How oil life is measured?

[kinoman2002]

My 2010 GT as many other cars has oil life indicator. Does anyone know how it is calculated ? Just milage or maybe engine on/off cycles? I don't believe there is some kind of magic sensor that analyses the quality of the oil. When I had 1200 miles it indicated 85%. Does it go to 0% before it warns you to change oil ?

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[Adam90LX]

Originally Posted by kinoman2002

My 2010 GT as many other cars has oil life indicator. Does anyone know how it is calculated ? Just milage or maybe engine on/off cycles? I don't believe there is some kind of magic sensor that analyses the quality of the oil. When I had 1200 miles it indicated 85%. Does it go to 0% before it warns you to change oil ?

Most ecu's use a programmed algorithm that include temperature and actual engine revolutions as the equations primary inputs, in order to generate the oil life/change engine oil output. This is much more accurate than odometer miles every could be, but not perfect by any measure, just an incremental improvement.

[crug75hid]

that wont help you to detect mileage. just make your tank empty then pour some ltrs of oil and drive until its empty again. keep track of milo metre. and all done

[Sidewayz6.0]

What?

[ShadyNinja]

the total base number( google it ) is the true indicator of a oils life,
too bad cars cannot determine the tbn of a oil.

the car is just "suggesting" that you need a oil change, it really does not know if the oil's life is used up.