Oil change frequency - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Gstick · 09-17-2022, 05:02 PM

Please help to settle a dispute.

I know a guy that has a C6 Corvette with an LS3 engine. (all stock with less than 15,000 miles) He ownly uses Mobil 1 full synthetic 5W30 oil & Mobil 1 oil filters. His oil & filter haven't been changed since 2020 but, there is only 1700 miles driven since that oil was last changed. The car is parked in a heated garage during the winter months when the car is not driven. He says that the oil is good for a minimum of 5000 miles. I say that the oil sitting in the oil pan has contaminants from sitting so long & I would change it now before he does any engine damage.

Who is right ?

CPCNY · 09-17-2022, 05:16 PM

He's right.

SIM GhostrdrZ · 09-17-2022, 05:21 PM

From Mobil 1 if this answers your question

Gstick · 09-17-2022, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPCNY

He's right.

So in your opinion, the oil is still good for proper lubrication & engine wear protection ?

I'm not saying that you are wrong, I just want to educate my self on this subject.

xstuntman · 09-17-2022, 07:50 PM

IMHO changing it yearly in a V8 (about $40 currently?) would be cheap insurance.
Peace of mind vs saving a buck, your choice.

Gstick · 09-17-2022, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xstuntman

IMHO changing it yearly in a V8 (about $40 currently?) would be cheap insurance.
Peace of mind vs saving a buck, your choice.

I agree with you 100%.

CPCNY · 09-18-2022, 05:00 PM

Think about it. How many miles on the oil? The car is rarely driven. Synthetic oil is much better than conventional oil. Do dealers change the oil on cars sitting on the lot? The oil is good for much more than 1700 miles. There's a filter to remove contaminants. It that filter overloaded at that few miles? It's not like the car has been sitting there for 10 years. My car gets driven about 1000 miles a year. I'm done changing it every year . It's not needed. Improvement in oil and materials don't support it.

silversleeper · 09-18-2022, 05:21 PM

The right way to know is send a sample to blackstone labs for analysis.
The thing to look for is that corrosion performance number. I think is is a base, as in opposite of acid, to neutralize the acids the form and cause corrosion. I believe the oil and OEMS like to throw around 1year as a needing change for that, beside the miles.
I would be curious how it comes out if analyzed, in their report they make comments like it would have been good for another 6mo.

Gstick · 09-18-2022, 06:10 PM

Thanks for all of the replies. I was just curious what the majority on here would think about this situation.

Rob3D · 09-18-2022, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPCNY

Think about it. How many miles on the oil? The car is rarely driven. Synthetic oil is much better than conventional oil. Do dealers change the oil on cars sitting on the lot? The oil is good for much more than 1700 miles. There's a filter to remove contaminants. It that filter overloaded at that few miles? It's not like the car has been sitting there for 10 years. My car gets driven about 1000 miles a year. I'm done changing it every year . It's not needed. Improvement in oil and materials don't support it.

While your answer is sound, don’t rely on anything dealerships do or don’t do. Lol

CamaroDreams76 · 09-18-2022, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xstuntman

IMHO changing it yearly in a V8 (about $40 currently?) would be cheap insurance.
Peace of mind vs saving a buck, your choice.

LS3s are 8qts. So 80 bucks plus a filter then tax depending on state. Usually is 96 dollars with me doing the labor. Now it'll be 3k because I want piece of mind with my cam

Takes me 14-16 months to put 5k on my car. Thats when it gets changed.

pyroguy · 09-18-2022, 09:01 PM

I haven't driven enough miles in a year to justify multiple oil changes in my Camaro for a couple years now. However, I always do at minimum, an annual oil change. It's cheap insurance to ensure the oil is still doing what it's supposed to do.

NOT A 45 · 09-19-2022, 06:27 AM

I'm not saying I agree with it but......the algorithm for the oil life monitor in GM cars will prompt you to change the oil after 1 year regardless of mileage. I've changed the oil in my mom's Cruze 4 times now and her car has less than 3000 miles on it! Apparently oil can sit in the ground for a million years or so, but 1 year in the oil pan is no good?

ZED SLED · 09-19-2022, 06:58 AM

My ZL1 is at the dealer getting its annual oil change right now. It's been almost a year and the OLM shows 9%. I've driven it less that 300 miles since the last change. While I'm sure the oil is fine, I question how long the media in the filter actually lasts. Like already stated, an annual change is cheap insurance. They let me provide my own oil and filter. Two 5 qt jugs Mobil 1 5W-30 @$25/ea plus an AC filter $6.

09-17-2022, 05:02 PM	#1
Gstick Drives: 2015 Camaro SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: southwestern, PA Posts: 276	Oil change frequency Please help to settle a dispute. I know a guy that has a C6 Corvette with an LS3 engine. (all stock with less than 15,000 miles) He ownly uses Mobil 1 full synthetic 5W30 oil & Mobil 1 oil filters. His oil & filter haven't been changed since 2020 but, there is only 1700 miles driven since that oil was last changed. The car is parked in a heated garage during the winter months when the car is not driven. He says that the oil is good for a minimum of 5000 miles. I say that the oil sitting in the oil pan has contaminants from sitting so long & I would change it now before he does any engine damage. Who is right ?

09-17-2022, 05:21 PM	#3
SIM GhostrdrZ Drives: ‘14 Z/28 ‘14 ZL1 M6 vert Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,283 View My Garage	From Mobil 1 if this answers your question Attached Images

09-17-2022, 07:50 PM	#5
xstuntman Drives: 2012 Victory Red LFX Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: west central Texas Posts: 1,310	IMHO changing it yearly in a V8 (about $40 currently?) would be cheap insurance. Peace of mind vs saving a buck, your choice. __________________ 2018 SS wheels, red Heritage grille, actual driving lights, ZL1 strut tower brace, GM Performance billet aluminum fuel door, front grille Bowtie delete, painted red rotors and calipers, 1/4 window American Flags, splash guards, AEM dry panel air filter.

09-18-2022, 09:01 PM	#12
pyroguy Started#gottalovethatblue Drives: ABM #831 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: TN Posts: 6,914 View My Garage	I haven't driven enough miles in a year to justify multiple oil changes in my Camaro for a couple years now. However, I always do at minimum, an annual oil change. It's cheap insurance to ensure the oil is still doing what it's supposed to do. __________________ '10 Camaro 2SS/RS \| Aqua Blue #831 of 3,903 \| Silver Stripes Check out my build thread

09-19-2022, 06:58 AM	#14
ZED SLED Drives: 2017 Mosaic Bk ZL1 M6 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South of Raleigh, NC Posts: 9,473 View My Garage	My ZL1 is at the dealer getting its annual oil change right now. It's been almost a year and the OLM shows 9%. I've driven it less that 300 miles since the last change. While I'm sure the oil is fine, I question how long the media in the filter actually lasts. Like already stated, an annual change is cheap insurance. They let me provide my own oil and filter. Two 5 qt jugs Mobil 1 5W-30 @$25/ea plus an AC filter $6. __________________

09-17-2022, 05:16 PM	#2
CPCNY Drives: 2010 2SS/RS, VR ext/Blk Int Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Baldwinsville, NY Posts: 330	He's right.

09-18-2022, 05:00 PM	#7
CPCNY Drives: 2010 2SS/RS, VR ext/Blk Int Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Baldwinsville, NY Posts: 330	Think about it. How many miles on the oil? The car is rarely driven. Synthetic oil is much better than conventional oil. Do dealers change the oil on cars sitting on the lot? The oil is good for much more than 1700 miles. There's a filter to remove contaminants. It that filter overloaded at that few miles? It's not like the car has been sitting there for 10 years. My car gets driven about 1000 miles a year. I'm done changing it every year . It's not needed. Improvement in oil and materials don't support it.

09-18-2022, 05:21 PM	#8
silversleeper Big Crow Drives: '13 ZL1 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: California Posts: 1,483	The right way to know is send a sample to blackstone labs for analysis. The thing to look for is that corrosion performance number. I think is is a base, as in opposite of acid, to neutralize the acids the form and cause corrosion. I believe the oil and OEMS like to throw around 1year as a needing change for that, beside the miles. I would be curious how it comes out if analyzed, in their report they make comments like it would have been good for another 6mo.

09-18-2022, 06:10 PM	#9
Gstick Drives: 2015 Camaro SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: southwestern, PA Posts: 276	Thanks for all of the replies. I was just curious what the majority on here would think about this situation.

09-19-2022, 06:27 AM	#13
NOT A 45 Drives: 13 CAMARO 2SS LS3-04 SILVERADO LS3 Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: SOUTHERN MARYLAND Posts: 802	I'm not saying I agree with it but......the algorithm for the oil life monitor in GM cars will prompt you to change the oil after 1 year regardless of mileage. I've changed the oil in my mom's Cruze 4 times now and her car has less than 3000 miles on it! Apparently oil can sit in the ground for a million years or so, but 1 year in the oil pan is no good?