4.8 Vortec

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mobilaltima

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You guys on here who own any 4.8, 5.3, and 6.0 Vortecs, have you used any other grades besides 5W30 and 10W30 with success? Truck in question is my buddies 2011 Chevy with the 4.8, which is now out of warranty at 109k miles. From 0 to 100k miles it saw nothing but 5W30 and 10W30 synthetics (never Dexos 5W30 and it still runs fine lol) every 5-6k miles. Now that its out of warranty, would it hurt to try a 40 grade such as M1 0W40? Was also thinking Supertech 10W30 syn and running it to 7500 k ocis. would like to hear suggestions from you guys. I read on here of a guy using M1 15W50 but i dont think theres any need to go that thick.
 
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Stick to the recommended weight. I have seen them at work with hundreds of thousands of miles with less than regular maintenance using whatever 5 or 10w30 was on sale when the owner happened to think about changing it.
 
5W30/10W30 is fine. One of my friends has a 4.8L in a 83/84 Ford LTD with a cheap eBay Chinese turbo and meth injection making low 700s to the wheels. He runs literally the cheapest oil possible. Only issues are the back doors and trunk don't close from the body twisting.
 
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
5W30/10W30 is fine. One of my friends has a 4.8L in a 83/84 Ford LTD with a cheap eBay Chinese turbo and meth injection making low 700s to the wheels. He runs literally the cheapest oil possible. Only issues are the back doors and trunk don't close from the body twisting.


Fox body?

Sleeper .....
 
With just over 100,000 miles on my pick up I have used 0w 5w 10w30 and even some 0w-40 Pennzoil. It all runs the same. I do have to say that the 0w-40 (current fill) shows much higher oil pressures until warmed up then after it's warm the oil pressure is just a tick higher than the 30 weights. This usually takes about 10 miles of freeway driving. After the 0w-40 is gone I will be going back to a 30 weight again since I just see no reason for it.
 
Its a full roller motor so it doesn't really need anything but 5W30/10W30.

I have run Quaker State conventional 5W30 in mine for forever. Runs perfect.
 
Originally Posted By: meborder
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
5W30/10W30 is fine. One of my friends has a 4.8L in a 83/84 Ford LTD with a cheap eBay Chinese turbo and meth injection making low 700s to the wheels. He runs literally the cheapest oil possible. Only issues are the back doors and trunk don't close from the body twisting.


Fox body?

Sleeper .....


yes to both. Even with ET Streets it will break the back end loose at 90, and that is with aftermarket control arms.
 
NAPA Synthetic (basically Valvoline Synpower) on sale for $2.99 qt this month. Where you live 10W30 will be fine. If it's got an OLM use it. If not 7500 miles should be reasonable if he averages 15 mpg or better.
 
My boss has a 200? Chevy 2500 4x4 with a 6.0 that, he says, has seen nothing but straight 30 weight its whole life. It has somewhere over 200,000 mi. on it and aside from leaking some it's fine. I'd have never used that oil, but I reckon it hasn't hurt it. I'd use a syn blend 10W30 and have no worries - that's what I put in my FIL's 1500HD w/230,000-mile 6.0. If you want to push the OCI to 7,500 miles I might move up to a full synthetic, but only if he puts enough miles on it regularly that the 7,500 miles will elapse in 6-9 months. These engines were designed to work hard, for a long time, on conventional oil - I think anybody that uses half a brain and any synthetic or blend oil is more than satisfying their lubrication needs.

Revision: That year 4.8 has VVT, so if it was mine I'd be more likely to stick to a 5W30 of good quality and shorten my OCI. But I'm not overly familiar with the post-2010 versions of the truck V8's and if I run into an engine with VVT I'm more likely to stick with the factory specified viscosity because of the VVT system.
 
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Originally Posted By: mobilaltima
You guys on here who own any 4.8, 5.3, and 6.0 Vortecs, have you used any other grades besides 5W30 and 10W30 with success? Truck in question is my buddies 2011 Chevy with the 4.8, which is now out of warranty at 109k miles. From 0 to 100k miles it saw nothing but 5W30 and 10W30 synthetics (never Dexos 5W30 and it still runs fine lol) every 5-6k miles. Now that its out of warranty, would it hurt to try a 40 grade such as M1 0W40? Was also thinking Supertech 10W30 syn and running it to 7500 k ocis. would like to hear suggestions from you guys. I read on here of a guy using M1 15W50 but i dont think theres any need to go that thick.








It wont hurt to try a 0w-40, but I am curious as to why your friend wants to? As far as that goes, why is he utilizing a 7500 o.c.i.? The OLM is quite effective in later model GM vehicle's. The Super tech synthetic is Dexos approved and will serve a 4.8 well.
 
Bro in law has 360K on his 4.8L ... Runs 5k OCI on Mobil Super 5w-30 (premium conventional) ... One intake gasket changed on this motor - that's all folks ...
 
It burns half a quart in a 5k oci. ill be changing the oil in it Friday, truck now has 115k miles on it. Should I try either T5 10W30 or Chevron XLE 400 10W30? Or just stick with a good 5 or 10W30 synthetic? We will now try 6k intervals along with a Fram Tough Guard
 
I've got an 03 Sierra with a 5.3L, 136,000 miles. Current fill is Magnatec 5w30. Makes 45-50 psi oil pressure cruising the interstate and can touch 70 psi if I get my foot into it. If the truck in question maintains good pressure no need for thicker oil. I'd just use a dexos approved syn blend and feel good about it.
 
Originally Posted By: mobilaltima
It burns half a quart in a 5k oci. ill be changing the oil in it Friday, truck now has 115k miles on it. Should I try either T5 10W30 or Chevron XLE 400 10W30? Or just stick with a good 5 or 10W30 synthetic? We will now try 6k intervals along with a Fram Tough Guard




Go for Magnatec 5w-30.



Support the British. A Brit won at Britain last month.
 
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