[DMC5180]

Next week I'll be leaving on a 16 day Driving Vacation from WI to CA and back. I plan on being in A Remote location to see the Maximum Solar Eclipse on the return part of the trip.

I am guessing the trek will be 4500-5000 miles. Currently My Oil Life Meter says 68%. Most of the trip will be ICE miles, I will charge overnight at Hotel motels if available.

I am debating whether I should have the oil changed and Reset the oil life to 100% before the trip. Rather than run the risk of getting the "Change Oil Soon" 1000 miles from Home.

I am curious what some of you Long Road trippers have experienced over the coarse of a 4000 + miles trip. How much oil life did you consume?

 

[llninja]

I hit dino juice daily on my commute as well as take periodic trips to Chicago and St Louis. My first oil change was at 21k miles and I still had 8% left on the oil change gauge. I drive about 50% ICE, 50% EV, so there should be plenty of miles left before you need an oil change. Plus, if you happen to get close, there are plenty of Chevy dealerships out there who can change your oil. Although, why are you driving 5k miles away to watch the eclipse. my understanding is one of the best spots is near Carbondale IL (at least that's where the University of Illinois Astonomy department is organizing an event.

 

[DMC5180]

Catching the eclipse is a side benefit too the trip, not the primary reason for it. It just happened to be occurring while I'm camping out West. And, the odds are really good that I'll have Clear skies in Wyoming.

Yes, I was aware the Track was near Carbondale. It crosses directly over Giant City State park with 2 minutes 40 seconds of Totality.

Where a I plan to be in Wyoming, I will see 2 minutes 30 seconds of Totality. Works for me.

I think my car has A 24 month Free maintenance package. but I think that is only honored at the Dealership where I bought it. It was a CPO deal. I'm 15 months into ownership so far. The 12k / 12 mo B2B warranty period is over. But the Maintenance package still has 9 months left I think.

 

[caronjeff]

In fall of 2014 we traveled Michigan- Arizona with stops enroute 25 days and 4,500 miles. The oil read 65% before starting the trip. Checked the dipstick 4-5 times during the trip. It never used a drop. Once home the oil life read 32% . Your good to go.

 

[obermd]

My 2017 Volt's OLM dropped from 100% to 75% on a 4,000 mile road trip I took earlier this year. Based on my experience with my 2012 Cruze ECO you should be ok on your road trip. Highway miles are relatively easy on the oil.

 

[DMC5180]

Cool, Thanks for reassurances.

 

[DMC5180]

One other thing. In preparation for camping part of the Trip. I took the back seat bottoms out and removed the rear Headrests. The rear seats fold down perfectly flat and level with the rear center console. This makes for a nice Flat surface.

 

[obermd]

One other thing. In preparation for camping part of the Trip. I took the back seat bottoms out and removed the rear Headrests. The rear seats fold down perfectly flat and level with the rear center console. This makes for a nice Flat surface.

I wonder if the Gen 2 rear seats will do the same. Thanks.

 

[DMC5180]

I wonder if the Gen 2 rear seats will do the same. Thanks.

They do

https://youtu.be/_sItiSRuX60

 

[saltsman]

No worries on the oil life.

If you want to camp in your Volt (it's awesome), this thread has all you need to know.

 

[FranandPat]

Enjoy your trip and be safe when viewing the eclipse. I saw the last one in Minot, ND in 1979. Was totally awesome. Though I was in the USAF at the time and not camping.

 

[caskConditionedAle]

Eclipse fever has started! I signed up for a trip with TravelQuest over a year ago. We'll be at an "exclusive" viewing location outside of Bend, OR.

 

[llninja]

Eclipse fever has started! I signed up for a trip with TravelQuest over a year ago. We'll be at an "exclusive" viewing location outside of Bend, OR.

I have a cousin who live in Bend. Maybe I should take a quick flight with free housing?

 

[quadracer12]

I just did almost the same trip as you. CA to WI with many stops in between, totaled 5200 miles. I started with 68% oil life and ended with 44%. I thought for sure I would be due at the end of the trip but not so. The volt is a great road trip car!

 

[ZamboniMan]

We'll be viewing the eclipse near Memphis, TN. 93.5% coverage. Sigh. We're taking the camper and the Suburban, so I have to wait to experience camping in the Volt.

 

[DMC5180]

I just did almost the same trip as you. CA to WI with many stops in between, totaled 5200 miles. I started with 68% oil life and ended with 44%. I thought for sure I would be due at the end of the trip but not so. The volt is a great road trip car!

Sounds like nearly the same trip but opposite starting points.
How funny is that. Yeah I'm figuring at least 5000 miles minimum. I can't wait too see how well down mountain regen puts juice back into the battery.
Btw, when you were Climbing the mountain grades in mountain mode, did you come close to depleting the Battery with the Engine running continuously or was it able to keep up. I plan on taking Colorado Hwy 6 byPass rather than the Eisenhower tunnel route on I-70.

 

[Just_Jon]

We'll be viewing the eclipse near Memphis, TN. 93.5% coverage. ....

It is really worth the not too far drive to get to the 100% path.

I was in the 80% IIRC path in 1994 and you wouldn't have noticed anything if you were unaware. We used welding helmets at work and it was interesting for about 10 secs to see a partially obscured circle.

Fortunately we are getting the full monty without leaving home this time.

 

[quadracer12]

I was hoping for more juice during downhill but it is fun to see the miles tick back up. When we were running the moutain passes we typically started with 0 mi electric as we had been driving for awhile. Honestly, probably did not put it in mountain mode early enough but only had problems when my wife left cruise control going 80+ mph up the hill. She got the "propulsion power reduced" warning a few times, but simply pulling over and slowing to 55ish worked fine. When I was driving, I try to keep the load constant which usually slowed me down to 60 or so, but I never received the warning.

Not sure if you are traveling through Utah at all, but one of the highlights was traveling along Scenic byway 12 in southern/central utah. It is unbelievable the varied terrain you pass. It took us 4-5 hours to make it back up to hwy 70. I highly recommend that road if at all possible.

 

[DMC5180]

I will be Driving Byway 12 and staying in Escalante one night.

 

[goducks]

My 2017 Volt's OLM dropped from 100% to 75% on a 4,000 mile road trip I took earlier this year. Based on my experience with my 2012 Cruze ECO you should be ok on your road trip. Highway miles are relatively easy on the oil.

My estimate (40% oil life left after about 9,000 gas miles) is more or less in line with this, too.