Automobiles certainly have come a long way from when they were first invented. Remember back when you used to have to keep up with your own oil changes? Now we have a maintenance indicator on our dash. Unfortunately, this leads to a search for “Resetting The Change Oil Light“. However this can include the “Service Engine Soon”, or “Check Engine” light. Depends on the year make and model of your car.
So you have to wonder, is all this high tech in cars worth it? Is the car thinking for us making us lazy? In the past, and still currently used at some oil and lube shops, are stickers. The tech will place a sticker in your door jam that has the mileage and service date hand written. Of course it is up to you to remember to look at the sticker. It should also be up to you to decide how many miles you want to go before your next oil change.
Now the vehicle decides for you, and turns on an irritating light to keep reminding you…
For instructions click on how to Reset Your Change Oil Light…
How Often Should You Change Your Oil
Most oil changes should occur between 3000 and 5000 miles and really more to the latter. Oils today are designed to go between 5000 and 10000 miles. This depends on the condition and the types of oil you use. I have built many engines, I wouldn’t stretch an oil change out 10000 miles. With a good synthetic oil, I wouldn’t go no more than 7500 miles.
The Change Oil Light was originally designed to go 3 months or 3500 miles, whichever came first. Sometime later, the newer vehicles were adhering to 5 month or 5000 miles. So Resetting The Change Oil Light still required some manual brain power. Today’s systems use the use the Power Control Module, (PCM), to collect data. It collects your driving habits, all temperatures, mileage and time. Based on its analysis, decides when to signal the Change Engine Oil Light indicator.
If your vehicle is designed and is running an oil that can go 10000 miles on one oil change. Then the indicator light pops on at 3000 miles, are you really going to change the oil? Of course not, you still need to keep up with the mileage on your own. It never hurts to use your brain a little, don’t always rely on what a machine tells you. Know the type of oil in your engine. Check with the manufacturer to see the recommended length between oil changes. Between your brain and technology, you should be able to judge a good interval.
With today’s technology, we now have phone apps that make task like these more simple. Check out MY CARFAX, it’s a free app. There is a really nice app for iPhones too, it runs $2.99, check out Car Minder Plus..
Technology In Today’s Cars
Cars and trucks have become more like a computer on wheels, sadly nothing as great as Knight Rider’s KITT. Never the less, plenty of gadgets and systems. However, all the gadgets to make your life easier can also drive you crazy. Especially when dash light indicators come on and your car manual fails to tell you how to turn it off!!!
Fortunately, I have found that information on the Resetting The Change Oil Light. I have compiled it into a search table for easy access for all makes and models. Click HERE to find your car and how to reset the change engine oil indicator…
Automotive computer systems have come a long way as well. They were first introduced back in the late 70’s early 80’s, although they were garbage. You couldn’t talk to them and they were known for being an issue right off the assembly line.
As we got into the 90’s, the systems started getting better. They offered 2-way communications between a tech and car, although it was still limited. At the turn of the millennium, automotive computer systems started getting smart. You could do more than just communicate with them. Hand held scanners, could actually tell the onboard computer what to do for testing and manual diagnosis.
Advanced Onboard Systems
Now cars have USB ports, Bluetooth, Onboard MS Windows, and voice recognition to control most everything on the car. Remote control from your Smartphone is now available, and the list keeps growing. These cars can even park themselves and are now beginning to drive themselves. Sadly as our vehicles become more advanced, the more it pushes out the home mechanic. More and more vehicles require more advanced diagnostic equipment. Usually, the cost isn’t feasible for a one or two car owner to invest in such tools.
For the regular DIY type person, you may want to hear what your car has to say. Especially when one of those irritating lights come on. For the not so new cars, regular tools can still read codes and help with the diagnostics. There is always the option to run to a local parts store for them to pull the codes. However, some new cars have a built in OBD II diagnostics system built in to supply codes.
If your car isn’t that smart to tell you the code and you would like to read the codes yourself. Here is an inexpensive little ODB2 Scanner. It should be able to tell you why it the light is on and supply you the code.
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Great information once again. I think the ODB2 Scanner you mentioned is a must have for anyone with a car. Especially for the price it cost. I am going to get one for myself.