To change oil or wait?

[MS3DALE]

Q: Why dexos1 0W-20 engine oil?

A:

 

The new 5.3L and 6.2L V8 EcoTec3 engines available in the new 2014 Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 trucks are the most fuel efficient and technologically advanced engines in the market.These engines feature an advanced combustion system that maximizes the potential of the direct injection (DI) fuel system, active fuel management (AFM), variable valve timing (VVT), two stage oil pumps and other technologies.The dexos1 0W-20 oil supports these technologies and is an enabler for the engines’ improved fuel economy performance.

Q: Are other automobile manufacturers recommending 0W-20 engine oil for their products?

A:

 

Some other manufacturers are already recommending 0W-20 engine oil for their products.General Motors expects this to become an industry trend and more automobile manufacturers will be recommending the use of 0W-20 engine oil in the future.

Q: What do the numbers 0W-20 represent?

A:

 

0W-20 represents the standard SAE measurement of oil viscosity.Viscosity is a measurement of the oil’s resistance to flow.The more resistant the oil is to flow, the higher its viscosity.

Q: If dexos1 0W-20 oil is recommended for a vehicle’s engine, does it have to be used?

A:

 

Yes.As an example, the 5.3L and 6.2L V8 EcoTec3 engines were designed, engineered, validated and EPA certified using dexos1 0W-20 oil.This is the ONLY oil approved for these engines.Another oil, such as 5W30, that may be more widely available should not be used in place of dexos1 0W-20 oil.

GM Powertrain also has approved the use of 0W-20 oil for applications specifying 5W-20 oil.

Q: What if the engine is low on oil and dexos1 0W-20 oil is not available to top off the oil level?

A:

 

There are many different GM licensed oil products that meet the dexos1 specification.If one cannot be located, a GF5 Synthetic grade 0W-20 oil that meets the dexos1 specification, such as Mobil 1™ 0W-20 Advanced Fuel Economy synthetic oil, can be used.It meets or exceeds International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee (ILSAC) GF-5 requirements.If a different viscosity oil is added to the engine other than dexos1 0W-20 oil, GM recommends that an oil change be performed as soon as practical, but no longer than the next scheduled oil change in order to return the engine to the original dexos1 0W-20 oil factory requirements.

Q: When will dexos1 0W-20 oil be available to Service Agents (Dealerships)?

A:

 

In the United States, dexos1 0W-20 oil is currently available at retailers nationwide in 1 quart and 5 quart containers.In the United States, Mobil 1 0W-20 oil is currently available in quart/drum/bulk through the GM Oil Program.

In Canada, Mobil 1 0W-20 oil is currently available in 1 L and 4

 

.4 L sizes through the GM Oil Program.

In the United States and Canada, Customer Care and Aftersales will release pricing and availability for ACDelco dexos1™ 0W-20 oil as soon as it becomes available.

[oldmann]

I say sell it if you are not going to drive it.

[Cowpie]

A engine that is not run regularly and puts on low miles in a year, may not "dirty" the oil up, but condensation can occur inside the engine and contaminate the oil. Never go by how the oil "looks". Only an oil analysis can confirm if oil is still serviceable. Just go ahead and change annually per OEM, regardless of synthetic or not. If you want to go longer, you really need to do an oil sample on the oil to see if it still meets all specs and no contamination. For the cost of that, simpler just to change it out for only a few dollars more.

 

It was mentioned that condensation "sits on" a full synthetic and is blown out. I would like to see more research papers on that one. It is going to move with the oil at startup and mix. It is not hot enough in the engine to vaporize the existing water condensation yet. Remember, oil goes from the pan to the filter before going to engine. That will agitate the mix. And even if it were to "sit on" the oil, it still will mix with various compounds captured in the oil and create acids that will deplete the TBN or add pack of the oil. Again, only an oil sample analysis will tell.

 

I have a lot of various equipment that may not get high hours in a year, but they all get annual oil changes for this very reason.

 

Go with your best instincts on this. If you have full faith and confidence in going longer than a year on the oil, have at it. Just be aware of potential risks.

[Colossus]

Ditto on the condensation. Change it at a minimum once a year, regardless of what brand or type of oil. Even if you are using top of the line premium synthetic, you WILL still get condensation.

[CRSilverado]

Oil and filter is changed! The old Mobil 1 looked pretty dark but maybe typical of Mobil 1. Should be good for another year.

[Cowpie]

Dark really doesn't mean anything. Take a look at diesel engine oil shortly after an oil change. The oil in my diesel gets almost black shortly after a change, but I typically run it for 20,000 miles and it still is very good according to the used oil analysis. Still very low percentage of soot and wear metal levels are fantastic and the additive package of the oil still has a some time before it gets even half depleted. Looks don't mean a lot regarding oils.