Oil Type & Oil Life System

[revrnd]

Looking @ the manuals for my 2000 & 2004 there is no mention of whether an owner should use conventional or synthetic oils. They just say what SAE viscosities & API rating the oil(s) should have. Before I bought the 2000, I had just used Valvoline conventional oil. Since the 2000 had the OLS w/ extended drain intervals I figured it would be better to use synthetic oil even though GM doesn't explicitly say it needs to be used.

 

IIRC, the OLS parameters were revised around the '02 MY (I could be wrong though) resulting in longer drain intervals than when OLS was originally intro'd. I do remember reading in our in-plant newsletter about the parameter & interval change.

 

Has anyone seen any GM literature about what oil is used in the factory fill? In the plant I looked in heavy repair for any bulk oil, but don't remember finding any drums. It is well known that the motors in the 'vettes used Mobil 1, but the rest of the lineup is a mystery.

[dlstewart01]

GM6094M spec is conventional. Thats what your manual calls for.... GM4718M spec is synthetic. Your truck came with conventional. Thats what the OLM is calibrated for.

 

heres a list of all GM approved oils synthetic and conventional...

 

http://www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility...engine_oils.pdf

 

 

Oh yeah... lets let this one be civil..

[revrnd]

Snakedoctor, thanks for the quick reply. I wonder if substituting a synthetic oil for a conventional oil has any effect on the drain interval? Has anyone switched from 1 type to the other in their vehicle(s) & noticed a change?

 

I recall years ago before the OLS came out that Delphi had developed a oil monitoring system that used an oil pan sensor that measured the dielectric of the oil. New, good oil was a "1", wheras used, "worn out" oil was a "0". When the dielctric reached 0, the "chnge oil message would be displayed. Would this system not be simpler that the way GM's OLS is designed?

[txab]

GM6094M spec is conventional. Thats what your manual calls for.... GM4718M spec is synthetic. Your truck came with conventional. Thats what the OLM is calibrated for.

 

heres a list of all GM approved oils synthetic and conventional...

 

http://www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility...engine_oils.pdf

 

 

Oh yeah... lets let this one be civil..

At least this one shouldn't take 3 pages. You pretty much took care of it.

[Bish]

I believe the algorithm does not take into account the oil type (assuming dino since that is factory fill) and there is no "testing" of the oil so same interval for dino versus synthetic. I run Amsoil synthetic. I do oil analysis and my max interval for a change is 8500 miles. At that point the oil change is at about 10% but the oil is toast according to testing. Not sure what a dino would look like under the same conditions but I don't think it would be better! For me it's cheap insurance. Oh yeah, I drive highway/city mix with a 40 mile one way commute. Averaging 14mpg with a heavy right foot.

[dlstewart01]

I am going to post the original thread that the guy started who worked with Dr Shirley Schwartz on the development of the GM OLM. Its a long thread but has a lot of info in it.

 

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbth...true#Post130036

[AzDragonLord]

GM6094M spec is conventional. Thats what your manual calls for.... GM4718M spec is synthetic. Your truck came with conventional. Thats what the OLM is calibrated for.

 

heres a list of all GM approved oils synthetic and conventional...

 

http://www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility...engine_oils.pdf

 

 

Oh yeah... lets let this one be civil..

 

I see Mobil-1 which is what I'm using, but I don't see Amsoil on the list. Could it be listed under another name?

[dlstewart01]

GM6094M spec is conventional. Thats what your manual calls for.... GM4718M spec is synthetic. Your truck came with conventional. Thats what the OLM is calibrated for.

 

heres a list of all GM approved oils synthetic and conventional...

 

http://www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility...engine_oils.pdf

 

 

Oh yeah... lets let this one be civil..

 

I see Mobil-1 which is what I'm using, but I don't see Amsoil on the list. Could it be listed under another name?

 

 

Amsoil is not on GM approved oil list. They choose to not have their oil tested by GM to be certified that it meets the GM specs...

 

Also their top of the line oil is not API certified. Their group 111 XL line is API approved.

[AzDragonLord]

I am going to post the original thread that the guy started who worked with Dr Shirley Schwartz on the development of the GM OLM. Its a long thread but has a lot of info in it.

 

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbth...true#Post130036

 

Interesting reading...thanx!

[revrnd]

I am going to post the original thread that the guy started who worked with Dr Shirley Schwartz on the development of the GM OLM. Its a long thread but has a lot of info in it.

 

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbth...true#Post130036

 

Good thread. According to the info, the use of synthetic oil just adds to the safety margin. It doesn't extend the interval.

 

This post should be given to every "MEGA LUBE" outfit to debunk the "every 3000 mile" oil change routine. I've dealt w/ them twice when I couldn't change my oil & filter due to weather conditions.

[Gurrzt]

I use Mobil 1 full synthetic extended performance in my 2013 Yukon, I change it along with the filter every 9k.

[DwayneJ]

This thread was dead for 4.5 years and you revived it??????????????????????????????????????????? to prove you believe in advertizing???

[WilliamBos]

GM 6094M is on the synthetic bottles too.

[Colossus]

I have no issue with going 8000 miles on an oil change using dexos approved oil, be it a synthetic blend or full synthetic (Dexos approved oil has to be synthetic blend or full synthetic, there is no 100% conventional dexos approved motor oil if I remember correctly)

 

I do have an issue though with going 8000 on anything but a premium oil filter. The OLM does NOT factor in the oil filter. I don't like to do a ton of research/reading so I haven't gone over to that bob is the oil guy whatever site like many of you have, so I'll leave it up to you people to dictate what you've read over there as far as what oil filters will hold up and not go into bypass (due to being contaminated/dirty to where it can't filter anymore) and get you to 8000 miles and which ones you would need to change sooner. I happen to change my oil filter every 4000-5000 miles, (AC/Delco) add a little oil to top off, and then go the rest of the 8000 miles then change. Everyone does it differently though so do what you feel is best.

[Black02Silverado]

AC Delco filter will be just fine to 8k miles. Unless your engine is trashed inside and you use General Dollar oil. It will work out ok. GM would put in the OM to change the filter at a certain percent if the filter wasn't up to the task.

 

The new dexos 1 oil is a stout oil use with confidence.

 

As always, if you want to go the distance, then always perform a used oil analysis to make sure it is capable for your particular vehicle/driving style and geographical location.

 

Kind of wild reading through this old thread.