0w-20 v. 5w-20 in 2015 5.3

[southern_sierra]

Advanced Oiling System

 

The oiling system incorporates a new variable displacement two-stage vane-type oil pump that enables more efficient oil delivery, based on the engine’s operating conditions. Its dual-pressure control enables operation at a very efficient oil pressure at lower rpm, and then delivers higher pressure at higher engine speeds.

 

An oil control solenoid valve, controlled by the Engine Control Module (ECM), mounted to the oil pump provides two-stage functionality. The oil pump is mounted on the front of the engine block and driven directly by the crankshaft sprocket. The pump rotor and vanes rotate and draw oil from the oil pan sump through a pick-up screen and pipe. The oil is pressurized as it passes through the pump and is sent through the engine block lower oil gallery.

 

Pressurized oil is directed through the engine block lower oil gallery to the full-flow oil filter and then to the upper main oil galleries and the valve lifter oil manifold assembly.

 

An oil passage at camshaft bearing location permits oil flow into the center of the camshaft. Oil enters the camshaft, exiting at the front and into the camshaft position (CMP) actuator solenoid valve. The CMP valve spool position is controlled by the ECM and CMP magnet. When commanded by the ECM, the CMP magnet repositions the CMP actuator solenoid valve spool directing pressurized oil into the CMP actuator to control valve timing.

 

dexos 1™ Engine Oil

 

TIP: Failure to use the recommended engine oil and correct viscosity or its equivalent can result in engine damage not covered by the vehicle warranty.

 

The dexos1 specification was uniquely designed to complement the exacting requirements of GM’s advanced engine technology. The specification has gone through an extensive developmental and testing process. Only those oils displaying the dexos1 trademark and a registered trademark logo on the front label of the container meet the demanding performance requirements and stringent quality standards set forth in the dexos1 specification.

 

SAE 5W-30 is the required viscosity grade for the 4.3L engine.

 

SAE 0W-20 is the required viscosity grade for the 5.3L and 6.2L engines.

 

DO NOT use other viscosity grade oils such as SAE 10W-30, 10W-40, or 20W-50.

 

The engine oil with filter capacity has increased significantly from model year 2013 to model year 2014.

[Z45]

That is what I'm doing also. But I believe any quality oil will do just fine. The truck I just traded off was a 2000 with 149,000 miles on it. I always used dino oil in it and changed every 3000 miles. I intended to drive it until 250,000 miles before trading........Should of stayed away from the car lot!!! lol

i wouldn't feel comfortable running it that long between changes unless I was sending off samples and they said it was okay.

 

You have been so accustomed to using regular lubricants, that you do not understand that not all oils are created equally.

 

I have used AMSOIL in everything I own for a long time. I change my oil once a year which is typically about 15,000 miles nowadays but have gone 25,000+ in the past, and I rarely use any oil between changes..

I have never had a engine problem in all that time, AMSOIL has proven itself in my own personal equipment for more than 35 years.

[Tek74]

I have used AMSOIL in everything I own for a long time. I change my oil once a year which is typically about 15,000 miles nowadays but have gone 25,000+ in the past, and I rarely use any oil between changes..

I have never had a engine problem in all that time, AMSOIL has proven itself in my own personal equipment for more than 35 years.

 

Same here. We think alike. I believe there are a couple of other 100% synthetics that are probably as good as Amsoil, but I don't think any are better. Their oil filters are excellent as well.

[mike5511]

I'm not going to argue about something I don't know about. But, I have noticed that a good portion of the Amsoil users (Harley Forums and elsewhere) seem to mostly drive new or low miles vehicles. That said, I personally know of many Chevy trucks approaching 1/2 million miles that have never run anything but dino oil! My eyes glaze over when all the scientific mumbo jumbo is discussed. But when I talk to someone who has 300,000 plus miles on his vehicle and runs dino oil, it means something. Now I do think synthetic is the better choice and do run it in all my vehicles, but I'm not convinced there is anything to be gained over Mobile 1, or other quality oil, by using Amsoil.

[HondaHawkGT]

A used oil analysis would show pretty quickly how different oils hold up.

http://machinerylubrication.com/Read/1290/synthetic-conventional-oils

 

Even among full synthetics there's a lot of differences.

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/29113/base-oil-groups

 

The only thing I use conventional for anymore is the lawnmower.

[mike5511]

A used oil analysis would show pretty quickly how different oils hold up.

http://machinerylubrication.com/Read/1290/synthetic-conventional-oils

 

Even among full synthetics there's a lot of differences.

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/29113/base-oil-groups

 

The only thing I use conventional for anymore is the lawnmower.

Neither link pertain to my statement that "there is anything to be gained over Mobile 1, or other quality oil, by using Amsoil." I am in agreement as to what they do stay though.

[HondaHawkGT]

Well I'm not interested in a debate over Amsoil vs brand x. But each brand of synthetic oil has its own additive package. There are also different base groups. I run Mobil 1 FullSyn AFE but from what I've seen the additive package is a little light.

[mike5511]

Well I'm not interested in a debate over Amsoil vs brand x. But each brand of synthetic oil has its own additive package. There are also different base groups. I run Mobil 1 FullSyn AFE but from what I've seen the additive package is a little light.

Yes you are correct. But when there are vehicles out there with several 100 thousand miles on them that have only run dino oil, it makes you wonder if all those fancy additives are really needed if you just change it often enough.

[Badass69]

No they really aren't. If you enjoy extended changes like me (15000 to 20000 miles) then that's where synthetic shines.

 

In all reality I find these debates quite hilarious over a couple points. One is guys running synthetic and dumping it at low mileage intervals which is somewhat pointless as although you may have slightly better wear and detergent packages you dumping it in 3000 to 5000 miles really negates it...

 

But here is number 2.... how many of you will even own the truck to 100000 miles let alone beyond it? Very few... If you are trading trucks like you do underwear I never understood these arguments. You could run the cheapest garbage oil and change it at the olm intervals and in 2 or 3 years like a lot keep their trucks it's still running fine.... plus when you trade it off do you really worry or care what happens to it afterwards? I seriously doubt it.

 

It's no surprise to me the guys with higher mileage and longer ownership a lot of times run synthetics and do extended interval changes.. which again is a huge benefit of synthetic. With the water viscosity of the oem recommended 0w20 oil cold starts are not going to be immensely different with a full synthetic so the only thing you gain is the potentially better additive packages which takes you back to point number 2 and you dumping the truck every few years at low mileage mean you never see any benefit from it one way or another.

 

Sent from a potato

[Badass69]

Actually let's add something else. At least through the 2015 model year gm offers a 100000 mile power train warranty that if you use their recommended oil standard and follow the oil life monitor you are covered. For a relatively small amount of money in the big picture you can go beyond that 100000 miles on warranty and still only need to run their dexos standard oil.... so why do these arguments exist lol. Hardly anyone keeps that truck to 100000 miles and even less beyond that mileage... which can still be covered by a power train warranty if desired with no special oils required....

 

Sent from a potato

[FLHRSI04]

I think you're under-estimating the amount of people that will have their truck beyond the 100,00 miles. I had my last truck for 14 years. Hope to have this one that long or more. These are $50,000 trucks, I'm not buying a new one every two years.

[Badass69]

No i am not.... the enticement of new and shiny coupled with keeping their monthly payment the same or similar negates any of that. Maybe on an enthusiast board you will see some more high mileage owners but talk to the average person in the real world.... their is a lot more underwear changers than their is high mileage drivers. Just look at new vehicle sales and the average trades they get back.... The price goes up but the payment terms just get a little bit longer....

 

Of course there are demographics to this too. ... as their are lots of people that buy miled out stuff in the first place as it is all they can afford. But these discussions never seem to focus around them.... it focuses around the guys with new trucks all the time.

 

And still.... even at 150000 miles in 10 years you could get warranty for that mileage.... maybe not the time frame but the mileage sure. It's something the average owner does not need to even worry about... You could use conventional blend oils and cheap Fram filters and still be running fine....

 

 

Sent from a potato

[FLHRSI04]

Yes you are.....you said "Hardly anyone keeps that truck to 100000 miles and even less beyond that mileage... which can still be covered by a power train warranty if desired with no special oils required...."

 

And the reason there are more new truck owners on here is because this is a forum for GM trucks that just came out in 2014....ya think?

[Badass69]

Yes you are.....you said "Hardly anyone keeps that truck to 100000 miles and even less beyond that mileage... which can still be covered by a power train warranty if desired with no special oils required...."

 

And the reason there are more new truck owners on here is because this is a forum for GM trucks that just came out in 2014....ya think?

Seriously... this is such a stupid argument. This forum isn't real world...

.... what happens here doesn't even represent 5% of ownership... probably not even 1%. The average owner doesn't generally join one of these forums

... an enthusiast does. So of course you have all this discussion on points hardly any real drivers care about. Most people don't know what they get and just change it when the light comes on. And yeah.... lots of owners don't want a vehicle out of warranty either.... like even a lot here. Then those used vehicles once returned are owned by just as many people that don't care about oil so long as they change it at whatever recommendation and so on and so on.

 

Sent from a potato

[FLHRSI04]

Good point.............a very small segment of ownership is represented here.