[dervin3]

Hi guys, I'm new to these forums and I've recently purchased a brand new Cobalt SS S/C and I'm about to head out to work and I need one major question answered please! Since this is my very first "new" vehicle I was wondering how the break in process works. The owners manual says no elaborate break in is needed and says nothing about doing the first oil change early but on other sites I've seen lots of people with their cars changing around 500-1000 miles. Should I do the same or just do the usual 3000 miles?

Thanks and great forum!

 

[intervoid]

Well I used the 500 mile break in per the owner's manual, and I believe the usual first oil-change is after 1,000 miles. Afterall, it won't hurt to change it early.

 

[ArrivalBlueSS]

The manual doesn't mention anything about needing a first oil change after 1000 miles. So I am just using the oil life system as my guide. I am at 3400 miles and 55% life left. I have checked the oil from time to time and it still looks ok.

The only thing you hurt buy changing your oil to early is the environment.

Thats one of the benifits of the oil life system is reduced oil use by the general rule of changing it every 3k miles.

 

[ZX1100F1]

The reason that the owners manual does not recommend an early (500-1,000 mile) oil change is due to a couple of factors, one being that the engineers at GM believe that due to the higher quality of oils and filters used now days that changing it sooner than the recommended interval of the engine oil life monitor system is not necessary.

The other reason is due to marketing competition, nobody likes to have scheduled maintenance done on their vehicle (it is a hassle and an extra expense) and if Chevrolet recommends that you change the oil sooner than Dodge then it may give Dodge an advantage (however so slight).

The best recommendation that I have is that if you plan on keeping the car for years then I would recommend that you change the oil by about 1,200 miles and use a full synthetic (GM recommends Mobil 1), reset the oil life monitor and use a high quality oil filter (Mobil 1 synthetic media filters are great) and then utilize the oil life monitor from there on out.

The non-SS Cobalt’s are filled with GM Goodwrench 5W-30 from the factory (made by Valvoline and with a slightly better additive package then the All-Climate brand oil).
No Cobalt is filled with any special “break-in” or non-detergent type oils that were used years ago the benefit to making the first oil change sooner is to remove the all of the metal particles suspended in the oil that are associated with breaking in a new mil so that they do not cause excessive wear.

If you don’t plan on keeping the car past about 100,000 miles then just do the normal scheduled maintenance that the owners manual calls for and you should be fine provided that car is not abused too badly.

 

[ArrivalBlueSS]

My SS/SC has mobil 1 from the factory.

 

[dervin3]

Yeah mine has Mobil 1 from the factory also. They say it doesn't need a elaborate break in. I do plan on keeping it for as long as I can. So changing it early does no good? I can change it when the oil life system says to and it will still be no harm to the engine?

 

[Ronnie Pendergrass]

Hi guys, I'm new to these forums and I've recently purchased a brand new Cobalt SS S/C and I'm about to head out to work and I need one major question answered please! Since this is my very first "new" vehicle I was wondering how the break in process works. The owners manual says no elaborate break in is needed and says nothing about doing the first oil change early but on other sites I've seen lots of people with their cars changing around 500-1000 miles. Should I do the same or just do the usual 3000 miles?

Thanks and great forum!

I changed my oil at 1600 miles and used a Wix filter, and Mobil 1 5W-30. If you havent already looked at where ther oil filter is, the S/C makes it a pain to get to. I had to unplug one sensor there and use a 1 1/4 inch socket with an extension seemed to be the best way i found.<----these were 1/2 drive, i now have some 3/8 drive exetension and socket to make it easier in the future.

 

[dervin3]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I've decided I'm going to change it around 1200-1500 miles and just go with the oil life system after that. I'm going to continue to use Mobil-1 5W-30, an oil that I've used ever since I could drive. I want only the best for this car. The only other thing I need is options for my filter. I've always used Fram filters on my cars and haven't had problems but I know Fram isn't the best. I can't find any Wix ones in my area for some reason so any recommendations for a good quality filter? What to definately stay away from?

 

[Ronnie Pendergrass]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I've decided I'm going to change it around 1200-1500 miles and just go with the oil life system after that. I'm going to continue to use Mobil-1 5W-30, an oil that I've used ever since I could drive. I want only the best for this car. The only other thing I need is options for my filter. I've always used Fram filters on my cars and haven't had problems but I know Fram isn't the best. I can't find any Wix ones in my area for some reason so any recommendations for a good quality filter? What to definately stay away from?

try O'reileys......thats where i find them.
"If its good enough for NASCAR, its good enough for your car."
MObil 1 filters are also a good choice. This is just my opinions, everyone has one, but these are all that i use.
just remember "You get what you pay for"

 

[dervin3]

Does Advance auto parts or autozone have Wix? Also how difficult is it to change the oil in the Cobalt SS? I FINALLY found the location of the filter and its the first vehicle I've had to have the round tube like filter the ECOTEC uses. Is it hard to change with the supercharger where it is?

 

[ZX1100F1]

Wix is a good quality conventional (typically paper/poly) medium filter as is the stock AC Delco filter and also the Purolator Pure One, there is not a huge difference in filtration performance between these popular brands, these types of oil filters normally filter out particles down to about 25 microns.

The K&N and Mobil 1 are built by the same factory and are top notch Synthetic media filters as is the Castrol MaxPro + , these filters go down to about 10 microns typically.

The Amsoil filters are a mixed blend media design and are not worth the high price as they perform somewhere between a good quality paper and a synthetic filter.


Avoid Bosch, STP, and Wal-Mart Supertech filters, they are manufactured by the same foreign company and are built very poorly with filter media that is not always pleated, Fram, NAPA and Champion are also generally regarded as inferior filters.

This is just some general information that I have accumulated, oil and filters can be debated fierier than abortion.

 

[dervin3]

I've decided to go with Mobil 1 5W-30 oil and a Mobil 1 oil filter. How difficult is it to get the filter out of this engine with the S/C so close to the cap? I would like to do it myself but I'm unsure just how difficult it will be to get that filter out...