Does anyone know if the oil life is just calculated straight off the odometer, off some combination of odometer and type of driving (speed) or if the vehicle is actually monitoring some attributes of the oil?

 

If I am not mistaken it is based off:

Start Cycles
Miles
Idle Time
% load


I notice when towing or lots of idling the % changes at a faster pace than just running down the highway.

 

Thanks. It is interesting because with my wife's 2010 her usage calls for a change around 4k miles, which is my interval anyway. I just went to do the first change in my 2012, and at 4k miles the indicator said I had 42% left.

 

5000 miles or 180 days for 2007 model year. Your %life will decrease if you don't drive it much. We only drove ours 8K miles one year and the life would tick down even when not used. I think 2008 and after are 7,500 miles for oil change.

 

According to my owners manual its based on mileage and time.
100% life would be 7500 miles or 6 months ( per manual 08 MY )
There is no mention of idle time, start cycles, load etc....
I usually reset one of the trip meters when I get an oil change and it pretty much matches up exact to the mileage interval.

The mileage interval can be changed to less than the default of 7500 miles. If you set it for a start value of 60% it will equal 3000 mile changes.


Matt

 

Why would you change it at 3,000 miles?

 

??? Not sure I understand your question.

If you mean why would I change the oil at 3000 miles ??? I wouldn't, it was just the example used in the manual.
If you just go by the factory default setting the oil life/ change reminder is going to come on approx. every 7500 miles saying oil life is 0% and it's time to change your oil.
But for example, if you like to change your oil ever 5000 miles you can change the reminder to come on at 5000 mile intervals by adjusting the oil life starting point. Instead of it starting at 100% you would start it at like 80%.


Matt

 

I also have an 07 EL and my monitor let mine go to 6000+ miles before saying change oil. Mine is driven mostly open road with very little stopping.