Today I gave my 09 cobalt LT its first oil change. Needless to say, it has annoyed me quite a bit. First of all, the oil filter is placed in such a poor position that the ginormous socket required to remove it won't fit properly because the intake manifold is in the way. Having the 15 dollars worth of sockets not pull through for me, I ended up using a locking plier. Second complaint would be the retarded dipstick. When an oil change is done, the new oil is pretty much transparent in a thin layer. On the dip stick, the markings are hard to read and the fact its silver makes it much harder to see where the oil is. Its not so bad when the oil turns black. I like the dipsticks found in japanese cars which are less flimsy, are colored black, and have holes or knurling that allows the stick to be read easier. I'm assuming that there is enough oil when the oil reaches the highest waffle area?

Perhaps there are better aftermarket dipsticks that I can use. The piece of **** Chevrolet provided looks like a steel cable from my bike's brake line...

I've definitely lost a lot of faith in the car after this 1 oil change.

 

you should try changing the oil on a SC cobalt

 

x2 you think the intake manifold is a pain?? Try adding in a S/C on TOP of it!! Then you can complain even MORE!!

 

Atleast you guys have a proper dip stick and no manifold that blocks the filter.

 

we have a blower that sits basically on top of it

 

It's harder than any other car I've done but, TBH, it isn't that bad once you can find the damn filter

 

easiest and quickest oil changes i do

 

Hahahaha... and that's how we know you've never changed the oil on a S/C Cobalt. haha

 

i had a 2.2 and it was easy as hell u just use a shallow socket and an extension to break it loose n then do the rest with your hand...my TC is easy to haha

 

uuhhh.....Ive never had problems with mine or even reading my bicycle brake cable dipstick.weird i guess some people know what to look at????

 

am i missing something here? are the new ones any differet

 

i despise changing my oil every time

 

wow... you complain alot! The oil change on the LNF is so much easier than the LSJ and its alot easier and cleaner than alot of cars... at least we can get to our cars drain plugs without having to remove a million pieces of plastic like I do for my sister or mom's car.

 

you and me both, try to find excuses just to not do it

 

ecotecs are the easiest oil changes ever. the supercharger is a pia, but i'd rather take off an oil filter there than underneath the car wedged in somewhere thats impossible to stick your hand. and theres like no mess with the drop in filter. how can you be complaining? get the proper tools/know what your doing and this thread wouldn't exist

 

Thats why i love getting free oil changes for life from the dealer, and if anything goes wrong its off my butt and on theres

 

there is a special socket for the job, go to a local parts store and ask them if they can get you the oil filter socket for a gm or saab cartrage filter. its a 32mm shallow 3/8 drive socket, it makes the job much easier. and the 2.2l and 2.4l are easy to change the oil on, you cant complain till you have changed the oil on an s/c

 

what the hell???? they don't give me free oil changes?????

 

sounds like you should do a dealer trade in and buy a hyundai

 

wow... im sorry, but the ecotec has got to be one of the easiest oil changes I have ever done..... try doing them on a Ford Duratec V-6 or 4 cylinder... the filter on the 4 is on the back of the block, up against the firewall, and horizontal... impossible to change without spilling oil everywhere!

 

Or an RX300!

Seriously, get the special shallow socket for the oil filter and you'll agree its the easiest ever. Don't use pliers; you'll just chew up the plastic cap eventually.

 

Please take pictures on this new cobalt.

Usually I had to add about 2 extentions to help the socket. Unscrew it a little, then unscrew by hand. It's simple as putting gas in the car.

 

x2

Get a short socket for the oil filter cap, I bought one off a memeber on here, but they are out there for cheap and work really well. I think an N/A Ecotec is much easier to do than an LSJ, from my experience with both.

The dipstick is great. Wipe it dry when you have it out, and wherever it lands in the 4 grooves is the level, if its on the bottom groove, add oil. If its on the upper grooves, you are good to go.

 

I found it very easy to change my oil

 

I think its a Ford thing. My grandma's Taurus has the DOHC v6, and the filter is in a terrible spot. I had an '87 Lincoln Continental, and the filter was on the side of the block, directly above the cross memeber, covered everything in oil when you took it out, every time. Also had two drain plugs, one on each end of the pan, and you had to take out both or you didn't get all the oil out. My '95 Contour, filter is from the back, over the axle/control arm, on its side. Another one that coveres everything in oil when you take it out no matter what. I hate Ford.