Oil Life Monitor vs. Dealer Recommended Oil Change

[JSRT4]

My newer Jeep with 2.4L 4 cyl has the oil life monitor recommending between 10,000-15,000 km oil changes thus far. My dealer lists 5k km interval recommendations on the sticker that they attach to my windshield.

They use Penzoil Platinum 0w-20 in my vehicle, and it costs a pretty penny. I tend to go way over the 5k km mark as I put a ton of miles on the vehicle and I'd be in there every 5 weeks at that rate. I haven't been able to do a UOA on the vehicle yet since the dealer has dumped the fluid since it was new. I may try an oil change myself next and I may be able to get a sample then. The motor doesn't use a drop of oil between changes, and at the end of the latest run of 10,000 kms it still looked really clean. I do at least 50% highway miles regularly. The oil monitor went off a bit earlier on this last run as we have been in winter temps the last while, with more idling, during the summer months the monitor was going up closer to 15,000 kms.

Is the oil life monitor the best way to judge oil change intervals until such time as I can get a UOA ?. I know the manufacturer will warranty the engine based on the OLM recommendations, and I think the dealer recommendations are out to lunch and designed to give them more of my money. Thanks for any recommendations on this one.

 

[WobblyElvis]

The manufacturer of your vehicle designed and built it.
The dealer makes your money theirs when you come in.

 

[69GTX]

That dealer is still back in the 1970's.

 

[901Memphis]

Go by the oil life monitor only. If they have a problem with it find a new dealer.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: JSRT4
Is the oil life monitor the best way to judge oil change intervals until such time as I can get a UOA ?. I know the manufacturer will warranty the engine based on the OLM recommendations, and I think the dealer recommendations are out to lunch and designed to give them more of my money.

Yes, I'd follow the OLM. There's almost no way that the Pennzoil Platinum would have any problems making 10,000 km.

 

[Shannow]

Follow the OLM...

My FIL's Honda, the dealer was putting 5,000km oil change stickers on it, even 'thoguh FIL was providing his own M1 0W40 for the service.

Fronted the dealer, and got stories of contaminants, wanting the car to last a long time etc. but kept skirting the obvious...more money in your pocket part of the equation.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: JSRT4
Thanks for any recommendations on this one.


Change it yourself and you don't have to worry about the dealer.

 

[Merkava_4]

Make the OCI 8000 Kilometers if you're using Pennzoil Platinum.

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Make the OCI 8000 Kilometers if you're using Pennzoil Platinum.

You base this on what? Your expertise?

I usually go by the manufacturer's recommendation. If it has an OLM I use that, otherwise I go by their published mileage recommendations.

I find it funny that people think a car maker is smart enough to build a car and trust them with their life (as in the braking system and/or seatbelts and airbags) but think they don't know how long their engines can go between oil changes. LOL!

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
You base this on what? Your expertise?


Yes I'm so knowledgable on the science of lubrication, my brain swells up and gives me headaches. I wish I didn't know so much.

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
You base this on what? Your expertise?


Yes I'm so knowledgable on the science of lubrication, my brain swells up and gives me headaches. I wish I didn't know so much.


maybe poke yourself in the eye with a knife and let some that out?

to OP: I'd just follow the OLM.

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
You base this on what? Your expertise?


Yes I'm so knowledgable on the science of lubrication, my brain swells up and gives me headaches. I wish I didn't know so much.

LOL! Funny. You have so much knowledge, you can't properly spell the word!

I'm surprised you didn't tell him not to use the 0W-20 oil and use 10W-30 or 15W-40 instead!

 

[Oro_O]

1) OLM - not familiar with your brand, but on my parents' GMs, I have found it to be very accurate on time/mileage/driving habits when factoring quality conventional oil in the sump. I now use quality synthetic and thus go beyond it/ignore it. But it is seems good as it is designed.

2) Mileage on PP. 10k/km is nothing for this. I use it 12k/km (7.5k/mi) in a Toyota V6 and it's still not taxed. You can read the VERY many UOA's on here on this oil. I don't know how hard your engine is by nature on oil, but 10 to 12k km should be no issue whatsoever.

Good luck.

 

[OneEyeJack]

IT's very simple. The OLM represents the manufacturer's plan to control maintenance costs, something that might be important in marketing and advertising. It might also be important to the manufacturer when it comes to a warranty claim because skipping maintenance gives the manufacturer an escape card. The OLM for some owners is probably more about getting the oil changed at all vs some strict schedule.

The dealer's advice is meant to optimize their cash flow. More important than the profit for the oil change is the chance to talk with you about other service and maintenance while they have the keys to your car in their hands.

It's possible that the dealer's advice might be different from the manufacturer recommendations and that leaves you to choose.

 

[JSRT4]

Thanks for all of the replies. I know the dealer recommendation is to get me in there more often than necessary. I've never had a vehicle with an oil life monitor so I wasn't sure how accurate they can be. I know the OLM seems to calculate a longer interval in summer than it does in winter, which makes sense.

The dealer charges a premium for the PP 0w-20 so I'd like to get the most of it if possible. The vehicle seems to run really well with it, no oil consumption, and it stays clean for a long time. I'm kind of glad this vehicle didn't come with a direct injection engine, as well as they work for fuel economy and power I think they present other issues in terms of fuel dilution and valve deposits.

Thanks for all of the opinions. I'll try running the oil close to the OLM recommendation, maybe to 10% remaining life ?

 

[crazyoildude]

I would follow the olm if i were you this is 2015 not 1980 I would also send the oil in for a sample to see if they are using the oil they say they are. Some new cars say to go 15,000 miles i don't push it past 9000 miles.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Make the OCI 8000 Kilometers if you're using Pennzoil Platinum.

Merk, I was doing this 30 years ago with Quaker State conventional. If Pennzoil Platinum can't handle the full length of the OLM and beyond, something is drastically wrong.

 

[meborder]

Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
I would follow the olm if i were you this is 2015 not 1980


Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
Some new cars say to go 15,000 miles i don't push it past 9000 miles.


So which is it: 2015 or 1980?

To the OP:
With your oil Choice, you could very safely run down to 0% olm. The PP easily exceeds the minimums and should provide protection past 0%.

 

[sir1900]

Pretty much any 0W20 full synthetic can be run down to 0% on the OLM without any issues.

@JSRT4 : ignore the dealer recommendations and follow the manual. $70 expense every 5000 km is not exactly pocket change.

 

[wtd]

I use the OLM on my 2014 Mustang GT. The last time I looked at it before putting the car up for the winter, the OLM said 29% with 7,200 miles on this oil change. The oil still looks clean on the dipstick. The one year mark for the oil change will be in early March and by then, the OLM will go down close to 0%.

Last March the OLM read 2% and told me to "change oil soon". I had 6,600 miles on that oil change.

Years ago I would have never used the OLM but since the quality of oil is so much better plus I have an 8 quart oil capacity and I'm not as obsessed with oil like I used to be, I figure I'm just going to use it.

If I keep the vehicle long enough and the engine wears out prematurely, I will know that using the OLM was the wrong thing to do.

Wayne