nope, its not mileage based. And it doesn't go by a calender, either,

There is no "early", the algorithm measures certain parameters, when the resultant reaches a determined value the indicator lights up. It depends on usage (duty cycles). It has no idea if we use cheap or expensive oil. Nor how many miles we drove.

good point, I was assuming the poster did his own changes.


If your OCI lights up at what you think is a short interval, I am going to guess that you do a lot of short trips with cold-starts, where the engine isn't kept at operating temps long enough to satisfy the OCI. That or you sit in a lot of stop and go traffic.

Barring malfunctions, all the OCIs in the JKs make the same measurements. If yours is lighting up at 6K and mine lights at 2k, the difference is our use and driving style.

Of course, it is your jeep so feel free to ignore the OCI or make adjustments.

Is Smopho making a mistake changing every other OCI light? Probably not because he is using a high quality oil. But I'd bet that even the Mobil1 is pretty much beat by the end of that 5k interval.

just my 2-cents.

 

That was easy.

 

Mine came on for the first time on my 2010 yesterday. Just like the quoted posts, first engine start past 2500 miles (2503 to be exact). I know the owners manual states duty cycle and not to exceed 500 miles after it comes on but doesn't it seem coincidental that it would be so close to 3,000?

Hasn't been off road yet and purely highway miles so far.

 

I change my oil every 3000 miles, and I had my light come on about 2000 miles after an oil change. So my dealer said that when the oil life counter is reset, there is no confirmation message, so the only way you can find out if the reset didn't take is if the light comes on prematurely. So I was instructed to stick it out for the remaining 1000 miles.

 

there is an oil change light? i have a 2010 sahara with 7100 miles. i haven't seen no light. is that an option or something? I have changed oil though at 3500 and getting ready to do it again.

 

Whats all the talk about changing every 3,000 miles? Seems like wasted money when the manual states to change it every 6 months or 6,000 miles.

In either case, the oil change indicator light is worthless. I've had it come on after only 2,000 miles and I've also went nearly the whole 6,000 without seeing it. It's best to ignore it, and just reset it when it comes on.

 

You have an OCI (although it is possible that it is not functioning).

Did you change the oil yourself? If not, the tech may have reset it for you. Or you reset it yourself without knowing. The reset is to turn key to on position and pump gas pedal three times within 10 seconds, then turn key off. If it hasn't been reset you'll see it sometime soon or its malfunctioned. Maybe your driving style is very oil-friendly.....

The OCI monitors various parameters that account for degradation of oil/additives. It doesn't take into account mileage or calendar time (or quality of oil).

Depending on engine duty cycle, the OCI may indicate to change the oil at a shorter or longer interval. The manual recommends changing the oil within 500 miles of the "change oil" light appearing. Or no later than six months or six thousand miles for warranty purposes.

The manual doesn't say the change interval is 6 mo/6k mi. It says go by the indicator but changing is required no later than 6 mo/6k mi. That means 6/6 is the far end of the spectrum (for warranty purposes).

If anyone thinks the OCI is worthless, that's there business. But anyone who believes mileage is a good indicator of oil life, well, good luck with that. The only real way to know is by used oil analysis.

 

Mine started chirping yesterday @ 5500 miles...

 

Mine has never come on. Is that something to worry about.

 

I had the chime and change oil message come on once, about 3 months after purchasing my Jeep used. Changed the oil, reset using the gas pedal/key method; hasn't come on again since. And that has been 10,000 miles and 3 oil changes ago.

I change my own oil, so no way it is getting reset. I just figued the reset I did the first time did something to turn it off permanently. I just keep my eye on the mileage, like in the old days .



Anthony