Oil for Chevrolet Cobalt: which one is better to choose. Recommendations for choosing and replacing engine oil on Chevrolet Cobalt cars Good oil for Chevrolet Cobalt engine

16.10.2019

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Every car owner tries to do everything to ensure that it works for a long time and does not break down. There are many signs that a car will be able to operate for a long time without repairs. An important place in this process is occupied by engine lubrication, namely its correct choice. This question is important, since the longevity of the motor depends on it. Therefore, you should not pay attention to the advice of other amateurs.

What should you pay attention to when choosing oil for Chevrolet Cobalt?

An absolutely important point is that the oil must match that recommended by the Chevrolet Cobalt manufacturer. To do this, you should study the service manual or consult a specialist.

The manufacturer recommends filling the Cobalt motor with lubricant GM Dexos2 -5W30. You will also need to change the oil every 10,000 kilometers, if operating conditions are standard.
If the machine is used in difficult conditions, then the motor lubricant must be replaced every 5,000 kilometers.

Checking the level and condition of the oil

The more often, the better. We're talking about verification!

What was it?

Often owners fill in non-factory oil. There is nothing wrong with that, as long as the oil matches the specification.

But also when adding oil, you need to pay attention to what kind of oil was in the car before. It cannot be ruled out that the oil poured into the engine was not the same as required by the manufacturer, especially when the car was purchased used.

Market analysis

A very popular replacement. Dexos2 standard.

And you also need to study the oils that are commercially available. Often, expensive oils do not match the characteristics of those recommended. Therefore, you can look for a cheaper analogue.

Often the fundamental difference between such oils is their type. It could be:

Synthetics.
Mineral.
Semi-synthetic.

The engine oil and oil filter are replaced at every vehicle maintenance.

Below is a list of what you will need to complete this job. All this must be prepared in advance.

Detailed photo report on changing the oil yourself in a Chevrolet Cobalt

Engine oil. When replacing, use only the oil recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

Oil filter.

Chevrolet Cobalt Oil Filter

A container into which used oil will be drained. An old plastic oil canister is ideal for this purpose if you cut a wide hole in it. It is advisable that it be clean. This will allow for visual diagnostics of the drained oil in order to assess the technical condition of the engine.

Rubberized gloves . When changing oil, it is impossible to avoid getting it on your hands, so gloves are a must. They should ensure that the skin is insulated from the harmful effects of used oil.

Wrenches for removing crankcase protection (if installed).

Funnel . The funnel can be metal or plastic, the main thing is clean.

When changing engine oil, it is necessary to ensure that the vehicle is level. The ideal place to perform an oil change is the inspection ditch. If it is not there, you will have to hang the car with all safety precautions.

1. Open the oil filler cap.

2. Place a container under the drain hole.

3. Clean the surface around the plug and unscrew the plug, trying not to drop it into the container with oil at the last stage. If the engine is hot, be careful as there is a risk of being burned by the oil.

Drain plug location

4. While the oil is draining, let's work on the filter. Please note that when unscrewing, oil will also leak out of the filter.

Oil filter location

5. Thoroughly clean all surfaces that received oil during draining and install new parts.

Before installing a new filter, it is necessary to lubricate its O-ring and threads. At the same time, inspect these important parts of the filter - the O-ring should be smooth and without damage. The same applies to carving. The thread must be free of burrs. It is very rare, but it still happens that chips remain on it (consequences of turning). Chips from the thread must be removed, otherwise problems may occur when screwing on the filter. The oil filter should only be tightened by hand, without using any tools.

6. Reinstall the drain plug, first replacing the O-ring. Tighten the plug to the prescribed torque (14 Nm).

7. Fill in engine oil using a funnel. Be careful when pouring oil. To avoid overfilling, try to first fill no more than the volume that was drained. Next, add oil in small portions, periodically checking the level with a dipstick. As a result, the level should be slightly below the MAX mark.

8. Install the removed parts and start the engine. The oil pressure warning light may go out after a short delay, this is normal. If it does not go out five seconds after starting the engine, you must immediately turn off the engine and determine the cause of the low pressure. If everything is fine, let the engine run for 3-5 minutes, turn it off and after another 5-7 minutes check the oil level. The level should be slightly above the middle between the MIN and MAX marks. If the level is above the MAX mark, some of the oil must be drained.

9. Inspect the installation sites of the filter and drain plug for leaks. If everything is fine, you can consider the oil change job completed.

Some packages of motor oils come with stickers that record the mileage and date of oil change. It can be placed either under the hood or inside the car.

Don’t think that too much oil in a car’s engine is evidence of a malfunction. Oil consumption is allowed by any automobile manufacturer, but there are certain consumption limits. For example, on a Chevrolet Cobalt, oil consumption of up to half a liter per thousand kilometers is considered normal. Not so little, but that's okay.

I was aware of all this, so initially I did not attach much importance to the fact that during the oil check, its level on the dipstick was decreasing. However, time passes and the required 500 grams of oil consumption has already occurred, and its level continues to decline. This is already an abnormal phenomenon and we need to fight it, but how? First you need to determine what is causing the oil consumption.

One possibility is an oil leak. Inspect the engine compartment from top and bottom. It is possible that oil is leaking through the crankshaft seals or the cylinder head gasket has broken; it also cannot be ruled out that the fluid is escaping through the sealing gasket on the filter or through the oil pressure sensor.

So, what would I do if I never found a leak? The reason for the increased consumption of engine oil may be that the brand does not meet the specified quality or viscosity.

If we read the Chevrolet Cobalt operating manual, we will see that the manufacturer recommends filling the engine with special branded oil GM Dexos SAE 5W-30, or its analogues - API SM, SN.

But if everything is fine with the oil, it means there is contamination in the crankcase ventilation, or, if the car is no longer new, coking has occurred in the cylinder walls. Then you have to disassemble the engine and fix the problem.

Chevrolet Cobalt cars have not gained enormous popularity in the Russian market, like Lacetti or Aveo models. But there are still a lot of such cars. The Chevrolet Cobalt, produced by General Motors, belongs to the category of inexpensive budget class sedans, which are designed to compete with the Renault Logan. At the same time, the car is equipped with good engines. It’s a pity that in Russia only 1.5-liter versions with 16 valves and 105 horsepower are available.

It is important to choose the right oil for your Chevrolet Cobalt engine.

A good resource, together with fairly solid dynamics, considering the power, make the Cobalt an excellent workhorse, which does not require large financial investments and allows you to do maintenance on your own. One of the main points in operation is the timely replacement and selection of suitable oil for Chevrolet Cobalt 2013 - 2015 model years or earlier models.

Since to replace you you will need a new motor oil that meets the requirements of a Chevrolet Cobalt car, you will have to carefully study the characteristics and options of motor fluids on the market. It is important to note that the oils used for cars from 2013 to 2015 differ from those that are poured into the first generation Cobalt from 2004 to 2010. The first generation of Cobalt is a compact car that was produced and sold in North America. Therefore, it is problematic to find such models in Russia. In Russia, the updated 2nd generation Cobalt, which no longer had anything in common with its predecessor, despite the similar name, was introduced in 2012. Active sales began in 2013.

The story did not last so long, since already in 2016 the brand came under the Ravon company. Now this is the “Ravon R4”, although in fact this is the same “Cobalt” of the second generation. It would be logical to consider the current oils for cars produced in 2012 - 2015 and determine this budget car. The optimal solution would be to purchase original oil for Chevrolet Cobalt. From the factory, Dexos 2 5W30 oil produced by General Motors is poured into the car engine. The problem is that this oil is quite expensive. Therefore, owners are thinking about what type of lubricant is best to fill in the Chevrolet Cobalt. In terms of viscosity indicators, compositions with the following characteristics are suitable as all-season oils:

10W40;
10W50;
15W40;
5W40;
15W50.

If you need a purely winter composition, then in terms of viscosity for Cobalt the following are suitable:

0W40;
5W40;
5W50;
0W50.

Summer lubricants are used:

20W40;
25W40;
25W50.

For cars manufactured in 2012, API lubricants are recommended to use SM, and for models from 2013 and younger, SN is used. It is better to use synthetic oils, although some semi-synthetic motor fluids are also capable of ensuring efficient and high-quality operation of the Chevrolet Cobalt power unit. There are several manufacturers who can offer formulations with the required characteristics. They have proven themselves well, so it is better to use them as an alternative to the original engine oil for Chevrolet Cobalt:

Shell;
Castrol;
Mobil;
Xado;
GT-Oil;
Valvoline;
Lukoil.

If you managed to choose the right engine oil, you've already done half the work. All that remains is to drain the waste, change the filter and into the engine crankcase.

Level and condition

The Cobalt engine is designed to require an oil change approximately every 10 thousand kilometers. But these numbers are indicated in the official manual taking into account standard operating conditions. But you must understand that the realities of Russian roads and our climate do not allow such intervals between car maintenance. Therefore, the actual replacement period is 5–6 thousand kilometers or once a year. Consider the indicator which comes first.

Periodically, the car owner is required to use a dipstick to check the current condition of the engine lubricant and how much is in the engine. You can really evaluate the composition by completely draining it from the crankcase. But there is a simpler method.

At first . To do this you need:

open the hood;
find the dipstick;
pull it out;
wipe with a clean rag;
insert into place;
pull out again;
look at the trace of the oil film relative to the “Min” and “Max” marks.

It is necessary that during the operation of the car the probe shows the average value between the two marks. If the level gradually approaches the minimum value, be sure to add a little fresh oil. The closer the period for replacing motor lubricant, the higher the likelihood that the liquid loses its physical and chemical properties, the composition begins to become cloudy or dark, and chip particles appear in it.

To assess the current condition of the oil in the engine, you can use a simple method. He does not require draining all the oil from the Chevrolet Cobalt.

It is better to preheat the engine a little so that a possible sediment rises.
Remove the dipstick and take some white paper or napkin.
Drop a few drops of oil from the dipstick. You can make a few drops of the fresh oil you used nearby.
If you see a difference in color, transparency, or a sediment is clearly visible in the composition of the engine fluid, this indicates a strong wear of the lubricant that needs to be replaced.

It is necessary to pay attention to situations when the oil takes on an uncharacteristic appearance after a short time since the last change. If you were not the one who did the work, this may indicate several facts:

the previous replacement was carried out poorly;
the technicians poured initially bad oil;
there are problems in the engine due to which the oil begins to quickly lose its properties;
forgot to change the oil filter at the same time as changing the oil itself;
a large amount of old mining remained in the engine, which mixed with fresh fluid.

At best, it will normalize the condition of the engine. But if there is a suspicion of a malfunction of the motor itself, it is better to carry out diagnostics at a proven and professional car service.

Instructions for self-replacement

It is better to work if there is an inspection hole in the garage or a lift. Not every ordinary motorist can boast of having a special lift, so basically you have to work using a pit. To work, you will need to collect the necessary materials and tools near you. This list includes:

fresh motor oil with suitable physical and chemical characteristics;
new filter;
rubber seal for the drain plug;
empty containers with a volume of 5 - 6 liters for draining waste;
carrying lamp;
spanners (minimum sizes 13 and 15);
rags;
workwear.

Start work on a pre-heated engine. If the car has been parked in the garage for a long time, then the oil will acquire a very thick consistency. When drained, it will begin to come out very slowly, plus you will not be able to get rid of the maximum volume of used lubricant. Let's get to work.

Warm up the engine, then open the hood and unscrew the filler cap. There is no need to pour anything in there yet.
We move under the bottom of your Chevrolet Cobalt. Under the engine there is a protective panel or simply motor protection. It must be dismantled to get to the drain hole and filter.
To dismantle the protection with your own hands, you will need to unscrew the 4 mounting bolts, which are located in the front and back. 2 bolts hold the protection on the lower cross member of the radiator, and the second two you will find on the subframe on the side opposite the radiator. We remove the protection and put it aside temporarily.
After dismantling under the panel, clean the pan near the plug to drain the used oil. This will prevent debris and dirt from getting into the new grease. To remove the drain plug, you will need a 15mm spanner.
Before you start twisting the plug, do not forget to place an empty container under it, where the old motor fluid from the crankcase will be drained. Be careful as the lubricant is hot and can cause severe burns.
Turn the plug a little with a spanner until you can turn it by hand. Open all the way and drain the waste. The volume of drained liquid will be approximately 4 liters, so take the container with a reserve of 5 - 6 liters so that the lubricant does not leak out over the edges.
When the oil stops flowing out under high pressure, place a container with waste under the crankcase so that the remaining lubricant gradually drips there.
While the fluid is draining, work on the oil filter. It is better to dismantle it with a special filter remover, since it is often difficult to handle with your hands or improvised tools. You should turn it counterclockwise. Also place an empty container under the filter, as residual oil will drain from it.
Clean the filter seat. Apply some fresh motor lubricant to the new filter device to lubricate the gasket. You can fill the filter itself about 1/3 full with oil. It is better to screw it in manually, but ensure that the seal fits tightly to the surface. Otherwise, leaks will occur.
If 15 minutes have passed since you moved away from the drain hole to the filter, you can remove the waste container and return the plug to its place. But first check the condition of the seal. If the sealing ring on the plug is worn out, be sure to put a new one in its place.
Some people forget to buy this ring, but there is a way out of the situation so as not to run back to the store. To do this, take any sealant that has oil-resistant properties. It replaces rubber gaskets well. If you do not use an o-ring or sealant, fresh oil will leak out of the plug.
Tighten the plug tightly and return to the engine compartment. There, at the first stage, you removed the oil filler plug. Start pouring fresh lubricant through the neck. The engine, which is installed on the Chevrolet Cobalt for the Russian market, holds about 3.75 liters of oil. But the actual amount may turn out to be slightly less, since it will not be possible to remove all remnants of the old liquid 100%.
First, fill in approximately 3.5 liters, close the cap and run the engine at idle speed. Let it run for a couple of minutes.
Turn off the engine, wait a few minutes. During this time, the oil will drain back into the crankcase and the oil pressure warning light on the dashboard will go out.
Check the oil level with a dipstick. It should be between the “Min” and “Max” marks. If the level is lower than required, add a little more. All 3.75 liters at once. You should not fill it, because if there is an excess of liquid in the crankcase, you will have to drain it. And this will require repeatedly unscrewing the plug, placing the container under the hole, etc.
If the level is normal, check the condition of the drain hole and filter. If they are not tightened tightly, oil may leak through them. If there is a leak, tighten the connections and put the engine protection back in place.

It cannot be said that the independent Chevrolet Cobalt raises many questions or difficulties. The procedure is standard and does not require any special skills. Over the next few days of driving the car with the updated engine oil, monitor its level and check for signs of leakage anywhere. If the car behaves well, this indicates a successful procedure. The main thing in the matter of maintenance is the selection of suitable and high-quality consumables. The better the service, the more reliable and longer the car can operate.

Thank you all for your attention and good luck on the roads!

Checking and changing the oil in the Chevrolet Cobalt engine are standard periodic maintenance procedures. They are considered one of the easiest, so you can do them yourself.

How to check the level

The check is performed as follows:

Turn off the engine and wait 10-15 minutes for the liquid to drain into the crankcase;
Take the dipstick and place it in the engine;
Wait a couple of seconds and pull it back out to check the level.

It is necessary that the liquid level is between the “min” and “max” marks. If it is below the minimum mark, topping up is required.

If the level is above the maximum mark, the excess may enter the engine cylinders or cause increased pressure, which may result in oil seals leaking.

The level must be checked when the car is standing on a strictly horizontal surface. Otherwise, the test results will be incorrect.

Oil and filter change interval

According to the Chevrolet Cobalt maintenance regulations, replacement must be carried out every 15 thousand km.

Due to difficult operating conditions, some drivers perform replacements earlier than the interval established by regulations.

Difficult operating conditions include frequent trips over short distances, long periods of engine idling, heavy dust and other reasons.

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What oil is needed for a Chevrolet Cobalt engine

Many motorists ask the question: “What is the best engine oil to fill in a Chevrolet Cobalt?”

According to the operating instructions, it is necessary to fill in oil with a viscosity of 5W-30 and it must meet the GM Dexos-2 standard.

Compatible oils

Which oil filter to choose for Chevrolet Cobalt

The oil filter plays a significant role in the operation of the car. Its main purpose is to remove dirt and various impurities.

The average lifespan of an oil filter on a Chevrolet Cobalt is 10-15 thousand kilometers and depends on the operating conditions of the vehicle.

The replacement must be carried out together with the oil, since separately it simply does not make sense.

Types of filters for Chevrolet Cobalt 1 5:

Full threaded. While circulating, the liquid passes completely through it;
Partial flow. The filter is located in a parallel line to the main oil line. Filtration takes longer and is more thorough.
Combined. This type is the most effective.

Articles

Chevrolet Cobalt is equipped with oil filters with article numbers 25181616 and 25183779. They differ in the internal thread.

DIY oil change

If you do not replace it every 15 thousand kilometers, then as a result of thickening and the entry of dust and dirt into the composition, the performance of the car will deteriorate. This can damage the engine and entail material costs for its overhaul.

Replacement is a simple procedure, so you can do it yourself.

If the car has not been used for some time, the fluid will have a thick consistency and will drain very slowly. The work is carried out on an overpass or in a viewing hole.

Replacement is carried out as follows

Video

Make sure there are no leaks, then install the protection panel. The replacement process is complete.

Let's sum it up

Regularly changing the engine oil is the key to proper and long-term operation of the power unit.

Replacing it yourself is not a difficult task; almost anyone, even an inexperienced car owner, can handle it.

For several days after this procedure, monitor the level and check for leaks.

If the level is normal and no leaks are observed, the work was done correctly.

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cobaltpro.ru

Chevrolet Cobalt oil change

Chevrolet Cobalt is a compact car produced from 2004 to 2010 in the USA. The differences between the 1st generation and the 2nd, produced since 2011, are extraordinary. They are completely different and have nothing in common.

The first generation Cobalt was produced in sedan and coupe bodies on the GM Delta platform. Production of the 1 Series Cobalt stopped in 2010 and was replaced by another model, the Chevrolet Cruze (based on the Delta 2 platform).

The second generation of the car was revived in 2011 as a budget car on the GM Gamma platform, taking its place between the Aveo and Cruze in size. The Cobalt's main competitor was Renault Logan.

What kind of oil should I use and how much?

The manufacturer recommends using GM Dexos2 with a viscosity of 5W-30 for this engine model. It is better to change the oil every 10,000 km. Using only the original company is not a mandatory item, you can buy any normal market product.

Idemitsu Zepro 5W30;
Mobil Super™ 3000 XE 5W-30;
Eneos 5W30;
BP Visco 5w40;

The amount of oil required is for a 1.5 (L2C) engine - 3.75 liters.

To select oil by viscosity, you can use the table below. Focus on the temperature of the latitude where you are located. If your region has a predominantly cold climate, choose “winter” ones, etc.

Instructions

We warm up the engine to 50-60 degrees. Warm oil has better fluidity and will drain better from the engine during a complete change. Our task is to remove to the maximum the old dirty and used liquid that no longer has useful properties from the engine and fill in a new one. If a lot of old dirty oil remains in the crankcase, it will be swept away with new and worsen its useful properties. Warm up the engine for 5-7 minutes before starting, this will be sufficient.
For easy access to the drain plug (and in some models the oil filter is also attached from the bottom) and the bottom of the car as a whole, you need to jack it up or drive into the inspection hole (the best option). Also, some models may have engine crankcase “protection” installed.
We open air access to the crankcase by unscrewing the filler cap and dipstick.
Place a large container (equal to the amount of oil being poured).
Unscrew the drain plug with a wrench. Sometimes the drain plug is made like a conventional “bolt” with an open-end wrench, and sometimes it can be unscrewed with a four or hexagon. Do not forget to wear protective gloves, the oil will most likely wake up warm, but you need to be careful.
We wait about 10-15 minutes until the waste flows into a basin or cut-off plastic canister.
Optional but very effective! Flushing the engine with a special liquid is not included in the maintenance regulations and is not mandatory - but. By getting a little confused, you will be much better at flushing out the old, black oil from the engine. In this case, wash with the old oil filter for 5-10 minutes. You will be surprised at the black oil that comes out with this liquid. This liquid is very easy to use. A detailed description should appear on the flushing fluid label.
Changing the sedum filter. In some models, it is not the filter itself or the filter element (usually yellow) that is changed. Impregnating the filter with new oil before installation is a mandatory procedure. Lack of oil in the new filter before starting the engine can cause oil starvation, which in turn can cause filter deformation. Overall this is not a good thing. Also remember to lubricate the rubber O-ring before installation.
Fill in new oil. Having made sure that the drain plug is screwed in and a new oil filter is installed, we can begin to fill in new oil using the dipstick as a guide. The level should be between the minimum and maximum marks. Also, you need to remember that after the first start of the engine, a little oil will go away and the level will drop.
In the future, when the engine is running, the oil level will probably change, be careful the first few days of operation. Recheck the oil level using the dipstick after the first start.

Video materials

masllo.com

Fighting oil burns on a Chevrolet Cobalt

chevroletov.ru

Oil for Chevrolet Cobalt: which one is better to choose

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