"Oil Life" indicator?

[ArmyRN]

I dunno. I figure they put that oil life indicator thing in there for a reason. When it gets to 40% I start thinking oil change time.

Most of my driving seems to be very short trips to maybe 30 miles, with the occasional 100 mile drive. This summer I'll be putting close to 10,000 miles mostly highway miles and towing a 1500lb trailer. We're literally talking WA to AK, back to WA, then WA to FL and back to WA. I just changed the oil this week, we'll see how long till I'm at 40%.

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[daroutergod]

I know this is a JL forum, but prior I had a JK. No oil life indicator, just pops up a "change oil" indicator at some point. I used the B trip indicator to track when to change my oil. (still do on my JL) I always changed it at 3k miles. I tested the "change oil" indicator several times tracking mileage, it always came on at around 5k miles. I know the JL uses a different algorithm than the JK. On the JL, the percentage almost always tracks with the milage as per a 10k interval. At 3k it almost always shows around 65 - 68%. Just my observations and 2 cents.

 

[hamiamham69]

I live on an island. Posted speed limit is generally 25mph with the exception of school zones and town which is lower and 2 main-ish type roads where it is as high as 45mpg. Left to its own devices the algo would tell me to change the oil every 6-7 months and every 5K miles or so. While it is not perfect it’s more sophisticated then just time and just straight miles

To summarize the oil change accounting above; oil is cheap and engines are expensive. Some of us like buying oil insurance and others do not. Who am I to judge…

 

[Jeep Wick]

I'm a little compulsive about oil changes. In fact I've changed my oil eight times in 24,000 miles over five years. My most recent change was less than 800 miles ago yet my "oil life" indicator reads 32%. The recommended change interval is 10,000 miles. What gives?

As others have said, you need to manually reset the indicator. It doesn't know when you change the oil or test it's quality. It's a very generic computation that looks at time, mileage and running conditions. 10,000 miles is for mall crawlers, the owners manual actually says to change it sooner under other circumstances.

 

[MitsJeep]

I’m not sure why there is even a debate. Everyone thinks they are smarter than design engineers, but again to each their own. If those changing it at more frequent intervals than the manual states are not then testing the oil to see if it even needed changed then I can certainly argue they are throwing money away. I like factual data to make decisions.

Go check out some Lake Speed Jr videos LOL, but to each their own...

 

[Jad4275]

Go check out some Lake Speed Jr videos LOL, but to each their own...

So you watched videos or you sent in oil to have it analyzed?

 

[MitsJeep]

So you watched videos or you sent in oil to have it analyzed?

I’ve watched plenty of LSPJr. I’ve made my own conclusions based on science he presents and the reality of governmental efficiency mandates from the EPA. Those are facts.

Have you?

No I havent done an OA, I already know my 3.6 won’t last forever since Jeep thinks the useful life of these JLs is about 60,000 when the standard warranty gives out, but I am going to preventatively maintain to try and at least get some life out of it.

“You do you though”

 

[SlickRicksWilly]

Change the oil when the computer says to, typically about every 10,000 miles per the owners manual. For the 392 it’s every 6,000. Others do it more often than this, but they are just throwing their money away but to each their own.

Time will tell, but as someone who followed the electronic schedule and has wasted $10,000 on a whole new engine at just over 100k miles. I will gladly waste an extra $500 and change it every 5000 miles and let you know how it works out for me.

Additionally, anyone who thinks engineers have the end users best interest in mind and not the people signing their paychecks is delusional.

 

[Jad4275]

Here we go with more selective “science”. Doing something based on video(s), your 3rd cousins word, friend of a friend or I know someone that works fo someone that knows suggestion without actually having had your early oil change tested to determine its merit is foolish but do as you wish, just don’t tell me your decision was based on science when you’re not following through with actual science. I’ll go back to my popcorn, await more humorous replies and use the $800 to do something more productive.

 

[jellis4148]

I change my oil ever 3,000 miles. I use Pennzoil Ultra 0W-20, and a molar oil filter. I rotate my tires every other oil change. I get the filter for free, and usually pay $45-$50 for a case of 6. I've seen too many engines in service being rebuilt because the owner decided to wait for the oil life monitor to tell them to change it, or they wait and change it at 10k miles. There will always be the person that drove the 89 civic 300,000 miles changing every 10k. For the majority of cars changing around 5k miles is the best for longevity

 

[MitsJeep]

Here we go with more selective “science”. Doing something based on video(s), your 3rd cousins word, friend of a friend or I know someone that works fo someone that knows suggestion without actually having had your early oil change tested to determine its merit is foolish but do as you wish, just don’t tell me your decision was based on science when you’re not following through with actual science. I’ll go back to my popcorn, await more humorous replies and use the $800 to do something more productive.

What is selective about it?
I listed nothing but facts. LSpeedJr uses science. Not a “third cousin” but someone who performs oil tests as their job. I guess you get paid to test oil too right? You are a Tribologist?
Fuel economy mandates are real rules issued to automakers.

Oil viscosity decreases with use over time. Fact. 10,000k mi oil will look a lot different than say 3k mi oil. All items proven with science.

Maybe your engine does make it past 60,000miles with only 6 oil changes, but I don’t know about that engines longevity past then. The value of your time, oil, and filters may be worth more than an engine replacement if you have to do one.

 

[Jad4275]

What is selective about it?
I listed nothing but facts. LSpeedJr uses science. Not a “third cousin” but someone who performs oil tests as their job. I guess you get paid to test oil too right? You are a Tribologist?
Fuel economy mandates are real rules issued to automakers.

Oil viscosity decreases with use over time. Fact. 10,000k mi oil will look a lot different than say 3k mi oil. All items proven with science.

Maybe your engine does make it past 60,000miles with only 6 oil changes, but I don’t know about that engines longevity past then. The value of your time, oil, and filters may be worth more than an engine replacement if you have to do one.

You haven’t tested it to see if it even needed changed. That’s all I’m saying. As to mileage, my last jeep hit 170,000 before I traded it in (still ran fine) and I went by the oil life monitor. My friend hit 200k in his and changed his every 30,000 miles because he thought it silly to do more often. If something is going to break it will, no matter what one does to try to extend it along the way.

 

[c20040215]

You haven’t tested it to see if it even needed changed. That’s all I’m saying. As to mileage, my last jeep hit 170,000 before I traded it in (still ran fine) and I went by the oil life monitor. My friend hit 200k in his and changed his every 30,000 miles because he thought it silly to do more often. If something is going to break it will, no matter what one does to try to extend it along the way.

Is your friend the "third cousin" you mentioned?
Hey, do what you think its right.

 

[Jad4275]

Is your friend the "third cousin" you mentioned?
Hey, do what you think its right.

No he is not, just a cheap ass coworker.

 

[c20040215]

No he is not, just a cheap ass coworker.

How do we know any of your story about your friend is based on science? Are you sure you and him not related? Did you get it tested?

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