Oil Life Remaining Indicator or Every 3000 Miles??

[KGaugh1805]

So I have talked to many people and gotten many different answers about my concern. I have an '05 TB and I have the driver info center which has the Oil Life % Remaining and so forth. Some people say to change your oil when that counts down and others say no still do it every 3000 miles. I have been changing it every 3000 miles since I purchased it in 2005 and I know when it goes in the oil life percentage is only down to about 70% - 75% in that range. Anyone have any input about this concern? I know in passed and all other cars I have owned I still have done the oil changes every 3000 miles but some people say no GM says go by the indicator in the drive info center. Any suggestions!?!?!

[rodeo02]

As you've seen, you will get a million opinions on this. If you do an avg of 1000mi/month, there is not a name brand, conventional 5w-30 that wont go 5000-7000mi these days, espeically in a 7qt system like the 4.2L has. The DIC is calibrated with regular old conventional oil & typically wont indiacate an oil change is needed until around 10Kmi!! I'd never go even close to 10Kmi, but the only way I'd do a 3Kmi oil change is if I only drove 3Kmi in a year.

Joel

[95_ESi_Person]

As said in the owners manual, while oil life may still be good, filter may be bad.

So I'm assuming that you'd need to change the filter between oil changes.

I'm just going to do what my roommate does with his Olds Aurora... wait until it gets to 50% and then change both. But getting to that filter is a PAIN!!! What is the best way to get to it short of taking off the skid plate?

[KGaugh1805]

So what are you thinking stretch it out more to like 5000 - 7000 miles? Cause I have been doin the 3000 and it seems like I am just doing it an awful lot. I mean I purchased Jan 14, 2005 and from now till then I got 34000 miles on it so there was 11 oil changes already

[rodeo02]

Originally Posted by KGaugh1805

So what are you thinking stretch it out more to like 5000 - 7000 miles?

Yep, with your driving, almost 2K/month, I'd go with 6Kmi, not to exceed 7K oil changes with conventional oil. You can easily go to 10Kmi+ with mobil-1, amsoil, redline, royalpurple or any synthetic of your choice. Any oil filter will take you to 6000mi, going beyond that, I'd run nothing but a WIX, napa gold or carquest premium. Pretty much any filter in the $5+ range is good for the longer haul.

Joel

[rodeo02]

Originally Posted by 95_ESi_Person

... getting to that filter is a PAIN!!! What is the best way to get to it short of taking off the skid plate?

The access door was already missing when I bought my 2005 LS (used). , but short of removing the door, I can get at the filter easily by lifting the pass side of the truck. You do have to get right under the engine to allow enough reach to snake your arm up in there. It's not too bad really. Snug the filter hand tight so changing it the next time is a snap. If you need a filter wrench, the filter is on too tight!

Joel

[fastco]

I own a 2002 TB and started using Mobile 1 5W-30 after about 12,000 miles and have been changing the oil every 5-6,000 miles religiously and I have had no issues and the oil isn't too dirty when I drain it. The TB doesn't burn a drop of oil either.

[max3456]

I have been using Mobile 1 and Mobil 1 filters. !0000 to 12000 between changes. Oil still in good shape when drained. 42k problem free miles. Great engine-SUV