When it gets to 45% it goes in for a change.

 

Mine is getting near 50%..... seeing as I don't know what was put in there at the car lot before I bought it in March I'm about to do a change....... Next thing on the list.

 

Anyone know how those %'s are calculated???

I do my own oil changes on the HHR (about the only maintenance I can do on that thing) and do it every 1500mi. What can I say, it's nice knowing a few chem E's at Amsoil and Pennzoil.

 

Don't know the specifics but heat and mileage are part of the algorithm....

At 1500 mile intervals you're throwing a lot of good oil away...... especially if it's synthetic.

 

Just doing this until it hits 33k ... then I'll switch from natural to synth. blend and going up to 2k intervals. Yes, I'm anal about changing fluids, but I hate replacing parts when they break.

 

Family friend's son works for GM. He asked an engineer about the warranty and oil change intervals. Was told by the engineer that regardless of the manual, if you want it to last, change it more often! Likewise, the field engineer sent to us by Jaguar also stated: it is a guide to follow under ideal conditions, often not real world conditions.

My experience working at a dealership where 10k oil changes were recommended was not good for the owners. Despite higher oil capacities (6-7 qts) people usually only changed it once a year, or 10k. The most common problems seen with these peoples cars were oil leaks and timing chain tensioner, VVT unit failures. Even with as little as 50k on the vehicle!

Depending on the climate, your mileage, and operating conditions; you should always adjust the suggested schedule to suit your conditions. The OLM is there for people who often don't have a clue..... so they don't seize their engines due to never changing the oil. Why do you think most vehicles no longer have gauges, and have been replaced by "idiot" lights?

 

^^^^ Exactly.... The OLI is just an idiot light.... That's why I don't follow it. Why was it most people didn't follow it when it lit up (like on my Lumina, after a while it'll turn on...) but now that it shows a percentage people follow it?

Heck, let's not fix anything until the check engine light is on...because if it's not on, there must not be any problems!

 

My father's old '69 Pontiac didn't light the idiot light until there was less than 1 psi of oil pressure...... he found out about that when the engine started knocking.......

 

I hate the lack of gauges, personally. I always knew if something was even a little off, b/c you learned how each gauge liked to "sit", and you knew about problems before they happened (usually). And if something did break, you knew what the general problem was from the gauges, and could diagnose it from there.

I guess, today, they just want it to read speed, and then have idiot lights for everything else ...

 

I suggest that in the future there may not be any warning lights, just a voice from nowhere that proclaims: "Danger.....!"