Do oil change monitors operate using calculations based on engine run time, or is there a sensor in the oil that makes actual measurements?
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Oil Change Monitor
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GM's OLM works well, and assumes you are using the worst oil they can barely recommend, nothing better. The computer software algorithm counts engine revolutions, NOT miles, and penalizes heavily (by a factor of up to 6) for cold revolutions at high load, or extremely high RPM runnning. See https://etda.libraries.psu.edu/paper/9507/
The BMW sensors use capacitive and resistance measurements to take the OLM game a step further, detecting anti-freeze and water contamination, and some viscosity changes too.
The BMW sensors use capacitive and resistance measurements to take the OLM game a step further, detecting anti-freeze and water contamination, and some viscosity changes too.
From a leaked tech training BMW document:
"The oil condition sensor sends its measured values to the engine management system:
! Engine oil temperature
! Oil level
! Engine oil quality
The electrical material properties of the engine oil change as the engine oil wears and ages. The changed
electrical properties of the engine oil (dielectrics) cause the capacity of the capacitor to change.
The electronic evaluation unit converts the measured capacity into a digital signal. The digital sensor signal is
sent to the engine management system. The engine management system uses the signal for internal calculations
(e.g. condensate in the engine oil)."
"The oil condition sensor sends its measured values to the engine management system:
! Engine oil temperature
! Oil level
! Engine oil quality
The electrical material properties of the engine oil change as the engine oil wears and ages. The changed
electrical properties of the engine oil (dielectrics) cause the capacity of the capacitor to change.
The electronic evaluation unit converts the measured capacity into a digital signal. The digital sensor signal is
sent to the engine management system. The engine management system uses the signal for internal calculations
(e.g. condensate in the engine oil)."
The only problem I have with the OLM thing GM has going on, is that it can't take into account that my pickup has to cover several miles of dusty gravel roads to and from the house, or dusty conditions during harvest time on the farms. There are other aspects that R&D sitting in their cubicles didn't quite factor in. But they never figured that folks would actually use these pickups for what GM promotes on their TV ads. Granted, most folks use pickups as only auto transportation on steroids, so the OLM is not a bad thing for them. For the rest of us, it is more a schedule thing based on miles or hours.
Originally Posted By: ExMachina
Pontual, they need to package the BMW system into a portable unit we can use to sample oil and test for quality on a workbench.
You mean like this? http://smile.amazon.com/Lubricheck-Motor...gine+oil+tester
Pontual, they need to package the BMW system into a portable unit we can use to sample oil and test for quality on a workbench.
You mean like this? http://smile.amazon.com/Lubricheck-Motor...gine+oil+tester
Originally Posted By: tinmanSC
Originally Posted By: ExMachina
Pontual, they need to package the BMW system into a portable unit we can use to sample oil and test for quality on a workbench.
You mean like this? http://smile.amazon.com/Lubricheck-Motor...gine+oil+tester
Cool toy, wonder if it works. It would be easy to "calibrate" it I guess, just put new oil on it and hope you see a good score, right??!!!
I think the BMW system actually calibrates its readings based on when the owner resets the OLM computer at oil changes, (and then looks for delta changes you know) so I'm wondering if LubriCheck does the same thing.
AutoBlog liked it: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/17/nearly-two-years-later-we-get-our-hands-on-lubrichecks-blood/
Originally Posted By: ExMachina
Pontual, they need to package the BMW system into a portable unit we can use to sample oil and test for quality on a workbench.
You mean like this? http://smile.amazon.com/Lubricheck-Motor...gine+oil+tester
Cool toy, wonder if it works. It would be easy to "calibrate" it I guess, just put new oil on it and hope you see a good score, right??!!!
I think the BMW system actually calibrates its readings based on when the owner resets the OLM computer at oil changes, (and then looks for delta changes you know) so I'm wondering if LubriCheck does the same thing.
AutoBlog liked it: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/17/nearly-two-years-later-we-get-our-hands-on-lubrichecks-blood/
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I'm the monitor for my vehicles.
Have you seen this thread?
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=130036
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=130036
Originally Posted By: ExMachina
Pontual, they need to package the BMW system into a portable unit we can use to sample oil and test for quality on a workbench.
Yes, ExMachina, but I don't fully believe on them, also. And looks like the BMW system test the oil electrical conduitivity, and this roughly measures the buildup of acidity, at most.
An optical device would measure solid contaminants by light crossing dept, but optical systems are used only in industrial system, that I know of, not in cars.
Pontual, they need to package the BMW system into a portable unit we can use to sample oil and test for quality on a workbench.
Yes, ExMachina, but I don't fully believe on them, also. And looks like the BMW system test the oil electrical conduitivity, and this roughly measures the buildup of acidity, at most.
An optical device would measure solid contaminants by light crossing dept, but optical systems are used only in industrial system, that I know of, not in cars.
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I heard Mercedes FSS OLM goes by fuel consumption because they found that oil life is most affected by the amount of fuel used.
The German/European OLM's assume synthetic oil of the type specified (OEM standards, ACEA, etc), while GM and Honda's systems assume the cheapest dino--and Honda only wants you to change the filter every *other* OCI!
None are solely based on engine run time! ExMachina explained BMW already, and Honda's MM works like GM's even if not quite as sophisticated.
The German/European OLM's assume synthetic oil of the type specified (OEM standards, ACEA, etc), while GM and Honda's systems assume the cheapest dino--and Honda only wants you to change the filter every *other* OCI!
None are solely based on engine run time! ExMachina explained BMW already, and Honda's MM works like GM's even if not quite as sophisticated.
Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
I heard Mercedes FSS OLM goes by fuel consumption because they found that oil life is most affected by the amount of fuel used.
Older BMWs (like mine) go by amount of fuel consumed.
Current MB vehicles (at least on the US) are on straight 10K mile OCI.
I heard Mercedes FSS OLM goes by fuel consumption because they found that oil life is most affected by the amount of fuel used.
Older BMWs (like mine) go by amount of fuel consumed.
Current MB vehicles (at least on the US) are on straight 10K mile OCI.
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Older BMWs (like mine) go by amount of fuel consumed.
Current MB vehicles (at least on the US) are on straight 10K mile OCI.
That can't be. Short trips, in maybe cold weather? There a 1 year limit on those OCIs at least?
Older BMWs (like mine) go by amount of fuel consumed.
Current MB vehicles (at least on the US) are on straight 10K mile OCI.
That can't be. Short trips, in maybe cold weather? There a 1 year limit on those OCIs at least?
Yes, X miles or 1 year, whichever comes first.
On my 2010 impala i go by the OLM on syn oil, which right now i put PP and a fram xg on last week. The OLM is calibrated to conv oil but I'm rough on the car and i don't c conv oil going the full OLM.
Originally Posted By: gabriel9766
On my 2010 impala i go by the OLM on syn oil, which right now i put PP and a fram xg on last week. The OLM is calibrated to conv oil but I'm rough on the car and i don't c conv oil going the full OLM.
It does make sense to use synthetic, and PP is a good one, and go by the OLM. Synthetics should be laying down less deposits per mile.
On my 2010 impala i go by the OLM on syn oil, which right now i put PP and a fram xg on last week. The OLM is calibrated to conv oil but I'm rough on the car and i don't c conv oil going the full OLM.
It does make sense to use synthetic, and PP is a good one, and go by the OLM. Synthetics should be laying down less deposits per mile.
Originally Posted By: ExMachina
Originally Posted By: gabriel9766
On my 2010 impala i go by the OLM on syn oil, which right now i put PP and a fram xg on last week. The OLM is calibrated to conv oil but I'm rough on the car and i don't c conv oil going the full OLM.
It does make sense to use synthetic, and PP is a good one, and go by the OLM. Synthetics should be laying down less deposits per mile.
Ive used nothing but syn since 63k, got 91 k on her now.
Originally Posted By: gabriel9766
On my 2010 impala i go by the OLM on syn oil, which right now i put PP and a fram xg on last week. The OLM is calibrated to conv oil but I'm rough on the car and i don't c conv oil going the full OLM.
It does make sense to use synthetic, and PP is a good one, and go by the OLM. Synthetics should be laying down less deposits per mile.
Ive used nothing but syn since 63k, got 91 k on her now.
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