Learn when to change your oil and which type to choose
Driving around without enough oil, or with dirty oil, can cause extensive damage and shorten the life of your engine. When your vehicle requires an oil change, speak with your Certified Service Advisor or schedule an appointment online.
What You'll Learn
We'll explain how to identify oil warning signs, check your oil level, and select the right oil for your vehicle.
Oil Change Warning Signs
Proper maintenance of your vehicle’s engine oil is critical to a long life for your engine. Here are some things to look for:
“Change Engine Oil Soon” Display
“Change Engine Oil Soon” will display on your dashboard when it is time to change your engine oil and filter. The motor oil and filter must be changed at least once a year and the engine Oil Life System must be reset. Your dealer has trained service technicians who will perform this work and reset the system. If your oil was recently changed and the message is still being displayed, it is possible that the Oil Life Monitoring System in your vehicle was not reset during your last oil change.
“Oil Pressure Low/Stop Engine” Display
If “Oil Pressure Low/Stop Engine” displays, safely bring your vehicle to a stop. Don’t restart your engine until you know the cause of the low oil pressure and it’s been fixed. You should check the oil level immediately. DO NOT operate the engine with the oil pressure warning light on or if an ENGINE OIL LOW ADD OIL message is displayed. Low engine oil pressure can cause extreme damage to your engine.
Oil Leaks
The most obvious sign of a problem is a noticeable leak. If you find a leak, have your Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac Certified Service technician look at it as soon as possible. Catching a problem when it’s small can save you time and money.
Checking Your Oil Level
The majority of today’s Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac gasoline-powered vehicles are equipped with the engine Oil Life System Monitoring, which allows the oil condition to be closely monitored. Depending on the age of the vehicle, driving habits, and road conditions, vehicles with today’s advanced engines and oils may be able to go longer than 3,000 miles between oil changes. It’s important to check your engine oil regularly. Read your Owner’s Manual to find out how to check your oil level.
In order to get an accurate reading, the engine must be off and the vehicle must be on level ground. Accuracy improves when checking a cold engine (off for two hours) prior to starting. If unable to wait two hours, the engine must be off for at least 15 minutes if the engine is warm, or at least 30 minutes if the engine is not warm.
Oil Life Monitoring System
If you have a 2004 or newer Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac vehicle, it has the Oil Life Monitoring System. The system estimates how long your engine oil will last based on how you use your vehicle. When the Oil Life Monitoring System light comes on, have your engine oil changed as soon as possible.
Your Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac Certified Service technician will reset your Oil Life Monitoring System after every oil change. If you would like to reset the system yourself, consult your Owner’s Manual or ask your technician.
Selecting the Right Oil for Your Vehicle
Choosing the proper grade of oil is an important step in keeping your vehicle running smoothly. From conventional to full synthetic, your Certified Service experts offer a range of oil types, including ACDelco Conventional Oil, ACDelco dexos1™ Full Synthetic, and Mobil 1™ Full Synthetic. Ask the Certified Service experts which grade of oil you should use for your specific vehicle model. You can also check your Owner’s Manual for the correct grade.
ACDelco Conventional Oil
• Offers quality engine wear and corrosion protection
• Contains special additives that help your engine run smoothly
ACDelco Dexos1™ Full Synthetic
• High resistance to oxidation, which helps keep the oil from breaking down
• Excellent low-temperature flow and pumpability during cold start-ups
• Excellent protection to help prevent formation of sludge and other harmful deposits
Mobil1™
• Advanced anti-wear technology for outstanding protection of critical engine parts
• Exceptional high-temperature stability helps resist oxidation thickening
• Provides outstanding cold starting, lubrication, and protection from wear at low temperatures
Your Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac dealership provides the car maintenance you need, when you need it.
Choose Certified Service for Car Maintenance