Change Oil Light Question

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buzzsaw - 16 Jun 2005 01:49 GMT

I have a 2000 Camaro SS with 15,000 miles on it. I store it winter/sprint
and mostly drive it during summer and fall - less than half the year, rarely
putting more than 2000 miles on it a year.

Last October I used Mobile One synthetic for the first time, it is now June
and I have only drove 1,000 miles on the oil.

While driving today, the 'change oil' light came on for about 25 seconds and
then disappeared and has yet to come back on.

My question is, does the light actually "monitor" the oil effectiveness or
does it only a 3,000 mile calculator?
Since the light went off ... is it ok to continue to drive with current oil
because of the low mileage? I was going to change the oil again in the fall
before I put the car away for the winter.

Thanks in advance.

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Cy Welch - 17 Jun 2005 00:18 GMT

> I have a 2000 Camaro SS with 15,000 miles on it. I store it winter/sprint
> and mostly drive it during summer and fall - less than half the year, rarely
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Thanks in advance.

My understanding is that even with synthetic you should change the oil
at least every 6 months regardless of the milage. With low milage you
are going to tend to have more moisture type contaminents than with higher.

Signature

Cy Welch
Senior Programmer
MetSYS Inc
http://www.metsysinc.com

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Jimmy - 17 Jun 2005 18:07 GMT

First question, and I'm assuming you do this when you change your oil,
did you reset the Chaing Oil light? You stick the key in the ignition,
turn to the run (NOT start), press the trip meter and wait until the
Chaing Oil light flashes. It's now reset.

Now, as far as the oil monitoring system goes, it's not just a function
of mileage. It is a function of RPM's as well. If the engine has been
revved high for those 1000 miles, yes, you may have to change the oil.
As far as the oil monitoring system measuring the effectiveness of oil,
I do not believe that is the case. It monitors how many revolutions the
engine has gone since the last oil change AFAIU.

Is it ok to keep driving with the current oil? I don't know. If you
reset the oil monitoring system afer your recent Mobil 1 oil change and
it comes on, I suggest you change it. However keep in mind that you are
using Mobil 1 and synthetics can go longer between draining intervals.
Also keep in mind that the Oil life monitoring sytem in your 2000 has a
conservative program. I think they extended the interval in the 01 and
02 LS1's...

I have an 00 Z and put on about the same miles as you do. My oil change
light has never come on and I've had the car since new. I change the
oil once a year (Mobil 1)

HTH

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