Oil Change lite

[Oglar]

Well it came on yesterday and i have no clue why. I checked my oil and it was alittle low, and i added a qt. and it stayed on. So i had my oil changed today, and it is still on. It only comes on when i start my car, and only stays on for like 2-3mins max. Any idea what is wrong?

[Red2K1]

This light is simply part of the monitoring and reminder system. It does not directly monitor the lubricating properties of the oil. The oil change light is programmed more or less as follows.

As I understand it, the oil is not tested as some think. What the monitor keeps tract of is miles and speed. In other words, a car that is driven in city stop and go traffic will need to have the oil changed more frequently than a car driven at normal highway speeds and under light load. What the monitor tries to balance is miles and engine load.

In any case, under "normal" driving circumstance the oil and filter should be changed somewhere between 3,000 and 3,500 miles unless the engine is operated under heavy load and then the oil and filter should be changed before 3,000 miles.

Some will argue that synthetics hold up for a much longer interval, even under heavy engine loads, than regular oils, but no one can seem to put a number on the difference between the two types of oil and prove it. The proof may be there, but I have not been able to find it.

That is the way it was explained to me by a GM tech.

Look at your owners manual on how to reset the oil change light. On my 2K1 Camaro, you simply turn the ignition key to the run position , don't start the engine, and press and hold the tripometer stem until the light oil change light starts blinking then release the stem, turn off the ignition. The oil change light is reset. I suspect that it can be reset the same way on a Firebird, but I am not certain about that.

[DrFix2Fly]

As I understand it, your computer actually counts engine revolutions as reported by your crankshaft position sensor. At a particular number it will tell you to change your oil. Simply turn your key to the on accessory position and push the trip/odometer button until the change oil light flashes and goes out.

[00swartz]

RED2K1 is correct. It works that way in 2000 and I suppose it works the same in the Firebirds.

[good2Bking]

Works the same for 'Birds, supposed to hold down for 12 seconds or so. ... My dad has the 3800 II engine in his Buick LeSabre, and he says the display reads 40-60 percent of the oil life is left after 3K miles. ... I've never let mine exceed 4K miles, and the light's never come on.

[CamaroBill]

I think that the "Change Oil" monitoring system is pretty forgiving. I hammer my car ('01 Camaro) pretty good and it comes on for me roughly every 7,000 miles or so (but I change my oil every 3,000 miles just to be safe).

[cassie]

haha....me, this kid seth, and my friend Mark all have camaros, and our "change oil" lights all come on at the same time......weird

[3.4 slow to go]

Oon my 99 Grand Prix, to rest the oil light, put the key i the "on position" and slowly press the gas pedal to the floor 3 times in 5 seconds. might work for you too