Oil Life Sensors-How Do They Work?
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From: Windsor, CA
Oil Life Sensors-How Do They Work?
I have read that oil life sensors keep track of the number of cold starts, miles driven, and temperatures of both the oil and the outside air.
Can the oil life sensor tell the difference between modern SM rated oil and obsolete SH rated oil. Or the difference between synthetic and convential oil.
Does it somehow measure the oil viscosity?
Can the oil life sensor tell the difference between modern SM rated oil and obsolete SH rated oil. Or the difference between synthetic and convential oil.
Does it somehow measure the oil viscosity?
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Mansfield, TX USA
Originally Posted by monoman
I have read that oil life sensors keep track of the number of cold starts, miles driven, and temperatures of both the oil and the outside air.
Can the oil life sensor tell the difference between modern SM rated oil and obsolete SH rated oil. Or the difference between synthetic and convential oil.
Does it somehow measure the oil viscosity?
Can the oil life sensor tell the difference between modern SM rated oil and obsolete SH rated oil. Or the difference between synthetic and convential oil.
Does it somehow measure the oil viscosity?
The GMOLS is calibrated for whatever oil is in your Owner's Manual. So if the maual says SM, then the OLS is counting based on an SM oil. If you put in SH oil, the GMOLS will probably recommend too long of an OCI.
GM only recommends syn oil for the Corvette. So the Corvette OLS is calibrated for syn. Everything else is calibrated for dino. So in your Aveo, syn oil will not extend the OCI recommended by the GMOLS.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Running Springs CA
There are two types of oil life "sensors". By far, the most common is as described above, not a sensor, but a computer program that calculates oil life based on the parameters described. BMW, for example, has done that for about 15 years now. The older ones were programmed for a maximum of 10,000 miles for dino oil and the newer ones max out at 15,0000 miles for synthetic.
The Delphi oil sensor, which I dont think is yet used in any production car, measures the dielectric constant of the oil. That would measure contamination such as water, acid or carbon soot buildup.
Jim
The Delphi oil sensor, which I dont think is yet used in any production car, measures the dielectric constant of the oil. That would measure contamination such as water, acid or carbon soot buildup.
Jim
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Joined: Mar 2001
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From: So Cal
My 96 chebby seemed to be programmed for 7500 mile changes with I assume a little fudge factor thrown in for driving conditions. I drove a pretty steady 20 mile one wayu commute for years and it always wanted an oil change at about 7500 plus or minus 100.
My 2004 Lincoln LS has in my opinion a very cheesy change oil system. As far as I can tell it is a simple coo coo clock. Every 5,000 miles on the dot the change oil message comes on. You would think a car claiming luxury status would have more brains in it. Even the computer in my 95 Mercury has more smarts in it than the LS, disappointing.
I think my friends 96 Caddy had the computer program that takes into account more driving conditions along with miles driven.
Just my opinion/experience,
Jim Henderson
My 2004 Lincoln LS has in my opinion a very cheesy change oil system. As far as I can tell it is a simple coo coo clock. Every 5,000 miles on the dot the change oil message comes on. You would think a car claiming luxury status would have more brains in it. Even the computer in my 95 Mercury has more smarts in it than the LS, disappointing.
I think my friends 96 Caddy had the computer program that takes into account more driving conditions along with miles driven.
Just my opinion/experience,
Jim Henderson
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Lynnwood, WA
I would tend to think that measuring the transluminance (how dark) of the oil would be the simplest and most trivial thing to do. All that needed is an LED and a light sensor. Whether that would accurately measure the true condition of the oil is debatable, but at least there would be an easy to see relationship between the result of the sensor, and a simple visual inspection of the oil. 
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