PF 44 oil filter - LOL!!!!!!

Victory Red · July 8, 2003

OK. I just crawled under the truck and changed my oil for the first time tonight. My jaw dropped. "WTF?", I said! What is this itzy-bitzy, teenie weenie little filter doing on my 5.3L big American powerplant? Are they kidding me? My '01 5.3 had a PF 59, and I thought THAT was small! Now my '03 has this thimble-sized filter that holds what? maybe 6oz. of oil tops???

WTF GM? I'm thinking of installing a remote filter system now. This little filter need to be on a lawn mower, not a full size truck. Can anyone explain the reasoning behind this "downgrade"? Is GM just cutting more corners to save a buck? Like not installing the under hood light on the new trucks? Like changing the windshield wipers to the kind that DON'T swing out all the way for easy cleaning? What else am I NOT going to find on this truck, that was on my '01?

JEEEEEEZ!!!!!!!!

WEFs99 · July 8, 2003

It seems to work OK.

BlackSilver · July 8, 2003

I can't make quite the same "apples to apples" comparison, because my '01 is a 5.3L and my 03 is a 6.6L, but here are some differences I've noted (both pickups are LT trim level, extended cab).

Better fog lamps on the 03.

No underhood lamp on the 03.

Better climate control system on the 03.

No cabin air filter on the 03.

Better audio system on the 03.

Greatly improved DIC on the 03.

Wipers don't have a detent to hold them away from the glass on the 03.

Steering wheel radio/DIC controls on the 03.

Smaller overhead console on the 03.

Two-driver memory perference system on the 03 (seat positions, radio presets, etc.) Other driver comfort/convenience features on the 03 that are not on the 01.

XM Satelite radio on the 03.

Curb view mirror when backing on the 03.

Retrieval hooks standard on the 03, optional on the 01.

On balance, the improvements from 01 to 03 seem to make up for a small number of other "dis-improvements". Your mileage may vary.

Sorry about your oil filter.

Victory Red · July 9, 2003

Better fog lamps on the 03.

AGREED.

No underhood lamp on the 03.

YUP!

Better climate control system on the 03.

DISAGREE - I don't like the slider controls for dual climate control. Dual control is not needed in a regular cab truck IMO. I like the old turn-type knob in my '01.

No cabin air filter on the 03.

WHAT?! I didn't know that. Another thumbs down!

Better audio system on the 03.

DISAGREE - Again, I don't like the new knobs. I had a single CD player before, now I have a cassette/CD player in the same unit. CASSETTE? Who in the heck listens to cassettes anymore? Another thumbs down.

Greatly improved DIC on the 03.

I agree it's improved, but it's not GREATLY improved.

Wipers don't have a detent to hold them away from the glass on the 03.

AGREED.

Steering wheel radio/DIC controls on the 03.

DIDN'T HAVE THEM BEFORE AND DON'T HAVE THEM NOW.

Smaller overhead console on the 03.

MINE'S THE SAME SIZE.

Two-driver memory perference system on the 03 (seat positions, radio presets, etc.) Other driver comfort/convenience features on the 03 that are not on the 01.

DISAGREE - My '01 had 6-way captain chairs. The '03 has 20/40 bench seat and NO LUMBAR support. I miss my lumbar support. And yes, both trucks had the same trim level, although the '01 was a Z71 Chevy LS and my '03 is a 2WD Sierra SLE. Captains chairs are NOT available in reg cab GMC trucks for '03.

XM Satelite radio on the 03.

NOT IN EITHER OF MY TRUCKS.

Curb view mirror when backing on the 03.

GUESS I DON'T HAVE THIS, NEVER HEARD OF IT. Although I do like the power folding/heated mirrors with the turn signals in them. Didn't have them before. VERY COOL!

Retrieval hooks standard on the 03, optional on the 01.

BOTH OF MY TRUCKS HAD/HAVE HOOKS.

Since you started the list, I'll add to it...

New rear view mirror in '03 has auto dim and temp/compass. The '01 didn't. I like the auto dim, but could care less about the temp and heading. Also don't like the "Passanger Air Bag is OFF" light on all the time at the bottom of the mirror. I hardly ever have passangers, so this light is always on. Not a big deal during the day, but annoying at night.

Cloth inserts on door panels are not as padded and soft as '01. They feel kinda cheap, with very little padded backing.

The carpet in the charcoal interior is a lighter shade in the '03 than my '01. Now my Catch-All floor mats don't match quite right.

Aluminum wheels on my '03 GMC are really cheap and plain looking. My '01 had some decent looking rims, although they were going to be replaced anyway.

The power window switches are VERY.....no.... EXTREMELY touchy in the auto down mode. My '01 was touchy, but this truck is worse. If I want to open the window a few inches when I smoke, it's almost impossible without the darn thing going all the way down. Also the switch design itself it different, and harder to use. I like a simple rocker type switch. The new GMC has a hook shaped switch that you have to hook your finger under and lift up to close the window. Maybe that's a better design for people with kids, to keep them from accidently rolling up the window on their head or something. I don't have kids. Gimmie the old rocker switch back.

I'll probably find some more stuff I don't like later. I've only had it two months so far. Don't get me wrong though. I like my '03, and these little things are not going to eat me up. But what you may not know is why I have the '03 to begin with. My '01 Z71 was totaled, so I had no choice but to buy a new truck. I didn't want another Chevy, since I hate the '03 front clip. So I bought a GMC. It was the lesser of two evils. The GMC is not the prettiest thing in the world either, but it beats the '03 Chevy "Avalanche wanna-be" front end. I spent two weeks looking for a left over NEW 2002 Chevy, but to no avail. And buying a used truck was out of the question. Thus the new '03 GMC.... and my little gripes about it.

None of this will get me down. I just like complaining..... it's one of my habits.

BlackSilver · July 9, 2003

I didn't notice you had a cheap LS/SLE trim level.

The LT trim level has everything I mentioned and more. Bose speaker system, dual automatic climate control (no sliders like you mentioned, but round knobs, and with my wife in the passenger seat, the dual zone controls are a godsend), I like the new window controls, my captains chairs are 12 way adjustable, and have two "memories" which are synchronized to the two remote door openers, so when I unlock the doors I get my seat/radio settings, when my wife opens the locks with her remote she gets her seat/radio settings. Heated leather now has 3 levels, instead of two, and you can select just lumbar heating or both lumbar and butt heating.

My 03 is much improved over the 01.

Sorry about your wimpy filter --- buy a DuraMax next time --- it has a big honker of a filter. (And the Allison tranny simply ROCKS...)

lrymal · July 9, 2003

.... The GMC is not the prettiest thing in the world either, but it beats the '03 Chevy "Avalanche wanna-be" front end...

Yeah, that Chevy '03 front-end.

bigtruck21 · July 9, 2003

I agree the filters are pretty small. Mine is actually the same size as my gf's maliboobie. I don't know if these engines are designed well enough to not need the extra filtration, or they wanted them to have exactly 6qt capacity, or they are more like a car engine so they are using the same size filters. Filters on a 99 and 00 4.3l blazer are even larger (longer). Maybe they wanted to filter to fit inside that little indented housing for protection. I could get a better grip on it though, if it were longer. Somebody posted earlier that they were using a different filter that was longer and many people had done so, but that would throw off capacity. Search for it.

Victory Red · July 9, 2003

I didn't notice you had a cheap LS/SLE trim level.

Well, EX....CUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSE ME! Some of us aren't as rich as some of you. I got what I could afford man. Guess I'll just have to make do with this "CHEAP" truck. I would say more, but I have to go to work. You know what work is don't you?

silversport · July 9, 2003

PF-44 works just fine on the "bigger" LS-1 'Vette engine and I bet that engine works just as hard as our 5.3s

holderp · July 9, 2003

I just changed my oil and I had them put the '02 sized filter on. I just like having a larger filter on my truck.

GnatGoSplat · July 9, 2003

Smaller oil filter is due to reduced costs. Saving a few cents per truck adds up to big bucks overall. It's funny the things GM will cut out to save money.

I think every 03 with power mirrors has the parking assist feature. It's an option that can be toggled in the Personalization settings in the DIC.

The new hook-shaped window switches are to accommodate women who often have long fingernails. I'm not kidding! I saw a documentary on automotive interior design once, and that's really why they're shaped like that.

jhm · July 9, 2003

I leave the passenger air bag ON all the time. The only reason it would be off is if you had a small child in a baby seat, you dont want to sandwich him between the air bag and safety seat.

2k3TahoeZ · July 10, 2003

I just changed my oil and I had them put the '02 sized filter on. I just like having a larger filter on my truck.

I also use the 02 sized filter. The guys at the dealership changed them on all the 03's.

Lance Link · July 10, 2003

"I didn't notice you had a cheap LS/SLE trim level."

His truck is a regular cab- can't get the leather interior anyway. Those of us without extended cabs have to make do with our cheap and inferior furnishings. Forgive us. I guess having every available option on my regular cab truck makes me cheap.