Hi Guys-I had a couple of clarification in regards to regular C6 maintainence.I recently bought a 2006 C6 with Z51 package and would appreciate your response in this regard...
1)How often should I get the oil change done.I know the computer in the car would let me know when the service is due but would appreciate if some info can be provided on as to after how many miles should I get this done regularly.
2)Would you guys suggest getting this done at a dealership or at mechanic shop.
3)Do you guys know of any shops around Hayward(east bay area) where I could take the car for regular maintainence issue like tuneups,oil changes etc.

Thanks,
Nik

 

It depends a lot on how you drive...I do it every 5,000mi and use Prolong treatment!!!

Manuel

 

I quit using prolong when I read that the ingredients in prolong, along with the conditions in the motor, can produce hydrochloric acid in your oil. Not all the time but decided I would just quit using it. YMMV.

 

It does depend on how you drive.

(1) If it's your daily driver and you're putting on 10-15K miles a year, and you trade cars every couple of years or it's a lease vehicle, you can go by the DIC oil life monitor...minimum maintenance expense, and highest cost effectiveness derived from proven GM warrantied experience; at least for the short term.

(2) Or, if it's your keep-it-forever, low miles baby then change the oil and filter every 5K or annually whichever comes first. Forget the additives...just plain old Mobil 1 and OEM filters. At 120-150K, you can shorten the interval to 3K, if you last that long.

My preference is to do as much of my own maintenance as possible...the fewer uncaring hands that touch my car, the fewer bad things can go wrong. If you trade every couple of years, it's not important.

 

Why not DIY. It's the only way you know the job is being done right. You save $ also.

 

I refill Mobil one every 5k miles at the dealership.

 

Guys-Thanks much for the info..I hope to limit myself to about 500 miles a month..I don't use my C6 as a daily car..I have a mazda for that...I have not yet changed the oil in my c6 yet..I guess will have to refer the manual for that.Reading the advise from the other forum members ,I would also like to avoid taking the car to a dealership..

Nik

 

I had a 93 vette that I put 190k miles on changing the oil every 7500 miles (Mobil 1). The heads & cam were done at 85k but the block was never apart. 7500 was typically when the oil change light went on.

With my 07, I'm still trying to decide when to change the oil. I'll probably use the trip odo & do the same 7500 interval since I had so much success with it. I'm interested to see what the OLM reads at 7500 miles.

By the way, the 07 has 2200 miles. I changed the oil at 500 miles & 1500 miles since I'm 'old school'.

 

Prolong -- isn't that a treatment for....

Oh, never mind.

 

Nik
I let the dealer do my 06z51 b/c I don't want to be only a warrenty PIA. I spend my cash there so if I need something done they don't play hard ball...like install of cat backs. Befriend the dealer, b/c when something goes wrong....it will....they will say lets help him out...he is a GOOD CUSTOMER.
David

 

ProLong is composed of simple paraffins (waxes) and petroleum distillates. Wesson Oil and Crisco work about as well and cost less.


"There is an interesting article in the October 1998 issue of Consumer Report magazine about an oil additive called "Prolong". Their nationwide television ads claim that this oil treatment bonds a 1-molecule-thick low-friction coating to metal surfaces in the engine resulting in longer life, better mileage, more savings. It supposedly protects the engine even when the oil is drained. The ads show Al Unser driving a Dodge Viper on a racetrack in the Mojave Desert without oil or drain plug, and a testimonial from a woman who supposedly drove from Santa Barbara to L.A., almost 5 hours, with no engine oil.

Consumer Report took two factory rebuilt GM 4.3 litre V6 motors, had them installed into Chevy Caprices, broke them in with regular oil, changed the oil and filter, added Prolong to one engine, drove another hundred miles or so to let the stuff take effect, then drained the oil out. Both engines failed simultaneously after 5 miles and about 13 minutes."

 

Change the oil and filter when the DIC tells you or every year. Whichever come first. The GM engineers knew what they were doing. Trust them.

Lots of myths floating around........

http://www.nordicgroup.us/oil.htm

 

Many thanks to all you guys for the advice on C6 maintainence...

Nik