Bountiful Oil Choices

[Carder09]

Well my truck is abut 4k miles from hitting the big 100k. luckily this truck has given me zero problems and continues to run strong, well I change my oil reg. Maybe to soon but hey gotta keep it clean, now I have come across a delima, so many oil choices and types, I understand the simple complexes of oil types and can't figure out what I need to use next, I usually use valvoline and a tough guard fram oil filter, well not sure if I should move to a synthetic blend or just go full synthetic, now I know usually you would use synth. In high performance engines beings that certain seals and parts require them, but what about trucks? Also though it may be newish has anyone tried that new oil with the titanium junk in it yet?

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I didn't know that there is an oil with titanium in it. Hmm, maybe it's some kinda new zinc substitute.

[DaveH71]

Any major brand oil will be fine, don't waste your money on synthetic blend just go full synthetic or not. Most of those "blends" are about 2% synthetic. Id stay away from the titanium thing to, what oil is marketing that by the way? Also try not to use fram if you can, there not deathly horrible but there are better choices such as ac/delco, stp, K&N, mobil 1 etc. If your happy with valvoline stay with it, they are a quality product and you cant go wrong with them. Personally i would just use what is on special at your local autozone, etc. Synthetic oil in your truck is fine, cleans better and longer drain intervals. Any engine can benefit from synthetic. Doesnt matter if its your truck or a zr1 vette.

[05GMCZ71]

Go full synthetic, 5W30. Brand does not matter, most prefer Mobil-1, they'll all do you just fine. You can extend your oil changes to 5000-8000 miles just fine and if you use a good quality oil filter (AC/Delco, WIX, NAPA Gold, (made by Wix) you won't have to change the filter out until you change the oil. Don't ever EVER EVER abuse your vehicle again by putting FRAM products on it!

[RaddHazzard]

I use the FRAM xtended guard filter, its the only fram oil filter I would ever use. Its really built great compared to their other ones. If you have no leaks or oil consumption I would keep using what you have been using. Titanium has been used in oil for a decent while, Castrol just reformulated the 'edge' oil to include titanium.

If you want to be proactive, moving to a high mileage oil would be a smart move, Mobil 1 HM, Valvoline Max Life are proven winners.

[Colorado Hoe II]

I've had my 2002 Tahoe since new. 233,000 miles on it. Got the piston slap noise around 18,000 miles. I change my oil when the oil life indicator tells me to. I've always used Walmart 5W-30 dyno oil with a Walmart filter. I pull a 4000 lb travel trailer a few times each summer in the Rocky Mountains. Never saw a need to change what has worked. I did replace the knock sensors at 185,000 miles. I also replaced the oxygen sensors then too and my gas mileage improved a little after having dropped over the years.

 

If you haven't done it yet, make sure you get your transmission serviced. I have the filter and fluid replaced every 60K. I also have the transfer case and differentials done every 60K.

 

If you've had success with what you've been using, consider to keep using what you have been.

[Carder09]

Yeah recently I've been using the frame but before was using a/c deco and haven't tried the others yet but I guess ill keep on using the same standard oil for now but being that im a second owner I don't know if the last owner changed the tranny oil or not dealership didn't have record of it carfax.

[jro909]

brand dosen't really matter its personal preferance...only real difference is additive packages, the filter is more important...i myself use mobil one high mileage, have since about 60k and no complains there

[lfb57]

If you haven't done it yet, make sure you get your transmission serviced.

 

If you've had success with what you've been using, consider to keep using what you have been.

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I agree with Colorado hoe. Keep on with what you've been using. Synthetic oil might dissolve carbon deposits that have built up with the dino oil and cause a seal leak or plug a filter.

[foghorn23]

+1 to all the above comments. Just one thing to watch for. If you use an AC filter on your truck watch out for the newer e-core designs. You can tell on the part number as a PF46 will be a PF46E if it is an ecore. Delco is having Champion labs build their filters and they have recently started using this design. Next time you're in Wally World open up a box and take a look down the center hole of an AC filter, it's Walmart so no one's going to think it's strange...everything is strange there. The center tube of the filter is plastic/nylon instead of metal. Some have reported a problem with filter media pushing through the center tube, as the holes are fairly large, breaking off and finding its way into the engine. I'm sure this is rare, but for me I'd prefer to stick with the traditional metal center tube.... nothing wrong with the gold old fashioned AC Delco.

[8.1HD/ALLISON]

I would just keep using what you have been using. Keep it changed regularly and you should be fine.

[Carder09]

yeah, im not sure if any of the fluids have been replaced other than my oil and brake fluid, not sure if i should change the major fluids or not at 98k now