How does MM work.

[BrianC]

Originally Posted By: Justin251
the owners manual for my ram says 7500mi and recommends pennzoil 5w20. Does not say synthetic so I assume Pennzoil conventional.

Well I'm running Mobil 1 Extended Performance 0w20 right now and my OLM says 43% oil life left and I'm at 5100miles.

Shouldn't I be at 32% instead?
Does your manual say a % or 7500, whichever comes first? Some OLM's just count miles, others measure certain performance parameters mentioned previously. What does your do? If you don't know your manual or dealer can tell you.

 

[Redpatches]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
I agree with you about V6 with VCM, if I have this engine I would use only synthetic and OCI will be no longer than MM.


That's what I do with My Oddy Touring. The VCM seems to dirty the oil very quickly (verses my Prius oil which stays golden for many months). The MM averages gets down to 0 about every 7-8 months, but I just do 6 month Spring/Fall schedule running 5W-20 and 0W-20 respectively.

 

[Justin251]

Originally Posted By: BrianC
Originally Posted By: Justin251
the owners manual for my ram says 7500mi and recommends pennzoil 5w20. Does not say synthetic so I assume Pennzoil conventional.

Well I'm running Mobil 1 Extended Performance 0w20 right now and my OLM says 43% oil life left and I'm at 5100miles.

Shouldn't I be at 32% instead?
Does your manual say a % or 7500, whichever comes first? Some OLM's just count miles, others measure certain performance parameters mentioned previously. What does your do? If you don't know your manual or dealer can tell you.


I dunno. I just figured 100% would be 7500. I'll have to look into it.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: Justin251
the owners manual for my ram says 7500mi and recommends pennzoil 5w20. Does not say synthetic so I assume Pennzoil conventional.

Well I'm running Mobil 1 Extended Performance 0w20 right now and my OLM says 43% oil life left and I'm at 5100miles.

Shouldn't I be at 32% instead?



The engine is computing on its own using various data points to conclude. Since your truck was shipped with conventional the oil life monitor is running under the impression you gave conventional oil in the sump. Since you are using a synthetic you can run a longer interval.

 

[GitaGidwani]

Originally Posted By: PeterGreen
Unfortunately, my pride and joy, my 2012 Acura, is not a garage queen, and not a highway queen either. To pay the bills, I have to work in an urban area which is not easily accessible to public transportation, and I spend a long time commuting in stop and go traffic each morning and evening. This means lots of sudden bursts of speed when the insane NYC drivers do allow you to merge, as well as much driving in first and second gear. My MM tells me in an alarmingly short time that the oil life goes from 100 % to 90%. By my calculations, it is telling me to change the oil every 5000 miles. I am using the best quality synthetic oils,( either M1, or PP, or some other very good fully synthetic name brand) and Fram Ultra filter, so it seems this is a waste. How exactly is MM calculating what my OCI should be, and what, if anything can I do to slow it down?


Hey PeterGreen – Automotive engineers have spent decades testing the effects of temperature, engine speed, load, trip duration, etc. on motor oil. From this testing, engineers have actually devised a mathematical model that can predict when a motor oil will be degraded (i.e. having lost a significant part of its all-important additives package) to the point where it needs to be changed. So even though your vehicle's MM can tell you when you change your oil based on a formula that was devised from years of automotive testing, it's not perfect. There isn't a substitution for having your oil tested by a lab who would be able to advise on how your oil is performing and when the best time for changes will be. Hope this helps! - The Quaker State Team

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
One gas fill-up probably costs more than synthetic oil and filter for 6 months. Why are we trying to take chances on something that is such a small percentage of your overall operating costs? You aren't running a fleet here...this is just 1 personal vehicle.

Yet the masses here agonize over spending a few bucks for a jug of oil and filter...

Of course there is opposite, hoarders who buy because it's on sale and I'll save money, still it's hard to use up a couple lifetime supplies...