Maybe the newer engine'd Monte Carlo's have a more advanced oil monitoring system, but the L36 and L67 powered cars are simply mileage counters that you can reset whenever you want to. It'd be useful if you were a non-car-type who just uses the vechicle for point a to point b and needed a reminder that the oil was past due, but for car folks it's a bit pointless.

 

I thought that around 04 they started using the more complex OLM in most of their cars. I could be wrong though. I know the OLM in the 06's+ are much more complicated than just a mileage counter.

 

my truck one dosent go off mileage i know that b/c i used it 3 times & one time it was around 9k miles the other was like 4k miles & idk what the last was but it varied alot

 

I kind of use it, but I usually just take it to around 5,000 miles. Last time I still had about 20% life left based on the DIC.

To add, that's using Valvoline Full Synthetic.

 

some good info. I will be changing mine this weekend, thanks Michael for the explanation about the OLM system!!

 

I have a set of factory service manuals for my 2004 and here is what it says about the oil life system.

"The vehicle has a computer system that tells the owner when to change the engine oil and filter. This system is based on engine revolutions and engine temperature and not on mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at which an oil change will be indicated can vary considerably. For the oil life system to work properly, the system must be reset every time the oil is changed."

So this is how the system is supposed to work on the 2004's at least.

Wayne