Thread: Change oil at what %?

I have a 98 Gtp bought it about 2 months ago and i did some general stuff like always when you buy a used car including an oil change and reset it. Now my oil is at 60% so i was wondering at what % most people change theres at.

I change mine at 40%. The oil is usually pretty dark, and it has been about 3,000 miles at that time as well.

No. Mobil 1 10-W30

every 3000 miles. that percentage thing is almost guaranteed inaccurate.

Originally Posted by cerick08GP

I second this opinion. No way would I take it to zero on a regular basis. Changing the oil somewhere between 3-5k is best. And sure, if you run pure synthetic you can double that to 8k-10k. My GP is newer; the meter will take me out to nearly 9k if I let it!

My friend works at a Saturn Dealership and he sees new Saturns come in with sludged up engines because people are relying on that oil life monitor.

I run valvoline full synthetic and always change the filter so should i wait like 5k-ish? i read some where if it gets dirty thats good because its cleaning the motor but mines still the same color as when i put it in...

it depends if you run highway miles or city.........if city 3k, if highway 4 or 5k on standard. if synthetic run 4 or 5k city and 6-8k highway. Look at your oil when you change it. If it is black you are waiting too long.

The guy that had the car before me had the motor replaced because "his wife messed it up" so all new gaskets top to bottom while it was out he said he made sure of it. Not one leak lol

it depends on the oil as well.......amsoil has a product that they say needs to be changed every 25k or annually whichever comes first. I dont think I would ever wait that long, but it just goes to show that there are no set mileage or percentage rates that are 100% absolute for being a set point.

I remember reading somewhere online at a site dedicated to information about oil types, manufacturers, filters, etc, where they sorted through the crap (FRAM filters for example) as well as the myths about oil (changing every 3000 miles), and it talks about how just because oil is dark in color, does not mean that it is "bad" or "used up" or whatever. Sure, that nice golden color is great, but heat alone will change the color of the oil, even if it isn't breaking down.

With that said, I keep an eye on my mileage, I know how much highway vs. city driving I've done, and I have been doing pretty well with oil changes (100% quality synthetic oil and a good filter) about every 8,000 miles (mostly highway). The oil is dark, but not as black as non-synthetic at about 2000 miles, and the oil life gauge is at about 15% left. Oil changes are relatively cheap, so why risk it. For some people who do all city driving, that may be at 40% on the life meter, or people using regular, non-synthetic oil it may be something different.

If you are worried about the cost, just drop 50 cents into a jar every day that you drive the car and you should have more than enough money to cover the costs when you need ot change the oil if you do it yourself...

My auto instructor has used Mobil 1 full synthetic for a long time. Changes it at 25,000 or 1 year. One of his vehicles has 300,000+ miles on it. I change mine 8-10k with amsoil, unless I have it apart again before that. lol

Every 3,000ish regardless of synthetic or not...

My DIC is usually arounf the 50-53% range when it has 3k on it.

I change my oil every 2,500-3,000 mile or every 4 months. Oil is cheap, motors are not...