My SS is due it's 1st oil change so I looked in the owners manual and read:
2.2L and 2.4--only use oils with GM6094M rating.
2.0L----------only use oils with GM4718M rating.
Went by 2 stores on the way home and looked at all the different Mobil 1
5W30's (regular,truck-suv,extended life etc.) All the ones I looked at only had the GM6094M rating. Am I missing something here or is the owners manual misleading.
I plan on doing my own sevice work and keeping all receipts but need to make sure I've got the correct oil.Hope someone could enlighten this old grease monkey on the modern technology!

 

just happened to have a quart right here. regular Mobil 1 5w-30

 

Most of the synthetics have the required 4718 spec. I used Quaker State synthetic last time as it was the lowest priced one that met the spec.

 

Here is the list of "registered" GM oils. Just because they are not registered by GM does not mean they do not meet the specs they have just not submitted a sample to be tested by GM but if the bottle says it meets the standards than it does and will not void your warranty.

PDF Here --> Link

GM4718M Registered Products
Revision Date: 26-Nov-2007
Current ILSAC GF-4 Products
Product Name SAE Viscosity Grades ILSAC Grade
Castrol SLX Professional 4718 5W-30 GF-4
Chevron Supreme Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30 GF-4
CITGO SUPERGARD Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30 GF-4
Mobil 1 0W-30, 5W-30, 10W-30 GF-4
Northland, Synergy Synthetic 5W-30 GF-4
Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30 GF-4
Texaco Havoline Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30 GF-4
Q HorsePower 5W-30, 10W-30 GF-4

 

Wally World is usually $24/5 qt. jug, sometimes as little as $16-$17 on sale

Napa Gold oil filters are made by Wix so that's my combo

 

I like the new Pennzoil Ultra, the Mobil 1 on the cap just means Mobil payed the most to GM to get that on the "High Performance" vehicles, as long as the oils states that it meets the specs it's fine to use.

 

I've been using Mobil 1 in all my turbo cars since last century.

 

Synthetic oil is clearly NOT needed for my normally aspirated 2.4, just as premium fuel is optional. Girlfriend's BMW Z4 requires full synthetic, with oil changes once a year @ 15,000 miles. I found Mobil 1 for just over $4 a quart on sale at a local Sam's Club. Her car uses like 6 - 7 quarts per change, so we bought all we could find at that price, about 13 quarts.

 

Nothing against Mobil 1 (its a great oil too); however, I have been using Royal Purple forever. Royal Purple, Royal Purple, Royal Purple. Been doing my own changes on my HHR's since 2005. I owned a LS before my 'SS'. Used Royal Purple in that one too. Will not put anything else in this dude. My 'SS' gets oil changes every 3000 miles NO MATTER WHAT. Even if my dash says not yet!!!!! Yes, a little expensive, but so is a new motor.

 

Many test have shown that good synths like M1 are still fine at 15k miles. What's important is to at least change the filters. I'm not suggesting someone run M1 to 15k miles, but 3000 gains nothing. Run it until the DIC says to replace it and if you are paranoid, put in a new filter every 3000 miles.