GM Oil Life Monitor System
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the system work?
The GM Oil Life Monitor System is not a m
ileage counter. It is actually a computer
based software algorithm that determines wh
en to change oil based on engine operating
conditions. There is no actual oil condition se
nsor. Rather, the computer continuously
monitors engine-operating conditi
ons to determine when to change oil. Over the years,
millions of test miles have been accumulated to calibrate the system for a variety of
vehicles. The system was first introduced
in 1988 and is now on more than 10 million
GM vehicles.
How do I operate the system?
The GM Oil Life Monitor System is very easy
to use. First, refer
to the vehicle owner’s
manual for a description of the specific ‘cha
nge oil’ message and the instructions for
resetting the system. When the vehicle has been
driven the appropriate
miles, the ‘change
oil’ message will be illuminated on the instru
ment panel or driver information center
when the vehicle is first star
ted. An oil change should be do
ne within two fuel tank fill-
ups from when the message was first disp
layed. Immediately after the oil has been
changed, the system must be reset. After resetting, the ‘change oil’ display will no longer
be displayed after engine start up.
I change my oil every 3000 miles, so
of what use is this system?
You can continue to change your oil every
3000 miles if you so choose, but remember to
reset the system after changing the oil or
you will get a false “change oil” message.
However the GM Oil Life Monitor System
will allow you the ability to extend the
mileage between changes without harming your engine. This will save you time and
money as well as helping to protect the e
nvironment by minimizing the amount of used
oil.
Do I have to use special oil?
The GM Oil Life Monitor System is calibrate
d for use with standard “Starburst” mineral-
based automotive engine oil. Synthetic oils
are not required except for the Corvette.
Make sure to read the owner’s manual and sele
ct the viscosity and oil grade that is correct
for your engine. Any oil selected for us
e should carry the ILSAC “Starburst”.
How many miles can I expect to go betw
een oil changes when using this system?
The beauty of the GM Oil Life Monitor System
is that it will automatically adjust the oil
change interval based engine
characteristics, driving habits and the climate in which the
vehicle is operated. For instance, mild highw
ay driving in a warm climate will maximize
the interval between oil cha
nges. Depending on the vehicle,
this could be in excess of
7000 miles and as high as 12,000 miles. On the
other hand, short trip driving in cold a
climate may limit the oil change to 3000 miles or
less. In general, most people that drive
a combination of city and highway schedules
find that the GM Oil Life Monitor System
will indicate an oil change every 7500 to 8500 miles.
What happens if I change oil and forget to reset the system?
Since the GM Oil Life Monitor System
does not actually sense oil condition, it is
important that the engine computer knows when
an oil change takes place. By enabling
the reset (read owner’s manual for instructions
), it lets the computer
know an oil change
has taken place. In the event that an oil chan
ge is done without resetting the system, the
‘change oil’ indicator will remain illuminated unt
il the system is rest. The more miles that
are driven without the system being reset, th
e more inaccurate the GM Oil Life Monitor
System will be. If more than 500 miles have
been driven after an oil change without
resetting the GM Oil Life Monitor System, th
e oil change interval should be defaulted
back to 3000 miles. After the
oil has been changed and the
system reset, normal use of
the system can be resumed.
The oil change service station recommends
that I change oil every 3000 miles.
Why should I not believe them?
The 3000 mile oil change is very conservative
approach to maintaining your vehicle that
dates back to 1968. Many advancements in e
ngine and oil technology have been made
since then. These advancements, in conjunc
tion with using the GM Oil Life Monitor
System, allow engine oil drain intervals to
be increased without risking harm your the
engine.
I change my own oil, should I reset the system myself?
You can reset per the vehicle owner's
manual, or ask your selling dealer.
Will I damage the car if I don't get the o
il changed soon after the light comes on?
As stated in the owner's manual, change oil
as soon as possible. It
is recommended that
oil be changed within 600 miles of
the change oil light / message.
Do I have to check my oil level now that
my vehicle is equi
pped with the GM Oil
Life Monitor System?
Yes, the system does not sense oil level.
As stated in the owner's manual, it is
recommended that you check your oil
every time you stop for gasoline.
Will I void my warranty if I don't go
by the GM Oil Life Monitor System?
Complying with the owner's manual recommendations will maintain the warranty.
I had my oil changed recently and now my GM
Oil Life Monitor System light came
on.
If the system was not reset (ref
er to owner's manual) at the ti
me of oil change, the system
can be reset as long as it's been less than
500 miles since the last
oil change. If this
mileage has been exceeded, change the oil at 3000 miles and reset system.
I prefer to have my oil changed sti
ll around 3,500 miles, what should I do?
It is ok to change oil prior to
being notified by the
vehicle. Be sure the system is reset
even if the GM Oil Life Monitor
System light has not illuminated.
My oil seems dirty, I have 6,000 miles a
nd no light, do I have a problem?
Discoloration will take place under normal
conditions depending on driving conditions.
Refer to the Owner’s Manual for further information
Can any dealer other than my selling dealer perform Simplified Maintenance
services?
While we like to recommend the selling de
aler, any GM Goodwrench dealership can
perform the Maintenance I and
Maintenance II service and reset the GM Oil Life System.
I use synthetic oil, should I expect to ge
t more miles before the trigger point with
GMOLS?
The GM Oil Life System is calculated base
d on the factory fill requirement. While some
benefits may exist, the oil drain interval is
not extended due to the use of synthetic oil.
During Summer I drive my vehicle in a very
hot climate, do I need to change oil
more often?
The beauty of the GM Oil Life System is
that it calculates for severe climate use and
determines the oil change interval just as it
does for trailer towing
as well as stop and go
operation. There is no need to adjust the oil
change based on climate, as well as vehicle
use.
I continue to get 3,000 mile follow-up mail
ers from my dealer, what should I do?
Inform you servicing dealer th
at you prefer to go by the
Maintenance I an
d Maintenance
II driven by the GM Oil Life M
onitor System so that they may adjust the way you receive
follow-up mailings.
I have another GM vehicle a 2002 model wi
th the GM Oil Life Monitor System, can
I use the Simplified Maintena
nce Schedule with it also?
While it is equipped with the GM Oil Li
fe Monitor System, Maintenance I and
Maintenance II was not yet introduced. The pr
oper recommendation would always be to
follow the owner’s manual.
