magical oil change light

**Fbody4ever** · 06-23-2008, 11:26 AM

My '02 Z28 just let me know that it needs an oil change, which is pretty frickin' amazin' cuz' I totally agree.
I usually run 5K on synthetic oil, and the light came on @ 4,900. Thats really cool, especially because I didn't reset the oil life or anything.
Does anyone know how the computer calculates oil life?
I freakin' luv these cars!

**Z ROADSTER** · 06-23-2008, 11:46 AM

BY ENGINE REVELUTIONS . After a certain percentage of RPM"s has been reached , the oil change will come on .

**67CamaroRSSS** · 06-23-2008, 12:21 PM

I think it more interesting if you spin a story such as, "There is a small chemist with a very small lab inserted in a sealed area of the engine that performs this function."

Besides "engine revolutions", the PCM determines engine oil life basd on inputs from the persons driving style. More aggressive driving style results in the light coming on sooner rather than later.

**Fbody4ever** · 06-23-2008, 12:35 PM

So my car isn't inhabited by gizmos? (good gremlins)
Thats not as cool...but it is awesome that I've been changing oil at the appropriate mileage for my driving style.
Again, I freakin' love these cars.
Oh yeah, my wife babies our '05 malibu maxx, and she gets like 8-9K per oil change (synthetic again). She's got a really adaptive onboard computer though, adjusted the tranny shift points to where she gets around 35 MPG on highway, and 24 city.

**Ryans99LS1** · 06-23-2008, 12:44 PM

I changed my oil about 100 miles before i took it to the dyno, as soon as i got off the dyno, the change oil light popped up. I was kinda mad hahah.

**Firebirdjones** · 06-23-2008, 01:14 PM

I never pay attention to it,,,just another damn light that comes on I don't need,,,

I keep track of my own oil changes on my own schedule via a notebook kept in the car,,,I don't need no stinking light...

**2001NBMZ28** · 06-23-2008, 01:37 PM

I never pay attention to it either - how does the GM oil life system know if you're running regular oil or synthetic? Seen it come on at 3K before though.

**Fbody4ever** · 06-23-2008, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by 2001NBMZ28

I never pay attention to it either - how does the GM oil life system know if you're running regular oil or synthetic? Seen it come on at 3K before though.

How does it know? What if I'm running a 50/50 mix? What if I sweetin my oil with a little bitta' saliva (or other bodily fluids)?

And more importantly, how does it know I even changed the oil?

**Cutlass** · 06-24-2008, 03:17 AM

Originally Posted by Fbody4ever

My '02 Z28 just let me know that it needs an oil change, which is pretty frickin' amazin' cuz' I totally agree.
I usually run 5K on synthetic oil, and the light came on @ 4,900. Thats really cool, especially because I didn't reset the oil life or anything.
Does anyone know how the computer calculates oil life?
I freakin' luv these cars!

The Oil Life Monitor ain't that great. If you never reset it then it thinks you're still on the previous oil change and therefore is suggesting you should change your oil every...8k to 9k miles. YIKES!!! That would be silly stupid.

Originally Posted by Ryans99LS1

I changed my oil about 100 miles before i took it to the dyno, as soon as i got off the dyno, the change oil light popped up. I was kinda mad hahah.

You must not have reset it. It shouldn't come on that fast.

**Cutlass** · 06-24-2008, 03:21 AM

Originally Posted by Fbody4ever

How does it know? What if I'm running a 50/50 mix? What if I sweetin my oil with a little bitta' saliva (or other bodily fluids)?

And more importantly, how does it know I even changed the oil?

The Oil Life Monitor doesn't actually know anything about your oil. Its just guessing on its life span based on a preprogrammed logarithm.
DON'T EVER TRUST IT TO BE CORRECT!!!

I've been inside plenty of engines that used extended oil change intervals and they are disgustingly gummed up.

**Firebirdjones** · 06-24-2008, 04:28 AM

Originally Posted by Cutlass

I've been inside plenty of engines that used extended oil change intervals and they are disgustingly gummed up.

Exactly!!!!

**Fbody4ever** · 06-24-2008, 09:18 AM

So how do I reset the oil life?

**QKSLVR99** · 06-24-2008, 02:18 PM

thing bugs the hell out of me, always seems to come on bout 2 weeks after i change the oil LOL and still got to look up how to reset the thing never remember LOL

**Cutlass** · 06-25-2008, 03:45 AM

Originally Posted by Fbody4ever

So how do I reset the oil life?

Check your owners manual...

.

Turn the key on engine off, press and hold the trip button for 10 seconds or something.

Or Key on Engine off, push the gas pedal to the floor 3 times in a row

**99WS6MAN** · 06-25-2008, 09:30 AM

Key On - Push down on Gas Pedal Twice ... works for me!

**hoss 2000 z-28** · 06-25-2008, 10:25 AM

I don't remember anything about pumping the pedals! It's something about turning your key to "run" but not starting the engine, then push and hold the odometer reset button for 10 seconds. The change oil light should flash a couple times and go out. That's it.

Sarcastic Grimiln says: But if you want to have lots of fun and pump your brake 3X and then your gas 3X and then pull your E-brake lever up while you lay into the horn, then that sounds like more fun to me!

Don't flame, just having fun here.