. Typically I change it every year and sometimes I forget to change it.
towing everyday, i would say 3k is an accurate number. in my gm car of that era, the light would come on in about 7500 miles. that was a mix of town and highway, with a lot of extreme temperatures. worked on boats in new Orleans all summer so the ambient temp was always high.
I wonder if there were some changes to the OLM between 2002-05? I was kinda expecting mine to go off closer to 5k, but like I said I definitely work the motor. I'm averaging 9-10 mpg towing the trailer, there are quite few times I'm in third on the highway at about 3500 rpm trying to keep up with traffic. The truck pulls the trailer great though.
I have a 2000 6.0l as well. Change it every 5K regardless of OLM ....THe OLM is based off of old conventional oil...
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