Synthetic over Conventional Oil????
07-27-2009, 06:08 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 11-28-2007
Location: Champaign, Illinois
Posts: 145
Synthetic over Conventional Oil????
As a long time driver, I have always had the "every 3 months or 3000 miles" systematically pounded into me.
Then I buy a 2007 HHR with a DIC that has an Oil Life Monitor. It tells me that the above statement is hogwash, that changing oil that often is a waste of precious resources, and that I should change my oil when they say so. So I bite.
Problem is, I am still a little leary. So my last oil change I switch to Valvolive Synthetic 5W-30. Figure the longer change intervals synthetic would be better. Manufacturers recommendation. Now, it taps a little on start up, sometimes I can here a very slight tap at idle. Oil level is fine. Car has 11,000 miles on the clock. Flushed the oil before switching to synthetic from conventional oil.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Then I buy a 2007 HHR with a DIC that has an Oil Life Monitor. It tells me that the above statement is hogwash, that changing oil that often is a waste of precious resources, and that I should change my oil when they say so. So I bite.
Problem is, I am still a little leary. So my last oil change I switch to Valvolive Synthetic 5W-30. Figure the longer change intervals synthetic would be better. Manufacturers recommendation. Now, it taps a little on start up, sometimes I can here a very slight tap at idle. Oil level is fine. Car has 11,000 miles on the clock. Flushed the oil before switching to synthetic from conventional oil.
Does anyone have any ideas?
07-27-2009, 08:15 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: 12-20-2008
Location: durham north carolina
Posts: 835
normal ?
does that mean it is abnormal for mine not to tap ? 
.....my 08 2.4 used to tap for a second ...i now got over 85,000 miles....i can't remember the last time i heard it....it has been a while..probably back when the weather was cold....i been using mobil 1 syn...i started using 0w 20w , and i think it was 5w 20w that i used last time....i have heard alot of people say that most ecotecs do tap for a second before or after cranking...i guess when mine broke in it made the oil pressure hold better somehow.....could it be because the jet brand module i installing changed the timing ?....i really haven't thought about it , 1 reason is because it hasn't done it , 2nd reason was i just seen this post.....oh , i have never heard mine tap while at idle , only at startup.
.....my 08 2.4 used to tap for a second ...i now got over 85,000 miles....i can't remember the last time i heard it....it has been a while..probably back when the weather was cold....i been using mobil 1 syn...i started using 0w 20w , and i think it was 5w 20w that i used last time....i have heard alot of people say that most ecotecs do tap for a second before or after cranking...i guess when mine broke in it made the oil pressure hold better somehow.....could it be because the jet brand module i installing changed the timing ?....i really haven't thought about it , 1 reason is because it hasn't done it , 2nd reason was i just seen this post.....oh , i have never heard mine tap while at idle , only at startup.
07-27-2009, 08:55 PM
#5
Member
Join Date: 07-12-2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 66
Similar question with Synthetic vs Conventional, how far does anyone go on their oil life meter before they change? 40%? 30? Lower? I got my HHR used and I will definitely want to go to Synthetic, especially from reading about a slight performance increase.
07-27-2009, 09:00 PM
#6
Banned
Join Date: 10-24-2006
Location: The Show-Me State
Posts: 1,761
82,500 miles. No tapping or knocking. All conventional or blend fills, house oil.
07-27-2009, 09:14 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: 01-13-2006
Location: Superior, WI - Over the Hill Warranty Club member
Posts: 2,999
I got 13,000 miles off my last Valvoline synthetic 5w30 the last change, I do change filters only every 4,000 miles. That may be why I get more miles out of it. But somebody will tell me different..
