workhorse oil notification????

[Oemtech]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The feature I was addressing was the "GM Oil Life System (OLS)" mentioned in your post, not the change oil message. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Just what do you think triggers the change oil message. The Actia cluster does nothing more than display data triggered off the OBD II data bus. The GM OLS is contained in the ECM/PCM/VCM and therefore sends the data to the Actia cluster via 1 of 36 lines in the OBD II cable.

My Actia manual is from 2002 and does not show anything about the oil change message.

[DriVer]

The calibration files are written for the 8.1L engine by GM and the OLS is in the code that constitutes the content of the ECM. The oil life is done through an algorithm and I don't believe is hard keyed to mileage alone.

I'm with "what his name" in this matter. (Look up to the previous post)

[M&EM]

I have noticed the oil change indicator to come on at different numbers of miles between resets. I can also observe percent of oil change life remaining by using my AutoTap scanner on the OBDll port. It seems to be a function of how hard the engine has worked.

Marty

[Fred and Bonnie]

This link provides more info on GM's oil monitoring system. Oil Monitoring System

fred

[BellaBo]

I read the link on OMS and it seems confusing because the warranty is based on the owners manual and the recommended oil change periods. If one were to rely on the OMS to change oil, it seems the warranty could be voided.

[Oemtech]

The owners manual is a recommended service level. The OMS probably a much more accurate way to check oil usability short of oil analysis.

GM/WCC would have to prove that your service levels create the problem that caused the damage.

[Clay L]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by oemtech:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The feature I was addressing was the "GM Oil Life System (OLS)" mentioned in your post, not the change oil message. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Just what do you think triggers the change oil message. . </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think I don't know what triggers it. That's why I called WH and asked the question.

We are getting a lot of opinions here but has anyone else called them and got a different answer?
I don't really care which way it's done, but I would like to know for sure if it's mileage or algorithm based.

[Oemtech]

There is no 1 oil life sensor. Its a combination of engine temp, engine rpm, trip length, power usage and many other parameters. The computer algorithm will evaluate this and adjust the change oil message accordingly.

[Fred and Bonnie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by oemtech:
There is no 1 oil life sensor. Its a combination of engine temp, engine rpm, trip length, power usage and many other parameters. The computer algorithm will evaluate this and adjust the change oil message accordingly. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Dale has the correct information. The GM information suggests engine temperature is one of the key inputs. Sometime in the past a forum member had a problem with his water temperature sensor, it went to full hot, even though the engine temps were normal. This incorrect input took the "Oil Life Remaining" to "Zero" even though the oil had just been changed.

Yes owners manuals should be followed; however the "Oil Life Remaining" is a good tool to monitor the quality of your oil between routine oil changes.

Just a side light; climbing the grades on I-70 West of Denver had very little effect on the remaining life. I suspect the low ambient air temps helped, and if this grade was pulled in the Mojave Desert in the middle of the summer, the results would have been different.

fred

[Tom N]

My oil life is set to come up at 3000 miles. So my W24 oil life is a straight 3000 mile odometer calculation done by the Engine Control Module. No fancy algorithms involved. Anyone else have any documentations that states differently????????? Below is a scan of my Suncruiser manual.

-Tom
home after 10 days at the Clarion Co, PA fair.

[Oemtech]

Does your Change Oil Message actually come on at 3k?

Here are a couple of excerpts from the GM site that explains OLS.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">How many miles can I expect to go between oil changes when using this system?
The beauty of the GMOLS 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 highway driving in a warm climate will maximize the interval between oil changes. 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 find that the GMOLS will indicate an oil change every 5000 to 6000 miles. Additionally, most people maintain consistent driving habits. Therefore, their mileage between oil changes will be consistent. Changes in climate will affect this somewhat. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">If more than 500 miles have been driven after an oil change without resetting the GMOLS, the 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. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">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. It is based off an oil performance rating that was introduced in 1968. Since then, there have been many advancements made in both engine and oil technology. These advancements, in conjunction with using the GMOLS, allow engine oil drain intervals to be increased without risking harm to your the engine. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Tom N:
Below is a scan of my Suncruiser manual. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Tom, Perhaps you should have put the Suncruiser's manual in "automatic" ...

Really a 3,000 mile oil change interval is becoming quickly a thing of the past. I have been in a conversation with people in the know that said that a 7,000 mile oil change interval is very possible in a motorhome engine.

I just wish that I could see something in print other than the 3K / 3Mo and I believe that Dale provided that in his post but that's direct from GM and not WCC.

[rondi]

I talked to a guy at WH, on the phone, a few days ago about the mileage between oil changes. I did not ask his name, but he was very forthcoming. He basically said:
1. you can start to use Synthetic oil after the first 500 (five hundred) miles, but your engine will take a bit longer to break in.
2. You can use a Synthetic blend and get 90% of the advantages of using full synthetic.
3. IF you are using the blended synthetic, you can safely increase your length to 5000 miles.
4. IF you use synthetic grease, you can lengthen your interval to 5000 miles also. Synthetic grease keeps the moisture out--he explained.

He also mentioned some engines ship from the factory with full synthetic in them. He also said the WH documentation is out of date, relative to todays engines. He was not sure when it would be updated.

I currently have about 2500 miles to go till the next oil change--at 5500 miles. I just may change to a synthetic oil blend and the NAPA Gold 1060 filter. Once i am done with my Delo Grease EP (NLGI 2), I'll look for full synthetic grease.

ron

[Mutha]

This is from GM Fleet: When To Change Oil