Which oil to use

[chrismoore701]

I have a 2009 Silverado and I have been using Penzoil 5w-30 since I bought it. Change it every 3,000 miles and it usually eats about a quart. I am thinking of going synthetic. Your thoughts, and which brand should I use? Can I go further between oil changes with synthetic?

Thanks
Chris

[5567Cruiser]

Originally Posted by chrismoore701

I have a 2009 Silverado and I have been using Penzoil 5w-30 since I bought it. Change it every 3,000 miles and it usually eats about a quart. I am thinking of going synthetic. Your thoughts, and which brand should I use? Can I go further between oil changes with synthetic?

Thanks
Chris

Chris, Consumer Reports has many articles on mineral oil vs synthetic oil and I agree with most of their comparisons. Synthetic is costly but is good if you make a lot of short trips,live in a cold winter climate, do a lot of hauling like trailers etc or if your engine runs hot under towing and hauling then the synthetic resists breakdown from heat. Another factor if GM recommends the synthetic for Corvettes then it is probably better for a truck also. Anyway it is a personal decision based on many factors. Good luck.

[chrismoore701]

I am just outside chicago, I also have a 30 camper I pull from time to time. My truck never really runs hot, but to offset the cost, I am looking to see how far between oil changes I can go with synthetic, also looking to reduce the amount of oil my truck eats

[cdowns]

I always used mobil one synthetic about 5000-6000miles between changes and am very happy with the results no issues at all from brand new I started with it right off the dealers floor

[clinebarger]

You can run your Oil Life Monitor from 100% to 0% on conventional oil like the (Shell) Pennzoil 5w30 your already using? Used Oil Analysis have confirmed this a hundred times over!

The oil consumption issue is not the oil, If you have Cylinder Deactivation? That is most likely the root cause.

I run Mobil 1 in all my vehicles for over a decade.

[chrismoore701]

Thanks guys, I will change over next round on both my cars

[Gatorman]

Several years ago I was managing the maintenance for Co. vehicles that we used working for Louisiana DOT. A project where off duty EMT/Firefighters worked helping stranded motorists and police/fire with incidents on the highways, [ I did that part time while working as a full time firefighter ]. The vehicles we used were 2007 1 ton F**D vans with 5.4 gas motivation. I used 10w 30 Synthetic and Wix filters at every oil change. I changed the oil/filter in each unit 1 time per month. Mileage for each unit was around 10k per month. That didn`t include idling time. The units worked 14-15 hours per day 7 days a week. In 2011 we received new F**D trucks. At the end of the prior contract the 4 Vans we were using had between 590,000-645,000 miles, all highway miles. One van was toast with a finally blown head gasket, the other 3 were using oil, around a quart every other day. I had new air filters every other month. Just to show what good oil and good filters can do for the life of engines. Peace Dale

[KShortell]

To be honest, I've had good luck with Valvoline for many years. I used Pennzoil a lot in the past as well. The only oil I even had trouble with was Texaco Havoline about 20 years ago. It just wouldn't hold as much oil pressure as other oils- thinning out, perhaps?

I run straight 30-weight Valvoline in my boat with no trouble. A boat engine is like a car or truck floored in 2nd gear going uphill ALL THE TIME. The internals on my GM 4-banger in the Bayliner are clean and look really good. The fact that I had to pull the head a few years ago had nothing to do with oil, but with me running the manifold and elbow too long. Doh! Anyway, the cyliners, etc. weren't all scored up, compression is good, etc. I'm nearing 500 hrs. on this motor.