Why is annual change necessary?

[3putter]

I'm running QS Ultimate Durability (full syn) in my 06 LuCerne
with the 4.6L Northstar Engine. Oil Has been in there 16 months, OLM still showing 45%. We don't put alot of miles on the car, but the vast majority are hwy. Doesn't use a drop of oil, 72k on the ticker. Why dump it before the OLM says to?

 

[Jim Allen]

It isn't, really, under most circumstances. Warranty requirements might dictate a time interval but the oil can't tell time. If the vehicle is short hopped often (where it doesn't get fully warmed up before shutdown) shorter time interval is sometimes needed. My advice, after running one two and three year intervals on my equipment with UOA checkups to determine oil health... follow the OLM.

 

[dparm]

Because acids build up in the crankcase, fuel dilutes the oil, additives get depleted, etc. If you are doing a lot of highway miles it's probably not as much of an issue, though.

 

[chubbs1]

16 months is too long without at least checking for wear and more importantly in your situation possible fuel dilution.

 

[roadrunner1]

I always make it a point of not letting my oil know how long it has been in the crankcase. I run equipment, seldomly used, upwards of three years without issue.

As stated above short tripping is not good, as long as when your car is in use its run upto operating temp there is nothing to worry about.

 

[pbm]

The OLM in my 2011 Cruze loses approximately 1% every week or 10 days just sitting in my garage. I changed my oil at 6619 miles on 3/28/12 and now have 7259 miles. After only 640 miles (in 7 weeks) my OLM is at 86%.
This car will start to get more use now that I've sold my Buick but I am surprised at how much the OLM is taking time into account.

PS: Even though I've only put 640 miles on it in 7 weeks it has been good miles (mostly trips of over 10 miles where the car is fully warmed up).

 

[Jim Allen]

Originally Posted By: pbm
The OLM in my 2011 Cruze loses approximately 1% every week or 10 days just sitting in my garage. I changed my oil at 6619 miles on 3/28/12 and now have 7259 miles. After only 640 miles (in 7 weeks) my OLM is at 86%.
This car will start to get more use now that I've sold my Buick but I am surprised at how much the OLM is taking time into account.

PS: Even though I've only put 640 miles on it in 7 weeks it has been good miles (mostly trips of over 10 miles where the car is fully warmed up).


This is useful information. Apparently, GM factors non-operating time into their calculations. If it's 1 percent every 7 days, and that's programmed as a constant, that's about 2 years of non-running time factored in.

 

[Bamaro]

Trust your OLM. My Cobalt went 16 months, 9400 miles, 5% left on OLM and the Blackstone report came back OK.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: roadrunner1
I always make it a point of not letting my oil know how long it has been in the crankcase. I run equipment, seldomly used, upwards of three years without issue.

There ya go, keep the oil bottles blindfolded and they won't have a clue...