Dasher Posted November 11, 2007 Report Share Posted November 11, 2007 First, let me say that after driving Northstars for 12 twelve years, it's a pleasure to check the oil at 4,400 miles and find that the oil is not down even a mark on my 08 304 HP CTS! Even though GM says to change oil based on what the DIC tells me, I have always changed it on the Northstars every 3000 or 4000 miles, which is more than twice as often as the DIC suggested. However, two factors have changed: 1. My 08 CTS uses Mobil One which is going to increase the cost of oil changes considerably. 2. For the first time in my life, I have leased this car in a single payment lease up front and will only be driving it for three years and 54,000 miles and not 130 to 190K as in the past. So, should I follow GM's instructions and go by the DIC or should I continue to change every 3 or 4 K? And why? Incidentally, while the praise of the 08 CTS by all the car mags has been more than lavish, not a word of it is exaggeration. It is everything they say it is and more. One thing that surprised me which hasn't been written much about is the ride. As well as it holds the road, I believe it gives a more comfortable ride than my previous STS's. On a 500 mile round trip that I took when I first got the car, I averaged 31.2 mpg. However, locally I am getting around 23 +. That's partly my fault and partly Cadillac's. It's just damned near impossible not to really get on it at every corner, just to listen to it growl. I had the pleasure of driving the 256 HP version the other day which leads me to believe the 304 HP might be overkill; but I'd probably buy it again just to say I have it. I have said for years that the best auto buy in America is a Cadillac off a two year lease. I still think so and I know I paid too much for this car; but there's no buyer's remorse here. I'd do it all over again in a minute. It's the best thing I've done for me in twenty years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrenJ Posted November 11, 2007 Report Share Posted November 11, 2007 Incidentally, while the praise of the 08 CTS by all the car mags has been more than lavish, not a word of it is exaggeration. It is everything they say it is and more. One thing that surprised me which hasn't been written much about is the ride. As well as it holds the road, I believe it gives a more comfortable ride than my previous STS's. It's nice to hear things like this. Many happy miles! Regards, Warren There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved. - Ludwig von Mises Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiz6728 Posted November 11, 2007 Report Share Posted November 11, 2007 I WOULD GO BY THE DIC. THEY SET IT UP TO MONITOR WHEN ONE IS NEEDED BASED ON DRIVING CONDITINS & SUCH Wiz DRIVE IT LIKE YOU own it!!!!!! 1967 chevy II ( FOR SALE!!!!) 1995 Lexus Es 300 1998 SLS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted November 11, 2007 Report Share Posted November 11, 2007 Dasher: I think you know the answer you will get here. It boils down to; do you change the oil based on a feeling or a guess or a recommendation based on the oil technology of the '60s? Or, do you change the oil when the oil life monitor tells you to. The same oil life monitor that was developed by a team of reseach engineers with complete oil analysis laboratory capabilites, that is tailored to your engine, and has migrated to most engines in the GM fleet Jim Drive your car. Use your cell phone. CHOOSE ONE ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenMachine Posted November 11, 2007 Report Share Posted November 11, 2007 The extended drains might actually balance or make cheaper the over all added cost of Mobil 1/synthetic oil changes. Do as the little computer says, they oil life system has been changed and developed for so long now and they add in a little grace period, that you would be wasting money to not follow it. Good that your enjoying the new ride. My father will most likely grab one off a lease in a few years, or a DTS, whichever floats his boat then The Green's Machines 1998 Deville - high mileage, keeps on going, custom cat-back exhaust 2003 Seville - stock low mileage goodness! 2004 Grand Prix GTP CompG - Smaller supercharger pulley, Ported Exhaust Manifolds, Dyno tune, etc 1998 Firebird Formula - 408 LQ9 Stroker motor swap and all sorts of go fast stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Nunnally Posted November 11, 2007 Report Share Posted November 11, 2007 I use the oil life indicator and change the oil myself if possible. Glad to hear you are enjoying the 08 CTS DI3.6L -- that's one of the cars on my short list for my next Cadillac. Bruce 2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing Follow me on: Twitter Instagram Youtube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Jim Posted November 11, 2007 Report Share Posted November 11, 2007 I think I understand how the OLM works. I HAVE increased my oil change interval to 5000 miles from 3000. I am so set in my ways, that even doing THAT is a big step for me. I know that I am probably wasting money and oil, but....... I have been trying to change my way of thinking.... I really have. This last oil change was at 7000 miles. OLM said 49 percent. I had done some pretty hard driving on that oil. On the dipstick, the oil had turned brown instead of gold and in MY MIND it was needing changing so I changed it. I know that looking at the oil probably don't mean S##T, but it was worrying ME because it had changed color, so I changed IT. I have a Blackstone Labs oil anaylis kit. I was going to do a complete oil anaylis on it this time, but I forgot to take it with me when I went to the dealer. Will do it next time. If I was using Mobil 1 synthetic, I might go longer..... unless it changed color on me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted November 12, 2007 Report Share Posted November 12, 2007 You are making progress Jim. You are correct. Color is no indicator. Getting darker just means it is doing it's job. Just changed mine the other day and it was at about 6% (probably close to 12,000. Just turned 40K and will now do it every 10K just to make it easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dasher Posted November 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 Thanks, Bruce. I'm going to try to remember that this car is a 08 CTS DI3.6L. I usually just call it fantastic! Ha! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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