Tune up and oil change dates?
05-11-2007 | 05:13 PM
#21
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 04-02-2007
Posts: 90
From: St. Louis, Mo.
Thanks JoeR for that posting....right on the money.
I swore I wasn't going to get involved in another of THESE type of threads BUT,....
I need to ask johnnypatrick......
Why are you asking these questions? Again, I'm not arguing and "picking" on you. But, this statement from you begs for expalnation, "The transmission needs no messing with for 100,000 miles, I know". Did you get that from the owners book? If GM states that, and you believe it, why do you NOT believe their statements regarding oil change intervals and tune-ups?
Again, not trying to make a non issue about the interest in your car. But, your logic is a little foggy. It's like a professor and an "A" student genius both providing the same answer, 2 + 2 = 4. The guy in the back of the room, who has all the girls swarming around, says, "well, I thinks it's 4, but I need to figure it out with a pencil and paper". Everybodys correct...just some more than others
Good luck and research the threads. You'll find some really good discussion.
I swore I wasn't going to get involved in another of THESE type of threads BUT,....
I need to ask johnnypatrick......
Why are you asking these questions? Again, I'm not arguing and "picking" on you. But, this statement from you begs for expalnation, "The transmission needs no messing with for 100,000 miles, I know". Did you get that from the owners book? If GM states that, and you believe it, why do you NOT believe their statements regarding oil change intervals and tune-ups?
Again, not trying to make a non issue about the interest in your car. But, your logic is a little foggy. It's like a professor and an "A" student genius both providing the same answer, 2 + 2 = 4. The guy in the back of the room, who has all the girls swarming around, says, "well, I thinks it's 4, but I need to figure it out with a pencil and paper". Everybodys correct...just some more than others
Good luck and research the threads. You'll find some really good discussion.
05-11-2007 | 05:21 PM
#22
Senior Member
Joined: 04-30-2006
Posts: 9,149
From: Maryland Heights, MO
Well if you really want to know the answer. You can't mess with the tranny fluid because it is closed system. The DIC is new to me so I don't know if I can trust it. The temp doesn't even read correctly ever. It will read 78 when it is 70 out??? So I'm thinking, "how accurate is this DIC.? If I wait till 0% and 65,000 miles later past warranty I'm burning oil, well? If someone does it at 25 and has had great results. Well? So the basic thrust of the question really was. How well should I trust the DIC?
Transmission fluid we do, not yet on the HHRs, at 50,000.
BTW, hope to see you next week at Chuck-A-Burger!
05-11-2007 | 05:33 PM
#23
Platinum Member
Joined: 05-09-2006
Posts: 6,805
From: "Upland" Mesa, Arizona
Ok, thanks for your answer. I understand and respect it.
Oh, I will say there is nothing preventing you from having the trans. fluid changed at whatever interval you are confortable with. When GM speaks of it as a closed system, they only mean it's not necessary to check it (no dip stick). They also say if you experience "trouble"...fluid leaks, slippage, etc. take it to the dealer. With Arizona's extreme ambient temp.'s AND occasional DIC engine coolant temp's of 228+, I change every 25,000. I'm not waiting for a burned fluid or trans failure problem.....but, that's my comfort level.
And, one last thing....the DIC ambient temp. difference could be location variables (airport reading to your location, for example)which was discussed on other threads. But that is not the temperature/sensor the computor uses to help determine oil life...it's a different sensor.
Again, thanks for your answers.
Not sure about the HHR (someone else can provide the correct answer), but other GM vehicles I owned, had a yellow "Service Now" indicator illuminate when you hit 5% oil useage on the DIC. Can anyone answer this for sure???
Oh, I will say there is nothing preventing you from having the trans. fluid changed at whatever interval you are confortable with. When GM speaks of it as a closed system, they only mean it's not necessary to check it (no dip stick). They also say if you experience "trouble"...fluid leaks, slippage, etc. take it to the dealer. With Arizona's extreme ambient temp.'s AND occasional DIC engine coolant temp's of 228+, I change every 25,000. I'm not waiting for a burned fluid or trans failure problem.....but, that's my comfort level.
And, one last thing....the DIC ambient temp. difference could be location variables (airport reading to your location, for example)which was discussed on other threads. But that is not the temperature/sensor the computor uses to help determine oil life...it's a different sensor.
Again, thanks for your answers.
Not sure about the HHR (someone else can provide the correct answer), but other GM vehicles I owned, had a yellow "Service Now" indicator illuminate when you hit 5% oil useage on the DIC. Can anyone answer this for sure???
05-11-2007 | 06:10 PM
#24
Senior Member
Joined: 06-21-2006
Posts: 3,100
From: Chicago
Hey Goose
Its 58 miles 1 way to work and 58 miles back home then the running around I do at home adds up to about 150 a day, right now I fill up 3 times a week
but then again it depends how fast I am driving. It is very hard for me to drive at 55 but at this special time in my Life (High Gas Prices Time) I am learning to drive at 55 MPH. I have put on over 43,000 in 15 months.
Yes my warranty is up but then again the HHr is built so well I do not plan on having any problems with my vehicle. The only problems I have had is the Brakes & Rotors, and GM has repaired and replaced mine 3 times so far.
I hope you and everyone else has as much fun and Luck as I have with mine.
Rudy (Z-Man) aka LLB
05-11-2007 | 06:19 PM
#25
Banned
Joined: 10-15-2005
Posts: 9,121
From: Rochester,N.Y.
Your DIC just displays "change oil soon", there are no dummy lights.
05-11-2007 | 07:37 PM
#27
Banned
Joined: 10-15-2005
Posts: 9,121
From: Rochester,N.Y.
Yup. At 5% the DIC read "change oil soon" when I started my HHR and it would stay on until I pressed one of the DIC buttons. I finally changed it at 3% so I don't know if there are any additional warnings beyond that point.
05-11-2007 | 07:42 PM
#28
Senior Member
Joined: 04-30-2006
Posts: 9,149
From: Maryland Heights, MO
05-11-2007 | 07:50 PM
#29
Banned
Joined: 10-15-2005
Posts: 9,121
From: Rochester,N.Y.
I was pretty nervous to let it get that low to tell you the honest truth. 
I have never let any of my cars go that long without an oil change before. I guess I should just trust GM's engineers and change the oil when the DIC tells me to. I didn't notice any difference in the car performance wise or anything and it didn't blow up so I guess I'm safe. It's just so hard breaking old habits sometimes. I also can't forget the great GM conspiracy to screw customers and purposely design flaws in their vehicles either. 
