Does this show the actual resistance of the oild or does it just show milage and do people use this for Oil changes

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It uses a formula based off RPMs, engine temperature, engine load, and various other parameters to calculate the breakdown and contamination of the oil. It relies on you to reset it when the oil is changed.

GM did a LOT of research (meaning, lots of money) on this with oil analysis to program the OLM and it works surprisingly well. Knowing what I know now about how much GM went through and how accurate it can be, I would not have an issue going until the OLM said the oil is bad. I reset it every time I change the oil.

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2004 Impala LS - got some mods
NAIOA Moderator

Making you think twice before picking on Impalas

and gms oil system is one the best out there. i change mine when it gets to about 30%

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We can’t help ourselves. We see a line, we want to cross it. Maybe it’s the thrill for trading the familiar for the unfamliliar. A personal dare. The only problem is once you’ve crossed it’s almost impossible to go back. But if you do manage to make it back across that line you find safety in numbers.

So knowing this, when do you recommend to change the oil? When the monitor gets to 0%?

I change mine every 3k miles and the OLM is around 65-70%.

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1997 GTP - 200k+ miles, PEMs, 3" SS Exhaust w/ Borla Mufflers, 3.4", 180* stat(summer), FWI, 1.84 RR, PT, SLP hood, KYB GR2s, GMPP Handling Kit, etc...

To be honest, I'm not sure. On the Impala (well, 00-05 models) you can't view the percentage left. It just comes up one day on the message center and says "Change oil Soon". However, if I could see the percentage, I'd be comfortable getting in the 15-25% range.

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2004 Impala LS - got some mods
NAIOA Moderator

Making you think twice before picking on Impalas

I agree with Sabrewings. the GM OLM was one thing they did engineer well and is accurate. I usually reset mine at 0%. When it hits 0, I get an oil sample and send it in for analysis and keep on truckin' until the oil analysis says its time to be changed. That usually happens between 7500 - 8000 miles.

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Scotty Hall
Bartlesville, OK
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it.

The only limitation you will ever face in life is yourself!

I change mine 3k or less no matter what it says. On all my vehicles I change it when it begins to look dirty even if its less than 3k. I never go over 3k. I had a 1991 3.1L lumina go 275k, a 93 3/4 ton chevy work truck go 400k and neither had any major repairs. So I'm a believer Changing too often can do no harm, and probably contributed to my engine's longevity.

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2008 Spring Autofair "Best Of Show"
2007 Fall Autofair " Best Of Show"
2007 Spring Autofair "Cleanest Engine Bay"

That's very wasteful. Just because the oil is dark doesn't mean it's "dirty". It's doing its job of trapping and suspending carbon, which a good oil will start to turn dark in the first few hundred miles.

Motor Oil Myths and Facts

Changing oil does help, but changing it at 3k isn't going to make a difference over 5k (or more) if you're using a quality oil.

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2004 Impala LS - got some mods
NAIOA Moderator

Making you think twice before picking on Impalas

I ran across a study a couple years ago that indicated that after an oil change, wear actually spiked. In other words, wear went up initially then settled. I havent seen any follow up studies yet but if it were to pan out and wear particles do actually increase initially after an oil change, then that would mean there could be 'some' harm in changing it too often.

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Scotty Hall
Bartlesville, OK
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it.

The only limitation you will ever face in life is yourself!

If you use synthetic over convetional will the Car take that in to consideration when telling you the % of life left

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