Strange OLM behavior - 2021 Yukon 5.3

[fondupot]

Yea I know another OLM thread. But I couldn’t find one that had similar circumstances. I’ve noticed my OLM going down VERY fast in my 2021 Yukon 5.3.

I changed the oil on 5/10/2025, today is 6/9/2025. So about 1 month ago.

Today after a short drive to and from the grocery store (about 12 minutes each way, 10 miles round trip). The oil life monitor went from 93% to 91% in this trip. Now I reset trip 2 when I changed the oil, and so far on this oil change I’ve only driven 213.7 miles. That equates to roughly 23.7 miles per 1% oil life.

So if I extrapolate out: 23.7 miles x 100% =2,374 miles. That seems way too short for an oil change interval. I know this is lot the exact calculation, just a rough estimate.

In my experience with GM vehicles with OLM systems. It usually is around 65-75 miles per 1% oil life, under normal driving conditions. Extending out to 6500-7500 mile oil change intervals.

Now I know the OLM uses a lot of data to calculate the percentage. Granted our driving so far has been short trips, just to and from the grocery store basically all in town driving. I just feel like something is out of whack.

I changed the oil with Amsoil 0W20 signature and used a Wix filter.

Any thoughts? Am I just overthinking it?

Thanks in advance.

 

[2024 White Tahoe]

Yea I know another OLM thread. But I couldn’t find one that had similar circumstances. I’ve noticed my OLM going down VERY fast in my 2021 Yukon 5.3.

I changed the oil on 5/10/2025, today is 6/9/2025. So about 1 month ago.

Today after a short drive to and from the grocery store (about 12 minutes each way, 10 miles round trip). The oil life monitor went from 93% to 91% in this trip. Now I reset trip 2 when I changed the oil, and so far on this oil change I’ve only driven 213.7 miles. That equates to roughly 23.7 miles per 1% oil life.

So if I extrapolate out: 23.7 miles x 100% =2,374 miles. That seems way too short for an oil change interval. I know this is lot the exact calculation, just a rough estimate.

In my experience with GM vehicles with OLM systems. It usually is around 65-75 miles per 1% oil life, under normal driving conditions. Extending out to 6500-7500 mile oil change intervals.

Now I know the OLM uses a lot of data to calculate the percentage. Granted our driving so far has been short trips, just to and from the grocery store basically all in town driving. I just feel like something is out of whack.

I changed the oil with Amsoil 0W20 signature and used a Wix filter.

Any thoughts? Am I just overthinking it?

Thanks in advance.

I’d say you’re just overthinking it.

I’m curious - why do you use a Wix oil filter and not a GM one?

 

[fondupot]

I’d say you’re just overthinking it.

I’m curious - why do you use a Wix oil filter and not a GM one?

Thanks. Could be…I’ve just never seen such rapid decrease of the OLM, been driving GM vehicles for 20 years.

I use Wix because I’ve always used Wix.

 

[tom3]

I also notice ours goes down quick on short trips, but on an 800 mile highway drive it drops maybe 2%. I usually try to do sub 5000 mile changes on this engine.

 

[fondupot]

I also notice ours goes down quick on short trips, but on an 800 mile highway drive it drops maybe 2%. I usually try to do sub 5000 mile changes on this engine.

Thanks for the reply. I guess it makes sense short trips and all. We haven’t had a chance to take this vehicle on a road trip (just got it in October). Currently has around 65,000 miles.

 

[Marky Dissod]

after a short drive to and from the grocery store (about 12 minutes each way, 10 miles round trip).
The oil life monitor went from 93% to 91% in this trip.
Now I reset trip 2 when I changed the oil, and so far on this oil change I’ve only driven 213.7 miles.
That equates to roughly 23.7 miles per 1% oil life.

So if I extrapolate out: 23.7 miles x 100% =2,374 miles. That seems way too short for an oil change interval.

um, no, it does NOT.
In 12min coolant has reached operating temp, but the motor oil has not.

If GM further refined the OLM calculus then we should all be glad for the improvement.

3000 miles 10min at a time, is far worse than 6000 miles 4hrs at a time.

 

[swathdiver]

City driving deteriorates the oil faster than highway driving. Change the oil every 5K miles or 150 or so hours and don't worry about it. The OLM follows an oil change interval based on marketing, not longevity or science.

 

[CoraCarleton]

Short trips and city driving can accelerate OLM percentage drop due to increased engine wear factors. Your use of Amsoil and a Wix filter is solid. Consider monitoring over a longer period to see if the rate stabilizes.

 

[PPV_2018]

i would say that it checks out. As mentioned several time previously short trips are harder on your engine. Whether the olm actually is programmed to recognize this is doubtful, but take it as an unintended indicator to change the oil more frequently if you are short tripping constantly.

 

[fondupot]

Thanks all for the reality check. Makes me feel better. I’m a freak about preventative maintenance. It just freaked me out seeing the OLM go down so fast after such a short period of time. My plan for this truck was 5,000 mile oil change intervals.

Luckily tho this 5.3 seems to be really solid. It has minimal to zero oil consumption, which I know is a huge issue with these year trucks. I am running a Range DFM module. But even before installing that it wasn’t burning any oil.

I will continue to monitor it. With two babies at home and my work truck being a daily, the Yukon is relegated to groceries and in town driving.

I’m planning to do an oil sample test on the next change.