Oil Change
01-24-2008 | 10:16 AM
#11
Senior Member
Joined: 03-05-2007
Posts: 629
From: Rochester NY/The Villages, Florida
I am from the old school, since I am 76 years old. I have always changed oil and filter at 3,000 miles. We purchased our HHR in August of 2007 and it is the first car I ever had that had an oil monitor. It has 21,000 miles on it now and I have been changing the oil at about 4,000 miles. I think the oil monitor was at about 50%. So, it looked like I would have 7,500-8,000 miles on it if I followed the oil monitor and I felt that that would be too long, but as I say, I am of the old school. Also, my dealer has a fantastic deal of changing the oil and filter for 15.95, and I liked that. So, that is where I am as of now. I wonder, do most people go by the oil monitor until it is down to near 0%?
01-24-2008 | 12:22 PM
#12
Platinum Member
Joined: 05-09-2006
Posts: 6,805
From: "Upland" Mesa, Arizona
Although the OLI does go to 0%, I believe at either 5 or 10% it gives you warning of "change oil soon". So I would think the best thing to do, is change when it says to......"change oil soon". Your Owners Manual has more information.
GM Corporation's official position "across the board" is to do what the OLI tells you to do. I doubt if you would find a statement by any of GM's "power brokers" saying otherwise!! Dealers are NOT GM.
GM Corporation's official position "across the board" is to do what the OLI tells you to do. I doubt if you would find a statement by any of GM's "power brokers" saying otherwise!! Dealers are NOT GM.
01-24-2008 | 12:38 PM
#13
Senior Member
Joined: 06-21-2007
Posts: 565
From: Bass Lake, CA
This has been debated to death here and other places but I'll throw in my 
The science behind the OLM has been posted here and it looks pretty solid. But I'm part old school too so I walk the line between the two positions. I run full synth to around 7,500 miles and then change it regardless of the OLM reading- which typically still shows about 20% at that point.
The science behind the OLM has been posted here and it looks pretty solid. But I'm part old school too so I walk the line between the two positions. I run full synth to around 7,500 miles and then change it regardless of the OLM reading- which typically still shows about 20% at that point.
01-24-2008 | 08:47 PM
#14
Senior Member
Joined: 08-16-2007
Posts: 449
From: Seaforth
Well I just got my 2nd change done. The first at 5000 kms. just because it was a new engine and needed some minor warrentee work the OLM was at about 75%. This one it was at 48% and was due for a check up and a couple more minor things. I put about 10,000 kms since the first, so I switched to synthetic oil. I will trust the OLM to be close so I will probably make an appt. at about 25%
01-24-2008 | 11:24 PM
#17
Joined: 01-24-2008
Posts: 9
From: Three Oaks, MI. 49128
Oil change
I read an interview with the head of the Corvette's(the Vette also has an oil life monitor) development team. His take on the oil change interval was that you are flushing your money down the toilet if you change the oil sooner than what the oil life monitor says to.
Sorry, I hit the wrong digit.....I have had our 2007 HHR since Aug. 2006 and not since Aug. 2007. It has the 2.2 engine........a great engine.
Probably changing the oil and filter is one of the best things you can do to prolong the life of your engine. I, too, have wondered...would they gruantee an engine for 100,000 miles if it was not OK to go by the oil monitor that they have put there for that purpose? Oil is a lot better than it used to be. I read about a study between a good motor oil and the synthetics that are out now, and after a 100,000 mile tear down and inspection, they could not find a difference, so, perhaps I will let my oil monitor guide me a little farther toward 0%. Thanks, guys for all your comments.
Sorry, I hit the wrong digit.....I have had our 2007 HHR since Aug. 2006 and not since Aug. 2007. It has the 2.2 engine........a great engine.
Probably changing the oil and filter is one of the best things you can do to prolong the life of your engine. I, too, have wondered...would they gruantee an engine for 100,000 miles if it was not OK to go by the oil monitor that they have put there for that purpose? Oil is a lot better than it used to be. I read about a study between a good motor oil and the synthetics that are out now, and after a 100,000 mile tear down and inspection, they could not find a difference, so, perhaps I will let my oil monitor guide me a little farther toward 0%. Thanks, guys for all your comments.
01-25-2008 | 09:36 AM
#18
Senior Member
Joined: 01-02-2008
Posts: 223
From: Virginia
I'd like to verify all this for myself... is there wording in the warranty & owner's manual that clearly states to obey the OLM? If so, then hey... I have no problem going with crazy long intervals. 10k is quite a long time for any dino oil.
??
01-25-2008 | 12:03 PM
#20
Senior Member
Joined: 11-29-2007
Posts: 175
From: Wilmington,Illinois
I like to get mine every 5,000 miles. Nice easy number to remember when to get it done and I like to get my tires rotated at that time too so I get it all done at the same time.
At 5k my OLI is usually showing between 40 and 50 percent.
At 5k my OLI is usually showing between 40 and 50 percent.