12/11/2025
Recently, I received inquiries regarding the functionality and reliability of oil life indicators. The short answer is that this technology is reliable and trustworthy. This technology has been in existence since the 1980s and was created by three General Motors engineers: Donald Smolenski, Paul Harvath, and Shirley Schwartz. By utilizing data from the vehicle's OnStar system, they developed an algorithm that takes into account factors such as RPMs and temperature to predict oil life. Today, the algorithm has become more complex, considering factors like temperature, RPMs, drive time, miles, engine run time, fuel consumption, acceleration, and driving modes, i.e., towing, and many more. I recommend scheduling an oil change between the 20% to 15% oil life mark. Given the fast-paced nature of modern life, this allows time to schedule an oil change **e.com or adjust your schedule to take your vehicle to the shop. Either way, the best thing you can do for your vehicle is to perform the oil change when needed.
Can you drive down to 0% oil life? Yes, but I do not recommend it. In today's modern engines, many components rely on the oil.
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