Thread: Oil Change Time

I just purchased my GXP not too long ago and its about that time to do my oil change. I have been kicking this one around. I have called some shops and seems like Valvoline Instant Oil Change and the local Pontiac dealer have the best prices on full syn. They said 69.99 for the job. I went to Pep Boys and priced out some Mobil 1 with a Mobil 1 filter and for six quarts it comes to $58. Its only an $11 difference and think I am just gonna go with them unless someone can tell me if Mobil 1 is worth the work of doing it myself. I have all the tools I need and a jack. The only issue I am scared of is where I should put the jack on the underside of the car. Basically my question is this.

Should I just go to Valvoline or Pontiac to get the job done or just do it myself for the Mobil 1?

Also does anyone know what brand oil GM dealers use at their shops?

Thanks for your help

Originally Posted by TallassJonG

I just purchased my GXP not too long ago and its about that time to do my oil change. I have been kicking this one around. I have called some shops and seems like Valvoline Instant Oil Change and the local Pontiac dealer have the best prices on full syn. They said 69.99 for the job. I went to Pep Boys and priced out some Mobil 1 with a Mobil 1 filter and for six quarts it comes to $58. Its only an $11 difference and think I am just gonna go with them unless someone can tell me if Mobil 1 is worth the work of doing it myself. I have all the tools I need and a jack. The only issue I am scared of is where I should put the jack on the underside of the car. Basically my question is this.

Should I just go to Valvoline or Pontiac to get the job done or just do it myself for the Mobil 1?

Also does anyone know what brand oil GM dealers use at their shops?

Thanks for your help

standard mineral oil Casrol 10w30 and an AC oil filter you can't go wrong.
I change every 5000 miles.highway mostly and town.GM recommends their filter changes for up to 7500 miles.So that would mean that the AC filter is good at filtering engine oil for at least that duration.
I have two pontiac grand prix's a sedan and gt.Both get this treatment.I change myself.Set up your jck according to the locations in your owners manual for jacking instructions.Or you will crush your rockers underneath.
Chock your back wheels and emergency brake on.

go to walmart and get a gallon jug of mobile 1 and its like 20 some buck and then go get a mobile one filter from the parts staore and save yourself some money

I had the same concerns on jacking up my new GP also. But to be honest I hate having anyone work on my car unless its something I can’t do myself. Since money seems to be an object for you, as it is for me, I’ll recommend what I do.
Change the oil yourself. Buy yourself a set of car ramps, Castrol SYNTEC Blend oil, and an AC Delco oil filter.

my 06 only takes 4.5 qrts.

Thank you very much for all your suggestions. I appreciate the Wal-Mart tip but I would rather pay extra than to give that company money but thats a whole different forum LOL.

Originally Posted by TallassJonG

Thank you very much for all your suggestions. I appreciate the Wal-Mart tip but I would rather pay extra than to give that company money but thats a whole different forum LOL.

As a IBEW local 1 member and someone that cares about American jobs I will like to thank you for staying away from Wal-Mart!

you don't have any local discount stores by you? Btw Sorry to read about you job lost best of luck in finding some work.

Here is what I do. I go to my local generic discount store and pick up a 5 qt jug of Mobil 1 10W-30 and 1 qt of Mobil 1 10W-30. Get a Purolator Pure One PL14006 filter at the local auto parts store. Next I hang the GXP over the edge of the driveway just over top of the driveway apron. No reason to jack up the car if you have any incline on your driveway apron. The drain plug drains to the front of the car and the oil filter is on the bottom front of the engine on the driver's side. There are no suspension grease fittings to worry about. Easiest car I've ever done oil changes on.

From a time and cost standpoint, your local quick lube is the way to go. Synthetics are nice, especially, if your car is often stores (waiting for those nice days) because it doesn't breakdown like standard oil. I'd recommend regular oil changes, but every 3000 to maintaina clean engine and consistancy. Our 5.3's are durable!

It payes to personally know the owner of my local oil changing facility, so I have no worries.

Look in your owners manual like someone else said and it will show where to jack on the car. Be sure you put your E brake on when you jack it up. Put a jack stand under the car and lower the jack. You don't want to be underneath your car and have the jack fail for some reason. Just an easy safe thing to do. It isn't that hard to change the oil yourself. Just besure to put a little oil on the seal on the new filter and hand tighten it. You do not need to crank it tight at all.

Originally Posted by nmp0098

For my 07, it says to jack it in the center-front of the engine cradle. It also tells you suspension jacking points, but I don't remember them. I usually put a jackstand on either side of the jack and then lower the jack to where it just touches, but leaves the weight on the jack.

For the record, I use Mobil1 Extended Performance Oil and Mobil1 filters. I change the filter at about 50% oil life and everything at about 2-3% oil life, according the DIC readout.

No point in running synthetic if you're only going to go through one run of the DIC unless you can afford it.

If thats how long your DIC intervervals are then by all means, you're doing it right. My car has 3K km on the oil in it and the DIC says 60% remaining. so thats 4660 miles for one full cycle at this rate. Lotta short drives on the weekend, mix on the weekdays.