OLM (GM) - Factory Calibration - Dino v Synthetic

[Art_Vandelay]

GM has at least 1 engine that comes factory Spec'd for Dino in one application and Synthetic in another. Does anyone know what the respective ranges of the two Oil Life Monitors(OLM) are? In other words, how much extra mileage is added to the synthetic calibration by the engineers at GM?

Given the tremendous respect GM's OLM receives, I think the calibration range (offset) can be used as a decent guide for dino v synthetic contemplations. Particularly for new members who wonder, "if I can go 4000 on dino, how far can I go on synthetic?"

Sure their is tremendous variability among synthetics but one can presume that if a synthetic meets GM 4718M it is at least good enough for the calibrated range.

 

[cchase]

I believe the vehicles outfitted with OLM's based on synthetic are only the high-performance engines and thus it may not be as easy as you think to extrapolate the information as the OLM may be skewed more towards higher RPM/load conditions.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: cchase
I believe the vehicles outfitted with OLM's based on synthetic are only the high-performance engines and thus it may not be as easy as you think to extrapolate the information as the OLM may be skewed more towards higher RPM/load conditions.


+1

 

[mechtech2]

Art - Good idea, if there were more samples of cars spec'd for full synthetic oils.

 

[EricF]

on my 06 Relay, the OLM goes about 7% at around 4500 miles, on dino OR Synthetic. I run synthetic in it. At 10% I just reset it, and the next time 10% rolls around, I'm around 8000 miles and I change the oil then. However I do change the filter at the 4500 mark.

 

[1999nick]

Originally Posted By: EricF
on my 06 Relay, the OLM goes about 7% at around 4500 miles, on dino OR Synthetic. I run synthetic in it. At 10% I just reset it, and the next time 10% rolls around, I'm around 8000 miles and I change the oil then. However I do change the filter at the 4500 mark.


I believe you have the version that recommends regular dino. About one year ago, one of the car magazines had a Cadillac with the synthetic fuel requirement, and, according to the magazine the OLM went off at 13,000 miles, and that's when the magazine carried it in for its first service.

 

[Art_Vandelay]

Originally Posted By: cchase
I believe the vehicles outfitted with OLM's based on synthetic are only the high-performance engines and thus it may not be as easy as you think to extrapolate the information as the OLM may be skewed more towards higher RPM/load conditions.


Is the new Camaro 3.6L V6 the same engine that's in the Cadillac CTS? The Camaro is Dino and the CTS Synthetic.

Chevrolet Camaro 3.6L (6 quart crankcase) meeting GM Standard GM6094M - Dino:

http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/2010/2010_chevrolet_camaro_owners.pdf

Cadillac CTS 3.6L (6 quart crankcase) meeting GM Standard GM4718M - Synthetic:

http://www.cadillac.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/manuals_2010/2010_cadillac_cts_owners_manual.pdf

 

[Spykem4e]

Originally Posted By: Art_Vandelay
Originally Posted By: cchase
I believe the vehicles outfitted with OLM's based on synthetic are only the high-performance engines and thus it may not be as easy as you think to extrapolate the information as the OLM may be skewed more towards higher RPM/load conditions.


Is the new Camaro 3.6L V6 the same engine that's in the Cadillac CTS? The Camaro is Dino and the CTS Synthetic.

Chevrolet Camaro 3.6L (6 quart crankcase) meeting GM Standard GM6094M - Dino:

http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/2010/2010_chevrolet_camaro_owners.pdf

Cadillac CTS 3.6L (6 quart crankcase) meeting GM Standard GM4718M - Synthetic:

http://www.cadillac.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/manuals_2010/2010_cadillac_cts_owners_manual.pdf


Hey! You got enough money to buy a Cadillac? You got enough money to pay for synthetic!

You got enough money to buy a Chevy, you have enough money to buy dino oil!

That's the way I see it. The 3.6l in the 2004-2005 CTS was running with 4718m spec oil. The same engine in 2006 and 2007 needs an oil spec for 6094m. kinda weird!

 

[Jehartley]

Originally Posted By: Art_Vandelay
Originally Posted By: cchase
I believe the vehicles outfitted with OLM's based on synthetic are only the high-performance engines and thus it may not be as easy as you think to extrapolate the information as the OLM may be skewed more towards higher RPM/load conditions.


Is the new Camaro 3.6L V6 the same engine that's in the Cadillac CTS? The Camaro is Dino and the CTS Synthetic.

Chevrolet Camaro 3.6L (6 quart crankcase) meeting GM Standard GM6094M - Dino:

http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/2010/2010_chevrolet_camaro_owners.pdf

Cadillac CTS 3.6L (6 quart crankcase) meeting GM Standard GM4718M - Synthetic:

http://www.cadillac.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/manuals_2010/2010_cadillac_cts_owners_manual.pdf


They are indeed the same engine.

 

[MrHorspwer]

GM has said that they base all of their OLM calibrations on the worse case scenario: dino oil in the crankcase. Because they cannot control what kind of oil the customer or oil change place pours in the filler, they err on the side of caution. After all, that engine is GM's responsibility for the first 5 years or 100K miles.

GM has also said they spec synthetic oil based on it's performance strengths over synthetic and the vehicle's intended application, not because a potential extended drain interval. I guess GM thinks a CTS customer will place more demands on their oil than a base V6 owner, though I do suspect some marketing goes into which vehicles recieve syn as well.

I personally maintain 4 vehicles with GM OLM. The OLM for the last oil change is as follows: 2009 HHR --> 10,4000 miles, 2009 Malibu --> 6,700 miles, 2006 Vue --> 6,600 miles, 2006 Trailblazer --> 6,100 miles with 47% remaining.

The HHR and Malibu are unique in that they both have the same engine. The Malibu is my dad's, who had probably 75% city driving on it. The HHR is a friend's who drives nearly 100% highway.

 

[Art_Vandelay]

Originally Posted By: Jehartley
Originally Posted By: Art_Vandelay
Originally Posted By: cchase
I believe the vehicles outfitted with OLM's based on synthetic are only the high-performance engines and thus it may not be as easy as you think to extrapolate the information as the OLM may be skewed more towards higher RPM/load conditions.


Is the new Camaro 3.6L V6 the same engine that's in the Cadillac CTS? The Camaro is Dino and the CTS Synthetic.

Chevrolet Camaro 3.6L (6 quart crankcase) meeting GM Standard GM6094M - Dino:

http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/2010/2010_chevrolet_camaro_owners.pdf

Cadillac CTS 3.6L (6 quart crankcase) meeting GM Standard GM4718M - Synthetic:

http://www.cadillac.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/manuals_2010/2010_cadillac_cts_owners_manual.pdf


They are indeed the same engine.


Excellent. Thank you!

Now if we can get some OLM data from owners.

 

[The Critic]

Edmunds was going about 14,000 miles between oil changes on their 2008 CTS 3.6 DI.

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: Art_Vandelay
Originally Posted By: cchase
I believe the vehicles outfitted with OLM's based on synthetic are only the high-performance engines and thus it may not be as easy as you think to extrapolate the information as the OLM may be skewed more towards higher RPM/load conditions.


Is the new Camaro 3.6L V6 the same engine that's in the Cadillac CTS? The Camaro is Dino and the CTS Synthetic.

Chevrolet Camaro 3.6L (6 quart crankcase) meeting GM Standard GM6094M - Dino:

http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/2010/2010_chevrolet_camaro_owners.pdf

Cadillac CTS 3.6L (6 quart crankcase) meeting GM Standard GM4718M - Synthetic:

http://www.cadillac.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/manuals_2010/2010_cadillac_cts_owners_manual.pdf


They are the same engine but the OLM may or may not be calibrated for the same type of driving. Just highlighting something you would need to consider.

 

[Art_Vandelay]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Edmunds was going about 14,000 miles between oil changes on their 2008 CTS 3.6 DI.


Thank you. That's great information. I'd say it proves GM does indeed calibrate the OLM to their factory spec. In this case obviously synthetic.

 

[Spykem4e]

Depending on my driving style and weather, on my 2005 CTS the OLM once showed a 13500 miles OCI.

Usually, its around 10 000 miles and 12 000 miles.

 

[Art_Vandelay]

Originally Posted By: Art_Vandelay

Chevrolet Camaro 3.6L (6 quart crankcase) meeting GM Standard GM6094M - Dino:

http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/2010/2010_chevrolet_camaro_owners.pdf

Cadillac CTS 3.6L (6 quart crankcase) meeting GM Standard GM4718M - Synthetic:

http://www.cadillac.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/manuals_2010/2010_cadillac_cts_owners_manual.pdf


Any OLM readings for the new Camaro?

 

[BigTallV]

Originally Posted By: Art_Vandelay
Originally Posted By: cchase
I believe the vehicles outfitted with OLM's based on synthetic are only the high-performance engines and thus it may not be as easy as you think to extrapolate the information as the OLM may be skewed more towards higher RPM/load conditions.


Is the new Camaro 3.6L V6 the same engine that's in the Cadillac CTS? The Camaro is Dino and the CTS Synthetic.

Chevrolet Camaro 3.6L (6 quart crankcase) meeting GM Standard GM6094M - Dino:

http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/2010/2010_chevrolet_camaro_owners.pdf

Cadillac CTS 3.6L (6 quart crankcase) meeting GM Standard GM4718M - Synthetic:

http://www.cadillac.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/manuals_2010/2010_cadillac_cts_owners_manual.pdf


GM Powertrain 2010
http://archives.media.gm.com/us/powertrain/en/product_services/2010/gmna/10car_us.htm

Cadillac CTS (LLT engine RPO code)
http://archives.media.gm.com/us/powertra...V6/10_LLT_n.xls

Camaro LT / LS also has LLT RPO code, but the link to the spec sheet is pointing to LY7 on the powertrain site (which is what goes into the Malibu). Probably an editing error on the page.

 

[Spykem4e]

on the LLT RPO explanation, in additional features it is written:

-5w30 GF4 mineral oil.
-Synthetic Oil for Cadillac applications.

 

[BigTallV]

Originally Posted By: Spykem4e
on the LLT RPO explanation, in additional features it is written:

-5w30 GF4 mineral oil.
-Synthetic Oil for Cadillac applications.


This one of the things I had noted on the '09 spec sheet for the 3.6DI VVT engine in my Outlook and is why I went back to the powertrain site to link in the 2010 info to the thread.

As BITOG members had suspected, Caddy gets the synth FF.

 

[Jehartley]

Originally Posted By: Art_Vandelay
Originally Posted By: Art_Vandelay

Chevrolet Camaro 3.6L (6 quart crankcase) meeting GM Standard GM6094M - Dino:

http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/2010/2010_chevrolet_camaro_owners.pdf

Cadillac CTS 3.6L (6 quart crankcase) meeting GM Standard GM4718M - Synthetic:

http://www.cadillac.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/manuals_2010/2010_cadillac_cts_owners_manual.pdf


Any OLM readings for the new Camaro?


Yeah, I have Mobil 1 EP 5w30 in my V6. Miles on the oil are currently 5,890, and the OLM is at 53%. Driving is low RPM's, between 55 and 70 (whatever the speed limit is) and roughly 30% city and 70% Hwy. Gonna try PU in her next.