When should I do the first oil change? I'd always heard you should do the 1st one earlier.
Also how many miles/km's should I wait before switching to Mobil 1?
I'm referring to the 2.2 engine.

if you break it in properly, and plan on driving aggresively, id change the oil 500-1000 miles

The Cobalt has an engine oil life system. It tells you when to change the oil. The manual does say if you accidentally reset the oil life system you should change the oil after 3000 miles. The SS/SC has mobil 1 from the factory.

The Cobalt has an engine oil life system. It tells you when to change the oil. The manual does say if you accidentally reset the oil life system you should change the oil after 3000 miles. The SS/SC has mobil 1 from the factory.

so can i do one after 500 miles, then the computer will tell me when to do all of the next ones?

first change between 500-1000, second change at a total of 3000 miles. After that, whatever schedule you normally use (I'm every 3000). I don't know what the on-board system will tell you.

so can i do one after 500 miles, then the computer will tell me when to do all of the next ones?

When you change the oil your supposed to reset the oil like system to let it know. So if you changed it @500 miles you would reset it and it would start the count down from there. I am not sure exactly how it monitors the engine oil. But from what I have read (http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/environment/news_issues/news/oillife_monitor_041603.html) it looks like the computer monitors the engine and your driving habits and uses that information to estimate the oil life more accurately. I know myself I almost never change the oil at exactly 3000 miles. I check the oil and see if it's down, if it looks darker, ect. The oil life system just does a better job of doing that objectively.

so how do you reset it?

My Boss and VP at work both drive BMW's, 7 and 5 series.

They run synthetic and the maitenance schedule for oil is changin it every 15,000 miles.
I'll ask tomorrow if that applies to the first change as well.

I've read studies that are still going strong at 18,000 plus miles on synthetic with just a filter change.

The manual says that in ideal conditions you could go for a year without changing oil.
But that you should change the filter once a year at least.
THe oil life monitor works off of engine temp and rpm readings.

so how do you reset it?


I'm pretty sure that you just bring up the oil life on the DIC and then the button on the right resets it. I'd have to double check the manual to be sure......

I'm pretty sure that you just bring up the oil life on the DIC and then the button on the right resets it. I'd have to double check the manual to be sure......


No, you have to go into the preferences menu.

So I looked at the oil life system a bit more. Basically the computer in the car monitor engine parameters like engine heat and driving style and uses that information to give a more accurate estimate of when to change the oil. GM said it helps people from changing the oil every 3000 miles which isn't really needed in most cases. This way you change the oil when it's actually needed so you don't waste oil on unneeded changes over the life time of the car.


So in essence the engine oil life system is smarter and more objective than us humans at knowing when to change the oil. :)

I don't know about you, but I will be happy when our electronic overlords come to rule.

All hail the machines! :bow:

Seriously though, thats cool..if it works.

I did my first oil change at 2000 miles. Most were highway miles though. Switched to Mobil 1 when I did. :cool:

Is the new Mobil 1 Extended Performance available in the USA yet?
I haven't seen it in Toronto yet. If so, are the regular Mobil 1 and Mobil 1 Extended Performance both available and how much more is the new one?

Also any oil filters to recommend? I have never seen the Mobil 1 High Efficiency Oil Filter in Toronto.

I thought the new 2.2 needed oil changes every 6,000 miles.
As far as the cartridge filters, their expensive as hell.

Are the filter cartridges the same as in like the 2003-up cavaliers???

cause my bro has a 2002 cavy and wow is that hard to change oil... but i have a 2003 cavy and its easy as pie .... anyone know what kind of oil filter cartridges come with it and where they are located? easy or hard to find? :)

The oil filters go in the top of the motor.

When should I do the first oil change? I'd always heard you should do the 1st one earlier.
Also how many miles/km's should I wait before switching to Mobil 1?
I'm referring to the 2.2 engine.


Check your owners manual. I have heard early oil changes on rebuilt engines. Like a hopped up small block Chevy ect. I have never heard of it on a new factory engine.

My Dads Civic was refused its first oil change--it was too early. Honda puts aditives in the oil to aid in break-in. Not sure if GM does the same though.

Change the oil when the DIC reads 0% oil life remaining :)

for all you guys that now have an SS/SC how difficult was your first oil change ? there was also a few questions on exact placement of the filter. Would any of you be so kind as to take a pic of where the filter is located (if your not too busy driving it still)

I am just a hair below 1k mile mark and my oil life is at about 87%. I dunno if it's going to drop really fast or if I am on pace for a 7.5k oil change mark.

So I haven't changed my oil yet and when I get it changed I will take it to the dealer to get it done.

At 2k miles mine still said 78% oil life. I still changed it though and upgraded to mobil 1.

At 2k miles mine still said 78% oil life. I still changed it though and upgraded to mobil 1.

You didn't reset it when you changed the oil ?

SS/SC has mobil 1 from the factory. I usually don't worry about what type of oil I put in a car, just that I change it on a regular basis. I guess with the mobil 1 from the factory I will have to be a bit more concerned on what I get put in there.

1k on it and you havent changed the oil?? its time!

1k on it and you havent changed the oil?? its time!

No I haven't the manual says you are supposed to pay attention to the oil life system. It doesn't say get the oil changed after the first 1000 miles. Changing oil before it's needed wastes resources and thats specifically what the OIL life system is designed to curb.

No I reset it after I changed it. Doesn't really matter, its not like I am going to use it to know when to change my oil. :rolleyes:

No I haven't the manual says you are supposed to pay attention to the oil life system. It doesn't say get the oil changed after the first 1000 miles. Changing oil before it's needed wastes resources and thats specifically what the OIL life system is designed to curb.

yes, but after 500-1000 miles and after you break in your engine, you're supposed to change the oil for the best performance of your engine

its proven!

yeah it flushes any possible metal shavings that could have still been in the engine from being built. Don't know how important it is now a days though.

DO NOT TRUST GM OIL LIFE MONITORING SYSTEM!!.

I have this on my 04 silverado z71, and what a worthless computer program this is. It does not monitor oil quality, i think it monitors engine hours. I personally do all my own oil changes based on mileage. i have had many instances were i have done an oil change, and the friggin change oil light would come on 2 or 3 weeks later with only 7 or 8 hundred miles on fresh oil. BEWARE!!!!

I did my first oil change at 2000 miles. Most were highway miles though. Switched to Mobil 1 when I did. :cool:


I know you all have a mind set on changing oil so promptly at 3000 miles. I work at Honeywell which makes fram, penzoil, mack filters along with marine applications. We test our 3" filters on pulsators, which is pulsated at 0-60 psi every second. Most filters go well beyond 60,000 pulsations. OE requires that the filter last 27,500 pulsations. There is no real relation between pulsations and mileage, but each pulsation acts as a massive acceleration. Mileage wise, probably well over 10,000 miles. Really, you could change your oil and not the filter but no one ever does that. The only reason you would need to "change your oil" is when the oil breaks down too much. This is what your oil life system does. If you change your oil before your oil life system tells you to you are just an idiot. And I may be wrong, but I believe Mobil 1 comes in your car. At least there is a Mobil one emblem on top of the oil cap which would make me believe that. Just a word of the wise. I have an adobe file which I can get when I go back to work on monday that says the exact same thing. It is all about how you do not need to change oil every 3000 miles as long as you use a good oil.

yes, but after 500-1000 miles and after you break in your engine, you're supposed to change the oil for the best performance of your engine

its proven!


I would like to see documentation proving this if it is prooven!

DO NOT TRUST GM OIL LIFE MONITORING SYSTEM!!.

I have this on my 04 silverado z71, and what a worthless computer program this is. It does not monitor oil quality, i think it monitors engine hours. I personally do all my own oil changes based on mileage. i have had many instances were i have done an oil change, and the friggin change oil light would come on 2 or 3 weeks later with only 7 or 8 hundred miles on fresh oil. BEWARE!!!!


Were you resetting it after each time? Also, there comes a point where you should use common sense.... If you are at 10,000 miles and your oil change light hasn't come on yet, I would change my oil. If it came on at 500 miles, I would not change it. Just use what god gave you when you were born, a brain.

Were you resetting it after each time? Also, there comes a point where you should use common sense.... If you are at 10,000 miles and your oil change light hasn't come on yet, I would change my oil. If it came on at 500 miles, I would not change it. Just use what god gave you when you were born, a brain.

I think he's just trying to warn others that the oil life system isn't foolproof. Obviouly there is common sense required, but not everyone uses it.

Change the oil when the DIC reads 0% oil life remaining :)

i'm at 5200 miles, and the DIC says 33% left useable

YAY! i'm estimating at like 7000 it'll be due for its first change :)

I will reiterate and suggest anyone who does not trust the oil life system take 2 minutes and physically check your oil and see if it's dirty. I have been verifying my oil is still all along. I've got 2500 miles on the car and the oil still looks good. The computer claims 63% life left. It seems accurate so far. I anticipate the oil will indeed last between 5-6K. It DEFINITELY will not be needing changing at the godlike number '3000 miles'.

On the subject of oil changes i just wanted to ask if anyone knows if K&N has an oil fliter out for the SS?

You can never change your oil "too much"

I will reiterate and suggest anyone who does not trust the oil life system take 2 minutes and physically check your oil and see if it's dirty. I have been verifying my oil is still all along. I've got 2500 miles on the car and the oil still looks good. The computer claims 63% life left. It seems accurate so far. I anticipate the oil will indeed last between 5-6K. It DEFINITELY will not be needing changing at the godlike number '3000 miles'.

Yeah I'm waiting for the first "the oil life said it was OK, now my engine is trashed!" thread because not everyone takes into account what the outside conditions are that they're driving in. I'm doing a "short" oil change the first time just for the sake of looking at the oil. I don't drive on excessively dusty/dirty roads but my trip to school and back each day includes 7 miles through a pretty nasty construction area where they're completely rebuilding the road, so it's VERY dusty for that one stretch of road. And since the driving conditions thus far have been typical of the conditions I'll normally be driving in for at least the next year, I'd like to do an early change to get some idea of how to make my own adjustments to the oil life system based on how and where my car is driven.

At first I thought about using the 3000 mile benchmark just because it's "easy", but I think I'm going to do the first change when the oil life system says I have 50% oil life left - I think that'll give me some idea of how to adjust my oil change schedule based on what the computer says.

If this car behaves like my '98 Cavalier did, I shouldn't "have" to change the oil every 5000km. There were times I let the Cavy go for 7000 - 8000 easily and had 0 problems with my car when I sold it in May of this year. I'm still undecided on the oil life system though because I don't want to take a chance that it is inaccurate and negatively affects my car.

I think for at least the first oil change I'll be going in after 5000km to dump the oil and change the filter just so I can start from scratch and make sure there are no filings, etc. building up in my engine. I would assume with the new machining and break-in techniques used at the plants that this should never be a problem anymore but there is always that chance.

As for my oil life system, I'm at 4600km and my oil life is at 67%, so approximate calculation, driving the way I am now the oil "should be good" (no way in hell I'm gonna push this) for 10,000km or so. I've mixed my driving between in town and highway for the last 2 months since I bought the car to push it along breaking it in so the oil life monitor could be right since nearly half of that is highway driving at 100 - 110 km/hr.

Permafried-

I would like to see documentation proving this if it is prooven!
well, all the metal shavings get in the oil...so obviously its good to change that

but our oil gets changed from the factory after the motors are broken in, so trust the DIC

im at 4000 miles, and im at 50% oil life

You can never change your oil "too much"

Yes and no.

Considering your car, you are probably right, all though it is unneccassary to change it more often than it requires.

But if you havn't been living under a rock for the past 20+ years, you would know the global situation with oil and gasoline and have an obvious answer to your nonquestion.

i'm at 5200 miles, and the DIC says 33% left useable


Oh really.... is that what he said!! LOL I thought that was funny when I was reading it. Sorry. For the guys who have already changed their own oil on their SS/SC there should be a How To... on this just because i'm sure no one wants to go and spend $80.00 everytime they get their oil changed. now from my understanding our cars use Mobil 1 oil... 6.5 qts of it. Now I went to AutoZone today to check on the price of it and it was about $5.00/qt. I also saw that there was another Mobil 1 oil version... a 15,000 mile one :wtf: . Now the regular Mobil 1 oil states 7,000 miles :confused: . Ok, so after that I check on the oil filter and to my suprise it uses the SAME oil filter as my girlfriends 2003 Cavalier.. hmmmm weird. Almost $9.00 for the oil filter. Anyways if anyone can enlighten me on the 2 Mobil 1 version oil's that would be great. Thanks and please make the oil change for a 2.0l a How To... Thanks

While were all on the topic of oil here, what thickness of oil do you guys use? I know the manual asks for 5w-30, however, I've heard that some people will put a little thicker in during the summer because of slightly higher heat. Also, should I go synthetic or old school?

My DIC says I have around 43% oil life remaining with 4200 miles on the car....I just hope the DIC knows what it's doing heh

While were all on the topic of oil here, what thickness of oil do you guys use? I know the manual asks for 5w-30, however, I've heard that some people will put a little thicker in during the summer because of slightly higher heat. Also, should I go synthetic or old school?

My DIC says I have around 43% oil life remaining with 4200 miles on the car....I just hope the DIC knows what it's doing heh

1) Go with whatever comes from the factory, I know in the SS/SC you're supposed to use Mobil 1 (full synthetic). I don't know about the other models.

2) I always go with the stock thickness. If it comes with 5w-30 then it always gets 5w-30 regardless of season, temperature etc.

3) With the DIC it's a good idea to get a baseline oil change on your car. Pick a milestone on your DIC (I'm going for 50%) and change the oil. Check and see how much dirt is in it, the color of the oil, consistency, smell, anything that will give you a clue as to how much the oil had broken down and how much dirt gets into it from your everyday driving conditions. Then do your calculations from there, if you change it at say 3500 miles and it looks good then you should, if you drive under basically the same conditions, need to change the oil every 7,000 miles or so, assuming your driving conditions didn't change drastically. This does two things: first it makes sure you're not getting too much dirt through your engine...the oil may make it to 7,000 without breaking down but there may be so much dirt in it that you end up damaging the engine (the DIC computer doesn't calculate for dirt in the oil) and secondly I know of people who have had their oil sensor malfunction and the DIC never said they needed an oil change when really they were way past due for one. If you do the baseline change, and then suddenly you're at 8,000 or 9,000 miles and the DIC is still saying it's not time for the oil to be changed, you know there might be a problem.

I'm at 4600 miles on my car and i checked the oil and it looks clean still just a tad dirty but it's not bad at all my DIC says 47% just like everyone else is saying I sure hope that DIC is right.

Thanks for the info...I picked up some mobile 1 synth. extended life earlier today....

Now for the stupid question...where is the oil filter located on the 2.2L? I'm just not sure where to look, mainily cuz I haven't had to replace a filter like this yet....

I'm at 4600 miles on my car and i checked the oil and it looks clean still just a tad dirty but it's not bad at all my DIC says 47% just like everyone else is saying I sure hope that DIC is right.

Just keep checking it yourself until it's dirty. I've got about 4000 on mine and at 49%. The oil looks about half used. So far it's been accurate. It sounds accurate for you too. The oild is just mildly dirty.

check your dealer for the filter. mine was 5 bucks for the hengst/ac delco filter that came in the car, compared to 7 for hte fram at walmart.

don't you love how the owners manual and service manual both say the 2.0 only takes 5 qts?

Thanks for the info...I picked up some mobile 1 synth. extended life earlier today....

Now for the stupid question...where is the oil filter located on the 2.2L? I'm just not sure where to look, mainily cuz I haven't had to replace a filter like this yet....





Unscrew the oil fill cap and then pull the cover up. It is held in by two clips. The filter is to the right of the manifold. I takes about a 1 inch socket I believe. There are pics on this site but don't remember where at. I took mine in for the first oil change at Jiffy Lube and went to McDonalds and upon arrival back, they couldn't find the oil filter either. They felt stupid when I pulled the cover off. So don't feel bad, even the "certified technician" don't know everything.

I didnt have to change my oil til about 10000 miles according to my DIC. It was a real dark brown color, so it "looked" OK. I used to change every 3K but thats real expensive and like a lot of people have been saying, trust your DIC its there for a reason. A 32MM socket with extension makes it real easy to get to your oil filter behind the supercharger. And I bought the Mobil-1 and Fram filter at Wal-mart for $45 (2 5quart bottles) because I had to put in 7.5 quarts! 5 quarts my A@#! :lol: How could GM argue their DIC's are wrong? Trust your DIC! :thumb:

www.bobistheoilguy.com

To everyone on this forum, start reading if you don't already know about the place.

but our oil gets changed from the factory after the motors are broken in, so trust the DIC

If that were true there wouldn't have been metal shavings in my oil filter after 1,000 miles on the factory fill.

To all the other general questions, though.. Any multi-viscosity oil that is SM rated be it dino or synthetic and no heavier than Xw30 will work just fine in any Cobalt engine.

I did my first change at 1,000 and found 5-6 sizeable metal shavings in the filter. This makes me wonder just how many microscopic shavings were suspended in the oil. Second change came at around 3,500 to German Castrol synthetic 0w30. The car runs like a top and I don't plan the next change 'til 8,000 or later.

does the 2.2 really need mobile 1 oil?

does the 2.2 really need mobile 1 oil?

There are few motors that actually -NEED- synthetic. Good dino oil in the proper viscosity is going to do just as good a job when changed at the proper intervals.

Synthetic just happens to protect better and extend drain intervals even longer. That and it helps me sleep at night. ;)

1k on it and you havent changed the oil?? its time!


yes, time to waste your money on oil...