In my present car, I use Mobil 1.
Any advice on using it (or similar) in the Cobalt?
I let it run a bit longer than regular in between changes, but the Cobalt has that oil life display (based on mileage?). Would I be in warranty trouble for going over it (how is it reset)?
Is there a break in period before switching still?
Thanks.

 

when you get a new car, it is my understaning that it would be a good idea to get the oil changed at about 500ish miles or so...it what i was taught as i was growing up, and all my cars ive driven run great, so it cant be wrong..
but why would you keep oil in there longer then 3k? i freak out when im within 500 miles of 3k since my last oil change..must just be a quirk i have.

 

the oil life indicator in GM cars does not go by miles alone, it goes by drive cycles and how many startups it sees... if u start the car twice a day and drive 200 miles a day as a commuter, the light may not come on for 5-6000 miles... but if u start the car 6 times a day and only drive 20 miles a day, it may come on at 2-3000 miles... if ur gonna change ur oil every 3000 miles, its a waste of money to use synthetic, unless ur racing ur car and the oil temp goes over 300 regularly...

 

The only problem with that is oil does have a limited shelf life once it's being used. The viscosity breaks down and that's why they always said 3 months OR 3000 miles, whichever comes first. You DO NOT want to run synthetic for the first 1000 miles on your new car, it interferes with proper break in of the components because of how it saturates the metal. Leave the oil the car comes with until about the 1000 mile mark and switch to sythetic on your oil change then. I use Mobil 1 on everything so i don't see why it wouldn't be ideal for the Cobalt. Mobil 1 is not a waste in the least little bit, especially for a daily driver let alone a high revving racecar. The oil molecules in sythetic are quite a bit denser than in the organic crap and if you use synthetic for the life of the car you're guaranteed a lot longer lifespan. Like i said, it has to do with how well the oil saturates the metal and how long the oil can be retained in such metal. The difference is night and day when you tear the motor apart...believe me...especially in the intake and exhaust tracks in the heads as well as the oil valley for the lifters.

 

Mobil 1 is the recommended for the 2.0 supercharged engine. the others can use any 5w30 oil regular or synthetic.

 

I would definitely use Mobil 1 in the Cobalt, especially with the 2.0 S/C.

The myth that you should not use synthetic oil during break in periods is not true at all.

Our 2003 Honda Civic was shipped from the factory with Synthetic (apparently a special Honda blend) and many other cars are filled with synthetic right from the factory. If you read the back of the Mobil 1 bottle, it tells you right there.

Mobil 1 is factory fill in:

Corvette
Viper
Mercedes AMG
Mustang Cobra
Porsche
Aston Martin

 

Maybe true on the newer roller motors that use less friction to operate but I know for a fact that on the older hydraulic flat tappet V8's that I've built, you can not break them in on full synthetic installed in the car under load (maybe on a test stand). I'm also willing to bet on your Civic (as well as the Corvette, Viper and Cobra) that break-in oil is either a Sythetic/Organic blend or it's a full sythetic that's an extremely light weight. Actually, I'll make a phone call to straighten this out because now I'm curious. Myth's always originate from some form of truth......

 

screw mobil one..... I say go Royal Purple!