Best oil/oil filter for 2001 5.3L 180,xxx miles + maintenance recommendations

[rchadhaney]

I just recently rolled over to 180,000 miles on my Tahoe, I bought the vehicle last year with 166,xxx miles on it and since then I have replaced:

Water pump (started leaking about 4500 miles ago)
Fuel pump (shortly after purchase, tahoe was hard starting and under powered)
spark plugs
plug wires
fuel filter
air filter

I've been running Valvoline Synthetic with Fram high mileage oil filters. Recently I started researching oil filters and just realized how bad some of the FRAM filters can be.

I am pretty happy with valvoline but somewhere I read Pennzoil synthetic is actually better? I don't want to spend the money for Amsoil but what do you guys recommend for synthetic oil? Or should I just stay with Valvoline?

What oil filter should I use for my next oil change? I want a high quality oil filter, I only change my oil very 6,000 - 7,500 miles.

What other maintenance things should I do on the engine? I have done the 3M complete fuel system cleaner once ( Amazon.com: 3M 08963 Fuel System Tune-Up Kit:...) and then since then I've been running chevron fuel cleaner at every oil change.

I also am thinking I need to do a complete coolant flush (I didn't flush the entire system when I changed the water pump)
and I'm thinking about a new filter and tranny fluid for the tranny.

What else should I do? at a 180,000 miles this tahoe still runs great and I am hoping to get another 60 - 80k on it..

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by rchadhaney

I just recently rolled over to 180,000 miles on my Tahoe, I bought the vehicle last year with 166,xxx miles on it and since then I have replaced:

Water pump (started leaking about 4500 miles ago)
Fuel pump (shortly after purchase, tahoe was hard starting and under powered)
spark plugs
plug wires
fuel filter
air filter

I've been running Valvoline Synthetic with Fram high mileage oil filters. Recently I started researching oil filters and just realized how bad some of the FRAM filters can be.

I am pretty happy with valvoline but somewhere I read Pennzoil synthetic is actually better? I don't want to spend the money for Amsoil but what do you guys recommend for synthetic oil? Or should I just stay with Valvoline?

What oil filter should I use for my next oil change? I want a high quality oil filter, I only change my oil very 6,000 - 7,500 miles.

What other maintenance things should I do on the engine? I have done the 3M complete fuel system cleaner once (Amazon.com: 3M 08963 Fuel System Tune-Up Kit: Automotive) and then since then I've been running chevron fuel cleaner at every oil change.

I also am thinking I need to do a complete coolant flush (I didn't flush the entire system when I changed the water pump)
and I'm thinking about a new filter and tranny fluid for the tranny.

What else should I do? at a 180,000 miles this tahoe still runs great and I am hoping to get another 60 - 80k on it..

Oil filter.....Mobil 1, K&N, AC-Delco....Stay away from Delco filters with the number ending in "E", Example, Get a PF46 NOT a PF46E.
Im guessing "E" stands for economy...Very poor construction.

Im a Oil is Oil guy. If Valvoline is working for you stick with it. I run Mobil 1, But I couldnt show any proof its better than any other leading synthetic. Neither can anyone else. Dont believe marketing hype.

I have different veiws on ATF.....

Stay away from Dexron VI ATF, It has caused seal damage in some transmissions that were made before 2006, GM says its backward compatible, But they will not fix any seal damage after warranty

RUN Dexron III. The ONLY Dexron III fluids to have a OEM licence are TES 295Fluids approved by Allison. GM DOES NOT licence Dexron III ATF at all.

TES 295 Approved Automatic Transmission Fluids.
Castrol/Allison........................TranSynd
BP Lubricants.........................Autran Syn 295
Cognis Corporation..................Emgard 2805
International..........................Fleetrite Synthetic ATF
ExxonMobil.............................Mobil Delvac Synthetic ATF
John Deere & Company.............HD SynTran
Volvo Trucks North America.......Bulldog Synthetic ATF

Cheap Aftermarket Dexron III fluids are labeled DEX/MERC, And are NOT approved by any OEM.

Change the fluid in the rear diff, Any good Synthetic 75W-90 will work.

Other than that follow the maintenance schedule in the owners manual.

[kylep]

This is just me, but you probably dont need to drain all the fluid like the book says when you do a flush. The water doesnt get that bad. I finally did a flush on the radiator after 60,000 miles, and i unhooked everything like your supposed to and it really was not as bad as i was expecting. in fact that water and coolant looked pretty good. good to get it out, but i think a simple unhook and fill back up is enough.

[rchadhaney]

Thanks for the information guys. I've got a little work to do now on it, I let my girlfriend's 17 year old son drive it to his girlfriend and he decided to rear end someone in it so now I need a new bumper, headlight, turn light, hood, and grill. Awesome!

[Weasel Diesel]

Originally Posted by rchadhaney

I let my girlfriend's 17 year old son drive it to his girlfriend and he decided to rear end someone in it so now I need a new bumper, headlight, turn light, hood, and grill. Awesome!

The screwin ya get for the screwin ya got.

[rchadhaney]

Originally Posted by Weasel Diesel

The screwin ya get for the screwin ya got.

Ha ha, yeah no kidding. Now I'm putting a new motor and tranny in his monte carlo.

[vin63]

I subscribe to the oil is oil philosophy. I mostly use Baldwin and Donaldson filters on my vehicles (truck parts connection). Wix/NAPA would be a good option that is usually readily available locally, especially if you're using the factory-recommended oil change interval. The Absolute Efficiency oil filters from Amsoil with the Donaldson nano fiber media are some of the best oil filters commercially available. I use the Amsoil Absolute Efficiency on my Duramaxes and usually go 15K to 20K mile oil change intervals with oil analysis.

[John Topper]

Oil Extreme or Royal Purple, AMSoil, Joe Gibbs with Oil Extreme concentrate. K&N filter (but the longer truck filter.)
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[buttcol]

I just got an 07 LTZ last year and gave my son an o1 silverado with 300,000 on it. had to replace the belt pulleys and fuel pump. also put 1set of brakes and did oil changes at 5000 mile intervals. best truck I ever had.

[gregory5000]

I have been using the AC filters with the E on them. Does anyone know for sure what the E stands for?

[Weasel Diesel]

Here is a website that has detailed info on oils, and filters;

Bob is the oil guy

[vin63]

Originally Posted by gregory5000

I have been using the AC filters with the E on them. Does anyone know for sure what the E stands for?

The "E" stands for Ecore, which is made by Champion.

[Tony_SS]

I only run WIX filters... as for oil, its oil. I'll do Valvoline or Castrol synthetic blend and let it go for 5k.

[jdbas71]

I totally agree with wix filter. Had real bad lifter clatter when i ran fram. 5.3 I think are notorious for this anyhow but don't hear it with the wix.
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[barrybryant29]

I use Castrol Syntec,(now Castrol Edge) & Napa filters. I change oil & filter when it rolls over 10,000 miles. I change filter only every every 5,000 miles. I've got 301,438 on my 2000 GMC 5.3L and it's never used any oil.
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[Stickman]

I have 248,000 on my 2001 silverado with 5.3 auto.Ii do Wix filters with Quaker but I'm kinda like some of the other guys with the oil is oil deal.
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