• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

My GMlink Recommends Changing Oil @ 10k?

A

anhandrew

Full Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2002
Messages
212
Location
Oklahoma City, OK
Just signed up for gmlink, and it told me I would change my oil at 10K or when change oil light is on. This sounds nuts. I feel bad going to 5k in my old car. I would change at every 3-4k. My Dad changes his oil at 5-6k in his work trucks and it runs like a champ. (96 mazda b2300, 100k miles & 92 isuzu pup, 130k miles)

I rather be safe than sorry.

Andrew
 
I don't think you're going to make it 10,000 miles without your change oil light coming on. I refuse to change my oil every 3000 miles like "Jiffy Lube", etc. wants me to.

I change my oil every 5000 miles and my change oil light came on within 200 miles of 5000 both times ( I forgot to reset the sensor).

My .02
--chazj
 
If that's what the General says then who are we to argue. After all he is the one who stands behind the warranty.
 
I don't care what they say. Light or no light its every 3000 miles for me. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I have changed every 3000 miles on all my other vehicles and they have lasted. Call me old fashioned, but at 50,000 miles, my AV will run better than those who waited for the light to tell them when to change their oil. IMHO

MOD ON

Wiki
 
(y) I disagree. The oil is cleaner and better than ever before. If GM say's the light is good enough and is going to save me money on the long run why not!! The first 2 times I went with 3K miles, then after that when the light comes on which very's 4500-5500 miles.
 
? every 3000 miles for the AV and the wifes truck. no matter what. ?i use Mobil1 in the AV, and Pennzoil in the wifes truck. that oil change reminder is a nice little light to have for those who are not mechanically inclined. ?maybe they will use it to remind them to take it to Jiffy Lube. :B:
 
Just changed oil yesterday, dealer service rep said using mobil 1 every 5k supports the warranty just fine. Also said new type of engines can use as much as quart every 1k due the reburning the emissions. Engine manuals state this is normal!!
 
I have always done it in the past ...and I continue to do it with the Av....change the oil every 3,000-3,000 miles....like Wike stated earlier..better safe than sorry...I have always had vehicles go into high mileage without a worry steming from the oil system... :B:
 
I say change your oil when you want. It can never hurt to change at 3000, I know many people who sware by that. I say anywhere from 4000 to 6000 is fine for light duty operation. 10000 might be pushing it,I dont know. But if GM says its ok then its ok atleats until the 36000 mile warranty runs out.
I bought my AV in April of 2002 and GM link still wont let me put my VIN in because it is not in there system. Now that is aggrevating :8:, I would think 7 months would be long enough.
 
I think you selected light use on the vehicle profile. I have mine on high use and mygmlink sugested 3000 miles or when the light is on.

Check the vehicle profile to see if match your current driving style.

Have Fun!

;)
 
kcole683 said:
I say change your oil when you want. ?It can never hurt to change at 3000, I know many people who sware by that. ?I say anywhere from 4000 to 6000 is fine for light duty operation. ?10000 might be pushing it,I dont know. ?But if GM says its ok then its ok atleats until the 36000 mile warranty runs out.
I bought my AV in April of 2002 and GM link still wont let me put my VIN in because it is not in there system. ?Now that is aggrevating :8:, I would think 7 months would be long enough.
Click to expand...

Kcole...join the club it's been almost 1 year at the end of the month and still no VIN confirmation....I'm going stealth..undetected... :B:
 
I have been following the GM Oil Life indicator since I hit 3,000 miles. I changed my oil at 1,000 miles and then again to Mobil1 at 3,000 miles. In what is mostly city driving I can go 4,000 to 4,500 miles before the light goes on. When I did Wild West 2002, which put on almost 2,500 all highway miles I went almost 7,000 miles before the light came on. I'm religious on changing it within 500 miles of activiation. Supports the warranty and saves me some bucks. I figure 10 years of GM research can't be wrong - they'd be paying for the oil related failures anyway. Oh ya - I also did Slick50 at 7,200 mile-ish and in the past have been a 3,000 mile and do it kind of guy...
 
Nice to see our boss...does the 3,000 mile thing...I don't feel so isolated now.....everyone seems to do the oil life indicator....not me.... :B:
 
I think Chief says that he DOESN'T do the 3000 mile thing, unless I read it wrong.

Someone else mentioned using an additive to Chevron oil that sounded similar to Slick-50. Was on that thread discussing if "synthetic" oils really were that any more. Anyone remember the additive or can explain what the heck it is?

I don't think that was ever answered in the other thread but I'll humbly chase that "search" button if I'm proved wrong.

 
There is a great deal of controversy over these "oil-life" monitors and many manufacturers are taking a second look at their reccomendations. Mercedes Benz (Daimler/Chrysler) just lost a major lawsuit over their system Their system is much more sophisticated than the RPM/Engine Hour Monitor that GM uses, in that it actually tries to measure the amount of contamination in the oil and the viscosity. It appears that they "forgot" to tell people that their monitoring system only works with synthetic oil. For non-synthetic oil they are reccomending not going over 3500 miles between changes. Keep watching this subject, it appears that the numbers of oil-related engine failures has increased since the introduction of these monitors.
Right now it seems that the best compromise would be to base your oil change intervals based upon your driving. Severe use (which means city driving, short trips, dusty conditions, or heavy hauling) should be changed at 3000 +/- miles. Mostly highway driving or longer trips should be changed at 5000 - 7000 +/- miles. Another rule of thumb, which some people use is to change the oil every 3 months, unless the mileage is very excessive.
 
I retired from Mobil Oil Corp 10 years ago. In the 70s our research lab in Princeton NJ supposedly did a test of Mobil 1 Synthetic on a fleet of New York City taxi cabs. As I recall, they changed the filter and added a make up quart only at 3-5K intervals. An engine tear down at 100K indicated virtually no engine wear.

I've been using Mobil 1 ever since. I follow the manufacturers recommendations during warranty. After warranty, I change oil and filter at 7-10K intervals. Have been driving V-8 Fords and Chevys in this manner for the past 30 years and have never had an engine problem related to oil problems.

3 weeks ago I traded in a 98 Burb with 130K. No engine problems or oil consumption.

I plan to use Mobil 1 in my new AV. Since I do mostly highway driving, I plan to use the oil monitoring system, but am very anxious to see at what mileage it recommends I change oil.
 
I agree with changing oil on a regular basis rather than waiting for a light to tell you to. This reminds me of the low fuel light that is used on many modern motorcycles rather than a fuel gauge. It isn't very reassuring to have to rely on a light to tell you when its time to do something. What if the light, or the system controlling it fails?

I have always changed oil at 5000k intervals. Not only good practice, but easy to remember. Everytime the odometer reads an even 5000, its time to change it. My current vehicle, a 1990 GMC Sierra ST (will be replaced with my 2003 Yellow Z71 AV when it arrives) has 266,000 km on it and runs like new. Oil is WAY cheaper than replacing seals and bearings.
 
I change mine every 3000 miles - having said this depending on driving habits and type of oil used these mileage intervals may vary. I suggest using as GM states - Engine Oil and Filter Change
Change engine oil and filter
Interval: As indicated by Oil Life Monitor or Every 10000 miles or 12 months whichever occurs first. Of course this is America and these are your AVs so go no longer than GM says or you can change it more frequently as each individual sees fit or desires. You cant really change it too much but you can wait too long and damage your engine. The price of an oil change is relatively small in comparison to the price of a new engine or the price of the vehicle.
Protect your investment and it will last!
;) :B:
 
10,000 mile oil change? I feel bad changing my oil at 4,000. I change my oil every 3,000 miles or some times even 2,500.
 
I always change it at 3000. My dealer gave me limetime oil changes (my first Av was a lemon). I've always run about 3K.
I drove a '77 Grand Prix almost 200,000 miles, with 3K oil changes. Ran like new the day I sold it, and it looked good too . :cool:

WW
 
I also stick to the 3000 mile rule and I even use Valvoline Synthetic blend oil with an AC Delco oil filter.
 
TexAVfan said:
I also stick to the 3000 mile rule and I even use Valvoline Synthetic blend oil with an AC Delco oil filter.
Click to expand...

Amen! I'm running Valvoline SynPower w/ an AC Delco PF-59 and changing every 3,000 to 4,000.
 
Did you have any problem with dealer on the warranty for doing your own oil changes. I just did my own oil change at 3,000 miles.I saved receipts for oil(10w-30 Castrol) and (AC Delco) filter bought at pep boy's. I know they like you to bring to them for service. I work long hours to pay for for my toy's. Most dealers are only open untill noon on sat.

[attachment deleted by admin larger then 100KB]
 
My first oil change was at 1000 miles. My second was with regular 10W30. I changed that when the light came on. That oil had 3900 miles on it. I have since gone to synthetic. Now my light comes on at around 7,000 miles of use. Call me lazy but I follow the light. ?:p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top