Synthetic Oil Vs Conventional Oil

[Kodiak450]

Just wondering how many people are using synthetic oil in their trucks and are you able to really go 5000-7000 miles without oil change light coming on telling you it's time to change the oil?

I never ran synthetic in any of my vehicles until we purchased a BMW X5 which requires synthetic, almost 8 quarts of it too! In the BMW I heard the Mobile one does have tendency to burn off and within time frame of oil changes (5000-7000) you most likely will need to add a quart or two. There is another oil that is made in Germany called "Pennsy" (Might have spelt the name wrong) which is synthetic and said to be able to be good for 7000-10,000 miles between changes. BMW and Audi's are known for consuming oil.

 

To get back on topic here with GM trucks. I've read threads about people using synthetic in their trucks, whether it is Mobile 1, Amsoil, ect. I seek out information on how many miles you guys go between oil changes in your trucks provided you are using a synthetic oil. I religiously have my oil changed ever 3000 regardless if the light comes on and tells me so or not. So I firgured if I could get 5000-7000 like a BMW or Audi could on synthetic, it seems like it would be worth running synthetic in my 2500HD, provided if the people here that use synthetic are getting the same amount of miles between changes. I also do snow plowing in the winter, so I am working the engine hard depending on depth of snow.

[Stevens03]

I've run full synthetic and change it when the gm oil life meter tells me too.

 

Thats between 7-9,000 miles for me on average. Nothing other than Wix or AcDelo oil filters too.

[txab]

Synthetic. 5500 miles. It fits into my schedule perfectly. Have a sample analyzed from time to time. Can I run it longer? Sure, 7k is what a sample results estimates I could run it, but the oil starts being consumed after about 6k

 

Have you ever sent a sample of your current choice of oils off after running it 3k? I bet you'll find you can run it longer than you are without a problem. I've seen results of dino oils at the 4500-5000 mi. mark and they are still doing ok.

 

I switched to synthetic because I can get better price deals on synthetic. Recently purchased Mobil 1 5qt jugs for $5 after rebate.

[Black02Silverado]

With todays oils you can go 5k on an oil change with no issues. The oil has come a long way from just ten years ago. As for running synthetic, in the winter time you would get the benefit of easier start up, which helps make the starter and battery last longer. Also synthetic does not tend to brake down as often. Working the truck hard in the winter plowing would be a better choice to run synthetic. You can go to the mileage like in the BMW with no problems.

 

You can always give synthetic a try and see how it performs. If you feel it isn't worth it you can always go back to what you were using before. Switching back and forth isn't an issue. I know of several that do that. Why I don't know, it is just what they want to do and have been for years with no problems.

 

I would also make sure you service your transmission since you do work your truck.

 

If you would like a quote for AMSOIL let me know.

[dewfpo]

I run 10K with a very good quality synthetic oil and filter. Have for many years on all sorts of vehicles and they run forever. I;ve never had an oil ore filtering related problem.

 

There's no way for the DIC to know you are running synthetic so I just reset it whenever it comes on.

 

DEWFPO

[Kodiak450]

Easier start ups in winter? Never had a problem with start ups in winter before with convential oil, unless you are refering to extremely cold temps like in CA or AL. Tranny i do service, had it flushed in Dec 08, most likely will have it done again this Dec. I think i'll give the synthetic oil a try in my truck. You say that the DIC light comes on and you reset it? Does DIC light come on because it is preset to come on at a certain point? I remember a couple times it told me to change oil before. One time it came on before I hit 3000 miles before next oil change. So I am thinking it somehow monitors the oils viscosity and when it starts to become thinner or what have you then it triggers the light? Or same theory, but somehow can monitor when it gets too dirty or burnt?

 

You mentioned something about using a different type of filter with synthetic? Or the usuall filter they put on work with both types of oil?

 

I'll do the synthetic oil change my next oil change. Have to go to the shop next week so they can search for the leak in my AC, they put die in last week, the AC was low on freon, hoping it will be an expensive fix..Warranty is covering it. Also just ordered a set of timbrens for the front, can't wait to no longer have bottoming out issues when going over dips. Heard good things about timbrens and are a simple install..Hopefully.

[HDcarpenter]

If I remember right, the DIC program is based on either a calculated formula or direct count of revolutions and the percentage load the engine is under for that revolution. Thats why you're light doesn't exactly come on at the same time. It doesn't take into account environmental factors such as ambient temperature or the amount of dust that gets pulled through the engine that the filter misses (Oklahoma has got a few too many dirt and sand roads). It also doesn't measure the break down or loss of viscosity of oil.

 

I've actually had mine come on at 2800 before and that was after hard month of pulling, but it may have been a glitch. Mine usually lights up around 4k, but I change the on a sporadic schedule based on how hard I've been on my truck for those miles.

[dewfpo]

Easier start ups in winter? Never had a problem with start ups in winter before with convential oil, unless you are refering to extremely cold temps like in CA or AL. Tranny i do service, had it flushed in Dec 08, most likely will have it done again this Dec. I think i'll give the synthetic oil a try in my truck. You say that the DIC light comes on and you reset it? Does DIC light come on because it is preset to come on at a certain point? I remember a couple times it told me to change oil before. One time it came on before I hit 3000 miles before next oil change. So I am thinking it somehow monitors the oils viscosity and when it starts to become thinner or what have you then it triggers the light? Or same theory, but somehow can monitor when it gets too dirty or burnt?

 

You mentioned something about using a different type of filter with synthetic? Or the usuall filter they put on work with both types of oil?

 

I'll do the synthetic oil change my next oil change. Have to go to the shop next week so they can search for the leak in my AC, they put die in last week, the AC was low on freon, hoping it will be an expensive fix..Warranty is covering it. Also just ordered a set of timbrens for the front, can't wait to no longer have bottoming out issues when going over dips. Heard good things about timbrens and are a simple install..Hopefully.

 

I see -20F in the winter and +105F in the summer. Synthetic is better under these conditions hands down. I've been using it since 1984 under all sorts of environmental conditions.

 

The DIC does not test your motor oil at all, it uses a simple algorithm to compute individual OCI's.

 

I use a good quality synthetic and a good quality synthetic media filter (Mobil1 or Amsoil).

 

DEWFPO

[chrt396]

I change my Mobil 1 synthetic every 4000 miles. Not cuz' I have to...but because...A. I'm bored and want something to do. B. I want to assure myself that my truck is getting top notch maintenance. C. Overkill is good!

[JoJoJim]

2500 HD 2001 8.1 4 wd 148,000 miles Used Mobil 1 since new generally change at 8,000 miles with Mobil 1 filter, engine still running like a top with no issues.

I have friend with Dodge Cummins and changes at 25,000 as Mobil rep said he could do that. He has 360,000 miles and engine runs great and no oil consumption.

[Mike2500HD]

Just wondering how many people are using synthetic oil in their trucks and are you able to really go 5000-7000 miles without oil change light coming on telling you it's time to change the oil?

I never ran synthetic in any of my vehicles until we purchased a BMW X5 which requires synthetic, almost 8 quarts of it too! In the BMW I heard the Mobile one does have tendency to burn off and within time frame of oil changes (5000-7000) you most likely will need to add a quart or two. There is another oil that is made in Germany called "Pennsy" (Might have spelt the name wrong) which is synthetic and said to be able to be good for 7000-10,000 miles between changes. BMW and Audi's are known for consuming oil.

 

To get back on topic here with GM trucks. I've read threads about people using synthetic in their trucks, whether it is Mobile 1, Amsoil, ect. I seek out information on how many miles you guys go between oil changes in your trucks provided you are using a synthetic oil. I religiously have my oil changed ever 3000 regardless if the light comes on and tells me so or not. So I firgured if I could get 5000-7000 like a BMW or Audi could on synthetic, it seems like it would be worth running synthetic in my 2500HD, provided if the people here that use synthetic are getting the same amount of miles between changes. I also do snow plowing in the winter, so I am working the engine hard depending on depth of snow.

 

Back in 1988 I bought a new Peterbilt. At that time the synth was just starting to come out and mostly it was gear oil as I remember. The standard warrantee on my Eaton rears was 500,000 miles. They ran a promo where if you swapped out the break in oil at the recomended interval and put in synth gear oil you automaticly got 750,000 miles. If it was good enough for them it was good enough for me. So I started then to use it in my rears. I use Valvoline full synth in my 07 2500 at 5000 mile intervals. I feel confident thats a safe milage. But what Im not secure with is filters. I was buying from Wal-Mart. The 5 qt. jugs of full synth Valvoline were just selling for $20.00 last week. Unbelievable. And I was using the Mobile One filters. I felt pretty good about those but they seem to have stopped selling them. I took an extended milage Fram under duress. I read somewhere online the fram filters are not what they used to be. Im going to try and get wiks or Im not even sure what for the next change. The best way to be confident is to have the oil tested but I feel safe with the 5,000 miles. I always used 3 thousand for conventional oil. I ran my 95 Yukon GT to 156,000 before selling it and I used full synth at 5000 miles but I greased it and swapped out the filter at 2500. The tiny little filter made me paranoid. The filter in my 6.0 is a bit bigger. I even have been going 5,000 in my 06 Harley. My 78 shovel head has had the oil changed way more frequently since new on conventional oil. In the early days I changed it at 1000 because of the worthless felt filter element they had. Since then they have better filter cartriges available. It gets little milage now so its changed annually. No synth for the old Harley as Ive been told its true that synth can make an old engine leak. My family cars are at 5000 on synth. Its very easy for the wife and kid to follow. Even numbers. no sticker fading on the window. They are conditioned now to tell me when they near a 5000. I plan on running my 2500 till the sonsabitches make gas too expensive to afford so I hope the 5,000 is ok..M.R.

[Mike2500HD]

Just wondering how many people are using synthetic oil in their trucks and are you able to really go 5000-7000 miles without oil change light coming on telling you it's time to change the oil?

I never ran synthetic in any of my vehicles until we purchased a BMW X5 which requires synthetic, almost 8 quarts of it too! In the BMW I heard the Mobile one does have tendency to burn off and within time frame of oil changes (5000-7000) you most likely will need to add a quart or two. There is another oil that is made in Germany called "Pennsy" (Might have spelt the name wrong) which is synthetic and said to be able to be good for 7000-10,000 miles between changes. BMW and Audi's are known for consuming oil.

 

To get back on topic here with GM trucks. I've read threads about people using synthetic in their trucks, whether it is Mobile 1, Amsoil, ect. I seek out information on how many miles you guys go between oil changes in your trucks provided you are using a synthetic oil. I religiously have my oil changed ever 3000 regardless if the light comes on and tells me so or not. So I firgured if I could get 5000-7000 like a BMW or Audi could on synthetic, it seems like it would be worth running synthetic in my 2500HD, provided if the people here that use synthetic are getting the same amount of miles between changes. I also do snow plowing in the winter, so I am working the engine hard depending on depth of snow.

 

Ohh yea and my oil change calculator always has something like 20 to 30% left when 5000 hits. Come to think of it I forgot to reset it last oil change which was maybe 500 miles ago and it didnt set a light off. Ill let you know how far it goes before indicating I need a change. I dont pay any attention to it anyway.

[Kodiak450]

Just wondering how many people are using synthetic oil in their trucks and are you able to really go 5000-7000 miles without oil change light coming on telling you it's time to change the oil?

I never ran synthetic in any of my vehicles until we purchased a BMW X5 which requires synthetic, almost 8 quarts of it too! In the BMW I heard the Mobile one does have tendency to burn off and within time frame of oil changes (5000-7000) you most likely will need to add a quart or two. There is another oil that is made in Germany called "Pennsy" (Might have spelt the name wrong) which is synthetic and said to be able to be good for 7000-10,000 miles between changes. BMW and Audi's are known for consuming oil.

 

To get back on topic here with GM trucks. I've read threads about people using synthetic in their trucks, whether it is Mobile 1, Amsoil, ect. I seek out information on how many miles you guys go between oil changes in your trucks provided you are using a synthetic oil. I religiously have my oil changed ever 3000 regardless if the light comes on and tells me so or not. So I firgured if I could get 5000-7000 like a BMW or Audi could on synthetic, it seems like it would be worth running synthetic in my 2500HD, provided if the people here that use synthetic are getting the same amount of miles between changes. I also do snow plowing in the winter, so I am working the engine hard depending on depth of snow.

 

Ohh yea and my oil change calculator always has something like 20 to 30% left when 5000 hits. Come to think of it I forgot to reset it last oil change which was maybe 500 miles ago and it didnt set a light off. Ill let you know how far it goes before indicating I need a change. I dont pay any attention to it anyway.

 

 

When you get a reading for oil change calculator, I assume you must have the instrument panel that has that also displays mpg? I don't have the mog option on this truck, ,mine just displays "change oil soon". The 06 with duramax which was a ltz model had all that fancy stuff when I had that. Curious, how many miles does your 2500 go on a full tank of gas? I am currently keeping track from full to close to empty. I always filled it back up when I hit 1/2 tank.

[kurt1993]

lets see lately ive been going like anywhere from 80-120 miles from COMPLETELY FULL to 1/2 of a tank so i really dont know what i get for the second half but thats the first half for you

[grimmysnr]

Kurt - why you digging up all up these old threads?