Buick century olm light already on?

[actionstan]

Hello All,

My wife's 2003 Buick Centruy's OLM light is on when I went to check the oil today.. the confusing thing is.. it only has 3300 miles on the oil change. (the total mileage on the car is 185k)

I have recently gotten some advice here about the OCI with Maxlife. My plan after getting several responses was to go 5k or by the OLM which ever came first. However I did not expect the OLM light to come on this early into the change, the car is primarily used for long trips to work and back home by my wife, 30 miles of interstate driving, which should be fairly easy on the engine.

I cannot understand why the light is on this early, it does have some short trips.. to the local store for the odd here and there item. The only thing I can think of that would cause it to be on this early is the fact that it sat basically for 4ish months, as my wife had quit her job, but even then I took it out at least once a month for a good run on the interstate to get it up to full temp and run it for a little.

So what should I do, go ahead and dump the oil and play it safe? I have heard the OLM are usually pretty good.. Or do you think this oil still has some life to it? (the oil still looks pretty good but I know that's not a true depiction of its health)

Thanks in advance!

 

[yonyon]

Which do you trust more: The logic algorithms that GM has come up with after many years of study (assuming a certain minimum oil quality) or your own 'reckoning' based on what you know and what your wife has told you?

 

[tommygunn]

What is the annual mileage driven on the car?

The OLM is great, reliable, and I use it in any car that has one.

I think GM's OLM, at least in cars like that (that is, not high-power Corvettes and Cadillacs) it's actually calibrated for the cheapest SL oil there was at the time, and that it could actually go twice the interval suggested.

Also, if a year has passed without the light coming on, it's time to change the oil.

Maxlife is a great product.

Does she have a lead foot?

 

[demarpaint]

Dumb question, did you reset the OLM last time you changed the oil?

 

[LotI]

How many miles on the last fill?

 

[actionstan]

The annual mileage is well over 3000 miles It used to be my car.. and annually I would put 15k AT least on it.. She most likely does about 10k in a normal year, I just changed the oil back in the early spring/late winter. The last fill, I kept in for 3000, my choice not the cars(this was before I joined this site LOL). And I did definitely reset the OLM. The only reason I would not really trust the OLM is because its on a older car, from when older oils were around. My wife doesn't have a lead foot at all, quiet the opposite haha.

I guess I could go ahead and change reset the light and see how it does for the next OCI.

 

[pbm]

My 2002 Buick Century's OLM usually 'tripped' between 6 and 6.5K of mixed driving even though I often changed it earlier.
3300 miles is very early and I am also wondering if you reset it the last time you changed your oil?

 

[901Memphis]

I'd say if it's right it's too conservative still. 5k on a API SN /SM for a car designed for SL seems right.

 

[Umibozu]

I'd follow the OLM.

My expedition also sits for long periods of time, between 4 to 6 months. I notice the OLM percentage drops significantly faster after I bring it out of storage vs when I used to drive it daily.

 

[MrMeeks]

The OLM cannot do any type analysis on the oil can it?
Does the OLM use sensor input in it's calculation?

 

[Umibozu]

Originally Posted By: MrMeeks
The OLM cannot do any type analysis on the oil can it?
Does the OLM use sensor input in it's calculation?


http://assets.cobaltnitra.com/teams/repo...0145efa6b30.pdf


I'm pretty sure it uses a variety of parameters instead of just mileage. I'm not sure what parameters are monitored. But one would think at a minimum it would be engine speed, throttle position, and engine temp. Can't think of any others at the moment.

 

[147_Grain]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Did you reset the OLM last time you changed the oil?


+1

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Disconnect the OLM and/or put some tape over the light.

Just go back to the basics, like before OLM's were installed. Change the oil AND filter at a decent mileage or what the manual recommends.

What I typed above is what I would do if it were my car. If you have always used the OLM then by all means stick with that.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Dumb question, did you reset the OLM last time you changed the oil?


This.

You can trust the OLM, especially if you use a high quality oil like Maxlife.

Does the OP know the reset procedure?

 

[actionstan]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Dumb question, did you reset the OLM last time you changed the oil?


This.

You can trust the OLM, especially if you use a high quality oil like Maxlife.

Does the OP know the reset procedure?


Yes of course car in run brake pedal three times Olm flashes. I know I did as I was recording the mileage. It's strange and I kinda chalk it up to the car sitting/being programmed for older oil. Ill try changing it and resetting the Olm see what happens.. Now that it will be on the road more often I am hoping it will last longer.


On a side note.. If the car battery is disconnected does that reset the Olm?

 

[RamFan]

Originally Posted By: actionstan
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Dumb question, did you reset the OLM last time you changed the oil?


This.

You can trust the OLM, especially if you use a high quality oil like Maxlife.

Does the OP know the reset procedure?


Yes of course car in run brake pedal three times Olm flashes. I know I did as I was recording the mileage. It's strange and I kinda chalk it up to the car sitting/being programmed for older oil. Ill try changing it and resetting the Olm see what happens.. Now that it will be on the road more often I am hoping it will last longer.


On a side note.. If the car battery is disconnected does that reset the Olm?


Don't think so.

 

[steve20]

no it does not reset the OLM when it loses the battery

 

[yonyon]

Originally Posted By: actionstan
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8

Does the OP know the reset procedure?


Yes of course car in run brake pedal three times Olm flashes.


Are you sure about that? I would have thought it was the accelerator pedal if it's one of the foot pedals.

 

[901Memphis]

It is the accelerator pedal in my 2002 Century owners manual.

 

[actionstan]

To the good sirs above me, yes it is the accel pedal lol, I found that out yesterday.

So update: I went ahead and picked up a 5 quart jug of maxlife, and a purolator classic oil filter(I most likely would have gotten a AC delco, but its a shame, they have went to the e-core design, but purolator is probably better and is about 50 cents cheaper.)

Changed the oil and did the reset OLM procedure(TWICE LOL!) I will keep a eye on it and report back. I was ok with going ahead and changing it because it seems like oil consumption has gone up on my Buick and this will give me a fresh start to keep an eye on that too.

Thanks for everyones input!