Hey guys. I passed 3000 a few days ago. My oil change thingy still says I have a little under 50% life left. We've always been told we should do it every 3000... So what's the deal? I know it tells you when to do it on the monitor, but that won't be until like almost 5000... We just do the Monte when it tells us to. Also past the 3000. Should I change it now, or wait until it tells me to?

Also, what kind of oil do you guys suggest? I want to use good stuff since the car's still new. It's also, generally speaking, a performance-ish engine...

 

everyone usually says to wait until the percentage tell you to do so......i'm sorry but i change mine every 3000 miles or 3 months (whichever comes first) another thing i don't understand is that if the factory/dealer wants you to wait until the percentage drops to real low, then why do they still put that sticker on your windshield that says 3000 miles/3 months?

 

I did my first on a500 miles and from there i do it everytime i get to 50%

 

I run mine down to 5% then change it. I am getting around 8k per change. That saves me money. The oil still looks pretty good when it comes out.

They put in the Oil life monitor for a reason. If people really want to give money to the already FAT oil execs, then so be it.

Synthetic oils are completely different from 25 years ago when you had to do it every 3k.

 

synthetic oils can last years or so i read in an article.

 

not all cobalts come with synthetic....the kid who started this thread owns a 2.4....they don't come with synthetic

 

So should I just wait to do it until it tells me to do so? lol.

 

You can wait but there is nothing at all wrong with changing it every 3000/3yrs.

 

personal preference...some people say yes (most have ss s/c with synthetic) and then some people say no........do what feels right to you

 

im gonna change mine when its down to 25%

 

Id wait but it wont hurt to put synthetic in but then the oil life minitior will be outta wack

 

I'm at 6000 mile's and still have 55%. Man I must drive like a granny. Hope the new injen setup change's that

 

and get ready. mine cost about $75

 

not all cobalts come with synthetic....the kid who started this thread owns a 2.4....they don't come with synthetic
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I have a 2.4SS and mine came with Mobil 1 Synthetic

 

Proof?

Owners manula says different.

 

being the first oil change, I'd do it now.

Thats what I did. I plan on going synthetic soon and will let the oil life monitor go down some more then.

 

i have the 2.2 and my DIC says about 50%... i have about 4,000 miles... i took a look at the oil the other day and it still looks pretty new

 

How do I know if mine is synthetic?

 

It came from the factory.... it's not synthetic... read the manual...

 

Personal opinion... go by the Oil Life monitor.

 

I run it too about 6000Km, personal preference...

 

I'm not sure that my ss/sc came with synthetic. When my oil was being changed for the first time at the dealership where I bought it, they tried to tell me it didn't require synthetic or was that recommended. Any way, change your oil according to how hard you feel you drive it. Spoil it with synthetic if ya got the extra cash....but remember Exxon Mobil just reported record profits.

 

Yeah, these engines are designed to prolong oil life and all that good stuff to help you save money. If you drag race every weekend, then definitly change the oil every 3000 miles. but for the first oil change I would say check the oil the old fashon way (dipstick), then decide. I've heard that the first oil change should be done around 1000 because the metal shaving from when the internals were machined are in the oil...


All in all it depends how you drive to determine how often to chane the oil (aside from the first one).

 

i was told by my dealer that my 2.4SS came with synthetic. also, there arent any non-synthetic oils that can last 10000 miles that i have ever heard of, and right now my oil life indicator is at 28%, and i have 7300 miles on my vehicle.

 

i'm over 5,000 miles, and my oil still looks pretty new... it's at about 30%, and i'm going to change it soon anyways... it says in the owners manual that you may not have to change your oil more than once a year depending on driving conditions