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First Oil Change

113 messages,  Last post on Aug 29, 2009 at 12:21 PM

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What is this discussion about? Oil

Messages Page 9 of 12

#74 of 113 Re: Oil Change Intervals [wtd44] by waterdr

Jan 19, 2008 (9:46 am)

Replying to: wtd44 (Jan 18, 2008 12:05 pm)
You actually bring up a very good point. Changing oil is certainly a nice opportunity to look at other things and see what's up on a car. Always better to find a problem before it becomes a big problem.

#75 of 113 Saturn Dealer vs Saturn by steelerman

Feb 20, 2008 (1:50 pm)

My 2007 Saturn Aura XR has close to 7,200 miles. I bought it new in Nov 2007. I have yet to change the oil because it has an oil life monitor. It is currently at 29%.
 
While at the dealer for another issue, I remarked that I still had not had my first oil change. Both service guys at the counter said I should get my oil changed every 3-5K miles.
 
I was floored! One reason I bought the car was because I liked this feature. Is the dealer trying to rip me off by going against the manufacturer's recommendations and getting unnecessary oil changes?

#76 of 113 Re: Saturn Dealer vs Saturn [steelerman] by okko1

Feb 20, 2008 (8:12 pm)

Replying to: steelerman (Feb 20, 2008 1:50 pm)
gm will generally comp. you first oil change anyway and i think it is a good idea to have this done short of your oil life gage. i like to have that first filter to gut and take a look at. not every oil change is as critical as the first to me.

#77 of 113 Re: Saturn Dealer vs Saturn [steelerman] by dtownfb

Feb 21, 2008 (11:22 am)

Replying to: steelerman (Feb 20, 2008 1:50 pm)
The dealership is trying to get you in more often. I would have done the first oil change around 5000 miles and then follow the oil life monitor after that. I would change it when the monitor is at 15%-20%. My personal opinion.

#78 of 113 Re: Saturn Dealer vs Saturn [okko1] by steelerman

Feb 21, 2008 (11:24 am)

Replying to: okko1 (Feb 20, 2008 8:12 pm)
I hear what you are saying. Many I this forum would agree with you. Better safe than sorry.
 
There are others on this forum that say to go by the Owner's Manual. The Manual was written by the manufacturer of the engine and should give the best advice that would make their product operate correctly and at full efficiency.
 
In my case, I bought a feature that is supposed to monitor my oil life and tell me when to change it; and the dealer and others say, "No, don't go by that. Change it every X,XXX miles."
 
So my gripe is the inconsistent message being given by the dealer and GM.
 
I am thinking of calling the Service Manager at Saturn and asking him/her.

#79 of 113 Re: Saturn Dealer vs Saturn [steelerman] by humblecoder

Feb 21, 2008 (7:56 pm)

Replying to: steelerman (Feb 21, 2008 11:24 am)
So my gripe is the inconsistent message being given by the dealer and GM.
 I am thinking of calling the Service Manager at Saturn and asking him/her.
 
I understand your frustration regarding the conflicting opinions. However, if you are coming to this message board seeking the "one true answer", you are going to be greatly disappointed.
 
The oil change interval debate as been the subject of countless articles and arguments since the introduction of the Model T, and it will continue to be that way. Great minds have weighed the merits of various oil change strategies, and to my knowledge, nobody has yet to discover the "grand unified theory" of oil changes. Maybe if Einstein were a mechanic, we would have a definitive answer on the subject. Unfortunately, he decided to focus his attention on some arcane physics stuff, and so the debate continues.
 
Rather than getting your blood pressure up agonizing over the "right" oil change interval, just change it every 3000 miles like I do. Is that overkill? Probably. However, then you won't have to worry about whether or not you are running your oil too long. With that kind of peace of mind, you'll sleep better at night, flowers will smell sweeter, and you'll have more time to fret over the important things in life (like what your tire pressure should be )

#80 of 113 Re: Saturn Dealer vs Saturn [steelerman] by dtownfb

Feb 22, 2008 (10:53 am)

Replying to: steelerman (Feb 21, 2008 11:24 am)
Follow the manual and the oil life monitor. It is written and supported by GM. Do an online search on "oil life monitor". Read for yourself how this feature actually works.
 
When doing regular maintenance (transmission fluid change, coolant changes, etc), follow the manual. it spells out very clearly what needs to be done and at what interval. When you go to the dealership, write it down what you want done. Don't just say "do the 30k mile service". Most of it is not required and pads the dealerships wallet. As long as you follow the owner's manual and keep your receipts, you will be fine.
 
Gm designed their cars to be low maintenance. No need to go to dealer more then you have to. BTW, I have 156k on my 2000 Intrigue without a major repair. It also has an oil life monitor on it. My oil changes are between 6k-7k miles. If the "Change oil" light has not come on by 7k miles, I change the oil and reset the monitor.

#81 of 113 Re: Saturn Dealer vs Saturn [dtownfb] by isellhondas

Feb 22, 2008 (3:58 pm)

Replying to: dtownfb (Feb 22, 2008 10:53 am)
It also has to be remembered that the car manufactures work hard to keep their Total Cost of Ownership costs down.
 
Stretching oil changes helps those numbers.

#82 of 113 Re: Saturn Dealer vs Saturn [isellhondas] by humblecoder

Feb 23, 2008 (8:30 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Feb 22, 2008 3:58 pm)
It also has to be remembered that the car manufactures work hard to keep their Total Cost of Ownership costs down.
  
Stretching oil changes helps those numbers.
 
The cost of an oil change is pretty small compared to other "TCO" factors, so I doubt that longer oil change intervals really have a big impact on the total cost of ownership.
 
Let's say that you drive your car 12,000 miles a year. If you do oil changes every 3000 miles, then you are spending $20 x 4 = $80 a year on oil changes. If you do your oil changes every 6000 miles, then you are spending $20 x 2 = $40 a year on oil changes. That is a difference of $40 per year.
 
Over a five year period (which is the length of time used for most TCO calculations), that extra $40 a year translates into an additional $200 in the TCO calculation. This is negigible when compared to the cost of gas, insurance, depreciation, over that five year period.
 
I think the reason why car manufacturers make a big deal about longer OCI's is that this gives consumers a PERCEPTION that they are saving a lot of money (which they aren't), and the PERCEPTION that the car must be more reliable if the OCI's are longer (which it isn't).

#83 of 113 Re: Saturn Dealer vs Saturn [humblecoder] by dtownfb

Feb 23, 2008 (9:37 pm)

Replying to: humblecoder (Feb 23, 2008 8:30 pm)
Actually, there have been many studies that indicate that oil so advance that it does not break down even after 7500 miiles. Fluid technology has advance over the past decade. 7500 oil changes, 100k mile transmission fluid, 100k coolant changes, etc. Heck, Exxon makes a synthetic that can last 15k miles. Nothing to do with perception, this is reality.
 
Of course, you could be right. I'm sure car manufacturers recommend longer intervals so engines sludge up and create other engine problems. They hahe to create some way of getting consumers to buy more cars. You know if my car blows up at 50k miles, i'm going to march back to that same dealer and get me another one of those cars.
 
BTW, when you are talking finance, you never know what is a lot of money to someone. $40 a year may not be a lot for you or me but for some folks that is an electric bill, water bill or a week of groceries.
 
Also by following the manufacturer OCI, you use less oil....foreign oil that is. Not a bad thing with $3.20 gas.

Messages Page 9 of 12

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