After how many miles do you normally change your oil. I used to be a strict 3 to 4000 mile guy. I understand that now days oils are better and your car can run longer between changes. My question is, I have just under 6,500 miles on my 07 balt, my "oil life" meter on my car says I still have 29% oil life remaining. I plan on changing my oil this weekend but I was just curious if I really had to, could I run my car for 8 or maybe even 9000 miles between oil changes?

 

i never trust that gauge i always change oil every 3,000 miles

 

What model cobalt do you have?

 

I would definately change it this weekend if I was you.

 

I don't let the it go below 50%. Every 3000 with mobil1 is a waste of oil. Depending how you drive the car 5000 would be fine IMO.

 

change it at 5 to 6 or do what i do

change oil filter at 3000
change oil at 6000

 

Anyone know how to change the oil filter on the SS/SC. I know its the non-can type filter, and where it is. The trick is how to get it out and flushing the rest of the dirty oil.

 

Those who don't trust the oil life monitor need to do some reading.

Clicky.

If you base your oil changes on "miles", you're doing it wrong.

 

I do believe he has an 07' LT2 which would mean he has the 2.2L

 

I trust the oil change meter since it is based on calculations made by the computer. It factors in RPM's, ambient temp, average speed, engine temp, operating hours, mileage, miles driven, idle time, all kinds of things. I do use synthetic oil as some added insurance and since the engine oil life monitor is basing its calculations on regular petrolium based oils I know I'm safe. Not saying you shouldn't change it at 29% if that's what makes you feel better but every 3000 miles or even at 50% is wasting time, money and natural resources. I don't see anything wrong with throwing a new filter in at 60% or so, but check your owners manual and see what it has to say about when to change your oil. I trust the book. Just keep records so that if something does happen you can prove the date, mileage and oil life of each oil change in case they question your maintenance. Commercials stating that you should change your oil every 3000 miles are propaganda by companies that want to scare you into spending money.

 

Very well put.

 

It all depends on how hard you drive it. I don't drive my car hard so I don't change it every 3000 miles. If you do drive it hard and sporatically, maybe every 3000 miles is for you.

 

I'm an agressive driver, but by no means do I beat the **** out of my car. I had a feeling that gauge was pretty accurate. I think after this weekend I will trust the gauge a little more. If I could go 8 or maybe even 9000 miles between oil changes that would be great. Thank you all for you imput.

 

So how low does the oil life % get before the light comes on?

 

You can run it all the way down to 1% after that you will get a message on your display saying you need an oil change after a few more miles you will get a 2nd notification that's the last warning you will get...super important to change the oil ASAP after first notification.

 

Yea there is no reason to NOT trust the gauge. It is based on all kinds of ****, including driving style. The computer, and those who programmed it, know better than you do

 

It doesn't sample the oil like BMW's does.

How come it goes down very sharply to around 60% then slows down; even though my driving style hasn't changed? Your statement would make it seem that it goes down at a constant rate.

 

Starting at 5%, your DIC will display a message "change oil soon" every time you start the car.

 

Temperature change? Driving more frequently? 300 miles a week before 60% and 200 after? It could be any number of things. Mine does fall at a fairly constant rate. The system works, there's no reason GM would put a system in their vehicles that tells their consumers that instead of coming in every 3000 miles for an oil change, they should instead do it every 8k. What that is going to do, is net them less money because they're performing their ridiculously overpriced maintenance a third as often as before. It's not a smart business plan. It's there for a reason, and if GM employees, people who design and work on these cars, and trust the system, there's no reason a bunch of people with no automotive engineering experience should question it.

After mine dropped to 0% and I ignored it for two weeks it stopped showing up, so be aware of that if you're getting low, it does go away after a while so don't forget to get it done if you wait that long.

 

I would trust GM's before BMW or Mercedes. Theirs are more complicated, require more parts, and have more ways to fail. The components that measure the oil can become contaminated themselves, and thereby always give you an incorrect reading. The GM system is all software based, and very accurate (though on the conservative side, for safety).

That's interesting, because mine dropped to zero once while I was out of town, and I got so tired of it coming on, I just reset the damn thing and changed it once I got back home.

 

most people that I have seen do that do it the opposite. In england they change there oil like every 10-15k. Oil has come a long way since the inception of the idea of every 3k years ago.

 

dude change it now... never let it go more then 5000 miles.. especially if your not usin synthetic

 

Why wouldnt you trust it??? If it didnt work why would GM put it in all of thier cars and trucks?

 

probably because the price of oil and gas in england is crazy high.

 

because depending on how you drive depends on how much your oil burns.. the gauge doesnt read that... the gauge just goes by miles