Goodwrench is sending a few automotive maintenance myths to the scrap heap in an effort to help consumers save money, time and wear and tear on the environment. The effort continues with the biggest myth in the business, the often-recommended 3,000-mile / three-month oil change.
GM is debunking this myth with its patented engine Oil Life System (OLS). Because GM’s OLS tells vehicle owners exactly when to change their oil based on individual driving habits, a motorist who drives an average of 15,000 miles per year, this could mean between two to three fewer oil changes annually.
“ The GM Oil Life System monitors combustion events, engine temperature and other parameters to gauge the oil's life,” said Matthew Snider, GM’s lead engineer for the GM Oil Life System . “Over the years, millions of test miles have been accumulated to calibrate the system for a variety of vehicles. Keeping pace with technology, the system continues to be upgraded periodically to account for advances in lubrication and engine design.”
Besides saving time and money, cutting out unnecessary oil changes also helps protect the environment. According to Margo Reid Brown, director of the California Environmental Protection Agency’s California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB), just one gallon of oil that makes its way into our waterways can pollute a million gallons of water.
More than 97 percent of GM vehicles sold today in the U.S. and more than 31 million GM vehicles currently on American roads are equipped with the OLS. The system is based on an algorithm that tracks engine revolutions and temperature, and predicts oil life based on these parameters and driver use. If all drivers of GM vehicles currently equipped with the system in the U.S. use the system as intended, they would save more than 100 million gallons of motor oil consumed annually, compared to the 3,000 mile interval.
The American Petroleum Institute states that more than 1 billion gallons of motor oil are sold each year in the U.S. Of this, about 185 million gallons of used motor oil are disposed of improperly each year – dumped onto the ground, tossed into the trash or poured down the drain, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Earlier this year, the California Environmental Protection Agency’s California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) and General Motors joined forces to encourage drivers to follow their vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations on oil changes.
“Drivers across the country can do their part by debunking this myth and not wasting oil that still has life by changing it prematurely,” said the CIWMB’s Brown.
How OLS works
GM’s Oil Life System uses a special computerized algorithm that monitors engine speed and temperature, and continuously examines engine conditions to determine when it's time to change the motor oil. GM’s Oil Life System will automatically adjust the oil change interval based on engine characteristics, driving habits and the climate in which the vehicle is operated. Even with an advanced technology like the Oil Life System, it is still a good idea to periodically check a vehicle’s oil level before going on long road trips or after extensive driving.
GM's service schedule is based on the Oil Life System, allowing for a more consolidated service schedule which is a departure from the typical industry approach of basing maintenance intervals on mileage. -General Motors
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