changing oil

[elk_hunter]

Just a quick ? for you all.

 

 Due you change your oil on your trucks at the every 3,000 mile mark  or do you go by when the Change Oil message shows up on your message center?

 

 I'm about 100 miles to the 3,000 mark since last change and just wanted to see how you all decide on oil change, by light or miles.

 

Thanks

[RyanbabZ71]

My last change only had like 2K miles.  I do it every 3 months or every 3000 miles whichever comes first.  It actually was a wk late.  I especially wanted to do it now since winter is here and it was the last nice day of the year.

[BlueRado]

I tend to stick to the 3000 to 4000 mile change, but I use mobil1 5w30, so it's overkill anyways.  So if it goes to 5000 I don't feel it's a problem.

 

Generally, the "change oil" light tends to stretch out the changes, at least for my driving habits, but not by much.  If it goes to 5000 miles, the light has come on.

 

My 2 cents is changing the oil, and always the filter, often is cheap insurance.

[Black02Silverado]

Ok I know everyone will laugh at me and think I'm crazy but hey I believe in the stuff.    

 

I change my oil once a year. I run Amsoils series 2000 0W-30. It is good for one year or 35k which ever comes first. Amsoil stands behind their product 100%.

 

It dose not effect your warrenty.  

Manufacturers’ warranties are based upon the use of oils meeting specific API Service Classifications, for example, SJ/CF. (AMSOIL lubricants meet the current API Service requirements and, thus, are perfectly suited for use in any new vehicle without affecting the validity of the new vehicle warranty.)  

Since I put high mileage on my truck it would cost me more to use regular dinosaur oil and change it every 3k than it does to use Amsoil and change it once a year with a filter change at six months.

If you want more info just check out my web site. The Motor oil bible link is really informative on Motor oils.

 

Ok off the soap box!!!!!!

 

 

:thumb:

[Shaners]

I've been going by the light.  I think oil is very good these days, and that we have been changing it too early for the past several decades.  Mercedes has been recommending oil changes every 10K miles for a long time, and their motors run well into the 100K mile mark before they need touched.  So when my light comes on between 3k-4k miles, I take the truck to the dealer and let him change it.

[Import Hater]

I trust the light.  But I use Mobil 1 synthetic.  On the Corvette, the computer is calibrated to the fact that the owner will be putting Mobil 1 in it.  It's because of that, you may not see the light come on till 15,000 in the Corvette.

 

OK, so the Silverado is no Corvette, but the engines are related.  And even if the light doesn't come on till, say 5000 miles, in the truck, I still trust it.  And using synthetic just gives me extra peace of mind if I should be lazy and not get the oil draining the same exact day the light comes on.

 

Rob

[SIMPLEmatrix]

i change my oil around every 2500 mi. and i use mobil 1 synthetic...... i do this only because it makes me feel better (i snowboad/surf alot and do alot of towing boats and my buddies race cars)

[ClipperSkipper]

The change oil light has come on twice at 3,500 miles on my

truck, at which point I performed a service.

 

Black 02Silverado bear in mind that that little oil filter only has so much filtering capacity. When that little spring inside the cannister says "it's time" it starts flooding your engine with

nasty, fuel-diluted engine oil. When you go to the SM at a large GM Dealership and complain that you have an engine knock, documenting 35,000 mile oil changes, who's at fault here? Follow the book. I have seen too many engines lunched on Scamsoil, Castrol, too many clothes ruined by Amway.

I guess that's why the Dinosaurs keep winning Winston Cup Cahmpionships!

 

Have a great one!

[MountaineerTom]

I change mine every 3,000 miles.  Maybe not right at 3,000 miles, but within a few hundred miles afterwards.  

[Black02Silverado]

Black 02Silverado bear in mind that that little oil filter only has so much filtering capacity. When that little spring inside the cannister says "it's time" it starts flooding your engine with

nasty, fuel-diluted engine oil. When you go to the SM at a large GM Dealership and complain that you have an engine knock, documenting 35,000 mile oil changes, who's at fault here? Follow the book. I have seen too many engines lunched on Scamsoil, Castrol, too many clothes ruined by Amway.

I guess that's why the Dinosaurs keep winning Winston Cup Cahmpionships!

 

Have a great one!

Trust me I have done my homework, I didn't pay all that money not to take care of it. I use Amsoils filters, which are made to last longer. Yea some think that is another way to get you to use their product, but if something does happen to the engine, Amsoil will take care of ya, at least I hope so!Never seen it happen nor heard of it when running both. If you have, please let me know, who, what, where, and when. I would be very interested to find out all I can, and to see what was done.  If you do run a Fram or AC filter, then yes by all means change that filter as recommended by the manufacture. I just hope I have done enough research and don't come up short. We can always look at it this way, I can be the test bed for everyone.  

 

Stay tuned!!!!

[BlueRado]

Black 02Silverado bear in mind that that little oil filter only has so much filtering capacity. When that little spring inside the cannister says "it's time" it starts flooding your engine with

nasty, fuel-diluted engine oil. When you go to the SM at a large GM Dealership and complain that you have an engine knock, documenting 35,000 mile oil changes, who's at fault here? Follow the book. I have seen too many engines lunched on Scamsoil, Castrol, too many clothes ruined by Amway.

I guess that's why the Dinosaurs keep winning Winston Cup Cahmpionships!

 

Have a great one!

Trust me I have done my homework, I didn't pay all that money not to take care of it. I use Amsoils filters, which are made to last longer. Yea some think that is another way to get you to use their product, but if something does happen to the engine, Amsoil will take care of ya, at least I hope so!Never seen it happen nor heard of it when running both. If you have, please let me know, who, what, where, and when. I would be very interested to find out all I can, and to see what was done.  If you do run a Fram or AC filter, then yes by all means change that filter as recommended by the manufacture. I just hope I have done enough research and don't come up short. We can always look at it this way, I can be the test bed for everyone.  

 

Stay tuned!!!!

Black02Silverado, while I respect your choice, I gotta go w/ what clipperskipper said, if the oiling system was a totally closed, and sealed loop without possibility of any external materials, then I'd be inclined to go along with those levels of extended oil changes, especially if synthetic.

 

But the fact of the matter is there are multiple contaminants, chemical and particulate, that get in there, some external to the engine, some internal.  I expect you've researched this and know it.  

 

Anyways please keep us posted - I, for one am curious how it goes. and Good luck!!  

[Black02Silverado]

Bluerado,

 

I had a 93 Sonoma 4.3 4x4 before I bought the Silv, I used amsoil in it and did the same oil change as now, I traded it last year when the 0% financing came along, (didn't realize it was going to last so long). The Sonoma had 125k on it and ran like a top. No problems at all. This might make someone laugh, but I'm considering installing the Amsoil bypass filter system and going with Zero oil changes, just filter changes, of course having regular oil system analysis taken by an independent lab, not Amsoil. There are a few out there that I personally know that are doing this and have high mileage with no problems. Yes I sound like a huge Amsoil advertisment. But then like I have said before, I can be the test bed for everyone. If something should happen then we will see if Amsoil lives up to their word, which I'm sure they will.  

I understand the facts of the system and how contaminates make the difference on how long your system lasts. I have asked the question myself, how can they say one year or 35k oil changes and not have problems? You can look at it this way, they are not trying to make a ton of money by telling you to change your oil sooner than it needs to be. Neo Oil and Redline also have extended oil changes.

There is proof of vehicles getting 100mpg, but the big oil companies would not let it happen cause of politics. Technology has come a long way. From the author of The Motor Oil Bible, "My father use to listen to an 8 track tape player, does that mean I have to to cause that is the way it always has been? No we have these things called CD's now, cause technology has changed."

I didn't mean to come off harsh. I'm just trying to get the word out on a good thing. I'm sorry if I have upset anyone. I guess the future will tell.

Again I apologize to any I may have gotten riled up....

[BlueRado]

Black02,

 

Sorry, I'm not riled up at all - didn't mean to come off sounding that way either.  Just intended healthy commentary.  

 

Hey, I'm open to listening to new ideas/technology - in fact I sell new technology myself (different field).  It just kinda flies in the face of accepted/tested methods and materials, that's all.  But like you said about 8-tracks (which I had as a kid too, BTW! ).

 

Maybe amsoil has a new and improved technology, and time will tell, right?

 

But please keep us posted.    

[Black02Silverado]

Black02,

 

Sorry, I'm not riled up at all - didn't mean to come off sounding that way either.  Just intended healthy commentary.  

 

Hey, I'm open to listening to new ideas/technology - in fact I sell new technology myself (different field).  It just kinda flies in the face of accepted/tested methods and materials, that's all.  But like you said about 8-tracks (which I had as a kid too, BTW! ).

 

Maybe amsoil has a new and improved technology, and time will tell, right?

 

But please keep us posted.    

Bluerado,

 

No problem, the forum is new to me and I don't want to get started on the wrong note.  Yes healthy commentary is great. I heard a quote once, don't know who said it, "The mind is like a parachute, it works best when open" That is how I try to view life.

We can learn alot from what is around us. My dad told me experience is the best teacher, problem is that it seems that is my main way of learning.    I seem to learn the hard way.

Oh I still have an 8-track player, ok it's the wifes and it's in the garage, just use it for the radio.  

 

Yep time will tell, cause I surely can't afford a new truck any time soon.

 

[Import Hater]

While not Amsoil, I've heard from maybe their closest competitor, Red Line Oil, that you can go quite a long time between changes.  A number of years ago, from the very man who ran (maybe still does) the company, said that his company's oil additive package doesn't even start really being effective until 3,000 miles.  A time at which most people draiin the oil out.  His recommendation was to go 10,000 miles between changes.

 

And another little fact he revealed about the Winston cup teams.  While you all may think they use dino oil, especially the teams sponsored by say...Valvoline...they all pump from a big unmarked drum of Red Line race oil.  It's a proven fact, one which I've seen with my own eyes, that Red Line, and I imagine Amsoil too, reduces friction over conventional oil.  I've seen Corvettes on the dyno pick up maybe 5-10 horsepower just from simply draining all conventional oil (engine, trans, and diff.) and replacing it with Red Line or Amsoil.

 

Rob