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GM Aiming to Make Life (and Oil Changes) Easier

GMVehicle maintenance can be time consuming and costly if not properly monitored. For instance, based on common recommendation, many motorists change the oil in their vehicle every 3,000 miles - a conservative approach typically accepted as the industry standard for those who sell oil changes for a living. While spending $20 to $30 per oil change might be considered an inexpensive way to protect an engine, this can amount to hundreds of dollars spent over the life of the vehicle with no benefit realized.

To help reduce costs to the consumer, GM Goodwrench, the automotive industry's largest service chain, has introduced new simplified maintenance schedules for most of its 2004 model year vehicles, that make it easier to obtain routine maintenance services at a GM Goodwrench dealership - in less visits. In addition, GM has shortened the maintenance section of typical owners manuals from more than 20 pages to just three, making maintenance easier to understand.

"Customers don't have to worry about deciding when the best time is to change their engine oil because our Oil Life System technology adapts to their driving conditions and habits, and determines the right interval," said Peter Lord, executive director, GM Service Operations. "Since the new maintenance schedule is based on oil change intervals determined by this technology, customers can save time and cost."

The new simplified maintenance schedules helps consumers determine when to have oil changes performed, because the GM Oil Life System (GMOLS) notifies drivers in their vehicles.

With the GMOLS, consumers have an accurate and reliable way to monitor engine oil life. When the system is activated, consumers can go to their nearest GM Goodwrench dealer and a technician will change the oil and filter, properly dispose of the old oil, then reset the vehicle's oil life system. Overall operating costs for the customer will be lower, because they only have to change the oil when needed, and they can be reassured that their engine is always running with good oil, improving the long term performance and reliability of their GM vehicle.

Use of the GMOLS will often double or even triple the oil change interval for a typical vehicle when compared to the 3,000-mile oil change.

The GMOLS will automatically adjust the oil change interval based on engine characteristics, driving habits and the climate in which the vehicle is operated. For instance, mild highway driving in a warm climate will maximize the interval between oil changes. Depending on the vehicle, this could be in excess of 7,000 miles and as high as 12,000 miles (in some models). On the other hand, short trip driving in a cold climate may limit the oil change to 3,000 miles or less. In general, most people that drive a combination of city and highway find that the GMOLS will indicate an oil change every 5,000 to 6,000 miles. GM data shows the OLS extends oil change intervals without risks to the engine.

The GMOLS can offer significant benefits to the environment by reducing unnecessary use and disposal of oil. GM has built more than 20 million vehicles to date with the GMOLS. In the next five years, if the GMOLS is used as intended - oil changes performed only when necessary - millions of gallons of oil could be saved.

In 1998, GM announced that it would equip nearly its entire North American lineup with the GM Oil Life System (GMOLS) by 2003. In keeping with its commitment to sustainable mobility, the Oil Life System will be available on all light-duty North American GM cars except for some models of Buick Park Avenue and Le Sabre, Pontiac Bonneville and Sunfire/Sunbird, Chevrolet Geo, Tracker, Cavalier and Malibu, S10/Sonoma trucks, Astro/Safari Vans, and the Pontiac Vibe. For more information about the GM Oil Life System, visit www.gmability.com.