GM OLM dropping fast in cold !

[bigmike]

No, I don't have 4 buttons on my steering wheel. No buttons but the horn.

In fact, I can't even get anything resembling oil life on the DIC. It cycles through trip, hours, and odometer.

Somewhat strange. My 4.8 is an LT2 - you'd think it would have the capability. I guess the back window defroster and auto-dimming mirrors took precedence?

Either way, I've been jumped on before for stating I don't use the GM OLM. Now everyone knows why. I don't appreciate a warning to change my oil and given the interval of 600 miles to do so as the recommendation. I'd rather just do it on my own if that's the case.

 

[mrsilv04]

Wow. That appears to be a double whammy. A 4.8 with no buttons on the steering wheel.

Mine still has the little button sticking through the instrument panel, so I can see what you see.

From what I just looked at, the buttons on the steering wheel was a $125 option, even on the LT2. I would have thought it would have been standard on an LT2.

My Silverado is a fully loaded LS. It was a unit ordered for dealer stock, and that's how they ordered them. But, in 2004, the option packages were all different (before GM screwed them all up).

There was the base model, your typical work truck. An LS was mid-grade, typically with cloth seats (but leather was available), and an LT was fully optioned with leather.

There were no LT1's and LT2's.

 

[bigmike]

I learn something everyday! I wasn't aware of any options for steering wheel buttons. What else do they do?

 

[mrsilv04]

It is part of what GM calls the Driver Information Center.

I think if you swap out the steering wheel with one with the buttons, you can access all of this. (I think I read that on gmtrucks.com)

Plus, my steering wheel buttons control the radio as well.

*******************************

Driver Information Center (DIC)

Trip/Fuel: Displays the odometer, trip odometer, fuel range, average economy, instant economy, fuel used, and timer. Has two groups, one for "personal" and one for "business".

Vehicle Information: Displays powertrain, security and chassis messages such as oil life, engine hours, engine hot or overheated, door or hood open, and washer fluid.

Customization: Customize vehicle features to your preference, including language, remote door lock and unlock, exit and approach lighting, and loudness of vehicle chimes.

Set/Reset: Set or reset certain vehicle functions as well as acknowledge DIC messages.

 

[_Wes_]

I've got a 2007 Silverado, I have 7k miles on my oil right now with 22% left, but I've noticed my OLM is dropping A LOT

faster now that it's getting colder. I was hoping to get 10k miles before 0%, so I would have a even number for my UOA.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: bigmike
According to my user manual, I can't get a percentage readout on my GM OLM. This is a big reason why I don't use it.


I've got a 4.3l and I guess I have the same thing. Just a light (or message) when to change the oil.

My 2000 Silverado with the 4.8, Mom's 2002 Silverado with the 4.8l have messages only too. No percentage readouts.

It's still the same OLM, ours just goes off when there is 10% left on the oil.

I wish my Toyota and Subaru had a OLM system. I'd trust and use it with no concerns.

Bill

 

[bigmike]

My parents Venture has an oil percentage. I'm not sure on my dad's malibu maxx. I don't know why there are differences. I think I'd use mine if it showed the % readout. Otherwise, I'll stick to the 6mo/5k miles routine I switched to this year when I started riding public transportation daily.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
I can't get a readout from the Astra OLM. afaik, it only warns at 1000 miles to go and then another warning, I guess.

What is the typical interval (ballpark)?

 

[OtisBlkR1]

Originally Posted By: OtisBlkR1
Before the weather turned cold this past moth my olm was really going slow with a fill of valv-syn 5-30. Ive noticed in 150-200mi ive droped 4-6% ! i was expecting that with the cold weather change.*not exact percentages just a faster drop* cold weather start ups have been very quite with no knocks or suprises.. i like syn GM'S OLM is very cool.. Just shareing..


now that the temp's have dropped down pretty far i have noticed very, very, mild cold start knocking on the silverado with the synpower in it, but it does turn over much faster than with the Dino and the knock goes away quickly.

 

[Harley09]

The OLM on my '97 Cadillac Deville loses 1% about every 100 miles on the highway in the summer (a 10,000 OCI pace). In the winter when there is below zero weather, with short trips, it will lose 1% in as little as 20 miles, a 2,000 mile OCI pace.

My '06 Chevy Trailblazer will go up to 160 miles per 1% on the highway in the summer, a 16,000 mile pace. Right now, with summer, winter, in town and highway trips, 56% oil life is left with about 4,382 miles on the oil, a 9,959 mile pace. I suspect 55% will be reached shortly, which would reduce it to a 9,738 pace. Will probably end up about 8,400 miles, with the cold weather.

The Cadillac has a high performance Northstar engine, so the OLM is set more conservatively, even though it also has burned a quart per 1,000 since a new engine was installed under warranty. Engine is designed to burn some oil, which also replenishes the oil. Now has 102,000 on the engine. Trailblazer has never used oil in the 40,000 since new.

As I understand it, the OLM starts with a set number of engines RPMs between oil changes, say 20 million. Each RPM is subtracted from the starting total, with multipliers for RPMS below operating temp, and possibly a penalty number each start. So cold start RPMs at 20 below might be multiplied by 10, and as the vehicle warms up, the penalty multiplier is reduced. Probably also penalties for temps above normal, as in trailer towing, etc.

If there is a different explanation, please post, anyone. I have tested my Cadillac at 8% oil life via UOA, and the oil was marginally still good, with TBN of 1.6. Only 3,400 miles, but 95% in town, short trip, winter trips, very severe.

At 6,000 on Trailblazer, most highway in the summer, TBN was also coincidentally 1.6. But had about 42% oil life left.

 

[JohnBrowning]

1997 Buick LaSaber and it has OLM but no % just a light that comes on. I have sen older and newer models with it that showed % of life left though. I do not see where it does anything more then just flashing a light at you. THe numbers are gimick like 22% means anything tangable like hard numbers for insolubles,nitration,tbn etc......It is just an allgorythm that use's info from crank sensor,coolant sensors etc.....to predict oil life.....Sure it is firly accurate with the cheapest oil money can buy but when using a good synthetic often a lot of life is left in the oil!

 

[Win]

Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
I can't get a readout from the Astra OLM. afaik, it only warns at 1000 miles to go and then another warning, I guess. I wish I knew how to view it.


You probably have to go into an engineering screen in the DIC to access it.

On my domestic Pontiac offerings, the OLM displays as part of the regualar DIC.

On the Holden, I have to access "engineering" mode to see the OLM (and a bunch of other interesting real time data). For the G8, engineering mode is entered by depressing and holding a button on the steering wheel while simultaneously turning the ignition on. Of course this is undocumented in the owner manual.

Opel likely has a similar undocumented engineering mode for their techs.

 

[Jehartley]

Originally Posted By: bigmike
No, I don't have 4 buttons on my steering wheel. No buttons but the horn.

In fact, I can't even get anything resembling oil life on the DIC. It cycles through trip, hours, and odometer.


Put the vehicle in Park, and then scroll through...it should show up then. At least that's how my 4.8 works.

 

[Harley09]

Yeah, the OLM does not directly measure the quality of the oil. I have fun with the percentages, though. I like to see how they change under different driving conditions.

Have done some UOAs well before hitting zero for baseline purposes. Am going to run the OLM to zero with various oils and have UOA with TBN to see how well it works, and if wear rate changes with longer oil runs. Will post the results when finished.