10W30 in a 2011? Seriously?

[AlaskanSilverado07]

I took my 2011 Avalance in for an oil change on Thursday. This was the first oil change they have done since I bought it thus it was free. After I got back home I noticed it said 10W30 oil and not 5W30 as specified in the owners manual. I drove back over on Friday to ask what happened assuming it was a typo and was informed by the Service Manager that "5W30 is a little too light for him so they use 10W30. But if you're worried, don't because we used Dexos and it does the same thing at any weight".

 

I just shook my head, explained that was the last maintenance the morons at Champion Chevrolet Houston would ever do on my truck, went to Wally World for Mobil1 5W30 and an new PF49 filter (yes, I've done dozens of oil changes in my life but assumed I could trust the dealer - some things never change at the dealership). The oil and filter have been changed but I wonder how many folks get this?

 

Additionally, I noticed a huge difference when AFM was kicking in when it had 10 versus 5W...could there be that much of a difference or was it in my head? Could it be Chevy is recommended the dealers use 10 due to the issues they've had with AFM and they know 10 will reduce the amount of time it actually works thereby eliminating some of their potential recall headache? Not trying to start a conspiracy theory here but trying to understand why a fool would ignore the manufactuers oil requirements on a new truck?

[GMstrong]

i run 10w30 in everything i owned.GTX,i suggest you start doing it yourself.They always use cheap oil and cheap filters.5w30 is thin to begin with and only gets thinner.

[RyanbabZ71]

5w30 is thin to begin with and only gets thinner.

 

 

Then why is it what the owners manual and gm calls for?

[Morgan1986]

They screwed up and are just making excuses .

[kstruckcountry]

I use 5w30 in my 2006, but everything else gets 15w40... and no issues yet, I wouldn't worry about it. Being a dealership though, I would expect them to do what the book says, I would have made them pay for the right oil and made them change it.

[dewfpo]

At operating temperature (100C) a 5W30 and 10W30 (or a 0W30 for that matter) of the same brand and type oil (dino or synthetic) will have almost identical viscosities. A 0W oil will get to moving parts faster on cold startup than s 5W oil and a 5W oil will get to moving parts faster than a 10W oil. Remember a cold start is any start where the engine temperature is not up to full operating temp (~200F).

 

DEWFPO

[BlackZ71Silverado]

10W is only the cold rating of the oil, it won't hurt anything. Once the engine is warm, 10w-30 - 5w30 are the same oil.

[MB2008LTZ]

I use Mobile 1 full synthetic and change my oil twice a year no matter what my oil life system tell me. I change it in the spring and again in the fall. Spring time oil change gets 10w-40. Fall time oil change gets 5w-40. Does it make a difference? Who knows? But it's what I've done for for as long as I can remember and have never had a problem. My 2 cents!

[Black02Silverado]

The only dexos 1 oil out there is in a 5w-30 weight. So in reality the dealer didn't install what is supposed to be installed per GM for 2011 and newer vehicles.

 

Would it hurt anything, no as stated above there isn't any difference in the oil at operating temp just at cold start up. If a GM dealer isn't going to follow GM requirements then it kind of make one wonder what else they are doing in the shady area.

[gapost]

i run 10w30 in everything i owned.GTX,i suggest you start doing it yourself.They always use cheap oil and cheap filters.5w30 is thin to begin with and only gets thinner.

 

 

Considering your newest truck is a 2000 with a 5.7l engine, I 10W30 is fine. I would probably run 10W40 in the summer. But for the new engines with tight tolerances, it's 5W30.

[oldschool327]

i run 10w30 in everything i owned.GTX,i suggest you start doing it yourself.They always use cheap oil and cheap filters.5w30 is thin to begin with and only gets thinner.

 

 

Considering your newest truck is a 2000 with a 5.7l engine, I 10W30 is fine. I would probably run 10W40 in the summer. But for the new engines with tight tolerances, it's 5W30.

 

 

Has nothing to do with tolerance. Hello piston slap in the 2012s?

 

It is fuel economy with the lighter oil.

 

I would have demanded they follow the book and then called gm and let them know what the dealer is doing.

[AlaskanSilverado07]

I considered doing this but at least they were honest and actually documented it on the service ticket thus I have proof. My attitude is I will never go back to Champion Chevrolet as they can't be trusted to service the vehicle in accordance with manufacturer specifications. Would hate to go back for a coolant flush and discover they felt it was too green so decided to use Root Beer instead! Morons I tell ya!

 

As for those who say no difference with 10W40, I looked when I was at Wally World and 10W30 doesn't even bear the Dexos logo on it so how could it be used and the vehicle not be denied a warranty claim if something went wrong with the engine? I'll stick with 5W30.

[GMstrong]

Well the book says to disconnect the battery to install a air filter do we do that?

[dlstewart01]

looking at Mobil 1 web site 5W30 is actually thicker than 10W30 at operating temp.

 

And they have the same cold pour point.

 

. SAE Grade 5W-30 Viscosity @ 100ºC, cSt (ASTM D445) 11.0 Viscosity, @ 40ºC, cSt (ASTM D445) 61.7 Viscosity Index 172 Sulfated Ash, wt% (ASTM D874) 0.8 HTHS Viscosity, mPa•s @ 150ºC (ASTM D4683) 3.1 Pour Point, ºC (ASTM D97) -42 Flash Point, ºC (ASTM D92) 230 Density @15.6 ºC, mg/l (ASTM D4052) 0.855

 

 

 

Mobil 1 10W-30 SAE Grade 10W-30 Viscosity @ 100ºC, cSt (ASTM D445) 10.1 Viscosity, @ 40ºC, cSt (ASTM D 10W-30 Viscosity @ 100ºC, cSt (ASTM D445) 10.1 445) 63.2 Viscosity Index 146 Sulfated Ash, wt% (ASTM D874) 0.8 HTHS Viscosity, mPa•s @ 150ºC (ASTM D4683) 3.0 Pour Point, ºC (ASTM D97) -42 Flash Point, ºC (ASTM D92) 232 Density @15.6 ºC, g/ml (ASTM D 4052) 0.859

[Doug_Scott]

5w30 is thin to begin with and only gets thinner.

 

 

Then why is it what the owners manual and gm calls for?

 

 

The "lighter" will give you lightly better mileage. While it is not really that noticable to the end user, it has a big impact on how GM can meet the CAFE numbers. The OP is from Texas, not sure how much below freezing temps he gets there. If none, then it is a good idea to use 10w30.

Keep in mind that GM wrote the manual for the entire continent. They have to give the spec that is best for everyone.