oil change

[qtyne21]

For my '98 C5, should I change the oil every year, or wait 'til the message console tells me to. I only drive about 3-4,000 miles a year.

Steve

 

[CSDMagred01]

Hard to say. Old rule of thumb was every year gets the old oil out that may have built up acid sitting idle. But frankly I would take a sample and send it to a lab before before I just changed it.

 

[ZZRider]

If it were me, I'd change the oil and filter at least annually.

Carmen, how much is an oil analysis and where do you send one? I've heard others mention this as well, just have never checked into it myself. Thanks.

ZZ

 

[C_Dogg]

You can buy an oil analysis kit from Amsoil. I would recomend a change every 12 months wether you need it or not. It's cheap insurance. AND... I would use the very best I could afford!
You just spent large bucks on the car, why chintz on a small thing like oil and a filter? Would you feed a race horse stale, old oats? Same applies to gasoline. Avoid the low price no-name junk. It's NOT the same!

 

[cdr63corv]

bought a oil analysis kit from the local car quest, not sure where I sent it they gave me a canister and a box with the address attached to it, just took it to the post office and mailed it off. Been a little over a year think it was around $18. I did have to ask about it, but would think most parts stores would have it, its getting to be pretty popular with trucking outfits, heavy equipment etc.

 

[mytoyc5]

For my '98 C5, should I change the oil every year, or wait 'til the message console tells me to. I only drive about 3-4,000 miles a year.

Steve

Read the owners manual. It recomends to change the oil atleast once a year. I put about 6,000 miles on mine a year and change it before I store it for winter.

 

[rsimoes]

The manual says every year OR when the DIC says so. . . keyword, OR. . . If you want to follow those instructions, do it every year.

I do mine every 3000 miles or 6 months, because the oil gets dirty, even though it will probably never break down, being Mobil 1 and all and use Mobil1 5W30, it's preffered in ALL temperatures. . . besides changing "too often" will not hurt the car, and it's an expensive car to take any chances. . . yeah, I take it to a recycling center. . .

 

[CSDMagred01]

If it were me, I'd change the oil and filter at least annually.

Carmen, how much is an oil analysis and where do you send one? I've heard others mention this as well, just have never checked into it myself. Thanks.

ZZ

Sorry for the late reply, been in Germany for the last 2 weeks.

I have been using Blackstone Labs for all my vehicles for the last few years. They are very good at commentary and analysis beyond just the numbers. They were also picked by a group doing a comparison Mobil 1/ Amsoil wear analysis on LS1's on the net.
www.blackstone-labs.com

 

[ROCKnROLL]

For my '98 C5, should I change the oil every year, or wait 'til the message console tells me to. I only drive about 3-4,000 miles a year.

Steve

I use amsoil and change it once a year.
I change the filter every six months.
I only put about 2,500 to 3,000 miles on it per year.