[CamaroSS50]

When I got the car, they did an oil change just around 120 miles, as the oil monitor said it was less than 50% when it was delivered.

Fast forward, I have barely 1300 miles on it and it is at 48% per the monitor.

Do I really need to get an oil change with so little miles on the odometer?

I have always been one to get my cars oil changed in the 3-5K mile range, but isn't this extreme?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks and a Very Merry Christmas to all!

[Gunkk]

The algorithm includes time, and will go to zero in 365 days even if you drive zero miles.

[Silverado57]

Oil is cheap. Cars are not.

I picked up my 2017 SS in October of this year with 82 miles on it. It had been on the lot for over a year. I drove it for about 500 miles and had the oil changed (free) at the dealer. The oil monitor was around 50% before the change.

My policy is to change the oil in a vehicle (car, motorcycle) every year or every 5,000 miles, whichever comes first. With an oil monitor, I wouldn't go much below 20%. YMMV

[ChetCamaro]

Originally Posted by Gunkk

The algorithm includes time, and will go to zero in 365 days even if you drive zero miles.

That is a nice addition. My 2014 went a full year( about 5.5K miles), still had 25% left. Luckily my OnStar diagnostic notice called it out. I've become so reliant on the indicator, I don't pay attention to time or miles.

[VinnAY]

I didn't know about time being in the algorithim if indeed true but I do notice subjectively what I remember from my Mustang's oil life this one in the Camaro is dropping like a rock with basically the same driving style. I still will only change the oil in Spring and Fall, I do about 12K annually and will not change it any more than twice per year using full synthetics.

But then most of you guys seem to generate a great deal of angst and anxiety over a simple oil change, too.

[Glen e]

Originally Posted by VinnAY

I didn't know about time being in the algorithim if indeed true but I do notice subjectively what I remember from my Mustang's oil life this one in the Camaro is dropping like a rock with basically the same driving style.

Of course it's true, If gunnk says it, it's true. I put a Camaro away for a summer which was three months, had 100% , when I came back it was 75%.

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by CamaroSS50

When I got the car, they did an oil change just around 120 miles, as the oil monitor said it was less than 50% when it was delivered.

Fast forward, I have barely 1300 miles on it and it is at 48% per the monitor.

Do I really need to get an oil change with so little miles on the odometer?

I have always been one to get my cars oil changed in the 3-5K mile range, but isn't this extreme?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks and a Very Merry Christmas to all!

I don't understand how yours could be at less than 50% with 120 miles. I can understand 48% at 1300 miles, but even that seems excessive. OTOH others have said it also counts time, so if yours was sitting a long time before being sold, and then if you've not been driving it a lot, well then it makes sense.

But to answer your question - you don't "need" an oil change at 48% - it's only approximately half expired.

[Chef-j]

if i dont drive much, i like to keep it at 3k or 6 months. Two months now on mine, i only drove 1k miles and it says 85% on Monitor.

[karmatourer]

Originally Posted by Glen e

Of course it's true, If gunnk says it, it's true. I put a Camaro away for a summer which was three months, had 100% , when I came back it was 75%.

And that 25% loss over the summer is simply absurd.

[Glen e]

Originally Posted by karmatourer

And that 25% loss over the summer is simply absurd.

I see nothing "absurd" about it at all. Most of the major oil companies and the oil sites will tell you that they want the oil changed within one year, no matter how much you've driven it. Therefore sitting for three months is worth 25% of the year, and the oil.