The Accuracy of OIL LIFE Indicators REVEALED!

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thanks for checking out this video! Just a few points of clarification and a heads up on an opportunity to learn more about this topic. First, I don't know when the oil had been previously changed in the rental car. However, the oil was very dark, so it was obvious the oil had not been changed recently. Also, the point of the video was not based on this single test. This is just an example to make the point. I've attended a class taught by Paul Harvath and I've interviewed Don Smolenski prior to making this video. Plus the thousands of used oil samples I've done support the thesis of this video. With that said, following the oil life indicator only works AFTER engine break-in and when the injectors are clean. Those two situations are the asterisk on this video. For a deeper dive on this subject, STLE is hosting a webinar on Wednesday October 9th 2024. Here's the FREE registration link. us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYuf-yhrzwvG9OTrwH_gGpHqVyUxmWI7DN4

[@jylfarm1964]

I have something to add : Both Honda and GM monitoring system do not account for water content. I live in the PNW, USA. If I only use my truck once every other week for most of the fall, in January, a lot of water have displaced my oil. Generally, checking the oil after a 30 minutes trip shows that a lot of oil is missing. Did even occur that the low pressure dummy light show up.

[@bobmeyer1332]

This is still full of misinformation. No one should pay the least bit of attention to this attempt at clicks. The algorithm works ALL the time, including during break-in, and has nothing at all to do with the fuel injectors. You're just making shit up as you go.

[@mpeugeot]

So how does ethanol percentages and regional fuel formulations play havoc with these algorithms? I know that if I run E-85 in my flex-fuel F-150 or E-30 in my Bronco, the likelihood of fuel contaminating the oil is much higher and I really doubt that it will be reflected in the oil life calculations.

[@dgunearthed7859]

Sir, there are videos out there purportedly showing viewers how to get a little extra "junk" out of the engine and oil pan during oil changes. Here are three separateexamples:: 1) after the old oil is drained, pour another quart of new oil through the oil fill cap. Let it drain out the drain hole. 2) after draining the oil, pour about a half gallon of diesel fuel into the oil fill hole and let it drain out the drain hole. Dont worry if any diesel fuel remains as it'll burn off or if you're worried about the diesel in the engine, you can use compressed air to blow it out. 3) before an oil change, pour a quart of kerosene into the oil fill cap and run the engine before you drain the oil and it will really clean out the bad stuff. Lake. Please make a video busting or confirming these myths! Thank you!!!!!

[@themotoroilgeek]

@@dgunearthed7859 Thanks for the suggestion!

[@bf_soldiers5034]

I am a chemical engineer and your channel is a treasure trove of knowledge and additional information that I can learn and understand about oils

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thank you!

[@Davido50]

Agreed 👍🏻 💯

[@alinatamashevich3354]

@bf, do you have any experience with PAO's , and are you near Atlanta?

[@bradhodgkinson7996]

Change oil every 3 to 4000 miles irregardless of the monitor.

[@alinatamashevich3354]

@@bradhodgkinson7996 Must be low quality oil not to last no longer than 4K. I high quality synthetic should go 7500K minimum. If not your are wasting money.

[@Chaplain161]

I have a 2016 Ford Taurus. This is my first vehicle with an oil life monitor. I was hesitant on trusting the monitor at first. I did my first oil change at 5,000 miles, The second oil change I went by the monitor, changed the oil around 8,500 miles and sent a sample to a lab. The lab said my oil looked good and go further on the next oil change. I have also done this with my motorcycles as well. I did an oil change 2 weeks ago on my car, going by the oil life monitor and didn't realize I had put 10, 283 miles on the oil. The lab results came back on Friday and wouldn't you know it. The oil was still in good shape, with below average wear levels. I have over 174,000 miles on my car and it still runs perfect. I have stuck with Mobil 1 5W 20 synthetic most of the time. I gave Amazon Basic full synthetic 5W 20 a try, sending the second oil change to the same lab. The Amazon Basic came back with a perfect report as well.

[@King_Cole]

So helpful. Any mechanic saying you HAVE to change your oil every 3k miles just to be sure, is just trying to make money. Oil life indicators are way more accurate than people expect. More accurate than just a blanket 3k mi interval.

[@Chaplain161]

@@King_Cole Yes, the 3,000 mile oil change was the standard years ago. Oils and engines have come a long way since then. Some people will say that an oil change is cheaper than an engine, which is true. I don't see those same people changing their oil every 1,000 miles either. But just like Lake Speed Jr. always says, it is Science, not speculation. I have never had a bad oil report come back. Harley Davidson's recommended (engine) oil change interval for my last bike was every 5,000 miles. I don't have a problem with that because of some of the conditions I ride in and the HD engine being air and oil-cooled. I did a coast to trip and back home in a weeks time. I put 6,200 miles on the (Syn 3 20W 50) oil. I sent a sample to the lab that I use and it came back almost perfect. The only thing that was off was the viscosity was a little higher than it should have been. The wear levels were still below average. After watching many of Lake Speed Jr.'s videos, I believe the additive package was evaporating. I rode from Jacksonville, FL to San Diego, CA in 58 hours. Most of the time the temp were above 90 degrees and above 100 degrees in the desert. Like I said, oil has come a long ways in the last few decades.

[@heavenleigh111]

Every 3 months or 3,000 miles if you read the before and after tells that if you drive your car less than 8 miles at a time or you don't drive it very frequently. This is to keep the moisture out of the oil. Keep reading the owners manual will tell you that if you drive for longer and more frequently then you should change your oil at 6,500 or 7,500 depending on the manufacturer. But who reads that thing when they can just watch the oil companies commercials telling them when to give them money

[@Chaplain161]

@@heavenleigh111 well, my drive to work is 117 miles, one way. I have gone well over 8,000 miles on many oil changes. I send a sample to the lab every other oil change, and it comes back with a great analysis. I trust their science over anyone's speculation or opinion. My owners manual doesn't give a recommended mileage to change the oil. It tells me to go by the oil life indicator on the dash.

[@The98deville]

My philosophy is oil is cheaper than an engine

[@mattf2535]

When Lake does an oil analysis of a rental car, then you know he's THE MOTOR OIL GEEK!! Thanks for doing this video on OLI's.

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thanks!

[@attocoulomb]

He's not going to let his own car get down to 9% remaining life!

[@Ian-of9oi]

@@themotoroilgeek do you have a video on changing your oil filter every other time? I have some hobby cars that only get maybe 1000 miles max a year. I don’t always change the filters every oil change.

[@Ian-of9oi]

I’m not talking anything exotic. 2 hot rods with high mileage 403 Oldsmobile engines. I’m running synthetic diesel oil because I got it for free from a friend. Also have an 87 Dakota with the 3.9 that I run around in during the summer.

[@tinncan]

He didn't know when the oil was changed last so..... Next to worthless? You get a sense of engine health in the snapshot he drove it, but not really anything else definitively...

[@richardnewman5981]

I have been telling my customers for years on changing thier oil more often when driving fewer miles. I always told them that buying a car from a traveling salesman would be a good deal. I loved all the information that you shared. Thank you

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thanks!

[@MathewPollard-vj4uq]

I find driver's seat wear vs milage is a good indicator of short trips. If the seat is trashed at relatively low miles then the driver was in and out a lot per mile.

[@bryangilmer671]

Isn’t the monitor actually telling you to dump good oil? Wouldn’t UOA let you find the real correct drain inrerval?

[@BeefNEggs057]

@@MathewPollard-vj4uq Or they had corduroys and a big fat ass.

[@wethepeople1776x]

Personally speaking here: I have a f150 with the 3.7 in it, and I use pennzoil ultra platinum full synthetic 5-20w. And for the last 5yrs I don’t let the oil life get below 50% (it averages out to about 5,000 miles) before I get my oil changed. I have a 20min commute (10city/10highway) Mon-Friday, and I drive with common sense (my daughter says I drive like an old man 🤷‍♂️ lol). I do take longer drives/trips on the weekends, but my driving habits are the same. I know getting my oil changed at 50% is definitely early, however I see it as oil is cheap but engines are expensive. She runs like a top (with 130k on it); no leaks, no hesitation, no sputtering, just silky smooth. 🤷‍♂️ 😊

[@sasquatchcrew]

Interesting, you should try out the blackstone labs oil sampling. See what your's is doing

[@curtisroberts9137]

It's nice to see someone understand that oil is cheaper than engines. I've seen people be cheap trying to skimp on filters, push longer miles between changes, using cheaper oils not rated for teh application and in the end you spend a few thousand on a turbo or some other repair. THe money you save on cheap oil changes wont pay the taxes on one of those big engine repairs.

[@jgranger2002]

@@wethepeople1776x you should just double the oil change intervals. The oil manufacturers say it's OK. I'm joking. Keep taking great care of the engine.

[@Davido50]

That Ford 3.7L V6 N/A engine is excellent. We've had many Transit cargo vans w/it get huge mileage before we sell vans (running great & employees will bid on em). Consistent basic maintenance practices is key. Only full synthetic engine oil (that meets Ford specs) like Pennzoil Platinum or Motorcraft Full Synthetic which i use both personally & business uses predominantly Motorcraft. OEM filters fine as well if stay below 6k mis. Top Tier rated fuels highly recommended by Ford & everyone. My 24 Ranger Raptor 4wd truck had 1st oil change (Motorcraft full synthetic 5w30) b4 1500mis - use top tier rated midgrade 89/93 fuel only. Gen2 3.0L twin turbo seems like it so far! Engineering perspective.

[@Davido50]

​@@sasquatchcrew Blackstone is def okay. There are better oil analysis places I've learned for same price. Use top tier rated fuel in your vehicles esp if GDI/GTDI.

[@bradensmith888]

I have some constructive criticism. The first half of the video, he goes into great detail to explain how critical driving behaviors are to oil life. The second half of the video, he selects a vehicle with a completely unknown driving history, then makes the overarching claim that all GM oil monitors can be trusted. First, to support any claim, you need a significant sample size. Second, if driving behavior is so critical to oil life, the experiment needs to be repeated with a vehicle with a known driving behavior! For all he knows, someone could have neglected to reset the oil life monitor at the last oil change. In that case, the oil analysis results would look spotless because the oil is newer than the monitor is claiming it is

[@cliffordtoye6859]

He also stated he didn't know the millage. Makes no sense.

[@rikidhariwal1364]

Exactly! Thought the same thing.

[@slammer7]

Incorrect Actually, a minute or two earlier he said he didn't know the mileage on the OIL ( not the car ).... So he was still talking about the mileage on the OIL

[@silentj2k9ross3]

While I agree that this isn’t the most scientific, I would pushback on some of your criticism of the results. As a rental, it’s safe to assume that whatever the driving habits were, it would be severe as it would have many different drivers and people don’t care as much about a rental. For the oil life reset, at 9% the car would warn to change the oil at every startup. Someone at the rental company would likely have caught that before renting it out, since the cars are inspected upon return. I’ll admit these are assumptions but based off precedence they seem like safe assumptions.

[@bradensmith888]

@@silentj2k9ross3 I would like to respectfully disagree with some of your rental assumptions. Personally, I would assume that someone renting a mini van/SUV would be a family looking to use the vehicle on vacation, likely with many highway miles driving from tourist stop to tourist stop. This is far less extreme than someone in the country driving on gravel roads with trips lasting only 10 minutes. I'm also not convinced rental car agencies maintain their vehicles impeccably; I've gotten in many rental cars with warnings on the dash.

[@mp9228]

Great video. I was in a driving situation that almost mirrored the little old lady driving to church but my ambient temperatures were 90-100F. The car hit 5% oil life at around 1200 miles and I would say 5 months. I think you are right that they are not accurate but can be trusted in the sense that it will get most people to change their oil on a more appropriate timetable without having to be mechanically inclined.

[@bobbygetsbanned6049]

His point is that they are accurate... At least GM's is.

[@mp9228]

@@bobbygetsbanned6049meant to say precise, but he did say they were conservative and the test reflected that

[@Zorbino88]

that's why even a highly praised system being "conservative" should tell you that the 3k/5k oil change mark is still a good standard to stick by.

[@NoNo-ru2xl]

I'd call bullshit on that. My money says the Dealer adjusted the oil change notification.

[@genehart261]

A friend of mine just bought a new GMC truck with this feature. Really good to know that it works, thanks.

[@TheManDownstairs13]

2011 GMC Sierra 4.8. 170k. Changed oil when OLM showed 4%/7k miles on oil. Sent it to Blackstone for analysis. They said I could go another 2k on the oil. No issues at all. Penzoil Ultra Platinum 5W/30. I will continue to use the oil life monitor. Even if it can go 9000 mi, I do not mind changing it 2000 miles earlier.

[@shane-222]

2016 3.6 LFX. Use same oil, ran to 0%, sent a sample to black stone less than 5PPM/1kMI. Viscosity and TBN showed plenty of life left. I still change at 5%, but now I trust the computer.

[@wailingalen]

Yes another win for the PUP

[@cantwealljustgetalong2]

@TheManDownstairs13 the ultra platinum pennzoil is great oil. amazon has a good price is you buy three 5 quart containers

[@cantwealljustgetalong2]

@@shane-222 i have a 2013 3.6 liter, great engine. regular oil changes and regular transmission drain and fills will keep the vehicle running forever

[@qvb1201]

​@@cantwealljustgetalong2 5 gallons? I think you mean 5 quarts

[@rifleman1873]

I did not realize how sophisticated these programs are. But we had a 2006 suburban that drove around 250k miles before we traded it and I used the oil life indicator to change oil. I guess they work.

[@alexsmith-ob3lu]

Did you drive a 2006 Chevy suburban? Or was that another car brand? For many newer cars, the engine pistons and piston rings are so thin/light that it only takes a little bit of bad oil to ruin the whole engine.

[@jimmyaber5920]

Have a travel pattern that puts you at 100k miles in the same number of years while using that oil life counter and thenoutcome is WAY different. I see few problems with do it when it says to cars 6 years old and 100k miles. Same deal but 12 years at that milage and they've spent money on leaks and maybe need cam phasers and chains and hardware.

[@flashnmb1]

If you bought a new GM; you’ll wish you had the 06 back, AFM / DFM & Direct Injection detonate reliability.

[@MrOiram46]

@@flashnmb1I have a ‘97 burb with nearly 200k miles that still runs like a clock, while my friend’s 2018 Silverado with 62k miles already needs fuel injector replacements 😂

[@GregoryGlessnerViolin]

I bought a '98 Camry that was driven once a week 3/4 mile to the grocery store and back. I had no idea how bad that was for the engine. It burns a bunch of oil, and eventually burned a valve. Short trips are terrible!

[@themotoroilgeek]

Absolutely. Short trips are very hard on the oil.

[@deankay4434]

At GM, two guys took samples at 1k mile intervals at 21 different perimeters from drive cycles, time at temp, re-fueling. An algorithm, not a 3k counter. They sent the sample out to a 3rd party lab for analysis. Then repeated this on 16 different engine families. They set oil life monitors readings on the conservative side as they knew that people would ignore the display for what other reading! We had a lady who bought a new Buick 3.6 V-6 and had it towed at 16,000 miles with no oil & factory yellow chalk mark on the filter. She indicated the 0% reading came on at 12,000 miles. At 0% it still had 7% usage for her driving habits. Short trips kill oil. We have to educate customers on driving habits and the oil life monitor. This used 32 inputs to calculate oil life. How do your customers drive? Retired Master tech.

[@magichatake]

Somestimes I need to use my motorcycle and I like to run for 3-7km. Is that considered a very short trip?

[@deankay4434]

@@magichatake Depends on if air cooled or not? But this is why guys check it and wipe a small amount across their finger. If opaque and you can’t see thru it, change is due. If the oil retracts away from the edges of the dip stick, then it was gasoline (Petrol) in it, change. If you see thru it and see finger prints and it sticks to the stick, it’s good! It’s just like reading spark plugs on a race engine. Too lean and the insulators are white, the engine can blow up! Top fuel dragsters are torn down between races, fitted with new rings, gaskets and piano wire combustion chamber seals. ASE Master tech since 1978.

[@MathewPollard-vj4uq]

@@magichatake Yes - that's a short trip. The problem with short trips, especially at cold temps is that the oil doesn't get above boiling (212 F - 100 C) for long enough to clear water and fuel dilution from the oil.

[@magichatake]

@@MathewPollard-vj4uq Oh, I forgot to say that I live in Brazil in a city where most of the time it's above 30º C (86º F)

[@deankay4434]

@@magichatake great.

[@bertpeters1866]

As a person who spent most of their life doing QA\QC in labs (and aircraft maintenance background prior), I have to throw a flag on your conclusion. You ran an analysis on a SINGLE sample. I will never make that sort of conclusion from a single. I need, at minimum, three sample FROM THE SAME CAR before I would have any confidence in the result. And that would be dependent on using the exact same oil (in this case I would buy enough for three complete changes and thoroughly mix it in a container that could be held under controlled conditions) AND three identical oil filters, hopefully from the same production lot. Then I have something for that SPECIFIC vehicle that I might hang my hat on. To say that all vehicles from that one manufacturer then would be the same would contain the same error is careless. I know the mega-gigga-wonerbytes of data that they have for their algorithms work out some of the issues, but I'd need to test every engine at least the three times before I'd sign off on it. I have a Ford and a Mazda that have these monitors. The only thing I do with them is make sure that they have been properly reset after each oil change. Oil is much cheaper that a new engine. 5,000-mile intervals are good for this old QA guy. And oil is cheap. Edit: forgive me for not acknowledging that Mr Speed is "da man" in this field. This isn't meant to slight him at all.

[@hotrodray6802]

He did point out that this is a random sample from a rental car. I conclude that might be a good example of the random cars driven randomly. I also note that rental cars are probably not driven short in town trips but rather are going somewhere on a highway.

[@KforConstant]

Why don't you do an oil analysis to see? Can do one at 5,000 miles and if good increase it some. Maybe you may get to where the car says to change it and find the same thing.

[@cliffh8486]

It’s KZbin, not a lab. Smh. People

[@bertpeters1866]

@@cliffh8486 well, he does say that's what he does...

[@bertpeters1866]

@@cliffh8486 and, I might add, I did add that I'm not just a random dude watching his videos. I have engine oil experience with B-52H and B-1B aircraft, as well as cars. Not to mention all the years in a quality lab. Hope you don't hurt yourself shaking your head 🙃.

[@AikiNinja1]

Just found your channel, LOVE the content. I started having PdM oil analysis done on my wife's vehicle and mine this year and have not been disappointed by the results. I use Liqui-Moly engine products on my vehicles and the results from the lab show they work. My vehicle is well over 125k miles and my wife's is fast approaching 100k. I like to change my oil on my vehicles before the 7500 mile mark, since I'm running full synthetic 5w-30 in a moderate climate. Thanks for the great info!!!

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thank you!

[@audio_tron]

Great video. Informative and tightly organized. My 2014 Chevy Volt has the GM algo. My interval is much longer because it’s a PHEV/EREV, where most of my driving doesn’t involve the gas engine at all. Manual says to change it every two years or 7.5k miles. Got my last change last year at 77k miles. I’m at 92k miles today, oil indicator stands at 38%. I check oil manually every month and it looks totally fine. Will be mindful of the two year mark and/or what my indicator says.

[@gentjim5007]

It works great for average driving and passenger cars, but with performance cars there has been problems. The 2010 Camaro SS with the L99 engine (vvt and cylinder deactivation) had major problems with lifter collapse because the oil life indicator was not conservative enough. Engines would get stuck in v4 mode because the oil was worse than what the indicator said, and this happened especially around the 50,000 mile mark. Later model years had revised algorithms that solved the problem. When I bought mine I looked for a low mileage car and change oil every 3000 which is about what my summer driving is. And I got rid of v4 mode altogether as many camaro owners do. Lot cheaper to have a little less mileage than a full lifter replacement. Keep up the great videos Lake!

[@jimhmod]

Yep, a friend of mine drove less than a mile to work in his '95 Silverado. His oil always looked like a butterscotch milkshake and the back end of his exhaust rusted out several times ---until he retired, then the issues stopped.

[@stephencurry8552]

Your friend is a dullard. White male MAGA dullard. Impossible to repair a MAGA males brain. Incapable of learning. Incapable of accepting information which is contrary to their confirmation bias.

[@juliogonzo2718]

I do a lot of short trips and idling in the winter. I try to get it up to highway speed and operating temp a couple times a week. I reduced my idling in winter a lot by putting in one of those Chinese diesel heater eberspacher knockoffs

[@fcex558]

@@juliogonzo2718 go with hybrid - you'll be able to idle with engine off. I have Toyota hybrid and engine turns on for 3 min every 15min in cold or hot weather. So you can idle 1 hour with only 12 min of engine actually been on. The rest of 48min you just enjoy A/C or heat. That's the beauty of hybrids! Not to mention they save tons of fuel, and spesifically Toyota hybrids are bulletproof.

[@juliogonzo2718]

@fcex558 I drove cab part time years ago and they switched from retired crown vic cop cars to prius's and as much as they sucked to drive compared to a rwd v8 car for obvious reasons I was actually impressed by how well the hybrid system worked

[@BrianWaller-qe7gr]

Why not just walk or bike?

[@HRady-v8i]

Thank you for the video. I’ve relied on my Honda and GMC fleet oil life indicators along with mileage and hourly logs and they do work just fine. Never once had a concern for fleet management.

[@sneville44]

Great video! I’ve always wondered how oil life indicators work. It’s nice that you are able to name the engineers who developed the algorithm for this. Engineers, in my opinion, are the unsung heroes for this modern world we live in.

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thanks! I agree. Engineers are truly unsung heroes of the modern world.

[@AudiophileTubes]

Great vid! My wife drives a 2016 Buick Encore AWD, and now has about 106,000 miles on it. She has always relied on the 'Oil Life Indicator', but on several occasions, has driven an extra 1 to 2 thousand more miles. The small 1.4T Ecoboost engine has been flawless all these years. My daily driver has been a 22 year old 2003 VW GTI VR6, and i've religiously changed the oil (LiquiMoly full synthetic) once a year. I now have 147,000 miles on it, which comes out to about 6682 miles per year. My engine has been flawless as well. There is no need to 'overchange' the oil.

[@davidanderson8469]

I have a 2005 Honda Pilot I bought new. I've had the oil changed every 5K with conventional approved dino oil. It just hit 275K and purrs like new. That's one reason I bought my 2023 Honda Passport as it still uses the naturally aspirated V-6. The new one will once again get the approved engine oil.

[@alphamegaman8847]

Thanks Lake! 👍 I'm about 100 miles past my 95 Cadillac Seville STS oil life change mileage, thanks to a front wheel bearing that decided it was time to Retire! Being medically Retired myself, I'm on a TIGHT budget, and had to buy the parts and a few new tools to change the bearing before doing the oil change. Interestingly enough, the OLI recommended oil change at 3000 miles, which is where I change it at anyway! Going to change from Valvoline VR1 conventional 10w30 to the new Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w30 to see if I can reduce my current oil consumption down from about 800 miles per quart due to piston oil rings. Not unusual for a Northstar V8 with 125,000 miles, but I would like it better if I can get it down as it will reduce fuel contamination as well! 👍🤞 Mike in San Diego. 🌞🎸🚀🖖

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thanks for sharing!

[@flashnmb1]

125K on a Northstar V8; sorry dude , amazed the head studs haven’t let go. Prayers are with You!

[@ryane6886]

Great video. Something I've frequently wondered. And now I don't need to get anxious if I'm on a road trip and it's approaching 0%. Thanks.

[@scottymoondogjakubin4766]

My daily driver is a 94 chevy s10 2.2 L ! 663 k miles on her and never rebuilt ! Gets an oil change every 4k - 4 months or 125 hrs of use which ever comes 1st ! And i say any oil that meets ILSAC GF6 specs is ok ! Even walmart supertech 10,000 mile synthetic for less than $20 a 5 qrt jug !

[@stevendorris5713]

Ask any owner of an early 3.6 liter 24v GM V6 owner how inaccurate these were. Customers believing a 10K change interval, and never checking oil levels led to numerous lower end engine failures. A very informative video, thank you!

[@joe-p9k4n]

I had a 2004 Cadillac DeVille with 10,000 mile oil change interval. The engine did not make it to 100,000 miles. Cylinder #5 got fouled with oil. I'm guessing piston ring failure.

[@stephencurry8552]

You are voting for donald aren't you? Be proud sport.

[@stephencurry8552]

@@joe-p9k4n You are voting for donald aren't you? Be proud sport.

[@quagmire25]

Well the OLM has nothing to do with oil level so if they never checked the oil level, that is on them, no matter the interval recommended. But it is entertaining though to read people go, " The OLM says my oil is at 10%, do I really need to refill it?" I mean first it is oil life monitor not a level monitor.... But even if it was a level indicator, why would you wait until 10% to refill it? You would be starving the engine for oil at that point.....

[@KforConstant]

​@@stephencurry8552here comes the troll.

[@tedeganagondi]

We need more videos like this,short but full of potent info👏

[@charlesb4267]

This is why its important to plug in a block heater in cooler weather even if the owner thinks they don't need to because "it starts fine", in really cold weather it takes quite a while to warm the engine up from stone cold dead vs partly warmed up by the block heater. In fact with a V8 engine that is set up with a block heater on one bank of 4 cylinders, that side of the engine becomes warmer than the other side even though the coolant gets warmed up in general but not not as warm everywhere. It was shown that after a number of miles accumulated and yes this is in Canada with our harsh winters, testing the cylinders compression showed time and time again ( This is the GM 350 engine example ) that the bank of cylinders with the block heater had a notably higher compression than the cylinders in the bank on the opposite side. So just think of what happens if the block heater was not plugged in at all and doing the same cold weather starting day and and day out, how much faster an engine would wear out.

[@pjimmbojimmbo1990]

40 yrs ago, I walked past the Parking Lot at the Police Station, in Edmonton, and even though it was in the Summer and the Temp was 20+C, every Cop Car was Plugged in. I went inside, and asked why. I was told that the Car might be needed in a hurry, and they may need Full Power from the Get Go. A Cold Engine, even at 20C, would still have Cold Oil, and the Choke would still be applied, both of Which are bad for the Engine when Heavy Throttle was applied. I was also told that all the Cars had more than One Block Heater, so the Engine stayed Hot even in the Winter, which can go down to -40C.

[@charlesb4267]

@@pjimmbojimmbo1990 I must say I really enjoyed reading your comment !. And to think their vehicles were all gasoline to boot and yet plugged in during the summer, I've assumed ( I would have to ask one of my volunteer fire fighter friends ) that the typical diesel powered fire engines etc would be plugged in even though they sit in a heated shop, would imagine that would apply to ambulances as well although in some cases they never shut them down as often they are on standby running with paramedics ready to rush to the next emergency. I actually rigged up my pickup ( sadly its rusting away due to the crap they spread on our highways ) with a block heater in each side of the V8 engine, and using 0W-30 oil ... it starts like a summers day in -40 weather and in short order I have heat coming out of the ducts. By the way this topic also reminds me of a brother inlaw who years ago had a 1996 GM pickup with the 6.5 turbo diesel, one winters evening someone came crashing into the front/side of their fifth wheel trailer that sat on their driveway so he dives out of the house into his cold unplugged in pickup and starts it and chases after the guy ... didn't catch him but he blew up his engine. It started knocking badly as I assume it may have turn a crank or connecting rod bearing and imagine the pistons expanded too fast and may have tightened up in the bores. Whatever went wrong was bad and I think he sold the truck on the spot ( not sure if insurance covered anything due to the circumstances or just a loss for himself ), that goes to show how some engines being started cold and asked to go to full power will tell you what they thought of that idea.

[@pjimmbojimmbo1990]

@@charlesb4267 I worked for a Telco, and almost all the Sites had Standby Generators and they too were kept at close to Operating Temps at all Times with Circulating Water Heaters, as they too were required to be running at WOT Throttle upon Startup. Once I and a coworker enter the Standby and discovered all the Coolant had drained out of the Engine due to a corroded fitting. Good thing it hadn't been called into use, as that Microwave Site would have only lasted a few hours on the Batteries I also had a Diesel Truck with that outfit, and it had 2 block heaters, but in the early 90s the Bonehead Managers were trying to cut costs and were cutting power to the Parking Lot. For awhile the Dimwits figured that they could cut the power to the Employee Parking after 4pm, cause it was close to quitting time. They turned the Fleet Lot off at 8 am, cause well those trucks were in use during the Day...Well that wasn't any good for the Late Shift.... Then they tried cycling the Power on and off every 1/2 hr... Doesn't work well below -25. With my Truck, they disconnected one Block Heater, Truck would Never start when combined with the other Ideas. I often never left the Shop, due to Boneheaded Management. They then put me on an uncontrolled Power Outlet. but put temp controlled Cords, and timing devices to see how many hours of power were needed. Well it still didn't start because of the Temp Cord... I told them that all the Money they thought they were gonna save, was about 5% of what they had wasted with their BS Ideas. I was hauled on the Carpet for Insolence. I told that Manager to go travel and have sex with himself. I was there another 20 yrs. When it is cold out, I get in my car, turn the Key, and the Engine screams: LLEEAAVVEE MMEEE ALLONNNE

[@markcondrey2297]

My wife’s BMW has this system, and so does my Hemi equipped Ram. I have wondered how this system works. Thanks for enlightening me. As always your knowledge is very valuable and I appreciate your channel.

[@settledontheprairie5524]

I used to be that guy who trusted oil life monitors or intervals determined by the manufacturer. That stopped when a company I worked for saw ~30 F150 5.0 engines go bad. They asked us to start doing 5K changes and I adopted that for my personal cars. I can’t say it definitely helped, but the later trucks seemed to have fewer problems.

[@deankay4434]

There maybe some who agree but all I can speak for are the two current members who wrote the algorithm in GM’s software. The 3 lake discussed retired decades ago. 2000 was the introduction of the drivers info center with oil life for most models and all had it by 2002. They tested the oil every 1,000 miles at a 3rd party lab and it took the 2 yrs to cover all engine / vehicle packages. It is very conservative software. I rebuilt Ford engines from the 70’s will at a shop in 82. I was shocked to find all ring ends lined up and two #3 rods stamps and five #7’s. Go figure? Customer said he bought it new.

[@cliffords.8341]

​​@@deankay4434 Piston rings are always rotating while the engine is running and the end gaps can align at any time. I've rebuilt hundreds of both 2 & 4 stroke motorcycle, ATV, PWC engines and occasionally I found ring ends aligning. Two #3 and five #7 rods? That's only a seven cylinder engine. What about the other one? I believe the letter on the rods represents the weight of it. If so they all should be the same letter unless the crankshaft is out of balance. The lighter part of the crankshaft would need a heavier rod while a heavier part would need lighter rod to balance the assembly.

[@D2O2]

@@settledontheprairie5524 There is a differencebetween GM's oil life monitor and the simple mile counters nearly every other manufacturer is using. The subject of this vehicle was the GM monitor.

[@deankay4434]

@@cliffords.8341 I am not going to write a letter to someone I don’t know. This is true information and if you choose to pick it apart, so be it. I will not engage in a battle of Witt’s with an unarmed person!

[@deankay4434]

@@fortnite360HZ ok! How far you drive is programed into the algorithm. Miles, temp, calculated engine load are all factors. I don’t see a problem here.

[@MG-sj1em]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! As someone who has a GM, 2020 Cadillac XT5 v6 (like the one in your test) This makes me feel so at ease. Although, I have my oil changed at the dealer every 3000-3,500 miles. I won't stress if i don't. Best video I've seen in a long time!

[@themotoroilgeek]

Glad I could help!

[@JerseyJoeP]

This video opened my eyes regarding Oil Life Indicators and was very informative! Thank You!

[@KPaul7]

I have to correct you on Honda oil life indicator. It is based on conditions and/or engine revolutions. I have a Honda Odyssey EXL, and I drop off and pick up my kids for school. Yes, I leave the engine running as I have special needs children. My oil change at 30% left during school time is in the lower 3000's miles. During the summer with no school. It is in the mid 4000's, and yes still at the 30% left. I just thought you should know. Love the videos ❤

[@cjg1482]

I always thought that the oil life indicators were just a gimmick and helped save those that just don’t do regular maintenance. Good to know that there is actually some science behind them.

[@wwilliams1358]

Great info for those that have a GM that will tell them when it's time to change. I just changed my oil today, and will be sending in my sample. I wish my car had a dip stick tube to retrieve a sample of oil...less mess!

[@orionschroeder9401]

Thank you for sharing Lake, definitely depends on driving habits. Most individuals drive with the traits of a Severe Service Schedule.

[@Duchydog]

Honesty and Intelligence= Lake Speed,Jr.

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thank you!

[@Duchydog]

@@themotoroilgeek most welcome and well deserved!

[@raysoucie489]

I remember watching your Oil Testing Video from Months ago-- I have a 2007 Monte Carlo and I drive mostly Highway miles...When I need to take short trips in the Winter,I try to integrate ALL of my trips at one time,so that the engine is STILL warm in between each trip-- On a Different Note,I use my older($300) Town & Country van for most of my short trips-- I also Subscribed

[@ericsprout]

The bigger issue is oil level indicators that don’t work

[@knucklesskinner253]

Yup, what year bmw had a broken oil level ratio system? 2016? They had new and full oil but would keep saying to “add oil to engine” after an oil change

[@ericsprout]

@@knucklesskinner253 bmw is exactly who i was referring to. I also think some stop working entirely and always read “full” which could explain why you see so many engines getting trashed from rod bearing failure

[@ghostwrench2292]

I’m a Volvo technician and I saw it on a customer car. She said sometimes she would get a low oil pressure message. Oil level indicator on the display read “full”. Even when I used the factory scan tool to check the oil level, it was ok. Finally, when I drained the oil into a bucket to measure how much came out, I got the truth. It had 1.5 quarts of oil in the engine that has a capacity of 6.0 quarts!

[@FishFind3000]

@@ericsproutthe rod bearing failure was the clearances for the rods and the high viscosity oil the engines required. You only saw rod bearing issues on the M cars S engines. The normal non M engines didn’t have rod bearing issues.

[@oneninerniner3427]

Anyone who drives should be taught how to physically check engine oil. Sure an electronic monitor is convenient but. .. ...

[@patndave4919]

We switched brands from Lincoln to Cadillac a coupe of years ago. You just made my day!

[@P51]

I really appreciate your EDUCATED analysis. Thank You.

[@Adam-nv9zo]

Lake, thank you for sharing the knowledge you have accumulated over the years with us. The fact over fiction information is priceless.

[@lukesmith9144]

Really impressed with the production / editing quality of this video, keep it up!

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thanks!

[@D2O2]

Great Video Lake! Thanks for highlighting GMs OLM and that it isn't simply a "mile counter" and is much more sophisticated algorithm built on real data and engine operation. Going the extra mile with a UOA to prove it is ok is just the icing on the cake! Data, Data, Data! So many people have latched onto an arbitrary number.

[@hochhaul]

I suspect that the industry wide adoption of direct injection for gas engines, combined with the bad habit of short trips in cooler weather, is why timing chains, phasers, and AFM/MDS lifters have been so failure prone lately. GDI engines also produce diesel-like soot that results in lots of soot in the oil. Chains are wearing, phasers are wearing, lifters are getting stuck, etc. It would be interesting to delve deeper into this issue.

[@themotoroilgeek]

Soot from the GDI is the main culprit.

[@VAspeed3]

I noticed when I got my first direct injected turbo car back in 2006 the oil got dark in less than half the time of my NA cars.

[@BeefNEggs057]

@@VAspeed3Turbos get hot. That oil lubricates the turbo too and takes the massive heat from it. Turbos should all get 5000 mile oil changes. I don’t want a turbo. I don’t want an EV. America is no longer a free country though. Unelected EPA rules us like a king with NO right to do so.

[@usocrazy6133]

I wonder how many heads exploded this morning? I know its going to be a good day when my friend Lake uploads a video.

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thanks!

[@gemeinschaftsgeful]

Don't forget to check your oil at least once per week to see if vehicle is consuming oil. If the car uses oil, you better keep an eye on the level and top off if it drops a half quart. It's a good idea because oil also extracts heat from the engine. Checking under the hood once per week gives you a good idea of what's going on with the motor and you may spot early a growing problem.

[@kamilb8232]

Stop buying crappy cars if you're so afraid you need to check oil once per week. Even on my performance vehicles I'd only check one per month at best. If you're properly taking care of your vehicles, it's extremely unlikely it will suddenly start consuming oil.

[@stevetaylor9265]

Check the oil every time I fill up with fuel. I am not sure if it's developed a leak or not. By the way no to the metric system.

[@MrRGiller]

​@@stevetaylor9265I always check my truck on every fill up, which equates to once a week.

[@bobbygetsbanned6049]

@@stevetaylor9265 Yall act like it's 1945 and modern engines still use cork gaskets lmao. Checking your oil every time you get gas is nonsense.

[@bobbygetsbanned6049]

@@kamilb8232 Even crappy cars don't need it, if it's leaking that much oil it will leave oil spots where you park it and/or blow blue smoke while the engine is running. These people don't understand jack shit about engines.

[@jaygrosse8365]

Excellent information and fits with what I have independently confirmed with our Honda Odyssey’s oil life monitor. The one potential fault with your analysis is that you’re assuming the oil life system was reset to 100% at the last oil change. It might not have been. For example, with my turbocharged BMWs I don’t trust the oil change reminders at all since they suggest far more miles (up to 15,000), than I would ever be comfortable with. Therefore, I ignore it and just change the oil every 5000 miles. When the reminder comes on I just reset it because I know the oil is always clean. It’s possible the rental company also uses a mileage interval across their fleet since that would be easier to track in their database

[@ericherrmann3799]

I have a 2019 Ford raptor 3.5 eco. I changed the oil and reset the oil life indicator. And then the truck sat in the garage for 18 months never started it not once. When I did start it after those 18 months the oil life indicator came on in in center of the dash saying change oil now 0% oil life left. Never started the truck and it needs an oil change NO. Fuel dilution NO. Seems to me the Ford system uses mostly time for its analysis.

[@hotrodray6802]

Watch Lake's video about additives settling out of the oil into the bottom and then don't get remixed back into the oil.

[@ericherrmann3799]

@@hotrodray6802 I thought we were talking about the oil life indicator? no comments about old stale gas you all are slipping

[@terryrobertson8382]

I drive a 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid and use Motorcraft full synthetic 0W20 just like Ford says. At 8K miles I threw away the OEM tires and put Michelin Crossclimate 2 tires on it, best tire choice I ever made. I get free rotation every 6K miles so I have the oil changed at the same time regardless of what the IOL sensor says and it is usually still around 40%. Some people say I am wasting oil but I say oil is cheaper than a new engine. What do you think?

[@giuseppedellosso3630]

The problem is that using an algorithm, you can trust it till your engine is in good conditions but when it gets older or if something happens and your getting problems (like fuel contamination do to piston rings wearings or problems to the fuel injectors ,coolent in your oil) and you don't realize in having problems, you can't trust it any more.

[@calvinwalker4654]

Yeah, I’m surprised he didn’t point this out. Maybe he did and I missed it. I feel like this video is setting people up for failure, thinking they can just go till it goes to 0% or beyond when this is only with one car with one specific engine and one specific oil. This is the least scientific test he could’ve done.

[@napoleontheclown]

@@calvinwalker4654 I had an '03 Grand Prix and the manual said aim to change the oil at 20% oil life or 1 year, whichever comes first. The algorithm sounds like it's pretty conservative to begin with, so between that and advising an oil change with 20% remaining even wear should be accounted for.

[@dyer2cycle]

@@calvinwalker4654 YESS!..when the engine gets on up in miles and starts consuming some oil, these systems are setting you up for trouble...USE THE DIPSTICK....

[@BeefNEggs057]

Fuel contamination due to stuck rings from low tier “budget” gas with no detergent package will throw that algorithm off for sure. Use top tier fuel (says on the pump. QT, shell, chevron and Texaco are several that are top tier with detergent cleaning your rings and keeping them from getting deposits and sticking. A PEA complete fuel system cleaner like techron in the gas tank once per oil change helps keep the rings doing what they are supposed to. No more oil additives for me.

[@khakiswag]

If you have coolant in the oil you have much bigger problems than OCI. And if you’re burning lots of oil the OCI doesn’t matter because you’re always adding fresh oil to the engine.

[@richardsamson6195]

Amazing as always ! Good job. Looking forward for the next test. 🔬 From Canada

[@rockie307]

I have a 2023 f250 7.3 and sent my oil off to be analyzed. It might be a coincidence, but it matched up to the oil life monitor of 8500 miles. Oil had plenty of life left and they said everything looked good. I did heavy off roading and some towing. Penzoil platinum ultra was the oil.

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thanks for sharing!

[@misters2837]

Yes, my dad was an "Oil Guy" - Had a 1.5 miles one way drive to work in MN, and change oil every 1500mi... We would take that same vehicle on 3000mi road trips, and consider those miles as "Free" and then use the vehicle for another 1500mi and then change it...

[@racecar021872]

I would like to see this done on a Ford Hybrid to see what the oil life monitor says about how those are on oil. Lots of shutting off and restarting, resulting in high fuel dilution, not getting up to temp on the oil and getting contaminated with moisture. It would be interesting to see how the oil looks after several thousand miles.

[@themotoroilgeek]

Great suggestion!

[@vrod1a]

Oil life indicator on all my Honda vehicles have been pretty reliable , 16 years with a Ridgeline and 9 years with HRV I have always followed Honda maintenance minder, the system calculates mileage, driving conditions, highway or stop n go driving, towing etc, Both vehicles have been flawless.

[@rogdaw7243]

GM debuted OnStar at the 1996 Chicago Auto Show, and it would hit the market in most 1997 Cadillac models as a telematics system, a precursor to contemporary connected cars. As cell phones were still relatively rare, OnStar's primary function was to serve in case of emergencies. With a touch, the driver could have doors locked or unlocked remotely or connect with an OnStar operator in case of an accident. If a vehicle's airbags were deployed in an accident, OnStar automatically connected an operator to aid as needed. OnStar wasn't only useful in accidents. Its constant read on a vehicle's location not only made it useful in case of theft, but it also meant operators could possibly provide navigation guidance or recommend restaurants and hotels. OnStar functioned like an app long before apps were even a concept. As OnStar's availability in GM vehicles expanded, so did its use. By early 2002, there were more than a million OnStar members, with that number eclipsing two million by the end of that year.

[@anthonyc1883]

Thank you. I've been driving since the mid-'70s and I sure don't recall OnStar being around in the 1980s.

[@markc7551]

Great information. Thanks for continuing to provide such valuable education.

[@themotoroilgeek]

Our pleasure!

[@oj4249]

Pro tip: Don’t move your car out the driveway then immediately switch off your engine. Go around the block for like a solid 5mins or more if you can’t let the engine at least idle for a while. My situation was so bad. Basically our garage has one exit so if one car is blocked we have to move both cars etc. I noticed when I did the car swaps the one car would struggle to idle the next day and it got really bad to the point it started knocking hard made like weird sound. That sound was the lack of compression in the cylinders as the fuel washed down all the oil. From that day I take the car around the block to gain some temperature before switching off. Plus that cold start the fuel is very aggressive as the car is trying to generate heat from that cold start especially. Love this feature by GM. Great video as always man. 🔥🇿🇦

[@charlesb4267]

That reminds me of a write up years ago about the example of the guy who would drive home from work and park the car on the driveway with the possibility that he might need the car for an errand but almost always never did so late evening comes and he goes out and starts the car to move it the few feet into the garage. The point of the story was that the cold start and moving a few feet every night showed up in the engines sludge and wear from doing that so many times.

[@spankyham9607]

I love learning from you the WHY behind the DO. Always great information.

[@Texassince1836]

When I had a newer GM vehicle with an oil life monitor I did use it, but my target was changing at 30%

[@bobbygetsbanned6049]

That's a good way to do it. If you normally change your oil at 5K miles and have normal driving habits, you can track what % you're at when you hit 5K miles and just go off that. You might hit that % earlier or later depending on your driving conditions and will have a good buffer. Miles is a wildly inaccurate way of tracking oil life, it's just all we had to go off for many years.

[@gj91471]

The Engine collects dirt on the inside of the Engine. The more dirt.....the more fuel is used. Always change Engine Oil often.....Unless You don't mind wasting money on more fuel. The Engine needs to be clean on the inside to achieve best fuel economy.

[@oneninerniner3427]

​@@gj91471 it's not Just dirt buddy. Oils start oxidizing as soon as they are put to use. That's why the premium synthetics can take it better for longer versus the cheap stuff.

[@mercedes-amgforlife3237]

I always used Trip B to monitor oil milage. I changed mine between 4k to 5k miles depending on weather conditions and trip usage.

[@henryd1981]

@@mercedes-amgforlife3237 I actually do the same! I target around 5k miles since the engine in mine is a turbo GDI. The OLM is usually around 30% when I get to the 5k mile mark.

[@EasyStreetStyle]

Thank you Lake for educating me and many others about oils. You explain things so that everyone can understand. Great videos!!!

[@koomo801]

I once went 8000 mostly highway miles with a 130k mile 2012 Avalon (GRE-V6) using Pennzoil Ultra Platinum, and began getting valve train noise. I changed it and it drastically lessened, then changed it again after 1000 miles and we haven't had that noise since. I'm never going over 6000 miles again. I now aim for 4-5k.

[@alexsmith-ob3lu]

The same thing happened to my Chevy Equinox. I went for oil changes every 7k miles and started noticing excessive engine kicking noises. Changed the oil immediately and started changing the oil every 2k miles from then on. Never had that knocking issue since.

[@MichaelCzajka]

Try bonding a lubricant to your engine. It will reduce wear by 50~90% and extend the life of your oil. You'll never get that valve train noise again without having to resort to more frequent oil changes.

[@robertdevoy3119]

@@MichaelCzajka How is lubricant bonded to the engine?

[@vqdriver]

Try Quaker State Full Synthetic 5W30 (not Ultimate Protection/must be 5W30). As per 540RAT Engineering Blog it’s his dynamically tested current #1. He says the thinner mandated oils were designed to save fuel that we can never measure in our own usage. He said modern liquid cooled gasoline engines are “better served” using a highly ranked 5W30 on his list

[@dyer2cycle]

You probably got the valvetrain noise because it was low on oil..these systems don't seem to take into account increased oil consumption as an engine wears and mileage increases...I don't EVER let an engine run low on oil, even if it consumes quite a bit of oil...here again, extra oil is cheaper than an engine....

[@braddsn]

Excellent info! Guess it's time I start trusting my oil life indicator in my GMC truck! Thanks!!!

[@themotoroilgeek]

Glad to help

[@flashnmb1]

You have worse problems; if the AFM / DFM doesn’t do in the engine, carbon buildup on intake valves from blow by will. Don’t even think about the transmission. GM and reliability should never be used in the same sentence.

[@craigtaylor9764]

Good info and thank you. Now do a dive into Ford's system please

[@OnlyMeee-ie3dw]

I don't know about the newest Ford's but the older ones use the calculation too. If I check oil life left before the change it will show around 40% at 5k miles. It's almost all highway miles for about 50 miles each way. If I drive it a -little rough-, which is hard not to, the % drops between oil changes. Oil life % or mileage didn't change when I started using a different oil brand and heavier viscosity.

[@TheSingleTrucker]

After installing my SLT oil catch can, i went to the mountains of northeast NM in winter time. I checked the can each a.m. before driving ( because I had driven hundred or so miles the previous day) and noticed some creamy colored sludge. The oil life is precious to me because I run twin turbos and keeping the gunk from recirculating has significantly improved engine endurance.

[@moose354]

Lake, you should do a video on oil dilution, especially with DGI. Honda had a major oil dilution problem with early DGI.

[@themotoroilgeek]

Will do!

[@TofuInc]

I have always been curious about this. My wife has had several Corollas and they all seemed to have time based indicators. She now drives a Volt and it very much seems like there is some intelligence behind it, the last oil change for it was nearly two years. I drive a hybrid Maverick that very much seems to have an intelligent oil life indicator as well.

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Zorbino88]

As a delivery driver for UPS since 2015, the majority of our trucks are built on a Freightliner Chassis, some newer ones being Ford, Workhorse was in the game but they've since worked with FedEx or their new electric division. With that said, almost all gas powered trucks have come with the 6.2L LS2, the Fords had the Triton V10 until a couple of years ago where they swapped to the 7.3L Godzilla engine. All of the GM variants would randomly put up a warning about "check oil filter" or "check trans oil" warnings and I've always wondered where that came from, being that these step vans were industrial grade and highly abused. Of course UPS being a multi-billion dollar corporation, you basically drive it until it blows up, but the mechanics do appreciate when you write things up so that they can keep the fleet going as long as possible. I can always tell when the differential gear fluid is ready for a flush because you can smell it after a trip on the highway, but getting them to change it is another story 😂

[@markcasey2120]

Good video. I certainly learned a few things. I just assumed all oil life indicators went off of mileage.

[@themotoroilgeek]

Glad it helped

[@GregSr]

Your report was spot on - thank-you. I own a 2003 Corvette (C5) and a 96 Impala SS. Both cars are very well maintained and were purchased new. Like clockwork, I used to change their oil at 5,000 mile intervals. As I got older (I'm 71 now), I got lazy. I knew about GM's oil monitor and how it works. I decided to go ahead and trust GM's algorithm. But, I was curious at what mileage would the oil monitor activate the "change oil" light. Well, for both cars it turned out to be about 6,200 miles. Both cars only see pure synthetic Mobil One 10W-30, so I am comfortable letting the change interval go that high. (I already subscribed and gave a "thumbs up"). 👍

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thanks for sharing!

[@mikel9741]

"It" also knows driving speed, hard brakes, centrifugal force and a myriad of information that it "gathers" from use. Lots of information out there stating how this information is used. Most is not good. At any rate, excellent video as always. I very much enjoy watching your videos. Thank you for the work you put into them.

[@John-y3u1w]

I drive a 2019 Chevy impala I didn't trust the oil life indicator before and i still don't trust it after this video. I change my oil every 5k miles and the oil life indicator will usually be at 30% to 40% oil life remaining when I change the oil

[@Davido50]

That's fine. They are very good vehicles & far more fun to drive than a Camry etc. Good choice. Stick to 5k mis max OCI using any good full synthetic oil meets GM Dexos rating. Pennzoil Platinum is great one that i use on our 22 BMW X6 & 2 Ford 4wd trucks. Use top tier rated fuel too. That's huge! Grade (87/89/93) doesn't matter ..the quality of fuel does. Use fuel system cleaner too every 10k mis. Lucas/Redline/Techron. Engineering perspective.

[@1967friend]

Same here! I change mine @ 5k as well. And the monitor also usually indicates between 20-30%. My wife had an equinox that she just took in whenever the monitor told her to. Engine was in rough shape by the time it got up around 75k. Mechanic at Chevy told her she was nuts for just going by the monitor. And that it’s well known amongst the GM technicians that monitor is nowhere near accurate or what’s best for the engine. His own experience was that monitor lets you go far too long. And they see wore out engines more often than not, from customers who just went by the monitor.

[@MichaelCzajka]

Do an oil analysis if you want to check? If you want more protection bond a lubricant to your engine. You will reduce your wear by 50~90% and the oil lifespan is increased by ~1/3. This will be more than adequate to keep your engine wear low even if you adhere to the normal oil change intervals.

[@fortnite360HZ]

5000 km's is fine not 5000 miles cause that ends up being 8000km so guys miles is a lot worse when u convert it to km's

[@fortnite360HZ]

@@1967friend when u say 5k are u in Canada cause if u are in america that is 8k cause your shit is in miles

[@erice9536]

2008 Impala, always went by the computer and ran it down under 10% each time which averaged 8-9000 miles. Most trips were 35 miles to work. It had 310,000 miles when we sold it, burned no oil, ran like it always did. Sample size of ONE says it works pretty good.

[@sntstafford]

'13 Equinox 3.6 w/87k miles, Costco 5-30, AmsOil filter. Costco, Sinclair, Chevron only for fuel. All maintenance completed slightly ahead of schedule using Ams products. Bi-weekly driving schedule. First week, five days, one mile to MIL home, then one mile to the pool; an hour later, one mile from the pool to MIL, one mile back home, with a few other trips to MIL thrown in during the week. Next week, same, except either Friday or Saturday, 70 to 200 miles running errands; we live in a small town in the middle of nowhere, with the closest Wal-Mart 35 one way or Costco 100 miles one way the other way, and we had a 1,500 mile trip right after the last oil change (early May). The oil life indicator was at 46% with roughly 4,500 miles since that last change a week ago. Four 300 mile round trips (family member hospitalized; going to the university hospital to visit every other day). The indicator is at 34%. When it hits 5%, the reminder will let me know to get it changed. Would I do this with a Group III in this engine? Nope. With a Group III+? Yep.

[@kevinferger9897]

From what I observed in the past, conventional oil every 3k, synthetic 5k and with turbos sooner than that.

[@rutniktrainer]

I used to use the oil life indicator but I started just doing at 5K. I figure it might cost me an extra $40 a year for an extra oil change. I use Super Tech full synthetic and a Delco filter. I have 185,000 on my Acadia and it still runs good.

[@yucannthahvitt]

I know you're the "motor oil" geek, but can you speak on transmission and gear oils, specifically with mention of "yellow metal" friendliness and why some oils contain additives that will damage "yellow metals"?

[@themotoroilgeek]

That one is coming soon!

[@magichatake]

Thank you very much for this video, mate! I'd like to provide a content like yours here in Brazil because there are some crazy dudes suggesting to change or vehicle oils every 2-3 thousand miles only no matter the usage type. In motorcycle, they said we have to change every 600 miles, otherwise you're not taking good care of it

[@gemeinschaftsgeful]

I learned from the previous generation to change the oil and filter every 3000 miles and drive gently from people that used to keep their cars trouble free for years and rack up lots of miles.

[@cartrips9263]

Depends on the engine. On high performance cars you should change every 2 to 3k, yes. Also depends on how you drive. Short distance driving is an oil killer, so you need to change it sooner.

[@hotrodray6802]

Ditto. But today's oils are totally different as are the fuel injection cars.

[@Onewheelordeal]

Always being gentle 100% of the time isn't great for an engine either. I've fixed a couple old lady cars with some hard RPM on the highway that the car hadn't seen in ages. Old timers called it the "Italian tuneup" bc the small displacement high cylinder count engines coming out of Italy were especially susceptible to needing to clear their throat

[@stevetaylor9265]

That's what I still do also.

[@paulsengupta971]

Those were people stuck in the 1960s. It isn't the 1960s any more.

[@judih.8754]

My old BMW 325 had an oil life monitor. It was explained to me that it used miles driven with an function that counted when the engine went to red-line and above. Plus a few other parameters. I seem to recall the normal interval was 10000 miles but was shortened quite a bit the more aggressive you drove. (Don't ask how I know.)

[@katdaddy469]

I just bought a high mileage Charger with the 5.7 Hemi with MDS and a fear of lifter tic and cam wear has me binge watching all the videos. Very grateful for the Oil Geek here!

[@AnnaSwiatek-n8c]

Watching your channel is like a holiday in the world of entertainment and jokes. Thank you for your creativity and ability to make people smile!🦐🌌⌨️

[@theamerican7080]

I smell rotten chum.

[@TheTech9]

I've been waiting to see this video! I've forwarded it to a bunch of friends because they also need to see it haha.

[@alexrebmann1253]

I use synthetic and I just change it every 5000 miles.

[@Jay-nc7vk]

Thank you, Gilbert and/or Lewis....

[@jorgeposadas1192]

So I'm one skeptical person, so my oil only goes to 3/4 of the indicators oil life in all my vehicles, that's just peace of mind.

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

Thank you. This reassures me on my Buick the fact I replace the oil at 20 percent oil life is not doing and damage to the car. It happens at about 6000 miles with my driving. Which seemed reasonable. My last car I did the same thing, a 2006 Saab 9-3 and it is still running with the second owner with 270,000 miles. So I guess through experience I figured out the oil life monitor if used conservatively works pretty well. Thank you for confirming it!

[@SuperS05]

9:38 no it's not conclusive. I enjoyed the content, and the presentation, but math is still math. You need more than 1 sample to call anything conclusive.

[@SSNReactorOperator]

Almost verbatim what I was about to comment.

[@lcee6592]

I've relied on the oil change sensor for 24 years in my truck. Still runs great. The oil is usually a slightly dark brown color when needing changed, for what it's worth.

[@motorcitymadman146]

How about life time transmission oil lol.

[@jameslewis1175]

Yeah I would love him to do a series on trans oils

[@gregleuze6657]

Another interesting video. This is the first one that came up after I subscribed. Wouldn’t the sample size of oil monitoring systems have to be larger to get a more accurate baseline? I own a Subaru that doesn’t have that system. I change my synthetic oil every 5,000 miles. The dealership states I can go several thousand more miles but I am a person who would rather do one extra oil change a year than go to the limit per oil change. Look forward to watching your other videos.

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thanks. This was just for an example. GM used thousands of cars over several years to develop the algorithm.

[@vincentlapointe4273]

I always change my oil at 4000 miles or before winter.

[@almarjcook]

There are certainly different schools of thought, with some people chasing the question of “what is the absolute best I can do for my vehicle and it’s engine longevity?“ And others simply asking “what is the least? I have to do in order to have good longevity in my vehicle?“ Other than defining ultimate longevity versus good longevity, these two questions are opposition to one another. I have to ask a question, “has oil formulation and quality changed over the past 50 years?“ Of course it has. A further question is “are we interested in a prediction of motor oil formula breakdown? Or are we interested in contamination and the where that this engenders in our engines?” The rationale for choosing an oil change interval has to encompass all of these factors. Personally, I follow relatively short oil change intervals, and infrequently do I do any testing. I am not trying to stretch my oil change intervals and I am not trying to get the most out of my oil. I am trying to get the most out of my engine and the oil it’s just a wear item. of course I am an individual and don’t have a fleet or business account line to manage either. also, generally, I try to keep my vehicles longer, 10 to 15 years for my own and 6 to 7 for my wife. I do my own work even with a busy schedule because I enjoy it’s simplicity and the simple feeling of doing a job right, at least in my mind. Do I trust LL indicators? hell no.

[@shmeli]

Ignore the monitor. Change your oil regularly, it's the simplest and cheapest thing you can do to protect your engine.

[@redfalcon4469]

Thank you for opening our minds about the oil reminder, could you do a Video about worming up engine or not and the good and bad? Thx

[@flyonbyya]

Oil cooler application video would be great! -when a cooler makes sense -how to choose the correct one for your application. -thermostatically controlled or not - etc etc

[@michaelramzi1094]

Making it more complicated than it is. Change your oil every 4000 miles regardless. You ad the high of 5000 miles to low of 3000 miles and you get the avarage of 4000 miles oil change interval. Moreover, you don't have to be confused by oil guru on line. Now if you have time and money to do it every 3000 miles then that's the optimum.

[@mblake0420]

I do 5k or 2 years no matter what

[@VAspeed3]

I dont find him confusing at all.

[@MRTEE-sy7sb]

His point was instead of spending the money to mail in an oil sample…..just change the oil sooner and eliminate the expense…..

[@pitboss7476]

This was very cool information.... I had no idea the thought and development that went into that. I figured it was just a mileage indicator. Thanks

[@themotoroilgeek]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brianmaloney5430]

Can't trust oil life monitor on GM. Daughter does alot of short trip driving 3 to 5 miles. Have a 24 Trax 1.2l GDI turbo. Oil life 50% at 3k 6 month old oil with 4.5% fuel dilution.

[@MrApplesaucestuff]

you let your daughter drive a 1.2 Trax? theres your problem

[@brianmaloney5430]

Whats the problem?​@MrApplesaucestuff

[@brianmaloney5430]

​@@MrApplesaucestuffkeyboard warrior

[@ravx25]

This type of information is outstanding to see! I have to admit, like others commenters on here, I did not trust the oil life indicator on my Honda Accord one bit, not even a tiny shred. It's good to know these tend to err on the conservative side, but I still feel comfortable getting mine changed at 15-10% personally. Thank you for this report!