Oil Life Gauge stuck

1LEASYE · 03-05-2021, 04:25 PM

I left this morning and drove 7 hours this morning to Road Atlanta and when I left my house the Oil Life Gauge was at 69% and when I got down to the track, it was still at 69%

Has anyone had this happen to them before where the Oil Life Gauge doesn't move at all? I know you can reset it with the steering wheel controls but I rather ask if this is something that could be a one off problem or a precursor to something else wrong.

Lex2021 · 03-05-2021, 06:17 PM

How many miles did you drive?

1LEASYE · 03-05-2021, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lex2021

How many miles did you drive?

1 way is about 485 miles with a few stops I thought it would drop 1% at least

2SS Capt · 03-05-2021, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1LEASYE

1 way is about 485 miles with a few stops I thought it would drop 1% at least

Maybe after you shut down and restart...

1LEASYE · 03-05-2021, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2SS Capt

Maybe after you shut down and restart...

Tried that several times, even after letting the car sit for 2 hours, it's still at 69%

atx_traveler · 03-05-2021, 08:53 PM

not a bad number to be stuck at. just sayin'

1LEASYE · 03-05-2021, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atx_traveler

not a bad number to be stuck at. just sayin'

Indeed not or as everyone else would say, NICE

cmfhsu · 03-06-2021, 06:30 AM

Haven't run into this, but my OLM has reset itself twice already, so I've just started tracking by mileage. I'm going to start tracking autocross and track hours to see if my mileage estimates are right, but Blackstone's oil analysis reveals I changed way too early.

Lex2021 · 03-07-2021, 05:41 PM

Dont most of the manufacturers run an algorithm which calculates remaining life based upon various factors? So if you car is running at full operating temp, 500 miles might not show even a 1% decrease in life? My girl's BMW would go 12k+++ miles between oil changes depending on driving conditions.

Anyway I realize that 500 mile should show at least 1% reduction, but I'm just being argumentative.

Allez · 03-07-2021, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1LEASYE

I left this morning and drove 7 hours this morning to Road Atlanta and when I left my house the Oil Life Gauge was at 69% and when I got down to the track, it was still at 69%

Has anyone had this happen to them before where the Oil Life Gauge doesn't move at all? I know you can reset it with the steering wheel controls but I rather ask if this is something that could be a one off problem or a precursor to something else wrong.

Do you not drive your car a lot? If that's the case the 69% may be based on time rather than use. For example, if by use/mileage your oil life would have been 89% before, and 82% after your day, but your last oil change was 31% of the maximum 1 year between oil changes, the gauge would have read 69% before and after your day.

1LEASYE · 03-08-2021, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allez

Do you not drive your car a lot? If that's the case the 69% may be based on time rather than use. For example, if by use/mileage your oil life would have been 89% before, and 82% after your day, but your last oil change was 31% of the maximum 1 year between oil changes, the gauge would have read 69% before and after your day.

I didn't even think of that since I had only put about 1k miles on the car in 4 months since it's last oil change and it could be based on time and not usage but it was always my understanding it was usage reading only.

TrackClub · 03-09-2021, 11:17 AM

Drive it in town (as in many stops and starts) for a bit and see if the counter goes down. Hiway driving is the easiest on oil, so it plus time may have something to do with it.

Uncle Sam · 03-09-2021, 10:34 PM

I believe the calculation is based on reaching operating temperature or not and the number of starts more than mileage. My driving mostly short trips means my oil life drops in only about 1000 miles.

Now, what is the mileage that GM is thinking is average? 3500 miles? Mobil 1 was developed for vehicles, like those in the military, that needed long change intervals, 7500 in desert conditions, 15,000 not out of the expected length of use. I find it hard to believe that my fully synthetic Motul is done in 700-800 miles. I think the GM calculations are for semisynthetic at the least recommended mileage maximum of 3500 miles.

BTW, I have changed the oil probably six times in 7300 miles total i have driven this car, just because I track the car once or twice a year. Cheap insurance? Not really when it takes 10 quarts to do an oil change and you use full synthetic.

I'll stop whining now.

Lex2021 · 03-10-2021, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Sam

I believe the calculation is based on reaching operating temperature or not and the number of starts more than mileage. My driving mostly short trips means my oil life drops in only about 1000 miles.

Now, what is the mileage that GM is thinking is average? 3500 miles? Mobil 1 was developed for vehicles, like those in the military, that needed long change intervals, 7500 in desert conditions, 15,000 not out of the expected length of use. I find it hard to believe that my fully synthetic Motul is done in 700-800 miles. I think the GM calculations are for semisynthetic at the least recommended mileage maximum of 3500 miles.

BTW, I have changed the oil probably six times in 7300 miles total i have driven this car, just because I track the car once or twice a year. Cheap insurance? Not really when it takes 10 quarts to do an oil change and you use full synthetic.

I'll stop whining now.

Why would Motul only last 800 miles?

03-05-2021, 04:25 PM	#1
1LEASYE Drives: 2018 Camaro 1SS 1LE Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Central Virginia Posts: 98	Oil Life Gauge stuck I left this morning and drove 7 hours this morning to Road Atlanta and when I left my house the Oil Life Gauge was at 69% and when I got down to the track, it was still at 69% Has anyone had this happen to them before where the Oil Life Gauge doesn't move at all? I know you can reset it with the steering wheel controls but I rather ask if this is something that could be a one off problem or a precursor to something else wrong. __________________ 2018 Camaro 1SS 1LE

03-05-2021, 06:17 PM	#2
Lex2021 Drives: 2021 SS Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: MD Posts: 43	How many miles did you drive?

03-05-2021, 08:53 PM	#6
atx_traveler Drives: blue velvet Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 125	not a bad number to be stuck at. just sayin'

03-06-2021, 06:30 AM	#8
cmfhsu Drives: 2019 2SS 1LE Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: CT Posts: 112	Haven't run into this, but my OLM has reset itself twice already, so I've just started tracking by mileage. I'm going to start tracking autocross and track hours to see if my mileage estimates are right, but Blackstone's oil analysis reveals I changed way too early.

03-07-2021, 05:41 PM	#9
Lex2021 Drives: 2021 SS Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: MD Posts: 43	Dont most of the manufacturers run an algorithm which calculates remaining life based upon various factors? So if you car is running at full operating temp, 500 miles might not show even a 1% decrease in life? My girl's BMW would go 12k+++ miles between oil changes depending on driving conditions. Anyway I realize that 500 mile should show at least 1% reduction, but I'm just being argumentative.

03-09-2021, 11:17 AM	#12
TrackClub Drives: 2020 SS 1LE (previous: 2017 SS 1LE) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Canada, eh! Posts: 5,091	Drive it in town (as in many stops and starts) for a bit and see if the counter goes down. Hiway driving is the easiest on oil, so it plus time may have something to do with it.

03-09-2021, 10:34 PM	#13
Uncle Sam Drives: 2017 Camaro 1LE Hyper Blue Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Rockville, Maryland Posts: 373	I believe the calculation is based on reaching operating temperature or not and the number of starts more than mileage. My driving mostly short trips means my oil life drops in only about 1000 miles. Now, what is the mileage that GM is thinking is average? 3500 miles? Mobil 1 was developed for vehicles, like those in the military, that needed long change intervals, 7500 in desert conditions, 15,000 not out of the expected length of use. I find it hard to believe that my fully synthetic Motul is done in 700-800 miles. I think the GM calculations are for semisynthetic at the least recommended mileage maximum of 3500 miles. BTW, I have changed the oil probably six times in 7300 miles total i have driven this car, just because I track the car once or twice a year. Cheap insurance? Not really when it takes 10 quarts to do an oil change and you use full synthetic. I'll stop whining now.

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