In a court of law, it would be what your computer says. It will retain that information too.
Who's right - the dealer or my car?
08 CTS, base engine (not DI).
At oil changes, my dealer is putting a sticker on my windshield saying when I need my oil changed next. It's about a 6000 mile interval.
I put a lot of highway miles on my car - about 75 miles per day. If I look at the oil life indicator on the info center, it's been aligning with an interval closer to 12,000 miles.
Yesterday my service guy gave me a hard time about not coming in at 6000 miles. I have lots of other reasons not to trust him. Is he right this time or is the car?
LMS
At oil changes, my dealer is putting a sticker on my windshield saying when I need my oil changed next. It's about a 6000 mile interval.
I put a lot of highway miles on my car - about 75 miles per day. If I look at the oil life indicator on the info center, it's been aligning with an interval closer to 12,000 miles.
Yesterday my service guy gave me a hard time about not coming in at 6000 miles. I have lots of other reasons not to trust him. Is he right this time or is the car?
LMS
1 - 20 of 32 Posts
The manual states that the oil life is calculated based on temperature, engine load, miles, and some other parameters I can't remember off the top of my head. If you're using Mobil 1, your carvis right.
The car is definitely right. It adjusts to your driving patterns. The dealer is just trying to make more money. Fully synthetic oil is good for 15,000 miles. That is what they have in these cars. The only way you would need to come in earlier is if he put a synthetic blend which is good for around 7,000 miles. If he did that, he did wrong.
It's a money-making scam used by too many Cadillac dealers. GM should put a stop to it, but they won't. Shortly after I took delivery of my CTS, a service advisor emphatically told me to bring it in every six months. I replied, "No thanks, I'll follow the Owner's Manual Maintenance Schedule and the DIC Oil Life System." Since I drive only about 8,500 miles per year, my car's service interval is 12 months for engine oil, filter, and, stretching the recommended mileage a bit for convenience, tire rotation too.
My dealer actually put a sticker on my windshield for 3000 miles 
I have asked this with other GM cars and I was always told, listen to the oil life monitor. Actually someone else at my current dealer told me to bring it in when I am at about 10% left on the monitor.
Mark
I have asked this with other GM cars and I was always told, listen to the oil life monitor. Actually someone else at my current dealer told me to bring it in when I am at about 10% left on the monitor.
Mark
I got free life-time oil changes with the purchase of my '09 CTS, and he said to go by the car's calculation, basically telling me they didn't want me in there too early or too often.
It's funny how they handle this situation based on whether there is a cash in-flow or out-flow for them.
It's funny how they handle this situation based on whether there is a cash in-flow or out-flow for them.
GM actually beats us over the head with the oil life monitor thing.
Some dealers are hold outs on time and mileage. You'll find the attitude is specific to certain places.
We like to see our customers regularly of course so we can keep an eye on other things that might crop up... and yes... we have our own set of bills to pay...
My recommendation is go by what the owner's manual says and watch the OLM.
It is YOUR car.
Based on what I see in this thread, I'd say you are taking good steps to take care of it the best you can.
Some dealers are hold outs on time and mileage. You'll find the attitude is specific to certain places.
We like to see our customers regularly of course so we can keep an eye on other things that might crop up... and yes... we have our own set of bills to pay...
My recommendation is go by what the owner's manual says and watch the OLM.
It is YOUR car.
Based on what I see in this thread, I'd say you are taking good steps to take care of it the best you can.
car and owners manual....beleive there is a maintenance I and II level now.....I have always used the GMOLS in my three GM cars....and change when I get to %25 remaining......Im averaging about 6-7500 miles between oil changes.....my dealership also puts the 6k due date on my CTS as well.....however I always go by the GMOLS....running synthetic in all cars, but the system is tuned to the factory fill......142K on my 04 Chevy Malibu, been running syth in it since the 30K mark and changing per the GMOLS....and still going strong.....
I have always changed every 3000 miles. From my point of view it's cheap insurance and gives me peace of mind. When I bought my 08 I got a maintenance package for the first two years. It calls for 5months/5000 miles. It pains me to go that long but then again it's free.
You forgot to put a "stirring the pot" smiley in your post. :stirpot:I have always changed every 3000 miles. From my point of view it's cheap insurance and gives me peace of mind. When I bought my 08 I got a maintenance package for the first two years. It calls for 5months/5000 miles. It pains me to go that long but then again it's free.
3k changes is an absolute waste of money and resources. that's too often even for non synthetic oil.
rg
I'm taking mine in for it's first change tomorrow - I'm at about 7500 miles, but the monitor is still showing near 50%. I figure I'd do the short interval since it is the first oil change. After this, I'll be sticking to the monitor, especially since it's running synthetic.
:thumbsup:Congratulations:thumbsup:I have always changed every 3000 miles. From my point of view it's cheap insurance and gives me peace of mind. When I bought my 08 I got a maintenance package for the first two years. It calls for 5months/5000 miles. It pains me to go that long but then again it's free.
You have been officially brainwashed by the dealers and oil companies.
Let me ask you this....if every 3000 miles gives you "peace of mind", think about how much better you would sleep if you did it every 1000 miles ! Or maybe even after every trip !!!!
Seriously, the real miles is about 12-15K with synthetic oil, but I always go with the cars recommendations. With my Corvette, I always changed once the oil life dipped below 25%
I also leverage the OLS but will often take it in slightly early....say 25% or so.:thumbsup:Congratulations:thumbsup:
You have been officially brainwashed by the dealers and oil companies.
Let me ask you this....if every 3000 miles gives you "peace of mind", think about how much better you would sleep if you did it every 1000 miles ! Or maybe even after every trip !!!!
Seriously, the real miles is about 12-15K with synthetic oil, but I always go with the cars recommendations. With my Corvette, I always changed once the oil life dipped below 25%
I only use the sticker on the window for decoration.
The manual knows!
Information Center (DIC) comes on, it means that service
is required for your vehicle. Have your vehicle serviced as
soon as possible within the next 600 miles (1 000 km).
It is possible that, if you are driving under the best
conditions, the engine oil life system may not indicate
that vehicle service is necessary for over a year.
However, your engine oil and filter must be changed at
least once a year and at this time the system must be
reset. Your dealer/retailer has trained service technicians
who will perform this work using genuine parts and reset
the system.
If the engine oil life system is ever reset accidentally,
you must service your vehicle within 3,000 miles
(5 000 km) since your last service. Remember to
reset the oil life system whenever the oil is changed.
See Engine Oil Life System on page 5-19 for
information on the Engine Oil Life System and
resetting the system.
A rising tide, floats all boats.Whatever floats your boat.
I go by the oil life indicator, but add one caveat: I change the filter at 5,000 miles.
An oil filter's job is to catch any crap that might be in your oil system, and regardless of how well the oil itself holds up for 10,000 miles, the filter is going to get dirty. I've used this method on my last few cars without any problems whatsoever.
An oil filter's job is to catch any crap that might be in your oil system, and regardless of how well the oil itself holds up for 10,000 miles, the filter is going to get dirty. I've used this method on my last few cars without any problems whatsoever.
My dealer gave me a hard time about this too. I told him that I did my first change at 3,000 mi, and I was back in for my second at 10,000 mi (when the oil from the first change was 1yr old). He gave me this huge spiel about how he's "always driven GM engines" and "would never trust oil for longer than 3,000 mi no matter what kind of oil is in there." I pretty much agreed with him on the outside but was thinking "what a jerk, he just wants my money" on the inside. He was actually pretty condescending about the whole thing. I told him I was following the manual and he basically called me an idiot for doing it. Needless to say, I will not be taking his advice. 0% or one year is my cutoff for an oil change.
I don't know if many remember but when GM first started putting oil life monitors in, even with dino oil they were going 6 - 7,000 miles between changes. my old RoT for non-syn was typically 5k miles. read the old manuals, 3k miles was for severe service. since most people wanted to make sure they protected their warranties they followed this schedule.
good idea about changing just the filter more often. I did that on my CTS; easy since it's up top and doesn't make much of a mess.
rg
good idea about changing just the filter more often. I did that on my CTS; easy since it's up top and doesn't make much of a mess.
rg
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