[2VoltFamily]

Two years comes around quickly. It seems like yesterday.

Well I have been trying to wait until better weather and I have pushed it about as far as I can. One of my 2013 Volts has 2% oil life left and the other has 3%. So i guess I will have to change the oil in the next week or 2.

Bought the oil, Mobil 1 0W-30, when it was on sale during the winter and AC/Delco filters. Wanted Mobil 1 filters, but after much research the AC/Delco filter does not use paper but a synthetic like Mobil 1 I think. And the correct Mobil 1 proved difficult to find.

In two years I may have to consider changing it early, say the fall, that way I don't get caught trying to change it when it is cold outside. Although I have a heated garage, I like doing things like this in good weather.

 

[wildgoose]

I thought the Volt asks for 5W-30, not 0W-30?

I've been playing it safe and change the oil on a yearly schedule more or less, since I claimed I'll drive it until the wheels fall off.

In an auto class I took at a local community college, the instructor claimed that even though oil does not degrade, the detergents in there does degrade as it ages, and he claims he personally changes it out after 6 month (regular ICE car) even if the miles are not reached (I am guessing it's easy when you have access to the commercial lift at the school )

This is what I do on my SUV. On the volt I figure I'll extend it to the 1 year mark and call it a day.

 

[DMC5180]

2% .

Better hurry and change it. When it hits 0%, the wheels fall off.


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[Coppersnowboarder]

I only use high-quality synthetic oil, but still changed the oil and filter after 20,000 miles and 18 months. Oil these days are so good and range extender is used so little that I doubt periods between changes are going to make much difference.

 

[2VoltFamily]

I thought the Volt asks for 5W-30, not 0W-30?

Manual says you can use either. So I go with the colder weather grade. Supposedly that is what is used in the fuel efficient cars these days.

Too bad, I am going to have all this good oil sent to the recycler. I used to have an F150 that used a quart every 1500 miles. It had over 240K miles on it. I would just take the oil from the other car at the time and save it and every 1500 miles I would poor a quart of the used oil in it. That was a great truck.

 

[2VoltFamily]

2% .

Better hurry and change it. When it hits 0%, the wheels fall off.


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Exactly. But I wonder if it would void the warranty if I waited longer.

 

[DMC5180]

You can reset you your oil life indicator regardless of actually changing the oil. No doubt it time anyway. If warranty was a concern, they would stipulate the engine service to be complied with at a dealer or shop that provides a service record for the vehicle.




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[kns]

2%.
Better hurry and change it. When it hits 0%, the wheels fall off.

Seriously, does anyone know what the DIC displays after it rolls through 0%?

KNS

 

[DMC5180]

I can only guess "change oil soon". Like most cars with digital info displays.


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[Jefferios]

Seriously, does anyone know what the DIC displays after it rolls through 0%?

KNS

The engine starts using the oil as a fuel source since it has no life left as a lubricant.

 

[QuickRick]

Folks,

In our case our ICE almost never runs, and you'd think that would be a good thing but it is not. The oil collects water which gets whipped into the crankcase oil.

I have never seen such awful looking motor oil for the few miles it has each year. The oil looks just like cutting oil or Good Seasons salad dressing you mix yourself with oil, vinegar, and water.

Do as you wish with your change interval, but in our case, I will change the oil each year for peace of mind, it just isn't that expensive to do.

QR
P.s. the DIC claims 60% is left

 

[canehdian]

Folks,

In our case our ICE almost never runs, and you'd think that would be a good thing but it is not. The oil collects water which gets whipped into the crankcase oil.

I have never seen such awful looking motor oil for the few miles it has each year. The oil looks just like cutting oil or Good Seasons salad dressing you mix yourself with oil, vinegar, and water.

Do as you wish with your change interval, but in our case, I will change the oil each year for peace of mind, it just isn't that expensive to do.

QR
P.s. the DIC claims 60% is left

That doesn't describe an ICE that almost never runs.
That describes an ICE that runs often, but for very little time, allowing buildup.
My oil at 2 years of very little use (95% EV) looked like new except ever-so-slightly darker in colour.

Run a longer trip once in a while to get it good and hot if this is your usage pattern - no different than you should be doing for a short-trip ICE-only vehicle.
EMM helps, but every 6 weeks, if things like ERDTT are in between, could allow for a lot of accumulation.