most dealers will allow you to bring in your own oil then only pay for labor and filter, mine allows this and it should be standard practice across most dealers that aren't trying to stick it to ya, it'll save ya a good 60 bucks or so for the oil change.

 

No way will I let anyone change my oil for over $100.

On the new cars it is such a no brainer there is no excuse not to do it your self if you are physically able to.

While some things get more complicated on the new cars Oil changes have become much easier and less often.

I need to check but I have been running all my cars on Royal Purple Syn. I have had no issues with it and if it meets GM"S standards I will contiue to use it. If not Walmart has always been cheap on Mobil 1.

I work in the performance aftermarket and I work with a lot of racers and engine builders from every kind of series you can think of. Most all use Royal Purple in the engine, Trannys and diffs. They swear by it.

 

Oil change on an HHR SS shouldn't cost more than 25-30 dollars. Not difficult at all once you have the proper socket. It uses the same oil filter as the other engines. I personally use Pennzoil Platinum in all of my cars.

 

Uses 1 1/4 socket/wrench for removal.....

 

I bought Mobil 1 for my Firehawk a few months ago and it was $7 a quart. I should have gone to wally world but it's against my religion,

My pontiac dealer whacks me $25 with filter when I bring my own oil. Now that she's out of warranty I do it myself. I don't know what the chevy dealer will nail me for on the SS. On my Saab 9-3 it was $75.

 

Just did mine @ 8k/30%oil life, and it was very easy to do.(the only time taker was the initial jacking up/jackstand time since it was the first time doing it on mine.)

Drain plug was easy, towards the front compared to my Silverado, and the filter was super easy to swap out.
Gotta commit a special funnel now to fill the oil , but that's no biggie.(just to keep it clean/mobil1 only touching it,i just hate cleaning funnels that are tough to clean up)

Even if it was free, i doubt if i would let someone else do a oil change on my stuff. The few times i (more like my wife did with her car) that the Goofy Lubes did one, seems like every time something was left loose (filters/drain plugs )

 

I received the oil changes for life in my deal and took it back to the dealership for it's first oil change last week at 2,700 miles.

They ended up charging me $25 extra for the Mobil One, my gf drives a new Cobalt and got the same deal on oil changes and hers was absolutely free.

My question tho is if the dealership changes the oil in the turbo (have heard they do not) and if this is something I should be doing each oil change or what?

 

I would stress to those who many not be familiar with Syn oils that you do continue to use Syn oil.

With the higher RPM and higer temps due to the turbo it is not just in the HHR for to run up the cost.

Syn oils are very rugged and will take the increase demands of high temps so much better.

In this engine Syn oil is not an option it is a needed part of this engine package. Anything less will hurt the life of the engine or your turbo.

So please for your own pocket do not cheap out and not use some kind of approved syn oil.

Blended Syn oils are a waste so do not even mess with them. They are just deluted oils to reduce the cost. The blending reduces quality too.

 

Changing the oil on the SS is EXTREMELY easy. All you need to remove the oil filter cap is a 1 1/4" (or 32mm) socket with either a wobble extension -or- a stubby 1/2" socket wrench--both worked fine for me. You can even reach the drain plug (15mm) from behind the passenger side tire if you don't feel like using ramps or a jack w/ jackstands. I believe the torque should be 25 ft/lbs on the plug and filter cap... don't quote me on that.

I really doesn't get much easier than this!

Paying more than $40 is far too much IMHO.

 

Engine oil=turbo shaft oil.
Hence the big deal about oil discussion.