Synthetic Oil

sleblanc63 · May 11, 2009

I have been researching synthetic oil on here. I am going to go to synthetic soon. I have a few of questions...

1.Has anyone here (or heard a TRUE story) using synthetic oil with extended oil change intervals had and engine failure....or any synthetic oil related parts failure. (exluding higher mileage seals leaking after late life conversion)

2. If you answered yes to the above.... what did GM warranty say about it?

3. How long are you going between drains and what oil are you using? Sounds Like AMSOIL and Mobil 1 are favorites.

4.How about filters, which ones do you use?

5. Do you do an intermediate filter change say at 7500 if you go 15000 between changes.

5. Does anyone know GM's policy on this?

Thanks

MS3DALE · May 11, 2009

Mobil 1 5W-30 and AC-Delco filter every 3k for me.

Outbacker · May 11, 2009

I put in Valvoline Syn oil and will change it out when the OLM says to change it out, approx. every 8500 km's. I use a Wix oil filter and have never had a problem. I had talked to my GM service department when I first switched to synthetic oil, and he told me that they recommend synthetic oil, and to go for it.

c4cruiser · May 11, 2009

My dealer has a drive-thru oil change deal and the only oil they use is Quaker State synthetic blend. I was told that for "normal" use, a 5K oil change interval is acceptable. They even told me that when I bought the truck; the factory fill oil was good for 5K miles.

If you were to have an engine failure while under warranty, some dealers would send oil samples out for testing to see if the oil was related to or cause of a failure. As long as you followed the factory service recommendations for oil changes, used the proper weight, and the oil used met the appropriate GM spec, I can't see where the use of a full synthetic would be an issue.

Oil is not that expensive at least in terms of the amount required for an oil change. You're only looking at 6 quarts of oil. Dino oil is cheaper than synthetics and using a good grade of dino oil in the proper weight and a good filter every 3K miles should be perfectly fine. Figure $35 for an oil change even at a dealer.

You can go with a synthetic blend or even a full synthetic and raise the change interval to 5K to 7K miles. But the truck has an oil life monitor that gives you a good indication of when the next oil change is due. Always change the filter at every oil change. They do not cost a lot so it's cheap insurance.

For my truck, I changed the factory oil at 1300 miles replacing it with dino oil. That lasted about 2000 more miles and I had the dealer do an oil change (a freebie ) using their Quaker State blend. The next oil change will be to a Mobil-1 5W-30 as I keep a lot of it for both of my Corvettes. I'll probably stay with a 5K interval and use a good quality filter like a K&N, Mobil-1, AC Delco or NAPA Gold. WIX is another good brand of filter.

I keep costs down by changing my own oil. It's only a two-beer job and can be done without raising my truck off the ground. I can take the used oil to any auto parts store, or the local landfill where they have tanks and they will also take the filters.

sleblanc63 · May 11, 2009

If you were to have an engine failure while under warranty, some dealers would send oil samples out for testing to see if the oil was related to or cause of a failure. As long as you followed the factory service recommendations for oil changes, used the proper weight, and the oil used met the appropriate GM spec, I can't see where the use of a full synthetic would be an issue.

I keep costs down by changing my own oil. It's only a two-beer job

SO... if I change my own oil and there is an oil related failure, they won't be denying becuase I have no "official"service records ... but could send my oil off for analysis. I always changed the oil myself on my old truck but it was way out of warranty.

sc4808 · May 11, 2009

Of course you are allowed to change your own oil without voiding the waranty.

I use Full Synthetic and a K&N Oil Filter and change around every 7500 or so.

brims · May 11, 2009

If you keep good writen record of what you do to your vehicle, I can't see where they wouldn't honor a warranty because you change your own oil. I keep a written and digital record of my gas fill ups, oil changes, mods, maintenance. If I had a problem, I'd print them off the maintenance records and maybe even fuel records to show that I didn't just make that crap up.

DBVille · May 11, 2009

1. Never heard of an oil related failure, on any engine, except for sludge problems, and many of those were related to oil changes within spec. I have NOT heard of sludge problems on GMs V-6s or V-8s - could be, I just don't know.

2. NA

3. I run 5-10,000 miles on Mobil 1 or Shell Rotella Synthetics. (I am not in warranty)

4. AC

5. If the filter needs changing, so does the oil. Unless you are paying to get the oil tested. And the filter is much cheaper than the Oil Analysis.

6. Getting an official GM interpretation won't happen. They have stated their policy in their manual. If you have a oil change indicator - you should follow that to stay in warranty. It wants to change at 5,000 miles? Sorry, drive easier and it will last 7,000 miles.

As others have said, oil really isn't that expensive. Change it at least as often as GM recommends, and recycle your oil (you do, don't you? )

If you have receipts that you purchased oil & filter at appropriate times, and dates when you did the changes, there is almost no chance of a complete engine failure being blamed on oil. Provided you keep oil in the crankcase! I keep dates of changes, and thats it. I have never been worried about a manufacturer blaming me for an oil related failure. As an engineer, I know that the chances of me winning the lottery are a million times higher than that of my engine taking a crap while under warranty, AND them trying to blame it on the oil.

GM has a list of approved dino oils and synthetics. Personally, just use the latest SL rated oil of the correct weight, and don't worry about it.

I have been researching synthetic oil on here. I am going to go to synthetic soon. I have a few of questions...

1.Has anyone here (or heard a TRUE story) using synthetic oil with extended oil change intervals had and engine failure....or any synthetic oil related parts failure. (exluding higher mileage seals leaking after late life conversion)

2. If you answered yes to the above.... what did GM warranty say about it?

3. How long are you going between drains and what oil are you using? Sounds Like AMSOIL and Mobil 1 are favorites.

4.How about filters, which ones do you use?

5. Do you do an intermediate filter change say at 7500 if you go 15000 between changes.

5. Does anyone know GM's policy on this?

Thanks

May 11, 2009

I just want to know if cheaper filters are ok, I'm talking about Champ, are they ok?

Z45 · May 11, 2009

GM does not recommend changing oil by mileage anymore. Change oil by the oil lift monitor (OLM) or 1 yr, which ever comes first.

1. No

2. ---------------

3. 1yr no matter the miles, never drive over 15,000 mi in a year. AMSOIL

4. Filter used in order of preference, AMSOIL, Wix or AC Delco when no AMSOIL filter # available for model.

5. Never do an intermediate filter change, always change oil and filter at same time.

6. GM does not have any policy, except as I stated about the OLM.

If the dealer is telling you to change oil at certain mileage or time, then the dealer is ONLY Looking to pad their bottom line and its contrary to GM Policy. Some people are just stuck in their old ways and can't or won't change.

VMax2007 · May 11, 2009

GM does not recommend changing oil by mileage anymore. Change oil by the oil lift monitor (OLM) or 1 yr.

1. No

2. ---------------

3. 1yr no matter the miles, never over 15,000 mi in a year. AMSOIL

4. Filter used in order of preference, AMSOIL, Wix or AC Delco when no AMSOIL filter # available for model.

5. Never do an intermediate filter change

6. GM does not have any policy as I stated about, to go by the OLM.

If the dealer is telling you to change oil at certain mileage of time then the dealer is ONLY Looking to pad their bottom line and its contrary to GM Policy. Some people are just stuck in their old ways and can't or won't change.

That'd be me.

tallspawn · May 11, 2009

GM does not recommend changing oil by mileage anymore. Change oil by the oil lift monitor (OLM) or 1 yr.

1. No

2. ---------------

3. 1yr no matter the miles, never over 15,000 mi in a year. AMSOIL

4. Filter used in order of preference, AMSOIL, Wix or AC Delco when no AMSOIL filter # available for model.

5. Never do an intermediate filter change

6. GM does not have any policy as I stated about, to go by the OLM.

If the dealer is telling you to change oil at certain mileage of time then the dealer is ONLY Looking to pad their bottom line and its contrary to GM Policy. Some people are just stuck in their old ways and can't or won't change.

That'd be me.

We would have NEVER guessed that about you...

VMax2007 · May 11, 2009

GM does not recommend changing oil by mileage anymore. Change oil by the oil lift monitor (OLM) or 1 yr.

1. No

2. ---------------

3. 1yr no matter the miles, never over 15,000 mi in a year. AMSOIL

4. Filter used in order of preference, AMSOIL, Wix or AC Delco when no AMSOIL filter # available for model.

5. Never do an intermediate filter change

6. GM does not have any policy as I stated about, to go by the OLM.

If the dealer is telling you to change oil at certain mileage of time then the dealer is ONLY Looking to pad their bottom line and its contrary to GM Policy. Some people are just stuck in their old ways and can't or won't change.

That'd be me.

We would have NEVER guessed that about you...

Gotta say Travis, you sure do try hard. Gotta give ya credit for that anyway.

tallspawn · May 11, 2009

GM does not recommend changing oil by mileage anymore. Change oil by the oil lift monitor (OLM) or 1 yr.

1. No

2. ---------------

3. 1yr no matter the miles, never over 15,000 mi in a year. AMSOIL

4. Filter used in order of preference, AMSOIL, Wix or AC Delco when no AMSOIL filter # available for model.

5. Never do an intermediate filter change

6. GM does not have any policy as I stated about, to go by the OLM.

If the dealer is telling you to change oil at certain mileage of time then the dealer is ONLY Looking to pad their bottom line and its contrary to GM Policy. Some people are just stuck in their old ways and can't or won't change.

That'd be me.

We would have NEVER guessed that about you...

Gotta say Travis, you sure do try hard. Gotta give ya credit for that anyway.

Not trying to be clever, just stating the obvious...

c4cruiser · May 11, 2009

GM does not recommend changing oil by mileage anymore. Change oil by the oil lift monitor (OLM) or 1 yr, which ever comes first.

1. No

2. ---------------

3. 1yr no matter the miles, never drive over 15,000 mi in a year. AMSOIL

4. Filter used in order of preference, AMSOIL, Wix or AC Delco when no AMSOIL filter # available for model.

5. Never do an intermediate filter change, always change oil and filter at same time.

6. GM does not have any policy, except as I stated about the OLM.

If the dealer is telling you to change oil at certain mileage or time, then the dealer is ONLY Looking to pad their bottom line and its contrary to GM Policy. Some people are just stuck in their old ways and can't or won't change.

While the owner's manual recommends following the OLM for oil change frequencies, thee is nothing wrong at all in changing oil on a more frequent basis. Some of us still do oil changes on a miles driven or calendar basis. Call it old school or whatever, there in noting wrong with doing it that way as long as you do not exceed the OLM recommendation. And it's not just the dealerships that may try to sell oil changes by time or mileage. Most any auto repair facility (including the drive-thru joints like Jiffy Lube or Oil Can Henry's) will recommend a 3000 to 5000 mile interval depending on the vehicle, the oil used, and how the vehicle is used.

As far as filters are concerned, there are only a few companies that make the majority of the available oil filters. WIX is a major manufacturer for a variety of brands. In many cases, the filters are no different, they are just a different color and brand name.

And for AMSOIL as a recommendation, I don't really see the deal here or the hype. If it was that good, you would think that it would be a recommended oil by all sorts of car makers and it would be available at the retail level. There are lots of good oils available; it's just easier to get them.