I have a 03' CTS 3.2 L Engine....
and was wondering which motor oil would be the best to put. (brand, type, thickness)
Looking for high quality, top of line motor oil, that will quiet my motor.
Also, how many quarts would I need to purchase?
Plan on bringing to dealer for the oil change, currently not satisfied with the oil that they are putting.

Thanks!

Someone else can chime in here but... I think the 3.2L takes 6 quarts of 5w30. I think most people use castrol Syntec. Royal Purple is another top of the line oil. Syntec usually runs about $5 a qt. Royal Purple about $7-8.

Both claim to regain lost horsepower and UNLEASH THE BEAST! ... or something like that.

I use exactly what GM recommends for my engine. Mobil One Synthetic.

My 3.2 uses mobil one. 5 quarts.
Mater of fact it comes in 5 quart jugs at Wal-Mart for a little less than $21.00

This is what the owners manual says to use.
Here in N.C. I use 10W30

My 3.2 uses mobil one. 5 quarts.
Mater of fact it comes in 5 quart jugs at Wal-Mart for a little less than $21.00

This is what the owners manual says to use.
Here in N.C. I use 10W30

I stand corrected. 5 quarts of 10w30. Use 5w30 if you are in a colder climate or in the winter if the expected temperature is below 50F. I think the V uses 6 quarts.

I own a 03 CTS and the manual reads 10W30 oil (regular) It states nothing about haveing to use synthetic oil

I use exactly what GM recommends for my engine. Mobil One Synthetic.
Check your owner's manual. I know the 3.6L engines require oils that meet GM4718M (of which only a handful of synthetics do). Not sure if the 3.2L engine has this requirement as well. Either way, use a good motor oil with a viscosity appropriate for your climate. Oil is the lifeblood of your engine and not a place to skimp.

I own a 03 CTS and the manual reads 10W30 oil (regular) It states nothing about haveing to use synthetic oil

People use synthetic oil because it is widely accepted as being superior to traditional oil.

where can i find the gas filter?

i bought Mobil 1 Extended Performance, with the Advanced SuperSyn System for $35.99(6 quarts) at walmart!

i bought Mobil 1 Extended Performance, with the Advanced SuperSyn System for $35.99(6 quarts) at walmart!
Excellent oil and a good choice. I use it.

I just switched over to Mobile 1 synthetic about 3000 miles ago in my '03 3.2L. Which reminds me, how often are you guys who run synthetic changing your oil, still every 3k or when the oil life indicator reaches 0%? (FYI, mine says 60% left and I've put about 3000 on it since changing the oil, so if I use that as a reference i will be changing it after it's been in for 10k miles).

I just switched over to Mobile 1 synthetic about 3000 miles ago in my '03 3.2L. Which reminds me, how often are you guys who run synthetic changing your oil, still every 3k or when the oil life indicator reaches 0%? (FYI, mine says 60% left and I've put about 3000 on it since changing the oil, so if I use that as a reference i will be changing it after it's been in for 10k miles).

Use the oil life monitor. Every 3k miles is too often for nearly every car on the road. I think toyota trucks even reccomend every 7500 miles. I think the manual for the 3.2 says follow the oil life monitor, or every 12 months. If it still hasn't reached 0% after 6 months, you might want to consider getting it changed, just to be on the safe side.

I use exactly what GM recommends for my engine. Mobil One Synthetic.

Yes, what Robert said. Why would you use anything else? It's about as good as it gets.

Common question (just posted):

http://www.cadillacfaq.com/faq/answers/oiltype.html

one issue however (on topic): the 2003 CTS does NOT require synthetic. The manual suggests 5w-30 mainly or 10w-30 if its going to be cold...


Reed

On the other hand, I would always recommend synthetic if you dont mind paying the money... I am not sure if this throws of the oil life meter in the car (so pay attention to the mileage)...

Synthetic can be changed at longer intervals. Some recent testing showed that synthetic actually gets better after about 3-4 months...

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

That said, if you spent this much money on a car, whats $30 bucks for an oil change every 3-5k miles... (thats how much it costs me to put synthetic in my car at each oil change)

Reed

Wal-Mart Auto Center will do a Mobil One oil change around $30. Beats crawling around under your car doing it yourself. I assume they do the oil change at cost hoping you'll wander around the store while you wait and buy stuff.

Reed: Here is the page out of the 3.2L manual. It recommends 10w30 for warm weather/climate and 5w30 for cold weather/climate.

http://www.clubcts.com/upload/deposit/ChicagoCTS32-oil2.jpg

Feel free to add that to the faq.

I will add that to the faq.. thanks...

If you read the words though (on those pages and the pages nearby) it contradicts itself.. I need to slow down take some time and resolve this. Give me some time (too much goin on right now)

Reed

mobil 1

Mobil 1 currently, but I didrun Royal Purple on 1 change and went 2000 miles further before the oil monitor went to 20% oil life. $5.49 a quart is however, not cheap.

Wal-Mart Auto Center will do a Mobil One oil change around $30. Beats crawling around under your car doing it yourself. I assume they do the oil change at cost hoping you'll wander around the store while you wait and buy stuff.

I never even thought of going to walmart. Do they really do a decent job?

I never even thought of going to walmart. Do they really do a decent job?
The answer will vary - depends on the age and competency of the "techs" they employ (and I use that term loosely). Personally, I have always changed my own oil. In addition, the CTS 3.6L filter is under the hood and makes for one of the easisest oil change procedures.

Pretty hard to screw up an oil change, but I suppose you never know... I found out about their prices when I was leaving for a roadtrip and didn't have time to change it myself and I happened to be at Wal-Mart picking up a cooler for my beer/food. Now I rarely change my own oil.

MMMMMMMM Beer.

Pretty hard to screw up an oil change, but I suppose you never know...

Truer words were never spoken. Beware of making assumptions because you end up invoking an obscure instance of Murphy's law. A friend of mine decided to get his oil changed at the gas station/mechanic around the corner rather than go to the dealer with his two year old Toyota Tacoma. The dealer oil change was more expensive and inconvenient. You can all see where this is going, right? A month later the check engine light comes on in the dash and the car stops moving on the freeway. Luckily it was late at night and there was little traffic so he managed to coast to the side of the freeway. Apparently there was no oil in the engine so it conveniently fused itself into a wonderful iteration of art. After weeks of haggling back and forth with his insurance company, the insurance company of the "shop" and the shop itself, he finally got a new engine based on the fact that the oil filter had not been properly secured so his truck had been hemorrhaging oil for a few weeks until there was nothing to lube the motor. Now, he takes it to the dealer each time, hassles and expenses be damned!



It is much better to buy your oil at WalMart, or wherever, and then take the car to the dealer to change it because it makes warranty claims a lot easier since there is a single point handling maintenance, if you are not doing it yourself. As much as I would like to change my own oil, the condo association where I live frowns on performing vehicle maintenance, so it is off to the dealer for me! And based on the experiences of other members, most dealers are cool about only charging labor if you bring them the oil and filter so it costs a lot less than the typical $80 oil change for the synthetic from the dealer.

Pretty hard to screw up an oil change, but I suppose you never know...
Two stories:
1. Texaco Quick Lube puts only 6 quarts of oil in a friend of mine's Corvette ZR-1, which holds (requires) 12 quarts. Texaco buys my friend a brand new engine.

2. Wal-Mart forgets to put the oil cap on the engine after changing someone's oil. I'm buying a battery and overhear the understandably frustrated customer, as oil has been sprayed everywhere under his hood and the engine has obviously now been run on low oil.

Slightly off topic... but has anyone used the "FilterMAG" from CAR Motorsports? Any opinions? Does it last as long as the car? Does it work? The concept seems like it would work in theory.

FYI, the 3.2 uses 5 quarts of oil while the 3.6 holds 5.6. The 3.6 oil filter is on top of the engine as shown.

http://usera.imagecave.com/BobsWork/filter.jpg

I use Amsoil synthetic oil in everything I own (since 1975) and change it myself.

I had a college kid work for me on my survey crew for a few summers who worked in a QL during school. The stories he told would make anyone wonder who in their right mind would go to these places.

Some of the things he told me about his buds doing:
And it was a big joke to them when it happened.

Putting in 10W-30 in everything no matter what it was supposed to get.
Forgetting to change oil filter
Torquing oil filter so no one could ever remove it
Taking out air filter to check or clean it and forgetting to put back in
Forgetting to put in oil
Putting in way to much oil
Topping of with the wrong coolant
Forgetting to re-install drain plugs on axle when checking axle lube
Draining front axle on GMC Envoy thinking it was the engine and not saying a word to anyone. Lady's axle froze up a month later.
Forgetting to grease vehicle

They had a standing account with a local service center that they sent customers to with problems from the oil service, e.g. blown engine, etc