2002 4.8L Chevy - 5k oil changes?

[Sealbilly]

I have an 2002 Silverado that had a rear main seal leaking quite a bit. The truck is the most reliable I've ever owned. 340k and runs great and has been close to perfect. I have always ran 5w30 synthetic but the last oil change I filled with Valvoline Semi Synthetic High Mileage 5w30. The rear main has all but completely stopped leaking. I have been told that those motors were supposed to get full synthetic. Does it really matter if I keep my oil changes to 5k or so?

 

[The_Jeff]

Who told you that? This truck predates dexos so it'll just require 5w30 of whatever applicable API standard was in effect at the time. Use what it runs on the best.

 

[DCDG]

I have an 2002 Silverado that had a rear main seal leaking quite a bit. The truck is the most reliable I've ever owned. 340k and runs great and has been close to perfect. I have always ran 5w30 synthetic but the last oil change I filled with Valvoline Semi Synthetic High Mileage 5w30. The rear main has all but completely stopped leaking. I have been told that those motors were supposed to get full synthetic. Does it really matter if I keep my oil changes to 5k or so?

I would buy you lunch the vehicle didn't leave the factory with full synthetic in 2002. synthetic blend will have no issue pulling off 5,000 miles that's an easy engine.

 

[Sealbilly]

Who told you that? This truck predates dexos so it'll just require 5w30 of whatever applicable API standard was in effect at the time. Use what it runs on the best.

Thank you

 

[Sealbilly]

i would buy you lunch the vehicle didn't leave the factory with full synthetic in 2002. synthetic blend will have no issue pulling off 5,000 miles that's an easy engine.

Thank you.

 

[CleanSump]

No problemo. Most manufacturers weren't even requiring synthetic oil in '02.

 

[Japanese]

The rear main has all but completely stopped leaking. I have been told that those motors were supposed to get full synthetic. Does it really matter if I keep my oil changes to 5k or so?

That's great that the semi synthetic oil stopped your rear main seal leak.

However, if you want to keep your 5K oil changes I would step up to full synthetic. Valvoline Restore and Protect. It most likely will keep your rear main seal intact as well. People already reported that. Also, I run Valvoline Restore and Protect and it stopped my rear main seal leak which it was like .5 oz daily.

The thing about semi synthetic oils is:
1. We don't know know how much synthetic oil there is in them. There is no law to regulate that. It could be 5%, it could be 15%. But I think no more than that. It could be anywhere b/w 1% and 3% too.
2. The semi synthetic oils are closer (much more) in properties to conventional oils than synthetic ones. Because of the first part above.

So, if you respect your engine enough, I wouldn't run semi synthetic oil more than 3,000–3,500 miles. Otherwise you are risking to sludge and varnish it.

 

[CleanSump]

Peeve alert: "intact"

 

[MrkofXcellence]

i would buy you lunch the vehicle didn't leave the factory with full synthetic in 2002. synthetic blend will have no issue pulling off 5,000 miles that's an easy engine.

Those were the “Use an oil that meets 6094M spec” days…

 

[wlk]

Your 02 doesn't need full synthetic, whoever told you is mistaken. Run Maxlife red bottle, Castrol gtx, QS Allmileage or Havoline HM blends w confidence in that motor. If the blend is helping the leak, I wouldn't change and go back.

 

[zrxkawboy]

The Maxlife blend will be fine. However, if you want to keep to try it, Valvoline also makes a full syn version of Maxlife.

 

[JavierH19]

These engines only need conventional but better oil isn't much more. I'd at least bump up to their 10w-40 to keep the old cam bearings a bit more separated. I run mostly 40 and some 50 in mine. I'll run 50 if it's the summer time and I don't have a stash to go through. If you keep intervals to 5k you'll be fine but i'd personally shorten to 3k.

 

[heavy260]

I remember when fleets used Mobil 5000 as a luxury oil in their LS engines. Those engines were built to last on crap oil at 5000 mile changes if they were lucky, usually went longer though. No need to over think this.

 

[Japanese]

Your 02 doesn't need full synthetic, whoever told you is mistaken. Run Maxlife red bottle, Castrol gtx, QS Allmileage or Havoline HM blends w confidence in that motor. If the blend is helping the leak, I wouldn't change and go back.

We don't argue if needs full synth. or not. We are talking about is it fine to drive 5,000 miles with synthetic blend oils. I definitely don't think is fine.

People get fooled by thinking semi synthetic oils are 50/50 conventional/full synthetic oil which the word semi (half) implies. However, those oils are conventional with just a small fraction of synthetic oil. That's why synthetic blend was adopted a bit later and is more accurate than semi synthetic. Another one I've see on Castrol jugs—part synthetic.

I remember when fleets used Mobil 5000 as a luxury oil in their LS engines. Those engines were built to last on crap oil at 5000 mile changes if they were lucky, usually went longer though. No need to over think this.

So, officially stating that it's O.K. to drive 5,000 miles with conventional oil?

 

[dogememe]

We don't argue if needs full synth. or not. We are talking about is it fine to drive 5,000 miles with synthetic blend oils. I definitely don't think is fine.
People get fooled by thinking semi synthetic oils are 50/50 conventional/full synthetic oil which the word semi (half) implies. However, those oils are conventional with just a small fraction of synthetic oil. That's why synthetic blend was adopted a bit later and is more accurate than semi synthetic. Another one I've see on Castrol jugs—part synthetic.


So, officially stating that it's O.K. to drive 5,000 miles with conventional oil?

With modern oil formulations, the line between "conventional" "synthetic blend" and "full synthetic" mean VERY little.

Unless the vehicle is short-tripped or idled extensively a 2002 Chevy truck with a 4.8 will do just fine on 5K intervals of Valvoline Maxlife synthetic blend oil. No hesitation there.

 

[ripcord]

We don't argue if needs full synth. or not. We are talking about is it fine to drive 5,000 miles with synthetic blend oils. I definitely don't think is fine.
People get fooled by thinking semi synthetic oils are 50/50 conventional/full synthetic oil which the word semi (half) implies. However, those oils are conventional with just a small fraction of synthetic oil. That's why synthetic blend was adopted a bit later and is more accurate than semi synthetic. Another one I've see on Castrol jugs—part synthetic.


So, officially stating that it's O.K. to drive 5,000 miles with conventional oil?

Totally disagree. There is no downside with 5k mile intervals with MaxLife semi-synthetic in an LS motor. 5k miles is not an extended drain interval for this engine if it is not short tripped excessively, Additive packages matter more than the base oil.

 

[wlk]

We don't argue if needs full synth. or not. We are talking about is it fine to drive 5,000 miles with synthetic blend oils. I definitely don't think is fine.

People get fooled by thinking semi synthetic oils are 50/50 conventional/full synthetic oil which the word semi (half) implies. However, those oils are conventional with just a small fraction of synthetic oil. That's why synthetic blend was adopted a bit later and is more accurate than semi synthetic. Another one I've see on Castrol jugs—part synthetic.


So, officially stating that it's O.K. to drive 5,000 miles with conventional oil?

In their application a blend is fine and if you go look at UOA for similar engines and a blend ~ 5k oci w na v8's it is certainly fine.

 

[97prizm]

I have an 2002 Silverado that had a rear main seal leaking quite a bit. The truck is the most reliable I've ever owned. 340k and runs great and has been close to perfect. I have always ran 5w30 synthetic but the last oil change I filled with Valvoline Semi Synthetic High Mileage 5w30. The rear main has all but completely stopped leaking. I have been told that those motors were supposed to get full synthetic. Does it really matter if I keep my oil changes to 5k or so?

The only GM products that I'm aware of that received full synthetic in 2002 were the Corvette, Camaro, and Pontiac Firebird.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Those engines don't care as long as there's oil in the sump.
Last of the good chevy v8s

 

[tired]

People get fooled by thinking semi synthetic oils are 50/50 conventional/full synthetic oil which the word semi (half) implies. However, those oils are conventional with just a small fraction of synthetic oil.

This is a good point I think many don't remember.