[c4racer]

Originally Posted by Clam

I did my first oil change at 500 miles, then whenever the Oil Life Gauge drops to 10-15% after that. I only drive the car 100-200 miles a month, so I change the oil based on the gauge life.

the manual also says change every year even if you don't reach the oil life per the gauge. Makes things simpler if you are driving under 5K per year which is not going to drop to 0% within the year. Last year I didn't get there and got to it after 13 months - oil life still showed 40-50%.

Interestingly my Porsche accounts for the 1 year even if you don't get there on miles in the service indicator display. That car is 10K interval and I never make that one.

[pauly1119]

500, 1000, 1500 now will do every 2500

[Clam]

Originally Posted by c4racer

the manual also says change every year even if you don't reach the oil life per the gauge. Makes things simpler if you are driving under 5K per year which is not going to drop to 0% within the year. Last year I didn't get there and got to it after 13 months - oil life still showed 40-50%.

Interestingly my Porsche accounts for the 1 year even if you don't get there on miles in the service indicator display. That car is 10K interval and I never make that one.

Oh yeah, I'm aware of changing the oil yearly if the mileage or gauge life don't reach the limits.

But for me, the oil gauge drops to the 10-15% mark within 9-11 months with the low miles I drive to autorcoss events! YMMV

[Jimmy'18]

I'm at 2,800 miles and the oil is starting to darken. I think I'll change it this weekend and go with Amsoil like I did in my 2011 5.3L pickup. It was a valve ticking monster from brand new until about 15k when I switched from Mobil 1 to Amsoil which is strange. Now, at 44k, it's extremely quiet. I had used Mobil 1 with great success in other brand new cars. No explanation as to why my truck hated it.

[mlee]

Originally Posted by c4racer

The manual says change when the DIC read 0% oil life.

You can follow that if you want to. These DI engines (all mfgs) seem to be built on pretty tight clearances and are very sensitive to clean oil. I chose to go on the conservative side and replaced around 50% life reading. Others are more conservative. Some folks follow the GM recommendation, which I find a bit risky personally. Most cars these days do not require an early break in oil change and simply recommend the normal change interval right from the start. On both my newer chevys I went with the ~50% reading. On the new Jeep we bought for our daughter to drive I just went with 5K which is more the normal change timing.

Originally Posted by NeverDie

Here is the recommended procedure from the Track Prep Guide, which is a supplement to the Owner's Manual:

https://camarosofmichigan.com/2018/2..._guide-min.pdf

Reference the "Recommended first oil change" section. I don't believe this is included in the original revision of the Owner's Manual, but you can reference your own for closure there.

Thank you... I sort of knew the answer when I posted but wanted to see it posted in here for future reference. The only place you will find this 500 mile oil change is in the track prep guide.

If you're supposed to do a 1,500 mile break in under 80 mph it's sort of strange a 500 mile oil change is required for track prep when you shouldn't be tracking anyway.

[Gunkk]

Originally Posted by mlee

Thank you... I sort of knew the answer when I posted but wanted to see it posted in here for future reference. The only place you will find this 500 mile oil change is in the track prep guide.

If you're supposed to do a 1,500 mile break in under 80 mph it's sort of strange a 500 mile oil change is required for track prep when you shouldn't be tracking anyway.

The 500 mile change is also in the crate-engine breakin procedure (step 11-12). My bet is both documents were written either by the Engine team or the Chevy Performance team... where the warranty bean counters had less oversight.

[NeverDie]

Originally Posted by mlee

If you're supposed to do a 1,500 mile break in under 80 mph it's sort of strange a 500 mile oil change is required for track prep when you shouldn't be tracking anyway.

If the engine were the only thing you are breaking in, I would agree. There are many other components, however; which require varying degrees of heat cycles and friction to fully mate before extreme use.

[c4racer]

In addition to the warranty bean counters you also have the pre-paid maintenance bean counters and the cost of ownership 3 years metrics and things like that. Overrules the engine team, since almost no matter what you do to them these motors are going to last the warranty period.