I still don't trust the GM OLM.

[Chris142]

IMO it lets my girlfriends 04 Tahoe go far too long. I know that last time it went atleast 14,000 miles before the thing told her to change the oil.

I changed it then and reset it. It's coming up on 8,000 miles now and still has not come on. She does nothing but short trips most are under 5 miles. Does several of these short trips per day.

The truck never sees a hwy or really gets a chance to get warmed up.

I think 8-14K is far too long and the thing is not working right.

 

[sciphi]

That's too long. Even our Honda only lets it go 10-11k miles with mostly highway use.

I'd change it at half the OLM interval to be safe.

 

[Falcon_LS]

Did you happen to get a used oil analysis to check?

 

[bodeh6]

And this is on conventional? If so that is way to far.

 

[Hallmark]

Holy moly! That's far too long and may not be functioning correctly. My Oldmobile OLM averages 5,700+/- miles which I consider just about perfect on conventional/semisyn.

 

[SaturnIonVue]

GM's OLM calls for an OC at one year, or when the change oil indicator sets itself off. It sure seems as if there is something wrong with that monitor since the kind of driving you describe should surely cause a much shorter interval.

It seems that the monitor reset method varies across GM's vehicle lineup, but a thought crossed my mind about if the 04 Tahoe resets by pumping the accelorator pedal a few times to reset. If GF is one of those people who have been taught to pump the gas pedal a few times at start up, she could be resetting the OLM. I know that is a stretch, but I've heard of "elders" who have had that "pumping" problem. Just a thought.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
IMO it lets my girlfriends 04 Tahoe go far too long.

Based on what? Do you have any evidence, or is it just a gut feeling?

 

[Pesca]

Nobody cannot say it is too long as a FACT as long as you don't do an UOA on the oil.

If you don't feel comfortable with the GM OLM, do an UOA on the oil, and then decide what you want to do.

 

[Josh48065]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: Chris142
IMO it lets my girlfriends 04 Tahoe go far too long.

Based on what? Do you have any evidence, or is it just a gut feeling?


Based on what? Probably previous used oil analysis of conventional oil, and with the add of many short trip the oil probably couldn't last 10k+ miles. Im sure he doesn't have any evidence, hence he did say "IMO"

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Pesca
Nobody cannot say it is too long as a FACT as long as you don't do an UOA on the oil.

If you don't feel comfortable with the GM OLM, do an UOA on the oil, and then decide what you want to do.


+1. and are you sure she isnt ignoring/resetting it the first time around causing a non-issue to appear?

 

[hhu168]

Originally Posted By: bodeh6
And this is on conventional? If so that is way to far.


OLMs don't care whether it's conventional or synthetic.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: Chris142
IMO it lets my girlfriends 04 Tahoe go far too long.

Based on what? Do you have any evidence, or is it just a gut feeling?
Just a gut feeling. IMO 14K is too long for dino Super Tech oil. Last time it got Shell but still....

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2

+1. and are you sure she isnt ignoring/resetting it the first time around causing a non-issue to appear?
Naw she's smart enough to tell me when it comes on. I have kept track of it this time.

The pumping it to start it is a possibility. I will have to watch her to see if she does that.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: Josh48065
Based on what? Probably previous used oil analysis of conventional oil, and with the add of many short trip the oil probably couldn't last 10k+ miles. Im sure he doesn't have any evidence, hence he did say "IMO"

"IMO" isn't just a cop-out for when you have nothing to back up what you're saying. It could just mean you're not entirely sure. Hence, the question.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Just a gut feeling. IMO 14K is too long for dino Super Tech oil. Last time it got Shell but still....

In that case, do some used oil analysis and see if there's any indication of a problem with that OCI. Believe it or not, it's entirely possible that 14k is just fine. You won't know until you look for yourself.

 

[oldmaninsc]

How big is the sump on the Tahoe? My Trailblazer with the 4.2 I6 held 7 quarts of oil. It would go about 12K - 13K or so before the light would come on. The last couple of years I usually hit the one year mark before the light would come on. So I followed what GM said in the owner's manual and changed it out then.

Edit: BTW, a couple of people over at Trailvoy ran UOA after 12K OCI and the results were very good and showed the OLM to be right on. Imagine that!

 

[Turk]

 

[mechtech2]

No way would I let it go 14k.

Not a chance!

You can try and prove a point, but I want my engine to last and run longer and better.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
No way would I let it go 14k.

Not a chance!

You can try and prove a point, but I want my engine to last and run longer and better.

Better than what?

Or did you mean you would err on the safer side and change before the recommended OCI just-in-case?

 

[pbm]

The OLM in my Buick lit up today at approx. 5300 miles and 7 months of driving. It is probably 65/35 highway/around town but included many cold starts over the winter.
I'd be very hesitant to go over 8K on a vehicle that "never sees a hwy or really gets a chance to get warmed up."

I think the GM OLM is a very good tool but the OLM in your GFs Tahoe may be broken.

Here's another interesting GM OLM tidbit.
My 2011 Chevy Cruze has under 200 miles on it and has been sitting in my (heated) garage since purchased in February.
A few weeks ago the OLM read 91% remaining. I took it out for about 50 miles yesterday and it now reads 84% remaining. (16% of oil life depleted in 180 miles of driving and close to 3 months sitting indoors).
It seems the OLM is deducting while sitting unused. Interesting?