Change Oil: 0% Oil Life or 3K Miles?

Ok, this may be a stupid question but I need to ask it anyway. The Vette has the Oil Life gauge in the DIC. It recommends you change oil whenever it gets about 3% or less of it's life. All the dealerships say change the oil every 3K miles. Personally, I think the whole "change your oil every 3K miles" line is a ploy to have the oil companies and Minute Lube shops of the world sell more of their black gold to line their pockets with my money. :-) Because even in my 2000 Grand Am GT it gives an indicator when the oil needs to be changed (about every 7K to 7.5K miles) So? Plus with the oil being synth., that should make it last longer, too, right? Any ideas? Thx.

[c4c5specialist]

HI there, and welcome to the CAC,
You can rely on your oil life monitor, and use it, as the manual states.
This is just like your GA, and it is also programmed to include the oil being synthetic.
It takes into account the driving style, cold starts, rpm of the engine, vehicle speed, and a number of other factors to calculate the oil change intervals.
You will do fine, if you follow the monitor, and use synthetic motor oil that meets GM spec, 4718M.
Allthebest, c4c5

thanks!

[Ctfoodguy2000]

Paul - Is it necesaary to change the oil once a year regardless of mileage or what the DIC indicates??? Thanks, as usual!!

[c4c5specialist]

HI Steve,
Due to the excellent resistance to dilution that synthetic motor oil has, no, it is not necessary to change it every year.
You also can follow your oil life monitor.
Allthebest, c4c5

[Ctfoodguy2000]

Thanks..... You saved more then just me from spending extra hard earned money on oil chnages...

[TODD L GRIFFITH]

I change my oil when the DIC says, but that mobile 1 is so good that if you went 6000 mi. it probably wouldn't matter much. I've been paying about $4.49/quart, I wonder what everybody else is paying around the country. Maybe we can find out.

C4C5 Specialist,
I've always wondered about this in other GM cars with the monitor also. Thanks for the info.
But, how about the first oil change? Any concerns with a new engine and break in? Should it be done after 1000 miles or still per the oil life monitor?
Thanks,
Peter

And any point to changing to a magnetic oil drain plug?

[BigRed]

The metal shavings from your pistion rings/Side wall/Valve train drift down to the pan. This is part of the engine break in process and is even part of a engine period. The magnetic drain plug grabs all this debris so whenever you change your oil you get rid of some of these shavings. Its really a good idea!

On Transmission pans the factory sticks a magnet on the pan for this reason.

[Dad]

The new Corvette comes with a magnetic drain plug. Read your TSRs, the plug has been able to pickup the needle bearing that have come out of some of the rockers. For that reason alone I change my own oil, I want to see what comes out of there ever time. The first oil change with the magnetic drain plug had more metal than I want to think about stuck to the plug.



Added information -- The magnetic drain plug was numbered 24100042 it is now number 88891787. Price can very by the dealer, GM list $2.73, GM wholesale $2.05, discounted price $1.56. My '98 Corvette didn't have one, my '02 Astro did, I think all the newer Corvettes do but I don't know when they changed.

[jayello]

My lincoln has the same type of oil life counter. Yes your oil should be changed at LEAST once a year. Not only does the oil life counter take into effect the amount of miles on it, but it also counts down with the amount of time on it. It will say 0% if it has been 6 months, or if you have traveled 3000 miles.

Personally I would say get over it. You drive a vette, treat it appropriatly. Change it every 3000 miles or 6 months just to be on the safe side.

[MacShee98]

Earlier this week, there was a post on another forum from a gentleman whose 1997 C5 had just clicked 250,000 miles on the odometer.

He reported that he changed the oil approx. every 4800 miles and that his engine continued to pull strong and "like new", with no increase in oil consumption.

I just thought you'd like to know that.

[JBsC5]

FWIW..I usually try and change the oil every time the D.I.C. hits 25 or 30%..

You can follow the D.I.C. to 3% and feel comfortable..I just do it at 25 or 30% so I don't get too busy and forget about it altogether...

JMO.

JB

[Tomrw]

As to the oil change I have been going a 20-25% life left. Frankly I can find the prior posts that recommended going with 25%. Is this too conservative?
Tom