Hey all. Been a lurker for a little while. Got a question. My wife's '06 SS is at 3K miles, when I'd normally do an oil change. I'm out of town, so I tell her to take it to the dealership. They tell her that they go by the OLM. Per that and the OnStar prediction, the oil wouldn't need changedtill 7K miles. They said the OLM have been greatly improved over the past few years and they are very accurate now. Personally, I say BS! But, what say all you out there? Opinions please. BTW, I'll post some pics when I get home. Thanks in advance.



Mike

 

I have a friend who is a mechanic and has owned a local Lube 'n' Tune place for a very long time says there is no absolute reason to change the oil every 3k unless you are using a $1 dollar oil filter or something.

I know that 90% of the owners here don't care that 3k oil intervals are just a way for the lube guys and oil companies to make more money, they just want to do the best for their cars and I understand.

My brother has a Lexus and the dealer won't even touch his oil until 7.5K miles. The service manager tells him that modern engines, unleaded gases and new formulas & filters have helped to double & triplethe life of the oil.

The Sunday morning radio car mechanics who come on a couple of station here have always said that there is no reason to change the oil at 3k miles. they have always recommended 7.5k for dino and 15k for synth.

I have read hundreds of links on both arguments. If you don't feel comfortable, go ahead and do you oil ever 3k. Peace of mind is better than no peace of mind.

Just my .02

 

I'm a Volvo mechanic and Volvo recommends the oil be changed every 7,500 miles on their cars. But when I write an oil change sticker for a car I serviced, I use 3 months/ 3000 miles and so do a lot of other guys. It isn't because we want to make more money... no technician likes doing an oil change. 7,500 miles is probably fine, but I still change mine every 2,500-3,000 miles.

 

i write 3mo /3000mi even on my own, but... my monte that commutes 80miles a day will probly get the oil changed in less than 2 months or about 4000miles... my 89 camaro gets it at about 6mo and 1k miles and the 94 olds will get it at 6mo/2500mi g/f's car actually works out to about 3mo/3000mi

but yea, 3mo/3000mi is just a point of refrence for me depending on how i drive.

 

Every 3 months or 3K miles....no exceptions! I don't and won't trust a computer to tell me when oil is bad.

 

Thanks guys, pretty much my sentiments exactly.



Mike

 

YW

 

I go by what the car tells me..... GM goes by the computer now....... read the owners manual

changing oil at 3,000 miles is a waste of money..... Always has been always will be......
Some chain up with it to make there pockets bigger..... and yours smaller.....

FOLLOW WHAT THE BOOK SAYS..... YOU WILL FIND OUT THAT IT WILL GO PAST 3000 MILES.

My 06 LTZ WAS CHANGED AT 5000 MILES BY THE DEALER (FIRST OIL CHANGE) AND THAT FALLS INTO GM SPEC'S ACCORDING TO THEM.
IF SHE IS DRIVING SHORT TRIPS LIKE I DO SHE WILL BE FINE BETWEEN 4 TO 5000 MILES..... LET THE COMPUTER DO THE JOB.....

 

BS the computer does not know when the oil is dirty or bad. IF you read your book it also says that about 99% of people fall into the category of needing to change oil every 3K miles or 3 months. Two different schedules in the book.

 

every 5000 miles is probably what i'm gonna end up doing...the oil i use (royal purple) is good for 15000 miles, the filter is guarenteed for 12000 miles at least (or so says the rep, that it will go up to 20,000 and still filter like new)
but to be safe i do it every 5000-6000 miles..

it would be too expensive to change your oil every 3000 miles if your doing synthetic oil ....5000 miles is safe for me