Synthetic over Conventional Oil????
New Member
Joined: 11-09-2008
Posts: 21
From: Boonville, IN
New Member
Joined: 11-09-2008
Posts: 21
From: Boonville, IN
I don't think anybody thought it was taking a sample of oil...
It determines the oil condition based on how the engine is ran and shows the oil's "life" as a percentage. If it was directly meant to say when to change the oil it would be either words or maybe a number scale, not a diminishing percentage.
It determines the oil condition based on how the engine is ran and shows the oil's "life" as a percentage. If it was directly meant to say when to change the oil it would be either words or maybe a number scale, not a diminishing percentage.
Platinum Member
Joined: 01-09-2007
Posts: 16,081
From: SE USA
Senior Member
Joined: 04-16-2009
Posts: 124
From: Georgia
I have used Mobil 1 synthetic oil for a very long time. One of the stipulations of me buying my 2006 HHR was the dealership put in mobil 1.
I don't normally follow the oil life reading in the DIC. I stick to the every 6 months or 6000 miles rule. And I always change the filter.
I don't normally follow the oil life reading in the DIC. I stick to the every 6 months or 6000 miles rule. And I always change the filter.
Member
Joined: 06-10-2007
Posts: 45
From: Melbourne Beach, FLA.
I just found a $15.00 rebate on Pennzoil synthetic at the Pennzoil.com website. Good until November 30th, 2009. Website even gives you the closest Pennzoil oil change facilities. Hope this helps someone looking for an oil change by then.
Senior Member
Joined: 08-29-2007
Posts: 256
From: CenCoast California
As is the case in many GM forums there's confusion about the Oil Life Moniter system.
It uses only two pieces of data:
1) Number of crankshaft revolutions since the last reset.
2) Engine oil temperature history since the last reset.
Given the engine using an oil the same as or similar to what's factory fill, the system is very accurate as to oil condition. The only duty cycle the OLM cannot address is operation in high-dust environments. In that case, ignore the OLM light and change the oil and oil filter every 3000 miles...along with your air filter.
As for what to do if you run a higher-quality oil such as a premium, ester-based synthetic? Obviously, the OLM's software will be inaccurate with a higher-quality oil.
My testing, using spectrographic oil analysis seems to show that changing the oil at 150% oil life seems to be a good starting point for a synthetic oil, although, I'm running test right now where we'll run Red Line 10W30 to 200%...that's 50% and a filter change, 0% a filter change and reset, 50% a filter change then, 0% (the second time) an oil and filter change.
DO NOT try this with a 5W30 petroleum-based oil.
It uses only two pieces of data:
1) Number of crankshaft revolutions since the last reset.
2) Engine oil temperature history since the last reset.
Given the engine using an oil the same as or similar to what's factory fill, the system is very accurate as to oil condition. The only duty cycle the OLM cannot address is operation in high-dust environments. In that case, ignore the OLM light and change the oil and oil filter every 3000 miles...along with your air filter.
As for what to do if you run a higher-quality oil such as a premium, ester-based synthetic? Obviously, the OLM's software will be inaccurate with a higher-quality oil.
My testing, using spectrographic oil analysis seems to show that changing the oil at 150% oil life seems to be a good starting point for a synthetic oil, although, I'm running test right now where we'll run Red Line 10W30 to 200%...that's 50% and a filter change, 0% a filter change and reset, 50% a filter change then, 0% (the second time) an oil and filter change.
DO NOT try this with a 5W30 petroleum-based oil.