This is topic Oil change intervals (not really f-body) in forum SSOA: "Back Porch" at www.chirpthird.com.


To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.chirpthird.com/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi/ubb/get_topic/f/3/t/016078.html

---

Posted by KevinA (Member # 139) on :
 
I know that GM uses algorithims to determine when to change the oil in our Fbody's but I still change my oil every 3K miles.

My dads wife owns a BMW 5 series and they say to change it once a year or every 15K miles (which she does). They claim to have a "special" oil.

My Saab 9 3 says pretty much the same as BMW. Saab uses algorithims as well, my indicator came on at 14,300 miles saying my intermediate service is due. I have actually been changing the oil every 5K miles because I just can't get used to the 15K mile idea. When I get my oil changed, they don't reset the oil life indicator because Saab will pay for the 15K mile service only if the indicator comes on and says service is due.

My dads Saab 9 5 said service was due just shy of 10K miles. He also changes his oil every 5K miles. The 9 3 has a newer designed engine in it. (Don't know off hand what the service is for the 9 5).

Both Saabs use Mobil 1 (thanks GM).

Now I also know that most manufacturers call for LOF every 7500 miles, and one in between for severe conditions, hence the 3K LOF.

What does everyone think about changing the oil every 15K miles or once a year? Am I being paranoid by changing it more often in this car? The dealer says I should follow Saabs instructions but they are more than happy to do it more often if I wish ($$$).
 

---

Posted by MM (Member # 1247) on :
 
Starting with the 04 model year ALL GM vehicles with the Oil Life Monitor system goto something called "simplified maintence". GM took what used to take like 10 pages of recommnded maintence down to just two. Just as cars have advanced over the years so have maintence requirements. Also advancments in oil technology help too. Keep in mind a few years ago when GM went to long life coolant people had a hard time adjusting... How the GM system work is it takes into account several factors, mainly engine revolutions and cooloant temp. I now run by the oil light for the most part... at first I had a hard time changing from the 3K to going 2,3 or even 4 times longer then the old 3K changes. Todays engines run so clean you don't see the oil get dirty like you used to. In my last few trucks the oil still looks pretty clean even after 6000 miles. I did notice in the winter with the cooler temperatures the oil life isn't nearly as long as it was when the temperatures are warmer. Hope that helps.
 

---

Posted by SSHEETS (Member # 1989) on :
 
To add to MM (that was pretty good dude ) the technology improvements with synthetics makes the oil molocule much stronger (actuall more consistant and elastic), that is it is less likely to degrade and be chopped up into little molocule bits. The other factor is the additives. I've been told by lubricating engineers (no really) that the new oils will last longer, but the additives still get depleted.

My 03 Suburban just turned of 6,000 miles on the same crankcase full of Mobil 1. The Oil life just wen to 0% and I'll be changing it this weekend. But like MM said, a spot inspection of the dipstick reveals a clear filmy fluid that could have just come out of the bottle...my LS1 doesn't run that clean, but I'll live with that.
 

---

Posted by MCKNBRD (Member # 2238) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by KevinA:
...What does everyone think about changing the oil every 15K miles or once a year? Am I being paranoid by changing it more often in this car? The dealer says I should follow Saabs instructions but they are more than happy to do it more often if I wish ($$$).

---

I think its crazy...changing oil is cheap insurance...if I'm comfortable with the break in of the engine and its not doing anything weird (using oil, smoking, etc.), I wouldn't hesitate to go up to about 5k or 7.5k, but I think 15k is pushing it.

Bottom line: is it worth $35 every 3 or 4 months to save the engine?

Byrdman
 

---

Posted by Hawkeye (Member # 88) on :
 
I guess I'm old style. I change mine spring
and fall. Mileage is usually pretty steady
throughout the year - just the habit I've
grown into.
 

---

Posted by 35TH ED/ed (Member # 1709) on :
 
The SS gets changed about every 3to 4 thousand. The truck between 5 and 6 thousand. Looks like the SS will be changed once a year now since it is not the daily driver anymore.
 

---

Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on :
 
I would never let any oil stay in the engine for that long. Synthetic oil may last longer but every engine has combustion by products that end up past the piston rings and into the oil. I just changed the Mobil 1 that was in my SS for not even 2,500 miles and it appeared to be dirty.The only thing I will change the oil once a year is my lawn mower.
 

---

Posted by MM (Member # 1247) on :
 
I should have added this to my origioanl post.... GM engineers have done a lot of testing on the Oil life Monitor system... You don't even have to use synthetic oil! I can't remember the exact date but various GM cars have been equiped with oil life monitors since the early 80's. There is differences in oil... GM Oil (Mobil makes the regular old oil for GM) is recommended. We have found with cheaper oils like Pennzoil break down at higher miles and don't perform. Case in point had a guy running a truck using the oil change light. As he was coming down to the last % in the oil life he would burn a quart of oil every 1000 miles. During the first part when the oil was fresh he didn't have the problem. GM did the testing with GM Oil.... so again it falls back on using a QUALITY oil. Keep in mind what we tell people using the oil life light is the BARE MINNIMUM as far as maintence goes. IF you plan to keep your car etc I would go with more frequent oil changes. Also if you follow the recommended GM maintence you won't void your warranty.... I can't rememeber the exact numbers but if everyone with a GM oil life light changed when the light came on it would save literally MILLIONS of gallons of oil a year... and thats better for the enviroment also! In my SS I run Mobil 1 but change it once a year. I only drive 2500 miles or so a year. The light never comes on.... per the owners manual it says until the light comes on or once a year.....
 

---

Posted by Steve da Wrench (Member # 1301) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by 2002Z4CSS:
I would never let any oil stay in the engine for that long. Synthetic oil may last longer but every engine has combustion by products that end up past the piston rings and into the oil.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steve da Wrench:

quote:

---

Originally posted by 2002Z4CSS:
I would never let any oil stay in the engine for that long. Synthetic oil may last longer but every engine has combustion by products that end up past the piston rings and into the oil.

---

I second this opinion exactly. The oil may not break down, but you still get the contaminants in it. To me, my engines are far to expensive to replace, just because I wanted to save a few dollars on not changing the oil.

---

Steve, you can tell that a auto technician such as you or I know what actually happens in an engine.
 

---

Posted by MM (Member # 1247) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by 2002Z4CSS:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steve da Wrench:

quote:

---

Originally posted by 2002Z4CSS:
I would never let any oil stay in the engine for that long. Synthetic oil may last longer but every engine has combustion by products that end up past the piston rings and into the oil.

---

I second this opinion exactly. The oil may not break down, but you still get the contaminants in it. To me, my engines are far to expensive to replace, just because I wanted to save a few dollars on not changing the oil.

---

Steve, you can tell that a auto technician such as you or I know what actually happens in an engine.

---

You mean an engineer might be wrong....
 

---

Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by MM:

quote:

---

Originally posted by 2002Z4CSS:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steve da Wrench:

quote:

---

Originally posted by 2002Z4CSS:
I would never let any oil stay in the engine for that long. Synthetic oil may last longer but every engine has combustion by products that end up past the piston rings and into the oil.

---

I second this opinion exactly. The oil may not break down, but you still get the contaminants in it. To me, my engines are far to expensive to replace, just because I wanted to save a few dollars on not changing the oil.

---

Steve, you can tell that a auto technician such as you or I know what actually happens in an engine.

---

You mean an engineer might be wrong....

---

Engineers are wrong often. The ones I know, probably don't know how to change a flat tire.
 

---

Posted by poSSum (Member # 119) on :
 
I've lost faith in the oil life monitors.

I thought they were pretty good when I tracked the one on the SS (even though I changed oil more frequently). I got as low as 1700 miles in the winter and as high as 8100 miles during summer/highway driving.

With the Envoy, it reduced the oil life by exactly the same amount on our return trip to Texas ...down with an empty trailer cruising in OD ...up with the Zed on the trailer running in Drive. That did not sit well with me.
 

---

Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on :
 
Just remember that the dirt in the oil that does not get trapped by the filer is not a good thing for rings and bearings and all other moving parts. Maybe the manufactures want the engine to wear out quicker so you will have to buy another vehicle.

Back in the 80's and early 90's when I used to work for a dealer, I would find these plastic bags with holes in them and a insulation type material in them that would be placed above the front fender wheel lips and in the rear 1/4 panels. They seemed to be soaking wet most of the time. The engineers would call them sound deadener...I would call them a way to make a rust hole quickly. Maybe the 7,500 mile plus oil change interval is on the same thinking as these plastic bags.
 

---

Posted by MM (Member # 1247) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by 2002Z4CSS:
Just remember that the dirt in the oil that does not get trapped by the filer is not a good thing for rings and bearings and all other moving parts. Maybe the manufactures want the engine to wear out quicker so you will have to buy another vehicle.

Back in the 80's and early 90's when I used to work for a dealer, I would find these plastic bags with holes in them and a insulation type material in them that would be placed above the front fender wheel lips and in the rear 1/4 panels. They seemed to be soaking wet most of the time. The engineers would call them sound deadener...I would call them a way to make a rust hole quickly. Maybe the 7,500 mile plus oil change interval is on the same thinking as these plastic bags.

---

UBB.classic™ 6.7.0