I have an '04 Chevy Colorado with GMOLS. When I bought it (about 2 years ago) the GMOLS would give me the percentage of oil life left and would tell me when to change the oil. After my first oil change, the system was reset, but it would not longer give me the percentage, it only said when to change the oil. Then it quit telling me when to change the oil, so after a few oil changes (around 4,000-4,500 miles apart, as I was expecting the system to tell me when to change the oil) I went back to 3,000-4,000 mile intervals.

Just yesterday, the change oil message came on, after 2,700 miles. My driving habits/patterns haven't changed in the last few months, I've kept with the 3,000 mile interval, except the last one (about 4,200 miles), so I was perplexed. I know that when GMOLS is operating properly, it calculates when to change the oil based on driving conditions, etc, and it can range from ~2,000 up to 5,000-6,000 for my truck (educated guess).

I had the system checked a few times when my truck was still under warranty , and I consistently got one of two answers: You don't have GMOLS (which is BS) or Your oil system is working properly (which is BS).

I've tried both ways I know to view the oil life messages (using the odometer stick and using the gas peddle).

Anyone else run into problems with this system/know another way to view the messages?

4/23/2008 1:06:42 AM

dont use that.... just do every 3-5K miles like you are

4/23/2008 1:46:49 AM

but I like it better when my shit works like it's supposed to. I didn't/won't necessarily follow the system, I just like knowing it works

4/23/2008 1:52:11 AM

gonna have to pay to have it hooked up to their diagnostic computer.

4/23/2008 2:11:54 AM

most places reset the oil light. it sounds like the last time you had the oil change it wasnt reset. and its time for a diff service?

4/23/2008 2:15:07 AM

^^I've done that before, and that's when I've gotten the BS answers.
^I know the computer was reset multiple times, and it's been at different places

4/23/2008 8:19:51 AM

its really not that accurate, it doesn't know if you're running full synthetic or dino, or anything

i just change it on a regular schedule, 15-20k on mobil 1, and i drive the shit out of it

4/23/2008 9:43:17 AM

^ yea if and u do that you can reset it yourself.... turn the car to "on" but do not start, press gas all the way down 3 qucik times, wait.. and it should reset.
Thanks for coming to TWW Garage

4/23/2008 11:37:45 PM

not sure if its BS, but acura said they would be responsible if anything happens becuase their cars (some) have the same oil life thing. the dealer said that the customer does not need to worry about the oil until it tells you to come in for a change.

who knows. goto the dealer and bitch.

4/23/2008 11:46:25 PM

This is chevrolet, not a honda.

4/23/2008 11:50:19 PM

I don't have answers to your questions, but my 1500 went right at 6500 miles both oil changes since new before getting down to 0%. My commute is 7 miles each way with almost 20 lights, so it's not the easiest on oil. Different engines, but still even with dino oil and modern engines there's no need to change every 3k.
I wouldn't put it past Jiffy lube or wherever you had the oil changed last time to not reset the system.

4/24/2008 7:40:35 AM

Quote :

"ts really not that accurate, it doesn't know if you're running full synthetic or dino, or anything"

true.. i know the 'vettes oil life thing is actually pretty complicated and not just the typical x number of miles. one of the head engineers for the car is on corvetteforum.com and explained how they came up with the algorithms for the oil system. i dunno if this truck uses a similar system but i agree 2700 seems way too low to me

4/24/2008 7:54:23 AM

7500 should be typical, 5000 at the very minimum

4/24/2008 8:17:36 AM

Thank God somebody understands how retarded 3000 mile changes are these days. I've argued with so many fucking people about that because I go at least 5K and usually closer to 7K in every car I've owned. Hell I use mobil1 synthetic though so I could probably go twice that.

4/24/2008 8:40:37 AM

^ mines been changed every 15-20k on mobil1 for 220k miles and still doing fine

[Edited on April 24, 2008 at 9:28 AM. Reason : in a newer engine where the oil doesnt get contaminated, it lasts a long damn time]

4/24/2008 9:27:16 AM