Oil Change Question

[MixerDriver]

I always check mine every few mornings before starting. It always gets checked cold, on level ground, parked in the same exact spot. When I use the full 6 quarts for my 4.3, it's always a little bit above the full mark, but that could just be the dipstick is off by ⅛".

[Thomcat]

2 hours ago, MixerDriver said:

I always check mine every few mornings before starting. It always gets checked cold, on level ground, parked in the same exact spot. When I use the full 6 quarts for my 4.3, it's always a little bit above the full mark, but that could just be the dipstick is off by ⅛".

I always measure 8 qts out....8 qts. in on the 5.3l  I thought I overfilled it when it was 1/2" above the mark on an overnight cold........Now I never check it after an overnight cold on level ground because it will always read high. Seems it "wicks" up the stick with surface tension or the tube during an overnight cold.....run it a minute and check again before it heats up and always A-OK on the full mark with an 8qt. fill.

[Grumpy Bear]

1 hour ago, Thomcat said:

I always measure 8 qts out....8 qts. in on the 5.3l  I thought I overfilled it when it was 1/2" above the mark on an overnight cold........Now I never check it after an overnight cold on level ground because it will always read high. Seems it "wicks" up the stick with surface tension or the tube during an overnight cold.....run it a minute and check again before it heats up and always A-OK on the full mark with an 8qt. fill.

Now that is useful!! Wife's Buick (has the same style stick) which sits for months at a time will do this. It will wick two inches up the stick. 

[bkesting]

My problem reading oil is that the 0w-20 stuff is so thin that I often times have a hard time reading it on the dipstick. I usually have to hold the stick up against a white background (paper, towel, etc) to see where the oil is at on the stick. Especially with new fresh oil.

[jbman]

Is very hard to read  what the level is  with Pennzoil Platinum 0-20  

[jbman]

Would rather use 10- 30 weight I feel the 0-20 is just to thin. What say you all?

[reardiff]

20 minutes ago, jbman said:

Would rather use 10- 30 weight I feel the 0-20 is just to thin. What say you all?

GM says 0W 20, that should trump what anyone here has to say. 

[jbman]

Never said to use 10-30 GM wants the best MPG it can get out of this important segment. Wouldn't be above them to   go with thinner oil to get MPG increase

[Colossus]

Until your vehicle is out of warranty, you should probably use what they recommend. 

[seamus2154]

7 hours ago, jbman said:

Would rather use 10- 30 weight I feel the 0-20 is just to thin. What say you all?

When I was getting the free oil changes on my '14 and my '15 I noticed the part# for the oil was 5w/30 dexos?/ I went back to the service guy and asked and they said thats all they use in the Florida heat. I did an oil change to 0w/20 that I had bought and did notice my engine was louder and ticked more. My fuel mileage was exactly the same with 0/20 and 5/30. All I have run in my  '17 since new is 5w/30 Mobil 1 dexos and she is quiet and not one issue, oil analysis comes back perfect. But if I were in a cold climate I may reconsider that for cold starts. 

[Black02Silverado]

I just put in the two one gallon jugs of AMSOIL Signature Series 0w-20 and my reading on the dip stick is right at the full mark. 

 

I like the gallon jugs.  Makes for an easy 8qt installation. No marking of a 5qt jug to make sure you got the correct amount in.

[KARNUT]

When my cars are in their warranty period I don’t check the oil. The last 4 of my 6 new vehicle s have been Hyundai’s, they require you to follow the extreme service schedule to maintain the 10 year 100K warranty. Off to the dealer every 3700 miles. If they run low that fast it’s time for a new engine.


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[foghorn23]

First, I totally agree the oil seems to wick up the dipstick on these trucks.  Even after sitting for a while.  Secondly, I usually check the oil while truck is in garage totally level and after sitting all night; most reliable measurement comes this way IMO.   Finally, as one of the lucky ones who had the HPFP issue, if you have this issue you won't have to guess about it.  It will be extremely obvious that something is wrong.  My oil level was consistently in the twisted part of the dipstick and the oil fill cap smelled more like a gas cap (if these trucks had one) than a gas cap.  Oil level is now steady and on full.  Almost 4k on the engine and oil since my HPFP fix; no ill effects to report.  

[Dr Awesome]

15 hours ago, Black02Silverado said:

I just put in the two one gallon jugs of AMSOIL Signature Series 0w-20 and my reading on the dip stick is right at the full mark. 

 

I like the gallon jugs.  Makes for an easy 8qt installation. No marking of a 5qt jug to make sure you got the correct amount in.

I checked and that does not say that oil has the dexos1 Gen 2 certification on the site https://www.centerforqa.com/dexos-brand2015/, do you know why that is?  I can't imagine upholding the engine warranty if the cert isn't there, even if the oil is good.

[Doublebase]

I definitely find it challenging to get an accurate reading with these engines. Mine will look like it's overfilled, then I'll move the truck to another spot and it'll be right where it's supposed to read. Level ground means so much with these trucks, even being off just a little bit really screws the reading up. 

 

My thoughts on 0w20 oil...the manufacturers really will do anything to meet CAFE regulations. The oil is thin. I would imagine that once these engines start getting into the 150,000 mile range, there will be some oil consumption issues using this oil. I have seen that personally on other engines that "require" 0w20. Usually you make the switch to 5w30 at that point. 

 

And im not planning on going over 5,000 miles on an oil change interval with the 5.3...direct injection, timing chain, AFM system with collapsible lifters?? That's a lot going on in there. That's a lot of demand for any oil, never mind one so thin. I've tried the extended drains in the past, pushing the oil out between 7,500-10,000 miles, I'll never do that again. Everything was just great until the engine got up around 150k, then the thing just started using oil, rings were worn. Talked to a bunch of techs about direct injection and they all said the oil takes a pounding with direct injection. I agree.