15,000 mile maintenance

[frank.dux]

I took my 08 CTS4 to the dealer a few weeks back for an oil change was asked if I was interested in taking care of my !5,000 mile maintenance as well. They quoted it at $400 and I promptly declined.

Is 15,000 miles in the normal CTS maintenance schedule, or is my dealer trying to get some cash out of me? At how many miles should the first maintenance service occur, other than an oil change?

[928S]

In the absence of a vehicle malfunction or symptom thereof, I'd say that any paid maintenance that's not listed in the owner's manual is a rip-off. Your Cadillac Dealer obviously doesn't mind offending the few savvy customers in order to profit from the many gullible ones.

2008 CTS Owner's Manual
"Scheduled Maintenance" page 6-4
"Additional Required Services" page 6-5

[Bandit1]

Don't walk, run. Even for the most conservative preventive maintenance kind of car guy, 15k mile service is oil/filter change, check and top off all fluids, rotate/balance tires as required, and check your engine air filter and cabin air filter for condition and possible replacement. Do your visuals and you're done. Not much to a so called '15k mile service'. Not even BMW slams you that bad for a "15k mile service".

[Z71]

The dealer service dept will try to get you in there as many times as they can, they have to make money for the dealership. Many service depts are the only part of the business that is making money with the cut-throat car sales business. My dealer still pushes the 3,000 mile oil change. The put an oil change sticker on my new car saying "Next Oil Change 3,000 miles". Every month I get a mailer from GM with all kinds of service specials and wording that suggest my CTS may need service.

[crystal_red]

Duping the uninformed public in to getting service done on their cars under the guise of 'scheduled maintenance' has been big business since cars were invented. Dealer service depts. have made huge profits on this scam and so have many independent auto servicing facilities. Remember the 'BUYER BEWARE' warning and get informed if in doubt.

[blueblood785]

they dont call them stealerships for no reason.

They are praying on your inexperience with cars. Thats why there are forums out there like this one to save us!

[ddawson]

This forum is GREAT.

[like2drive]

Hi guys,
I have now 3750 miles on my 09 CTS and the oil life remaining indicator still shows 71%. That means, if I go by the indicator, I would change my oil at around 11000 miles. Is that normal? What you guys are doing? In the owners manual, it says to follow by the indicator...

[2laidback]

Originally Posted by like2drive

Hi guys,
I have now 3750 miles on my 09 CTS and the oil life remaining indicator still shows 71%. That means, if I go by the indicator, I would change my oil at around 11000 miles. Is that normal? What you guys are doing? In the owners manual, it says to follow by the indicator...

In my humble opinion: If you are a low mileage driver. Once a year wether you need it or not. I don't care what the DIC says I don't exceed 6,500 miles. Oil change with fresh mobil1 is a good insurance.

[frank.dux]

Follow what the DIC says, that's what it's there for. GM built the engine, so it knows best when to tell you to have the oil changed. My first oil change didn't come until I had a little over 12,000 miles.

[crystal_red]

Follow Cadillacs guidelines. Changing oil more often than necessary won't bother anything of course, but it won't help anything either. There is a ton of information out there about oil change myths. The newer extended life synthetics will take great care of your engine lubrication needs so long as you change it about once per year or at 15K miles. Watch your DIC, there's a reason Cadillac put it there!

[PJL]

Originally Posted by like2drive

Hi guys,
I have now 3750 miles on my 09 CTS and the oil life remaining indicator still shows 71%. That means, if I go by the indicator, I would change my oil at around 11000 miles. Is that normal? What you guys are doing? In the owners manual, it says to follow by the indicator...

Yes, follow the indicator -- or change every year (which is also included in the manual instructions). So if you don't put many miles on your car in a year, you should still change the oil every year. I only put 4,500 miles on my car the first year and had around 65 percent remaining life on the oil. OnStar reminded me that I had to change the oil at twelve months by reporting that the oil system had not been reset in the past twelve months and that the required maintenance was due.

[Z71]

As of today I have 5,500 miles and the OM says 61% remaining. Still on the oem oil and it right on the full mark exactly where is was at 100 miles. I did change the oil filter at 3,000 miles. All the miles are around my area, drive the car most every day but never been more than 100 miles at a time. Engine has used no oil. I hate to say this (might jinx it) but car has been flawless so far and avg 22.8 mpg over the first 5,500 miles.

[larrytstarr]

Regardless of what anyone decides about whether or not to follow the DIC oil life indication, DO NOT forget to check oil level. The DIC does not indicate "down a quart" - a situation a found in my '08 CTS between changes.

[1stCad]

My advice is to find reputable independent shop to work on your car for everything that isn't covered under warranty. In my area most techs work
as jobbers so it behooves them to get it right the first time in the least amount of time. If it comes back they eat the job. $400 for 15K maintenance is gouging IMO.