Change oil using GM oil life monitor or??

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I usually change my oil spring and fall,got a new 2011 Canyon 2.9l 4cyl (5w30 dexos)in April I have 8000km, Onstar says oil life is about 50%,suggests change oil at 15,000km!.Seems a little long to me.Being frugal I'm now considering going by oil life monitor and changing oil only once per year,i.e next spring.Should I? Or should I spend twice as much and do it spring and fall?Thanks.
 
The OLM is pretty good in most cases and seems to do well on the Atlas engines based on posted analysis. They have a pretty large oil capacity which helps to extend the interval.

The OLM isn't a linear track and it will likely drop quicker as the temperature goes down. I know mine do.
 
Was thinking of going to dealer for an oil change,but 69.99 made me think twice about the OLM ,the reason I'm now a member here,lol.Is the dexos1 oil from factory semi-syn or full synthetic?
 
I believe ACDelco has both but it would depend on what your dealer has in their tanks.

$70 bucks....ouch! Of course if you can do it yourself, that will be the best deal.

I forgot to mention, I just finished a 16000km run in my G5 with a good report, oil could have gone longer, it was a Heavy Duty oil though.
 
Oh I could do it myself for sure,Castrol dexos is on sale at Can. Tire for 7.49/l ??,I'd need 5 I think and then a filter for ??? haven't priced one out.So is it worth saving the 20.00 bucks? I'm not quite set up for changing oil at my new place yet either.But if the oil dealer put in is good,maybe I'll chance the oil life monitor and rethink it next spring.
 
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Originally Posted By: 4thman
I usually change my oil spring and fall,got a new 2011 Canyon 2.9l 4cyl (5w30 dexos)in April I have 8000km, Onstar says oil life is about 50%,suggests change oil at 15,000km!.Seems a little long to me.Being frugal I'm now considering going by oil life monitor and changing oil only once per year,i.e next spring.Should I? Or should I spend twice as much and do it spring and fall?Thanks.


While you may feel better if you do a seasonal change there is no reason not to follow the OLM. Use the approved oil and enjoy engine life far beyond the rest of the vehicle.
 
Isn't the rule that oil changes are to be according to the OLM, or every 12 months, whichever comes first?

Verify in your owner's manual to be sure.

If I'm correct on that, there's not a thing wrong with changing it once a year.
 
Originally Posted By: 4thman
Is the dexos1 oil from factory semi-syn or full synthetic?


It is at least a synthetic blend. I think it (AC Delco) is made by Mobil. Pennzoil Platinum and Quaker State UD are full synthetic and Dexos approved.
 
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Originally Posted By: NHGUY
I believe AC/Delco Dexos is semi.From what I have read,its a very good oil.


I have seem some UOAs with good results.

Regarding the OLM. As long as you use a Dexos1 oil ( I believe Pennzoil and Mobil make ones with the CERT) and a quality oil filter (in GM's case they feel AC-Delco is good enough but there are many better quality filters for less money, purolator and wix for example) then you can run the OLM without any issues. The OLM is calibrated using many difference variables and is pretty darn accurate if using what GM recommends. I have been using the OLM for both my vehicles and I have not had any issues for over 100k and the insides are spotless. Save your money and do the oil change yourself using the OLM!
 
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Note that your oil monitor does not discriminate between synth and dino oils.
Integrate that fact into your decisions.


It doesn't but if he is going to use dexos 1, he won't have much choice of conventional.
 
I think after all is said and done, do not anstints over all changes. Most likely you will not blow your engine if you run it 5000 or 7500 miles between oil changes with todays fine synthetic oils. You will probably have a wreck or sell it before you wear it out and most Americans get rid of their ride long before its worn out.........imho
 
Guess I'll wait til spring and use a synthetic dexos of course.Keep in mind I'm talking 8,000 kilometers and not miles.Canadian eh!Thanks for all your input.Now onto small engines forum and talk oil change for my mower.
 
I'd wait it out too. The Delco semi-syn 5w30 is a great oil for naturally aspirated, port-injected engines, based on UOA's. It gets ripped apart quickly in GM's small-displacement turbocharged and/or direct injection engines, though, again based on UOA's. So for your Colorado, it's fine running it until the light tells to change.
 
Some here often like to get their factory fill out a bit early.

If you're just oil obsessed or something, you could change the oil, not reset the monitor and still go in for a dealer service when monitor says due. Split it down the middle this first time so to speak.

The next time I have a new car with a year interval on change, I plan to do this the first year. I'll change it about the 6 month mark with all OEM parts, and then go in for the scheduled maintenance at 1 year mark as if it was the first.

Of course, it's probably wasteful of oil, money, and time. BITOG just made me obsessed.
 
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