Author Topic: How advanced is the DIC for engine oil life? (Read 11908 times)

tazz · « **on:** February 17, 2009, 03:07:56 PM »

The reason I ask is that I just found out the Ford Dealership that I bought the Solstice from did do a oil and filter change but used Ford Synthetic blend oil instead of Mobil1.
I asked the same ? to my local Pontiac Dealer Service Manager and he really wasn't sure on all the parameters the PCM used to calculate the oil life and if it is actually based on Mobil1's makeup or if it can differentiate and tell if a lesser quality oil is being used and tell you to change your oil more frequently with the lesser quality oil?
Another Service guy which I assume was his Assistant said he thought it could differentiate to some degree the quality of the oil being used and calculate a more frequent change interval for the lesser quality oil.
I'm not racing the Solstice so Im thinking I should be ok but maybe change the oil & filter @ 3K just to be safe.
Thanks

Cheers · « **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2009, 03:22:26 PM »

How much does 5 qts of Mobil 1 and a good filter cost? (check out AutoZone Bosch 3324) How much is your car or more importantly peace of mind worth? If you are not sure just change it and reset the DIC. I have changed mine around every 5K when the DIC is around 50%...

Smiling Clint · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2009, 03:38:53 PM »

I have mine changed about every 5K also. The dealer uses Amsoil. GM does qualify other oils.

Critterman · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2009, 05:03:07 PM »

10k on mine, dic says there is still 20% left

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2009, 05:12:47 PM »

First, is your car a GXP? Second, the GXP requires synthetic to protect the turbo components as regular oil would coke or burn and build up deposits. The DIC is very accurate. I'm waiting until my mine says change oil soon. I have oil/filter sitting at home. Today's technology is not very well known/understood even by the dealers. My dealer said I needed to change it every 3k. The engineers at the Kappa Plant in Wilmington told me to trust the DIC and change it it says to. I don't remember all the things he told me it checks but I trust the engineers, not a dealer prick. Oh, and trusting the engineers saves me money as I don't have to change the oil as often.

tazz · « **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2009, 05:15:08 PM »

Im not really worried since I ran the synthetic blend in my Supercharged Ford application for 6yrs now with no problems. I dont baby that truck I drive it like I stole it and has seen track time also. But the truck didnt have a turbo either that was lubricted by the engine oil either. Since the oil used is a Syn Blend it should protect better than Conv oil but not as good as Full Syn.
Im more asking just to know since the service Mgr really didnt know or didnt want to say but his assistant wasnt as shy.
Yes GXP.
Has about 1K with the Syn blend oil change.
What I was thinking is it should be OK and at between 2-3K give it the good stuff and call it good.

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2009, 05:18:41 PM »

There is your answer, he's a service mgr, not a GM engineer. Don't worry about it and follow the DIC

tazz · « **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2009, 05:21:32 PM »

I'll trust an engineer over almost anyone most others know only what they have read not what they Know.

Sly Bob · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2009, 05:29:52 PM »

GM says to use the Oil Life Monitor on the GXP. If that wasn't a valid system can you imagine the warranty claims that they would have?

As long as the synthetic Ford oil that they put in the car meets the GM sceps for our engines (GM 4718M for the 2.0L) you will be fine to use the DIC for your oil change intervals.

Here's what GM says about this and there is a link to a video as well.

http://www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility/environment/maintenance/simplified_maintenance_040104.jsp

My dealer recommends following the Oil Life Monitor unless they get a customer that tells them otherwise.

Some people are set in their ways and don't mind wasting a little oil.

Just make sure that Ford oil meets the spec.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeLV9v5vvzw&feature=related

edit: added YouTube link to the GM video.

KWhale · « **Reply #9 on:** February 17, 2009, 05:36:04 PM »

Hi Tazz. I can't answer your original question either, well not all of it. The Oil Life calculations, from what I have been able to find and read about them, have NO idea what oil you put in your crank. The remaining oil life is an algorithm that does calculations on many many things, including oil temps, how hard the car is driven, did the oil get to full running temp before shut off, etc etc. The problem for you right now is that those algorithms are based on step 1 - put Synthetic 5-30 oil in the crank.

In one of your post above you stated "Since the oil used is a Syn Blend it should protect better than Conv oil but not as good as Full Syn." If that means your dealer did not put 100% Synthetic 5-30 oil in your car, then the readout on the DIC is meaningless to you for one, and I think you will need to change that oil out. I'm not sure what happens when regular or part regular oil is used in our cars, but for the potential cost of a turbo ($$$$), I would throw $25 at the car right now, and get that blended oil out of there.

Just my 2 cents, and you should just do whatever helps you sleep at night. There are more opinions about oil than there are axxholes, and I've just provided you with mine (opinion that is)

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #10 on:** February 17, 2009, 05:40:10 PM »

Good point kwhale, I didn't catch the "blend" part. Get that crap out of there right away...

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #11 on:** February 17, 2009, 05:44:02 PM »

Great find Sly Bob

http://www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility/environment/maintenance/myth_video.jsp

Sly Bob · « **Reply #12 on:** February 17, 2009, 06:04:16 PM »

Gotta love Google!

Tazz, many oils that meet the GM 4718M spec for the 2.0L engine may not be on the list that can be found on that site that I linked to. Just make sure that the oil that they used does and the only way to do that is to see the container.

If it does not, as Joe said, "Get it out of there!"
and don't wait for another 3,000 miles.

tazz · « **Reply #13 on:** February 17, 2009, 06:51:22 PM »

That's what I wanted to know.
I was also able to talk to someone who actually works on turbo's for a living and he said for the little time it the Syn blend has been in there 1000 miles no harm has been done unless Ive been track racing the car then there might be a problem.
He suggests that I change it out within the next 1000 miles and Don't wait 3-5K also until I change it out go easy and not race at every light.
Thanks guys.

spicy3480 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 17, 2009, 08:05:12 PM »

I always follow my DIC as well. When it gets to 20%, I change out the oil and filter...like someone said above...the cost of an oil change is well worth saving the cost of making major repairs in the future.

lil goat · « **Reply #15 on:** February 18, 2009, 01:41:54 AM »

A good synthetic blend will NOT hurt the car in any way, a conventional oil will not either. It just gives less protection, especially when it gets hot. It absolutely in and of itself will NOT cause any damage, you are more likely to get damage from using the improper weight oil. Remember that oil is to lubricate and cool the engine, better oil only gives more protection against extreme conditions and turbos have been in use longer than synthetic oil. I use the best oil I can find but Mobil 1 makes a synthetic blend too, and it is GM approved. Let's not all scream the sky is falling, I am sure the Ford Syn blend will be fine Ford makes turbo charged cars too. For those of us with the 7200 rpm redlines from an aftermatket tune, the correct oil is much more significant.
One of the reasons that synthetic oil is specified is because the DIC has to have a calibration standard, it's calulations are based on the oil being synthetic if you use a non synthetic it will throw of the calulations as conentional oil needs to be changed more often. It does not have a way of telling what kind of oil you put in, it is set to expect synthetic (that is why the Owners Manual calls for it) it does monitor your driving style and the ambiant temps, how much highway versus city driving and if you run the engine at low or high rpms. If you use a good synthetic it is very accurate, and remember that it can be up to 69% conventional oil and still called synthetic. The oil I use reccomends that the oil be changed every 12,000 miles it is 100% synthethic, no way will my oil ever see 12,000 miles for me the DIC usually says change soon at about 7000-9000 depending on the way I have been driving and the ambiant temperature. I had been changing about every 5000 miles, I am now just going to follow the DIC at $14.95 a quart I want to get all I can out of the oil and I have faith I the oil will hold up.

tazz · « **Reply #16 on:** February 18, 2009, 04:23:47 AM »

What you stated above I think is what the guy that works on turbo's was trying to get across to me. That I would be fine since I basically have no mods but if I'm racing all the time then I might have problems if I continue to use the Syn blend when the manual calls for Full Syn. He did mention something about the DIC being thrown off since it bases it's calcs on Syn oil. He also said he tends to side on the caution side since if he doesn't come across kinda hard people might tend to become relaxed on the use of regular oil vs the Syn oil if called for in the application. Kinda like our vehicles stock can use either 87-93 octane fuel but we really should be using the 92-93 octane stock if we want the vehicle to perform as it was designed.
In any case since I'm not street racing at every light and not planing to track race anytime soon I will probably change the oil in a few weeks around 1k just so I know what is going on and that if I do want to push the Sols hard I can and know the oil is going to hold up.
Thanks guys for looking out for me.

Sly Bob · « **Reply #17 on:** February 18, 2009, 08:45:42 AM »

Yeah you may be okay but do you really want to chance it? I don't know that it's worth the risk.

sol_man · « **Reply #18 on:** February 18, 2009, 09:21:17 AM »

I'm glad you guys posted this, I wasn't sure about going way past the 3k mark myself but feel better now. I do have the oil & filter just waiting for that day but right now I'm in the 70% area.
Thanks!!

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #19 on:** February 18, 2009, 10:14:19 AM »

I've got about 5k miles since my last oil change and I'm at 45%. 10 of the 12 miles I travel to work are highway

Lucy'sDaddy · « **Reply #20 on:** February 28, 2009, 08:28:42 AM »

Quote from: DeepBlueGXP on February 17, 2009, 05:44:02 PM

Great find Sly Bob

http://www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility/environment/maintenance/myth_video.jsp

Since Mobil 1 has been IMPOSSIBLE to find in 5 qt jugs until now, I started using Q Horsepower oil, because of the availability in 5 qt jugs. I just bought another jug, and am staying switched, because at $18/5 qt vs $26/5 qt for Mobil 1, I feel the oil is JUST as good at 2/3s the cost, and I go through A LOT of oil in 4 vehicles.

I would like to switch to RP XPR this summer, but the economy has to improve before I'm spending THAT kind of money on a case of oil right now. Or is it THAT much better that the GM 4718M oils?

snaponbob · « **Reply #21 on:** February 28, 2009, 10:44:20 AM »

First, a disclaimer; I would not use Quaker State oil if it were free. I used their products years ago and did NOT like the way it frothed up in short trip driving since it reacted so poorly to moisture.

With THAT out of the way, if you have an LNF engine you better stay with "synthetic" type oils, of which there is TWO in the Q.S. line up. In checking the parts stores it seems that Q.S. Advanced is as expensive as Mobil 1. If I were to change brands it would be to Castrol.

lil goat · « **Reply #22 on:** March 01, 2009, 10:35:04 AM »

I agree with Bob, turbo's cost a lot more than oil. I used Q years ago pulled the valve cover and it was full of white goo never again.

Cheers · « **Reply #23 on:** March 01, 2009, 01:59:30 PM »

Not sure what the replacement cost of the turbo or engine is, but even at $10 a qt. if it was the best on the market it would be what I would use. I have been getting 5qt bottles of Mobil 1 5-30 at Wally World since June 07. I change about 5-6K when the DIC is in the 40s --- I drive hard and cheapest maintenance I know of is oil and filter change,

tazz · « **Reply #24 on:** March 01, 2009, 06:44:36 PM »

I talked to a few engine builders with Turbo and supercharged applications and they said it's not going to hurt as long as Im not using regular Dyno oil on a regular bases. The Syn blend will protect more so than the regular Dyno oil and as long as Im not track racing Id be fine.
They did say that If I dont beleive them I could change it out at or before 2K.
Bottom line the Syn blend isnt going to be in there that long and hasn't been I changed it at 1300 miles. Thanks for the concern but I think Id be fine. I dont plan on having the stock turbo in there forever and will probably go with a different turbo setup in 3yrs anyway.
Thanks guys

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Author Topic: How advanced is the DIC for engine oil life? (Read 11908 times)

lil goat

lil goat