My 2006 Cobalt LT has hit the 5000 K mark now. However, the oil life meter is still at 59%. I drove by my dealer the other day and asked the guy in the pit stop if I should go by the meter or just do the standard 5000 or 3 months oil change. He told me for the first time do it at 5000 K and then after that follow the oil life meter.

I wanted to get the opinion of the people on here as I know sometimes the dealer can tell you all kinds of crap just to get your money.

 

There is a lot of debate about this subject, just like synthetic vs. regular. I personally change my oil every 3K, but many others go by the monitor. I guess it's a matter of personal preference more than anything.

As far as your first oil change, I'd get it done now if I were you. Your engine has just gone through its break-in period and it's a good idea to get fresh oil and a new filter in there. After that... it's up to you.

 

Good question. Mine just hit almost 6K and I think the meter is at 29%. I am going to change it regardless though cause I know I wont have the time to do it later.

Art

 

Oil wears out and breaks down, the more it breaks down, the less protection your engine gets from it. It doesn't matter which type of oil you use, be it synthetic or conventional. Change your oil & filter every 3,000 miles and you'll have no problems later on in the cars life.

Don't worry about what the computer says, get your oil changed.

 

It does matter which type of oil you use, because synthetic will last several times longer than conventional oil in terms of breaking down. Synthetic gets changed more often because of being too dirty to function as opposed to breaking down. As long as it's clean, synthetic will easily run 10k miles, usually more. Me changing my oil and filter every 3k miles only means that I will waste about $150 a year in needless oil changes.

 

agreed.... i've said it a million times, and stick to it... changing your oil is good for 2 things:

1) wasting your money
2) wasting your time

these engines are broken in from the factory as well...


anyways, there's is absolutely no need to change your oil and filter every 3,000 miles... this is a thing of the past... unless you like giving your money to the oil companies, because they definately don't have enough

 

That's what I'm saying.

I changed my oil at 3000 the first time. I just recently changed it at 9300 miles with 31% left on the meter. 3k changes are a thing of the past.

 

yep.. i change mine at like 5,6000 miles, and it still looks like i could have waited longer...

 

Exactly...I mean, just check your oil level every other tank and make sure it's all there, and if you live in a dusty place like myself, check it also for signs of dirt. You can get away with just a filter change at 50% oil life.

 

sound like you should have changed it 2000 miles ago.

 

Right now I am at about 6,000 miles with 20% on the oil life meter. 3,000 miles is so 50 years ago.... :-)

 

ive only done 2 oil changes in 13,000 miles with like %50 left on the meter but before running the turbo im putting in some more mobil 1 synthetic. i wonder if the meter is gonna know there is a turbo ont he car and to adjust to it with the oil life meter.

 

get your first at 5,000kms---then stretch her out a bit.

 

this thread is madd old
but follow the monitor, it is there for a reason
don't worry about changin your oil after a little while once you get your car....the engine comes pre-broken in

 

oh man. Not another one of these threads. I change my oil when my meter is below 10% (about 7500 miles). Even then, my oil ins't that dark and the level is fine. I have had no problems so far (30k miles on odo).