Oil Life Index

[jgilhuly]

The oil life index guage on my '00 LeSabre wants to allow me to go way past 3K between changes. I always assumed it was just a mileage ticker. Does the "index" factor driving conditions?

[polarzak]

Originally Posted by jgilhuly

The oil life index guage on my '00 LeSabre wants to allow me to go way past 3K between changes. I always assumed it was just a mileage ticker. Does the "index" factor driving conditions?

I believe it does factor in driving conditions.
Mine goes to about 6k and I believe this is due to the fact that most of my driving is highway. Even at 6k the oil is still clean. I would guess if you do a lot of city driving (stopping and starting) the time between oil changes would be much lower.

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by polarzak

I believe it does factor in driving conditions.
Mine goes to about 6k and I believe this is due to the fact that most of my driving is highway. Even at 6k the oil is still clean. I would guess if you do a lot of city driving (stopping and starting) the time between oil changes would be much lower.

Hello

The Oil Life Index also looks at how you drive. Do you have a lot full throttle starts off the line? Does the engine spend a lot of time red lined? This will decrease the amount of miles before the light comes on. I've never gone the full time with my 97. The oil is dark and needs changing at 3000. I don't drive it hard. Maybe this is why I only get 23 mpg.

Regards

Dan

[jgilhuly]

Thanks both of you for the insight. My index paces around 6K with about 80% of miles by freeway. Since I live in the dusty desert however, I know I can't go that far.

Wish the A/C controls ('00) were as intuitive as the guages...

[imidazol97]

The index seems to run about 5000 miles on my 98 and did the same on my 93 for out type driving. It takes into account numbers of starts, running temperature, miles driven, hours run if I recall someone's review.

What's wrong with the air conditioning controls. I've found the setup very easy to work with since my 93 LeSabre.

[jgilhuly]

A/C controls:

-Doesn't remember last setting for airflow direction and recirc.

-"Auto" mode should retain previous direction and recirc setting or be intuitive enough to take the inside/outside temperature differential into account and adjust direction accordingly. "Auto" shouldn't require four subsequent adjustments. I recall valet parking in the desert and loving the "Auto" mode on Mercedes and BMW because they would full-on blast you in the face which is just what you want when it's 140 in the car.

-I prefer more tactile sliders for temp. If I nudge the slider, fine, but how many actual degrees of change is that? Heck if I know. I find I'm constantly tweaking and I think the previous owner had the same issues because the black coating on the buttons is worn out on the fan speed and direction buttons.

And finally, the fan is the loudest I've ever heard in an upper-range car.

[polarzak]

Originally Posted by jgilhuly

A/C controls:

-Doesn't remember last setting for airflow direction and recirc.

-"Auto" mode should retain previous direction and recirc setting or be intuitive enough to take the inside/outside temperature differential into account and adjust direction accordingly. "Auto" shouldn't require four subsequent adjustments. I recall valet parking in the desert and loving the "Auto" mode on Mercedes and BMW because they would full-on blast you in the face which is just what you want when it's 140 in the car.

-I prefer more tactile sliders for temp. If I nudge the slider, fine, but how many actual degrees of change is that? Heck if I know. I find I'm constantly tweaking and I think the previous owner had the same issues because the black coating on the buttons is worn out on the fan speed and direction buttons.

And finally, the fan is the loudest I've ever heard in an upper-range car.

I don't seem to have this problem with my 00. The auto remembers the last setting and the fan is not loud at all. (no not deaf LOL) One thing I do not like
in that on Auto, the AC compressor runs all the time, even in the winter. Set the tempurature in the car to 70F, out side temperature 20F, and the stupid AC compressor is engaged. I understand it should come on for the Defrost,
but why it is on in heater mode is beyond me. Dealer said all GMs like this.
Guess they are looking to sell some AC compressors.

[imidazol97]

Originally Posted by jgilhuly

A/C controls:

-Doesn't remember last setting for airflow direction and recirc.

-"Auto" mode should retain previous direction and recirc setting or be intuitive enough to take the inside/outside temperature differential into account and adjust direction accordingly. "Auto" shouldn't require four subsequent adjustments. I recall valet parking in the desert and loving the "Auto" mode on Mercedes and BMW because they would full-on blast you in the face which is just what you want when it's 140 in the car.

-d finally, the fan is the loudest I've ever heard in an upper-range car.

The recirculate is not retained when the car is shut off and restarted for safety reasons. I believe it also cancels if you turn the heater off and back on.

The fan noise may indicate another problem. Our three leSabres have not been noisy other than on the highest setting when that's what I'd expect.

The Automatic setting should choose the best air delivery mode based on the sensors' inputs at the time. So it's not going to do the same thing after sitting in our 60 degree garage as it did outside at 25 degrees the night before, e.g.