OIL Change

[WhiteZ02]

I was wondering do we change oil the standard 3000 miles or every 3 months.   OR is there an indicator light to tell when it is time.  I haven't had a chance to read the manual or anything.  Just thought I would get some suggestions.

[RyanbabZ71]

what vehicle?

 

On the 99+ silverados they have an oil change reminder which will tell you

 

I still go by the 3 month 3K rule

[CMNTMXR81]

2-3K for me.  My oil change light finally came on and I had changed the oil at least twice already (4 if you include the changes I did at 500 and 1,000 miles during break in).

[MarkD]

Tell about the truck!!!  Whatcha got?

 

I intend to change every 5k with Mobil 1.  I have already changed 3 times before the first 5k though.

 

There is a reminder though (official recommendation).

[WhiteZ02]

I have a 2002 Z71 extended cab with every thing but leather.  So should I go by the standard rule of thumb or wait till the light goes on?

[RyanbabZ71]

whatever you feel comfortable with.  Do you plan on keeping your truck a long time?  What kinda oil are you going to run?

 

I had myoil change light go on at 2500 miles once.  I went ahead and changed it since i knew i had reset it the previous time.

[99silveradoz71]

You can't go wrong with the 3mo/3k change.

[BlueRado]

Yeah, just stick w/ 3K miles or 3 mos, whichever comes first.  

[CMNTMXR81]

Do what you feel comfortable with as Ryan said.  If you drive yours like a citizen, don't commute in heavy traffic, don't pull 10,000lb trailers everyday, etc, etc, you can get by with waiting until the light tells you it's time to change.

 

When I drain my oil at 2k, it comes out awefully thin compared to what it was like when I poured it in.  I think to myself if I had left it in there for another 1,000 miles, it would've continued to break down even more.  The more it breaks down...the less it protects and cools.  Of course I drive like a homocidal maniac and tend to push things to their limits frequently, so waiting 5,000 - 7,500 miles before that light goes on is like nails across the blackboard to me.  I hear people who wait to change their oil at intervals like that and I just cringe!

 

Keep in mind though, I'm a preventative maintainance freak so I'd as soon replace it a few miles sooner than let it go.

 

Like the Fram tagline used to say...pay a little now or a lot later.

[MarkD]

It also depends on how you drive.  3k miles of highway is much easier on a motor than 300 10 mile city trips.

 

I generally put 300-350 a week on mine with maybe 50 of it being stop-n-go.

[ESPZ71]

So what weight (and brand?) do you guys recommend?  Mine's a '95 Z and I dunno what to use, I'm gonna chg my oil soon.

[TxDoc]

Although, the poll was about Mobil 1, you can get a idea of visosity choice from this poll:

 

Click here

 

btw-Mobil 1 calls the 10W-30, it's higher mileage formula.

[ESPZ71]

Although, the poll was about Mobil 1, you can get a idea of visosity choice from this poll:

 

Click here

 

btw-Mobil 1 calls the 10W-30, it's higher mileage formula.

Cool, thanks for the link.  Wonder why I didn't come across that in my search?  hehe, maybe I'm blind, but thanks again.   :thumb:

[Zembonez]

I recommend every 5 thousand miles on oil changes. I have always changed mine at 1K, 5K, 10K, 15K... etc. using 10w40 Valvoline. I ALWAYS change the first oil at 1000 miles regardless. The 5, 10, 15k marks make it EASY to remember when to change too. A friend of mine has one of my old trucks (96 1500 ex cab) with the original 350 in it and it is pushing 185,000 miles right now. He still puts 100 miles a day on it and it doesn't smoke and runs well. I do recommend the best quality oil and nothing but AC filters. They have always worked for me. I have since gone to Mobile1 in my new truck. I think the key here is to CHANGE THE OIL REGULARLY.

[CMNTMXR81]

I agree with the AC filters.

 

GM skimps on a lot of things, but one thing GM doesn't skimp on is their lubrication systems.  If they didn't they'd be out of business from warranty costs of oil starved engines.  The filter is part of that system and if they feel it is sufficient on a Vette.  It'll work on my truck.