i live in PA i bought my 07 ls brand new from John Sauder Cheverolet. I am going in tommorow for my second oil change, my odometer reading is 12,020. and my oil% says 30 thats about the same % as the first time.
my question to you is

1. at what mileage do you change yours?
2. and if you get it done at the dealer how much do they charge you/ what oil they use?

they charge me 30$ which is about what the oil and filter would cost anyway, i figure why not! that way i have documented proof and i dont got to do it.

1. at what mileage do you change yours?
2. and if you get it done at the dealer how much do they charge you/ what oil they use?



These threads always wind up with about 6 pages of replies, and no two people agree. But since its early, I'll get my answer in before everyone else LOL.

1. I change mine at 5000 miles; however I do keep an eye on the oil life monitor and for comparison, it tells me I should be changing at about 10,000 miles, so I figure I'm cutting that distance in half. That's my logic, its as simple as that. I don't bother resetting the monitor until it reaches "0" but I keep a notepad in the car where I keep track of my 5000 miles.
2. You could call the dealer and ask; they might all charge a different rate but will probably all be around $30 like you mentioned. They will use regular 5W30 which they buy in big tanks, so it could be from Shell, Havoline, Pennzoil, who knows.

I always change mine myself and use Castrol GTX when Pep Boys has coupons, so its like $1.19 x 5 quarts + $7 or so for the filter which is still a lot less than $30. Honestly, in the very slim liklihood that I have any oil-related problems, its sure going to be a LONG time after the warranty is over, so I'm not worried about that whole issue.

Inevitably someone is going to post on here and recommend synthetic, but I won't be the one. I don't use it. People say they feel the car "running better" with synthetic, but I'm convinced its all in their minds. Really, how could it run better? I could see it running better if you replaced the plugs, or something like that, but with oil? Come on - its oil! The regular stuff isn't full of rocks, its good too! Sure, synthetic has advantages in cold start-ups, and it lasts a lot longer than regular, but I like my system and am sticking to it.

Wow. Did you just get this car in December? Finally someone that drives more than me! The above poster gave good advice.

I, however, do change mine religiously at 3,000 and use synthetic, but that's more as a pennance to the car gods as I have had a car sling a rod due to oil problems before that likely would've been caught had I been checking it more frequently.

He is right though in that your 'Balt will likely be long gone before it matters how often you changed the oil or what type, as long as you're running with enough oil and it doesn't look like black sludge - you're fine.

On the Dealer, I can get a full synthetic change at my dealer for $55 so I did let them do that on my first change. I'm not sure if I'll do that in the future, but I don't have a garage and it's nice to have someone else do the work when it's cold... I personally do try to stay away from 'quick lubes' and other places like that, some are good and some are crappy - and I just don't have the patience or desire to figure out which is which.

The price for syn went up 3 dollars a quart last week so they say and 7 quarts approx.
They were telling me Napa full syn was 3.00 something and Napa brand regular oil is valvoline so syn maybe the same
This is for Woodland, WA.

ha, yeah i blew my celica after swapping the motor when i went to change the oil pan gasket and found out that the oil pump was shot. the place that i bought the motor from really f***ed me. oh well. i dont have a garage either so yeah its nice to get it done that way.
oh and i drive 25miles to work so thats a guarenteed 50miles a day. my dad lives in MD so when i go see him its like 100 or so each way and i travel a lot so yeah id say i drive a lot.

my dealer charges me 80 bucks for filter and mobile 1. if you ask me its beyond over priced!

Here is some good tips to follow:

If your an SS/SC driver, buy your oil and filter (7qts & filter) for the normal price between $30-$45. Pay the extra $10 to have them change it and do the lube. Bam instantly saving $30 or more by not having them provide the goods and service.

If your a Base, LS or LT/LTZ regular motor oil is fine and it will about cost you the same $20-$30 to have them do it or you go buy all the stuff and do it yourself. Your saving maybe $2-3 dollars. Not worth the hassle.

Change your oil by what your owners manual says rather then what some douche on the street says. You will stay in compliance with the said company who built the car and have the peace of mind you had it done to the "T".

yeah my dealer does mobile 1, not full syn but the same stuff i would use.

We use all GM oil and fluids here. Which is Mobil :) I'm not real sure how much they charge cuz I've never paid for an oil change on either of my balts. I've been using Mobil 1 syn since I bought both of them and been doin it every 5000 miles. It makes it easier to remember when to change it. The bad think is it's changed about every 1 1/2 months.

i get mine changed for around 25...i dont go to the dealership though...i have my oil changed by a family friend. and its changed right at 3000

If your a Base, LS or LT/LTZ regular motor oil is fine and it will about cost you the same $20-$30 to have them do it or you go buy all the stuff and do it yourself. Your saving maybe $2-3 dollars. Not worth the hassle.



I get my oil and filter for about $15 total. To me its worth it.