- #2331 of 2757
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Re: Check Oil Level [nathess]
by sls002
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Jun 08, 2008 (9:12 am)
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Replying to: nathess (Jun 07, 2008 9:41 am)
You should check the oil level at least as often as you fill your gas tank. Checking it while filling the gas tank is a good idea - OR - check it every week. Once you are sure that it does not use much, then you could check it less often - my northstar goes 12,000 between oil changes and does not use any oil yet. But my 2002 fwd northstar used about 4 quarts between changes 
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- #2332 of 2757
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Re: Check Oil Level [nathess]
by rcantwell
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Jun 08, 2008 (4:20 pm)
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Replying to: nathess (Jun 07, 2008 9:41 am)
My second engine on my 08 CTS, non-DI used a quart in the first 2000 miles. Seems to have slowed down now, c I haven't had a new car since a 1990 Lumina that used that much. Most of my many new GM cars hardly have used any between 3,000 mile oil changes. Other than that, the new engine has around 2800 miles on it and is doing great, and no other problems associated with the engine swap. Actually no other problems at all, maybe I got them all out of the way in the first 1800 miles. Bad brake sensor, leaking rear end seal, and bad engine, hopefully my luck has changed. Still getting about 28 mpg on the highway when I keep my foot out of it.
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- #2333 of 2757
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Re: Check Oil Level [rcantwell]
by sls002
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Jun 09, 2008 (6:48 am)
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Replying to: rcantwell (Jun 08, 2008 4:20 pm)
The CTS should have an oil monitor that will tell you when the additives are approximately used up. With synthetic oil (not sure if the 3.6 requires synthetic or not), I would think that the monitor (which is tuned for the recommended oil and doesn't know what kind of oil is really in the crankcase) should give a longer oil change interval than 3000 miles. My 2002 Seville would go about 10,000 miles on conventional oil, but nearly all of my cold starts result in a minimum of 10 miles of driving, followed by a warm start with another 10 miles to get home which makes a huge difference.
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- #2334 of 2757
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Re: Check Oil Level [sls002]
by jgaffney1
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Jun 09, 2008 (7:06 am)
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Replying to: sls002 (Jun 09, 2008 6:48 am)
My 2008 3.6 DI drank quite a bit during the first 4000 miles......slowing down dramatically now on it's thirst for oil. The 08 DI is set for 10,000 miles or so definitly not 3000......it's synthetic.
The only thing I'l throw out there which I have found questionable is a Ticking noise on start up until she gets warm....It's 80 degree's here so it's not a cold weather thing but the ticking sounds like an old car with a bad lifter....then it quiets down.
Otherwise this car has been a real champ.
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- #2335 of 2757
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Re: Check Oil Level [sls002]
by rcantwell
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Jun 11, 2008 (12:28 pm)
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Replying to: sls002 (Jun 09, 2008 6:48 am)
Didn't mean to say that I am changing oil at 3,000. That is what I used to do on my other cars that didn't use synthetic. My oil life monitor is projecting around 9,000 on the oil change interval right now. Since GM is paying for all of my oil changes for quite a while to come, I think I am going to have it changed at around 5 to 6 thousand miles. The majority of the miles put on the CTS is around town and back and forth to work by my wife, so I don't feel comfortable letting it go to 9 or 10 thousand miles. And since GM is picking up the tab for the oil changes and tire rotations I will let them do it a little more often. Just a little bit of revenge for all the frustration and crappy customer service they gave me when the engine starting leaking water into the block at 1800 miles. 
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- #2336 of 2757
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Re: Check Oil Level [rcantwell]
by arby1
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Jun 11, 2008 (7:17 pm)
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Replying to: rcantwell (Jun 11, 2008 12:28 pm)
They might not let you take revenge on them . The oil monitor knows if you are doing mostly city driving , and it adjusts the oil life accordingly . The dealer will likely tell you that your vehicle is not yet due for an oil change .
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- #2337 of 2757
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Re: Check Oil Level [arby1]
by sls002
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Jun 12, 2008 (6:49 am)
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Replying to: arby1 (Jun 11, 2008 7:17 pm)
My dealer suggested (at least for the first oil change) to change at about 30%, which leaves a fair amount of margin. I am not inclinded to run mine down to zero. My Aurora (a 1998 model) would reach 10% after 3-4,000 miles (depending on winter or summer). The Aurora used conventional oil though, and on long trips it would go 6-7,000 or more. I also lived in town then, so typical daily drive was 6 miles to work. With synthetic oil, the monitor is going much longer, so I think changing between 10% and 20% makes some sense. I am planning to change (the second oil change) at 24-25,000 miles with a fourth tire rotation.
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- #2338 of 2757
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Re: Check Oil Level [arby1]
by rcantwell
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Jun 12, 2008 (6:51 am)
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Replying to: arby1 (Jun 11, 2008 7:17 pm)
Dealer will let me change it any time I want. Besides, it also says change oil at least every year, and it may not have over 6 thousand miles on it when it is a year old. My dealers service manager is doing every thing he can to keep me happy. Besides the free oil changes from Cadillac, he even gave me a certificate for 6 free oil changes from the dealership that I can use on the Caddy or my Avalanche. I shouldn't ever have to pay for an oil change again. That is assuming the dealership doesn't change hands. I was talking to a friend of mine that used to be a service rep for Ford, and he said that the engine change, 4 weeks of rental car and other assorted things they have had to do to my CTS has cost GM at least 10,000 dollars, and proably more. Serves them right for all the crap they put me through with a bad engine in a car with 1800 miles of it. I hope the rest of you are having good luck with GM's customer service, cause the experience I had with it on this car, it sucks.
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- #2339 of 2757
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No CTS for me, at least for awhile :-(
by sevenfeet0
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Jun 12, 2008 (8:08 am)
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I was hoping to be in a new CTS by the time the model year was out or early into the '09s, but financial considerations are trumping that. My family is into 3 years of a 5 year note on our '05 SRX. The SRX has been a good vehicle for us since we traded our original '03 CTS for it. We'd still be driving the old CTS had it not been for those changes that happen to many of us in life (kids). All of a sudden, strollers, baby bags and Costco trips made the SRX a much better choice for us.
Still, I was hoping to ride things out with my beater car ('94 Camry!) until things got better financially to get a second car, specially another CTS. And as it turns out, we need a new car now. But the '08 CTS is too expensive to take on by itself for us, even on a lease. My wife offered to trade the SRX and for her to get a used minivan. That's nice of her but when I did the math, it turned out that paying the last two years off on the SRX was far better than taking a 3 year used car note on anything decent to replace the SRX with. It just didn't make financial sense.
Combine that with $4 a gallon gas and my wife's wanting for us to get a smaller car with decent fuel economy (she's a PhD student in Environmental Management) has us looking elsewhere. Her short list vehicle in a Mini Cooper Clubman. Before you start laughing at the prospect of a nearly 7 foot guy getting in and out of that, I have driven the vehicle and the 2nd generation Coopers do have enough leg room for me (unlike the 1st gen ones). The normal Coopers don't have enough rear seat room for car seats, but the Clubman seems to be better at this, but only mounting the car seats at the dealership will tell us for sure. And finally, there's the price. I'd be looking at $41K for a loaded CTS at GM Supplier pricing. I think we can get a Clubman for about $28K and change.
Again, I'm not happy about it, but I don't think I can fight city hall (my wife) on this one. At least I got her to cross a VW New Beetle off the list, which is way too feminine to be a primary car for me. My brother recently bought a used V6 Chrysler 300 which has awesome legroom, but my wife can't stand the looks so that is out too. As for the Camry, it's being donated to our teenage babysitter who just graduated high school.
*Sigh*
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- #2340 of 2757
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Re: No CTS for me, at least for awhile :-( [sevenfeet0]
by dmathews3
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Jun 12, 2008 (9:02 am)
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Replying to: sevenfeet0 (Jun 12, 2008 8:08 am)
I just got a new 08 HHR 2LT and I like driving it as much as the wifes STS. You can get them brand new starting at about $17500 up to around 26500 for the SS with the turbo engine and near 100mph 1/4 times. Mine stickered for 24400 and has it all except it isn't the SS but gets around 25 in town and I have gotten 36 on the highway taking it easy. Back seats fold down along with the passenger seat which will get you some length for carrying things. I was surprised just how quiet it was concidering it's a cheaper car. At least worth a look, besides then you will have a retro car and lots of clubs springing up. 
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