Should I trust the Idiot Lamp to tell me when to change my oil/filter?

[RichWhitehead]

Since I was 18 yrs old I always changed the oil/filter on my cars at 5,000km intervals.

Topic

[joedirt74]

i just recently bought a newer car with an oil life monitor and i talked to the dealership and they told me not to wait till it says change oil go by your mileage and my car has free oil changes for 2 years so i think there being honest

[joedirt74]

i just recently bought a newer car with an oil life monitor and i talked to the dealership and they told me not to wait till it says change oil go by your mileage and my car has free oil changes for 2 years so i think there being honest

[chevyaz]

I would never trust the idiot light always go by mileage,always.

[chevyaz]

I would never trust the idiot light always go by mileage,always.

[dreamer2355]

Its going to depend on the oil you use whether its conventional or synthetic.

Check your owners manual and see what it calls for.

Also some newer vehicles are starting to actually monitor the quality of oil –

http://www.sensorland.com/AppPage064.html

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=954499

[dreamer2355]

Its going to depend on the oil you use whether its conventional or synthetic.

Check your owners manual and see what it calls for.

Also some newer vehicles are starting to actually monitor the quality of oil –

http://www.sensorland.com/AppPage064.html

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=954499

[mckrishes]

Is the date on this topic accurate? Question asked 1 year and 2 months ago and the first response was 6 days and 1 hour ago?

[mckrishes]

Is the date on this topic accurate? Question asked 1 year and 2 months ago and the first response was 6 days and 1 hour ago?

[dreamer2355]

Some of the threads from the old forum did not all transfer correctly 🙁

[dreamer2355]

Some of the threads from the old forum did not all transfer correctly 🙁

[Steffen Nyegaard]

I would inspect the oil myself. European cars go 15-25000km between oil changes and are stresses harder. If you buy a fully synthetic, good oil you should be able to at least double your mileage depending on driving pattern.

[Steffen Nyegaard]

I would inspect the oil myself. European cars go 15-25000km between oil changes and are stresses harder. If you buy a fully synthetic, good oil you should be able to at least double your mileage depending on driving pattern.

[Ken Schneider]

Most engine oil monitors don’t just go by mileage. They look at how many times you started your vehicle on a cold day and went right away instead of warming the vehicle warm up. Also they monitor how you drive the car as far as speed and when you press hard on the skinny pedal. I tell most of the customers at the dealership to go by the sticker we put in the window or when the oil life gets to be about 30%

[Ken Schneider]

Most engine oil monitors don’t just go by mileage. They look at how many times you started your vehicle on a cold day and went right away instead of warming the vehicle warm up. Also they monitor how you drive the car as far as speed and when you press hard on the skinny pedal. I tell most of the customers at the dealership to go by the sticker we put in the window or when the oil life gets to be about 30%

[Author]

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