It's an algorithm based on ignition key cycles and miles driven between each of those cycles, operating condtions (outside temps & engine temps) and how the vehicle is driven.

Here's a PDF of FAQs:

http://assets.cobaltnitra.com/teams/...145efa6b30.pdf

 

With Mobile 1, I personally stick with a 5,000 mile interval. If there is anything that I would err on the side of caution when it comes to changing, it is oil. I don't really care about the oil life % thing.

 

I have a 2010 HHR LS Automatic in Cyber Gray, just wondering when the right time to change the oil should happen. I have about 1000 miles on the odometer and only had it a month. Please advise.

 

Your Cyber-Gray HHR requires changing at 500 miles. All other colors can go ten times that.

Didn't they tell you that at the dealership?

Just having fun with ya, stating the color sounds like Car Talk.

I change my oil somewhere between 25% and 15% OLM.

 

Believe I posted this or one like it from GM over a yr ago but for guys that haven't see it, here you go. Hard to change old ways but I let my oil go longer than I use to.
http://www.gm.com/corporate/responsi...nce_040104.jsp

GM's view on this. check out the video it has. http://www.gm.com/corporate/responsi...myth_video.jsp

 

Thank You for the videos and advice.

 

Somewhere some members posted not being able to get a full 5 Quarts in on an oil & filter change..

I'm here to say it can be done, I've done mine twice & get a full 5 qts in & reads perfectly full on the hot dipstick.

What I do is pull the fill cap, then go under & remove the drain plug, come up & remove the filter... Go do something else for about an hour. (yes about an hour) That really gets a good drain done.
Then install drain plug, oil filter & it takes the Full 5 quarts & not overfull..

Yes I do put a clean cloth over the fill tube & oil filter housing, so no dirt or whatever could enter while I'm doing something else..

IIRC, ChevyMgr may have stated that GM says 1/2 hour for thorough draining of heated oil..

 

makes me wonder everyone useing the dic to determine when to change oil .i wonder if anyone checks thier oil or just let the hhr do it for them also lol just sayin.i guess im a maintce freak n would never go over 5000 miles even with synthitc oil to me its cheap insurance n id rather wast 35 bucks on n oil change then 3 grand on n engine change.just throwing my 2 cents in.im new on here love the site n its opions n help.heck i just got my hhr last week trying to figure out what to call it car/truck lol goodday.

 

It just floors me the amount of people that worry about parts breakage BECAUSE of oil..........anybody have any stats to back this up? Ive got a 5.7 thats gone complete circle..dino-syn and back to dino....twice actually because its on the 2nd motor( aftermarket rocker arm failure dropped a valve at 279k coming off a 85 mph coast down to a turn off)..but if you have money to burn in your DAILY DRIVER so be it, now f it were an after m arket high performance motor...different story....and why do the factory motors last sooo much longer and are so much more trouble free then aftermarket one....think about it.

 

I always change oil right around 5,000 miles, or if I'm not driving much every six months. Oh and I'm running Mobil 1, and have for many years in every vehicle I have owned, since 1979 or so.