New Saturn oil change

[eugenem]

Hello!

I have a new Saturn ION with the 2.2L Ecotec engine. I took delivery of the car in June and have about 1150 miles on it. Here's my question:

My commute is 7 miles one-way in heavy traffic. The traffic means that I spend most of my time idling down the highway, rather than stop-and-go from one light to another. Based on these conditions, I'm planning to adopt a time-based OCI.

For this oil change, I am debating between:
(a) 5 quarts Mobil Clean 7500 5W-30
(b) 3 quarts Mobil Clean 7500, 2 quarts Mobil 1 (both 5W-30)

My plan is to transition fully to M1 once the engine hits about 5,000 miles. I won't get to 5,000 miles until the spring, but I hoped that the 2 quarts M1 would improve cold-start ability for the winter months and provide a bit more protection. I know that Clean 7500 also meets the GM 6094M standard for low-temperature pumpability, so would I be wasting the M1?

Thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
-Eugene

 

[The Critic]

Do a change out at 1500 mi. with a 5-quart jug of the 6094M approved Texaco Havoline 5w-30 from Walmart for $7 and a AC Delco Cartridge Filter.

Change again at 5000 miles with the same oil/filter combo, reset the Oil Life Monitor, then follow the oil life monitor thereafter for your service intervals.

Judging your driving conditions, the Oil Life Monitor should signal for an oil change every 5-7K.

The M1 is overkill if you plan to go by the GM Oil Life Monitor. The Trop Artic 5w-30 Blend is also a good choice that is 6094M approved.

MW

 

[brianl703]

You may not be able to find the AC Delco cartridge filter anywhere other than a dealer.

Purolator and STP filters (available at Pep Boys/Advance Auto and Autozone, respectively) will work fine. Forget the Fram filter..it's $3 more than any other brand.

 

[Pick]

Wife's EcoTech powered Malibu's OLM goes off about every 8000 miles. Running GC 0W30 in it.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Run the 7500 when you reach 3K - substituting one quart of 7500 for EP. Run it for another 5K. If you suddenly use more than half-quart of oil, drain it & buy Platinum, Amsoil S2K, Schaeffers 9000 or GC. If all is well, then switch to all EP. Run it for 7.5K. Now you're at 15.5K on the odometer & have an analysis done to check for metal wear & liquid contamination & refill with EP. Wait for the results & go from there.

That's what I would do in your situation.

 

[Whimsey]

quote:

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Originally posted by eugenem:


My commute is 7 miles one-way in heavy traffic. The traffic means that I spend most of my time idling down the highway, rather than stop-and-go from one light to another. Based on these conditions, I'm planning to adopt a time-based OCI.

-Eugene

---

Let me guess RT 80 or/and RT 287

I'd change the oil now with the Mobil 7500 then change it again at 2500 more miles. Then change it using the 5,000 miles max interval or if the oil life moniter comes on sooner. Somewhere around the oil change at 10,000 +/- miles I would do an used oil analysis to see how you engine is handling the 5,000 mile or oil life moniter length oil changes. Using a quality blend oil such as the Mobil 7500, which I believe is a Group III oil and possibly some PAO base oil mixed in, will work with cold starting in Northern NJ just fine. Also Motorcraft oil is a real good blend oil for the price. It and the Mobil 7500 are available at Wally World for reasonable prices. With your type of driving I don't believe you put enough miles on in a period of time to really take advantage of a true synthetic oil now that dino and blend oils have improved so much and cost a fraction of the true synthetic oil prices.

Whimsey

 

[eugenem]

Thank you all for the helpful suggestions.

I've accumulated a nice stash of oil over the last two years (mostly Mobil) that I would like to start using. For the ION's first oil change, I'll go with the Mobil 7500 and change it after 2,500 miles.

Will get an oil analysis around 10,000 miles and see how the car is doing. Given the mileage I drive, it may be another year before I reach that interval.

Everyone has made a good point about the Oil Life Monitor. I'm curious as to when my OLM will go off given my driving conditions.

Whimsey- My traffic woes come courtesy of Route 10. My alternate routes (Routes 46 and/or 80) are no better.

Thanks again.

 

[Whimsey]

quote:

---

Originally posted by eugenem:


Whimsey- My traffic woes come courtesy of Route 10. My alternate routes (Routes 46 and/or 80) are no better.

Thanks again.

---

Ah, RT 10, know it well

. I worked over 20 years ago for Warner Lambert in a building just down from the intersection of RT 10 and Rt 202. Every once in awhile I have to use RT 10 during commuting hours. You have my deepest sympathy. Sounds good what you are going to do. Good luck and stay active on Bob.

Whimsey

 

[Willy_G]

We've had an 05 Ion for about 7 months. I don't worry too much about the oil. I drive the crap out of the car as if it were a go-kart.

I use the cheapest 5w30 and a ST 9018 every 5k or sooner...if the OLM light were to come on. It hasn't yet. Don't sweat the small stuff.

I think the best deal out there is the Trop/Artic 5 & 10w30. I wish we could get confirmantion but the rumor is it has about as much GIII as Syntec, but 1/4 the cost!

This is the first GM car we have bought in 20 years, so I did a short-term (high mileage) lease to see how GM products have improved and how GM & the dealers treat the customer. I figure the 5k OCI is a good safety margin (don't want to smoke or sludge a leased motor), and it will give me more opportunity to get under the car and see how the system are holding up. After 20 years of Japaneese and Europen cars, so far, I have been impressed with this GM-ified Opal!

 

[dave1251]

Follow your OLM and do not use a non GM 6094M oil while you have it under warrenty. That includes GC and Mobil EP.