D.i.c. / oil life minder...
Moderator
Joined: 01-23-2009
Posts: 26,536
From: Fredericksburg,VA
The manual says something about this engine is designed for long oil life, so you should go by the monitor on account of "ECO Tech" is the name of the engine, emphasis on ECO. That also applies to OEM coolant and trans fluid that has also been discussed to exhaustion. And yes it does get testy, mainly because some of us old goats cannot keep up with the times and sometimes our bi-focals just won't work as designed either!
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
Here the link to what the search function pulls up on the topic.
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/sear...archid=1626396
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/sear...archid=1626396
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 11-19-2010
Posts: 620
From: Springfield, Oregon
OK, OK.....
Looked at a few of the threads, and opinions are all over the ballpark on this one. What I was trying to find out was whether my experience was within 'normal' parameters. From what i can gather, it is, but at the extreme edge. Owners here seem to mostly be disregarding the D.I.C. reading, based on their prior experience. Now supposedly, because of better engine (and oil) technology, we should be able to get by with fewer oil changes.
My answer to this one will be that I can't simply trust a system that tells me I can go almost 3X's my normal interval for oil and fliter changes. I'm willing to maybe extend it a bit, to say 8,000 or so.......we'll see what the D.I.C. percentage is at that point.
Looked at a few of the threads, and opinions are all over the ballpark on this one. What I was trying to find out was whether my experience was within 'normal' parameters. From what i can gather, it is, but at the extreme edge. Owners here seem to mostly be disregarding the D.I.C. reading, based on their prior experience. Now supposedly, because of better engine (and oil) technology, we should be able to get by with fewer oil changes.
My answer to this one will be that I can't simply trust a system that tells me I can go almost 3X's my normal interval for oil and fliter changes. I'm willing to maybe extend it a bit, to say 8,000 or so.......we'll see what the D.I.C. percentage is at that point.
Senior Member
Joined: 08-14-2010
Posts: 147
From: Central Florida
Krash,
Yes, you are experiencing what I see with mine. I have the 2.0L engine and it requires the Mobil 1 synthetic oil and my driving mix is similar to yours. I have been changing it between 5K-7.5K miles and have seen the remaining life down to the mid 20's percentage wise. I have no intention of waiting until the DIC tells me it's time for a new car, whoops, I meant to say oil change.......................... If I have a long trip planned and am coming up to an oil change, I do the oil change and any other maintenance a week or so before the trip so I have time to see if everything is OK before hitting the highway.
SCD1
Yes, you are experiencing what I see with mine. I have the 2.0L engine and it requires the Mobil 1 synthetic oil and my driving mix is similar to yours. I have been changing it between 5K-7.5K miles and have seen the remaining life down to the mid 20's percentage wise. I have no intention of waiting until the DIC tells me it's time for a new car, whoops, I meant to say oil change.......................... If I have a long trip planned and am coming up to an oil change, I do the oil change and any other maintenance a week or so before the trip so I have time to see if everything is OK before hitting the highway.
SCD1
Senior Member
Joined: 10-21-2008
Posts: 1,831
From: hemet, calif.
oil change?
I drive about 5000 miles per year mostly about town stop and go, I chang about every 2000 miles mobil 1 costs about $75.00 peryear cheap insurance, summer temperature about 100f plus. 
Senior Member
Joined: 01-13-2008
Posts: 4,708
From: Washington State, where it rains
sigh.... that equates out to a $300 oil change by not following the DIC ( every 3k miles at $75) your money.....most of yall wont own the car long enuf to realise and problems anyways..one of the bennies of syn oil is the extended change intervals..once again whens the last time you heard of anybody having an oil related engine failure with a stock eng?
Moderator
Joined: 01-23-2009
Posts: 26,536
From: Fredericksburg,VA
OK, OK.....
Looked at a few of the threads, and opinions are all over the ballpark on this one. What I was trying to find out was whether my experience was within 'normal' parameters. From what i can gather, it is, but at the extreme edge. Owners here seem to mostly be disregarding the D.I.C. reading, based on their prior experience. Now supposedly, because of better engine (and oil) technology, we should be able to get by with fewer oil changes.
My answer to this one will be that I can't simply trust a system that tells me I can go almost 3X's my normal interval for oil and fliter changes. I'm willing to maybe extend it a bit, to say 8,000 or so.......we'll see what the D.I.C. percentage is at that point.
Looked at a few of the threads, and opinions are all over the ballpark on this one. What I was trying to find out was whether my experience was within 'normal' parameters. From what i can gather, it is, but at the extreme edge. Owners here seem to mostly be disregarding the D.I.C. reading, based on their prior experience. Now supposedly, because of better engine (and oil) technology, we should be able to get by with fewer oil changes.
My answer to this one will be that I can't simply trust a system that tells me I can go almost 3X's my normal interval for oil and fliter changes. I'm willing to maybe extend it a bit, to say 8,000 or so.......we'll see what the D.I.C. percentage is at that point.
And what Igottawoody said.