Rant about oil changes on an 09 cobalt
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Rant about oil changes on an 09 cobalt
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.
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.
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#13
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.
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.
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.
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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
#17
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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
#18
#20
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!
#21
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#23
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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.
#25
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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!