Changing To Synthetic At 90,000kms

tanked_darren · April 30, 2010

I plan on switching my 2007 GMC Sierra 4.8 gas motor over to synthetic engine oil (mobil1). I have used conventional oil only previously. Yes, I'm using the same wieght (5W-30).

Does anyone have bad experiences doing this??

Is this a good idea?

I've heard that the engine consumes oil at first because it has to rewet the seals is this true?

My truck has 90,000kms on it with the dino oil only, I plan on using synthetic from now on.

I buy the oil on sale at canadian tire so I don't get raped at full price, so please no comments about how its a waste of money.

Ok, discuss

Nytemare · April 30, 2010

I plan on switching my 2007 GMC Sierra 4.8 gas motor over to synthetic engine oil (mobil1). I have used conventional oil only previously. Yes, I'm using the same wieght (5W-30).

Does anyone have bad experiences doing this??

Is this a good idea?

I've heard that the engine consumes oil at first because it has to rewet the seals is this true?

My truck has 90,000kms on it with the dino oil only, I plan on using synthetic from now on.

I buy the oil on sale at canadian tire so I don't get raped at full price, so please no comments about how its a waste of money.

Ok, discuss

No issues what so ever.

You can swap to synthetic oil up till about 300K km. Past that the cylinders are likely worn too much and you will consume oil.

as for re-wetting seals...that's a load of bull honky.

My buddy just switched over to synthetic in his 68 VW air-cooled. It has 80K miles on the clock and he knows for sure its the 3rd tine 80K has rolled up.

Worst case scenario...it starts to burn or leak oil...so you swap back....no big deal....but It wont at 90K km man.

jro909 · April 30, 2010

just do it, it won't hurt anything unless you already have problems....i run mobil one dino and almost went synthetic but i'm anal about changing my oil every 3k so it would be a waste a money to go synthetic

tanked_darren · April 30, 2010

just do it, it won't hurt anything unless you already have problems....i run mobil one dino and almost went synthetic but i'm anal about changing my oil every 3k so it would be a waste a money to go synthetic

Yeah Im pretty regiment on my oil changes (5000kms) but when I switch to synthetic I'm gonna go by the Oil Life Monitor which always looks like it would go past 10,000kms before it told me to change oil. That way I'm know I'm safe because synthetic supposedly last longer.

FarmerDave · April 30, 2010

It's not just the oil, its the filter. Oil might last as long as OLM says but I bet the oil filter is getting pretty full of crap.... That's why synthetic oil filters designed for extended drains are physically larger in size than standard filters, they hold more contaminants.

tanked_darren · April 30, 2010

It's not just the oil, its the filter. Oil might last as long as OLM says but I bet the oil filter is getting pretty full of crap.... That's why synthetic oil filters designed for extended drains are physically larger in size than standard filters, they hold more contaminants.

Ok so where do I get a "synthetic oil filter" I currently use NAPA Gold Oil Filter.

4.8L V-8 GM 2007

Nytemare · April 30, 2010

It's not just the oil, its the filter. Oil might last as long as OLM says but I bet the oil filter is getting pretty full of crap.... That's why synthetic oil filters designed for extended drains are physically larger in size than standard filters, they hold more contaminants.

Ok so where do I get a "synthetic oil filter" I currently use NAPA Gold Oil Filter.

4.8L V-8 GM 2007

Royal purple makes a good one, as does K&N

I use Royal purple synthetic...I still change my oil every 5000km...I used to use M1 synthetic...I changed it every 5000km too...Dino oil was the same...I don't care if its a waste of money or not. Actually....the last 3 years I changed it with less than 5K on it. I changed it every 6 months, as I only put less than 10K a year on my truck. The Navy keeps me quite busy.

jro909 · May 1, 2010

synthetic can last up for 8k..amsoil i think goes for what 10k or so? but yes the filter is a key factor...mobil one makes filters which are pretty nice i use ac delco but thats just me...steer clear of frams or quaker states they are junk....i never ever go by oil life, because it dosen't measure how good the oil really is, just does some whacked out formula guess on how the oil is based on, average rpms and temps and such...i've changed oil on trucks with zero oil life and the oil is chunks

Nytemare · May 1, 2010

synthetic can last up for 8k..amsoil i think goes for what 10k or so? but yes the filter is a key factor...mobil one makes filters which are pretty nice i use ac delco but thats just me...steer clear of frams or quaker states they are junk....i never ever go by oil life, because it dosen't measure how good the oil really is, just does some whacked out formula guess on how the oil is based on, average rpms and temps and such...i've changed oil on trucks with zero oil life and the oil is chunks

I change my oil at every 5K km...it comes out golden colored....I would say the same color it went in...but it goes in purple.

I know that I can go longer...but I just don't like to.

tanked_darren · May 1, 2010

I change my oil at every 5K km...it comes out golden colored....I would say the same color it went in...but it goes in purple.

I know that I can go longer...but I just don't like to.

I like your style

jro909 · May 1, 2010

my oil comes out golden brown too the first few changes after i got my truck they were fairly dark...but shes squeeky clean now

Nytemare · May 1, 2010

my oil comes out golden brown too the first few changes after i got my truck they were fairly dark...but shes squeeky clean now

No I'm not talkin golden brown...I mean like open the bottle and look at the color of your oil next time you do a change....that color...I have a hard time seeing the level on the dipstick.

zedbear · May 8, 2010

my oil comes out golden brown too the first few changes after i got my truck they were fairly dark...but shes squeeky clean now

No I'm not talkin golden brown...I mean like open the bottle and look at the color of your oil next time you do a change....that color...I have a hard time seeing the level on the dipstick.

LOL. I used Valvoline full synthetic in my 95 grand marquis and it was very hard to check the oil for the first couple thousand miles. Still came out very light gold colored when I changed it 5K miles later. I use the same oil in my truck and it doesn't stay nearly as clean. Had a valve cover off before and it looked brand new under there so must be some buildup elsewhere or perhaps this engine just runs dirtier.

Nytemare · May 8, 2010

my oil comes out golden brown too the first few changes after i got my truck they were fairly dark...but shes squeeky clean now

No I'm not talkin golden brown...I mean like open the bottle and look at the color of your oil next time you do a change....that color...I have a hard time seeing the level on the dipstick.

LOL. I used Valvoline full synthetic in my 95 grand marquis and it was very hard to check the oil for the first couple thousand miles. Still came out very light gold colored when I changed it 5K miles later. I use the same oil in my truck and it doesn't stay nearly as clean. Had a valve cover off before and it looked brand new under there so must be some buildup elsewhere or perhaps this engine just runs dirtier.

You have a high flow air filter in the truck or a cold air intake??

That could cause it.