Just some interesting reading. I'm sure that in short time, the "speedy oil change places" will try to bebunk this "radical new thinking"! LOL
David McFall of the lube industry magazine, 'Lubes-n-Greases' wrote an excellent article in
their May 2004 issue.
Here is part 1 of David's article.
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'Supersize Me! GM moves to extend drain intervals by David McFall
"3,000-mile oil changes may be unnecessary,"
General Motors began telling drivers last month, as part of its
`April is Car Care Month" campaign.
"Most technicians say to change oil every 3,000 miles while others
say 5,000 or 7,000," the world's largest car maker said. "But Mr.
Goodwrench offers another simple solution - let your vehicle tell you
when - that could protect your wallet and the environment from
unnecessary oil changes."
The "simple solution" is GM's patented Oil Life System, a factory-
installed device going into about 95 percent of the vehicles it will
produce this year - nearly 4 million units in the United States.
That's a lot of OLS equipped cars hitting the road this year, joining
the 20 million GM vehicles with OLS already on the road.
GM inaugurated its Oil Life System in 1987 and has steadily expanded
the innovation into its fleet. What's more, the owner's manuals for
this newest generation of vehicles equipped with the OLS no longer
specify or recommend any mileage interval for oil changes. Depending
on the model and engine, the only oil change instructions for owners
will be a light on the dashboard or message alert on the "driver
information center" screen.
Prior to the 2002 model year, the owner's manual always included a
mileage guide as supplemental information to the OLS.
This means GM owners will no longer have to keep track of how far
they've driven before changing oil; the dashboard alert does it for
them. They don't have to juggle numbers, clutter the windshield with
reminder stickers or decipher dutyservice descriptions such
as "severe," "moderate," "light" or "special driving conditions."
They just have to keep an eye out for a single dashboard light or
message - impossible for a driver to overlook.
So far, with the exception of Mercedes-Benz and BMW, no other major
vehicle manufacturer which sells cars in the United States has
installed an oil life monitor in its vehicles. Lacking an on-board
oil quality monitoring system, owner's manuals follow the ancient
pattern of recommending drain intervals based on miles elapsed, often
with duty-service qualifications. DaimlerChrysler, for example,
recommends 6,000 miles for its Chrysler badged cars, Ford 5,000
miles, and Toyota 5,000.
DRAIN INTERVAL IMPACT
GM senior project engineer Robert Stockwell recently told
Lubes'n'Greases that the on-board oil monitoring system alerted many
drivers to change oil after more than 10,000 miles - twice the U.S.
average and well beyond most OEM's recommendations. And the oil still
retained a comfortable quality reserve to protect the engine.
"I have analyzed numerous oil samples from vehicles with the OLS,"
Stockwell stated. "Many of these samples were from vehicles with
greater than 10,000 miles on the oil, a few with more than 14,000
miles, and at least one with greater than 16,000 miles. These
intervals were recorded in vehicles using regular mineral oil.
Synthetic oil gets even longer oil change intervals.
"In all cases where the OLS signaled for an oil change it was before
the oil was worn out," Stockwell emphasized. `Analysis of all samples
indicated that the oil still had the expected oil life `safety
factor."'
GM's service parts organization is working on ways to develop
literature for the retail market and has published a bulletin with
instructions for resetting all OLS systems. Stockwell added, "There
are some major plans for advertising the OLS this year. In fact, I
recently heard a radio ad discussing the benefits of the OLS."
These benefits include reducing engine oil waste and lessening its
environmental impact. So impressed was SAE International, in fact,
that in 2000 it presented GM with its "Environmental Excellence in
Transportation Award" for the OLS.
KEEPING DEALERS HAPPY
It's one thing to install a new technological enhancement at the
factory. Getting the full benefit of it in the marketplace can be
tough, particularly when there are negative economic impacts for
those who must put the innovation into effect - car dealers,
retailers, oil companies and oil change facilities.
GM has been teaching its dealers about the OLS since its inception;
about a year ago it ramped up the educational effort.
"While many dealers understand and accept the benefits of OLS,
candidly, some are reluctant to change their recommendations since
3,000-mile oil changes are a revenue source," Stockwell
said. "However, for the model year 2004 the overall maintenance
schedule is driven by the OLS in vehicles with the OLS. Some
maintenance, like checking the air filter, needs to be performed
every time the oil is changed. Other maintenance is needed every
other time the OLS system illuminates. This new maintenance schedule,
in one owner's manual, reduced the maintenance schedule from 24 pages
to four."
The use of the OLS as the driving factor, greatly simplifies the
vehicle maintenance, he pointed out. "For example, the owner's manual
for a model year 2005 Buick Century recommends that when the oil and
filter is changed, the vehicle should be visually checked for leaks,
the tires rotated, the air filter checked and a few other things.
Every other time the oil is changed, there are additional things that
should be checked like the windshield wipers and the restraint
system. There are still a few mileage-based maintenance items, such
as changing the spark plugs at 100,000 miles.
"In previous years the routine maintenance items were usually
required at 3,000- or 6000-mile intervals," Stockwell continued. "The
computer keeps track of what maintenance is needed so the driver does
not need to remember what maintenance was done the last time. The
driver just needs to know that when the `change oil' light comes on,
the oil and filter need to be changed and some maintenance needs to
be performed within the next two gasoline fill-ups."
Info on GM's new extended oil change intervals
- Thread starter 1977c10phxdriver
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My oil life monitor on my 2003 GMC Duramax diesel first came on at 10,147 miles, while I was on my THIRD oil change. The oil was analysed on the second, and they recommended that I shorten the OCI, due to the wear metals present.
Hmmmmmmmm............
Profit before all else. Not a judgement, just fact.
A manufacturer who is dependent upon selling cars and parts suggests extending the interval between oil changes.
Hmmmmmmmm...........
Nah!!!!!! The lust for profit can't have anything to do with it. GMC only has our best interests at heart. GM would surely revel with delight, have their liver quiver with unadulterated joy if we, the consumer, could not only save money but delay new auto purchases because our conveyances now last 20 years and a million miles!!!!!!
Obey your corporate masters!!!! For they shall surely, eventually, replace the political systems and guide us into a new world of peace and prosperity.
(note scarcasm)
quote:I don't know about that. My 2000 Mercury Mountaineer has an oil life monitor on it which tells the condition of the oil from 100% down to 0%. It also will indicate "oil change soon" or "oil change required" if the oil has been used quite awhile without being changed.
Originally posted by 1977c10phxdriver: So far, with the exception of Mercedes-Benz and BMW, no other major vehicle manufacturer which sells cars in the United States has installed an oil life monitor in its vehicles.
Between this
quote:and this
Originally posted by 1977c10phxdriver: GM senior project engineer Robert Stockwell recently told Lubes'n'Greases... "I have analyzed numerous oil samples from vehicles with the OLS," Stockwell stated. "Many of these samples were from vehicles with greater than 10,000 miles on the oil, a few with more than 14,000 miles, and at least one with greater than 16,000 miles. These intervals were recorded in vehicles using regular mineral oil. Synthetic oil gets even longer oil change intervals. "In all cases where the OLS signaled for an oil change it was before the oil was worn out," Stockwell emphasized. `Analysis of all samples indicated that the oil still had the expected oil life `safety factor."'
quote:we have the makings of the next great BITOG debate.
Originally posted by Pick: My oil life monitor on my 2003 GMC Duramax diesel first came on at 10,147 miles, while I was on my THIRD oil change. The oil was analysed on the second, and they recommended that I shorten the OCI, due to the wear metals present.
quote:Maybe your oil is not doing it job?
Originally posted by Pick: My oil life monitor on my 2003 GMC Duramax diesel first came on at 10,147 miles, while I was on my THIRD oil change. The oil was analysed on the second, and they recommended that I shorten the OCI, due to the wear metals present.
quote:High "wear metals" on a still breaking in engine does not mean that the oil was used up, but rather that the engine was breaking in. Most of the time the recommendations given by the oil analysis people are not well thought out on their part. John
My oil life monitor on my 2003 GMC Duramax diesel first came on at 10,147 miles, while I was on my THIRD oil change. The oil was analysed on the second, and they recommended that I shorten the OCI, due to the wear metals present.
How about working an unofficial survey into this thread.
How many people with an OCI indicator in their car have enough faith in it to rely on it?
The OCI indicator in the 96 Corvette I got less than a year ago said I needed an oil change about 7,500 miles after I got the car. The car came with fresh chancge of M1 5W-30. I think the dealer I bought the car from has also reset the OCI indicator??
I had already changed the oil at 6,410 miles and it still had some life in it then. TBN was 3.7, viscosity, fuel and insoluables were also OK.
In my statistical sample of 1, the OCI indicator was pretty good. Am I going to rely on it in the future? No. I'll stick with my 6,000 mile OCI unless UOA sez I should adjust it significantly.
Having recently just added 3 QUARTS of oil to a van that had not seen an oil change in quite some time, I think the oil change light is a great idea. If people actually take action on it when it illuminates they can be sure that they'll get some reasonable lifespan out of their engine.
I like the idea of tying other services to the oil light...just bring her in to the shop and knock it all out at once.
Not everyone is obsessed with oil. This OLS is a great idea for normal people. ![[Wink]](images/icons/wink.gif)
A well known local technician and shop owner bought a new Mercedes. It had an oil change monitor. He watched it carefully--at 15,000 miles or so, it showed the oil at half-life.
He sent oil samples to two independent labs.
Both lab reports showed the oil to be suitable for continued use.
Based on that, he now goes 5,000 miles on Mobil 1.
quote:I think a low oil warning light would be a better idea...
Originally posted by Matt89: Having recently just added 3 QUARTS of oil to a van that had not seen an oil change in quite some time, I think the oil change light is a great idea.
I have faith in the oil life indicators in my Pontiac Montana's. If I run them in "severe service" conditions with lots of city driving and cold starts, the indicator will reach "0" in 3000-3500 miles. If I do all long trip hiway driving, it does not reach zero for 6000-7000 miles.
6500 miles on dino is not too far under the right conditions. I have a 93 Caravan that's been doing just that since new. It just clicked over 250k miles and still runs like a top. The engine has never been touched internally.
But some of these new cars that indicate 15000+ on dino is just crazy!
quote:Many cars and trucks have had this for years. MY 1995 Park Ave had it...
I think a low oil warning light would be a better idea...
>>Dick, did you mean to say "15,000 miles on Mobil 1" ?
Well, assuming that Mobil 1 was the factory fill, he did that. Now he changes his Mobil 1 at 5,000 miles (up from his former 3,000 mile Mobil 1 drain)
Maybe I'm not following you Dick...
He ran it 15K, and found the oil suitable for further use. So now he runs it 5K.
Sounds like a logical conclusion.
quote:Well yeah, of course. Somebody should have been checking the dipstick too! What I meant was that the reason the oil was low was that it had been run way too long.
I think a low oil warning light would be a better idea...
I have OLM on my truck and the wifes car,I only use it when it says to change before 6k..That happened once cause the wife only drives about 5 miles to work and the car takes longer than most to warm up. Heck I have trouble with 6k changes and would really flip out waiting longer..There is just something I love about doing oil changes... ![[Eek!]](images/icons/shocked.gif)
![[Big Grin]](images/icons/grin.gif)
I dont know fellas. If my oil change light didnt come up for 10,000 miles on dino, i would be a bit sceptical. Although....my sister hardly ever changes her oil in her Grand Prix GT, and it used to drive me nuts. I always would tell her she would be sorry when she started burning oil @ 100k on th engine. I would say she changes her dino every 9-12k due to her bad habbit, and i think shes at 100k+ and the car runs like a top. She never needs to top off.
i heard somewhere the biggest problem is not over run oil as much as it is people who over run the oil and the oil becomes consumed and needs topping off, this causes alot of damage.
I was told by a mechanic at a BBQ a month back that "if all the people who didnt change there oil would at least top it off there would be alot less damamge. Besides, the people who never change there oil are the same people who didnt know they were low on oil because of it, and continue to due that until the valve guides start to leak from lack of lube."
very interesting subject here, I just purchased a 04 gmc sierra it has the olm, the owners manuel recommends using it. If it does not indicate a oil change within one year you should change the oil anyway. Does this mean that you can go a year between oil changes? If it does, what about the 3 month rule.Mike
quote:The 3,000 mile or 3-month rule was begun many years ago when oils weren't as good as present day oils. The rule has been perpetuated by oil change places and oil companies needing a profit at your expense. GM's oil life monitor keeps track of cold starts, hard running, easy running, etc. If many short, cold runs are made (like my 85 year old mother-in-law's driving), it might signal for a short-time oil change. Ken
Originally posted by windcatcher: very interesting subject here, I just purchased a 04 gmc sierra it has the olm, the owners manuel recommends using it. If it does not indicate a oil change within one year you should change the oil anyway. Does this mean that you can go a year between oil changes? If it does, what about the 3 month rule.Mike
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