Okay so I just got a 1996 Suburban that I didn't know much about the history of, just that it had a blown intake gasket for some time and the previous owners just kept filling with water. I have rebuilt the trans, transfer case, fixed the intake manifold gaskets, water pump, and full major tune-up.
I just took it on a 2800 mile trip (over about 12 days) from DC to the panhandle of Florida stopping in NC and GA on the way. On one of our last days, I left it running and my wife was in the car as I ran into a store to get some supplies/food for our trip home. She ended up coming in with our daughter and when I came back out and started the truck as it was running at idle the oil pressure light came on...I completely freaked!
As I drove it went up and hovered between 25 and 35/40 most of our drive for that day which was roughly 350 miles. When stopped at lights it would drop to between 15/20 unless I put in Neutral and went closer to 20.
I am assuming/saw a couple things,
1) it had 5w30 in it as are the specs and in the hot humid south last week probably could be part of the issue.
2) after driving over 2000 miles it probably was getting a little thin anyways
3) I probably should have 10w30 in it anyways.
4) It could be the sensor since it bounces around quite a bit unless I am on the freeway
5) When under load the pressure seems to drop a little and when I let off the throttle it seems to jump back up sometimes
The question I have is that at 161,000 miles (now after the trip) and it running great, should I put something like a high mileage 10w30 and a bottle of lucas oil treatment in it? I have heard others say 10w40 or even 20w50...I live in DC which can get pretty warm in the summer and I just want this truck to live longer and am HOPING it has nothing to do with the bearings...
Thanks in advance!
I just took it on a 2800 mile trip (over about 12 days) from DC to the panhandle of Florida stopping in NC and GA on the way. On one of our last days, I left it running and my wife was in the car as I ran into a store to get some supplies/food for our trip home. She ended up coming in with our daughter and when I came back out and started the truck as it was running at idle the oil pressure light came on...I completely freaked!
As I drove it went up and hovered between 25 and 35/40 most of our drive for that day which was roughly 350 miles. When stopped at lights it would drop to between 15/20 unless I put in Neutral and went closer to 20.
I am assuming/saw a couple things,
1) it had 5w30 in it as are the specs and in the hot humid south last week probably could be part of the issue.
2) after driving over 2000 miles it probably was getting a little thin anyways
3) I probably should have 10w30 in it anyways.
4) It could be the sensor since it bounces around quite a bit unless I am on the freeway
5) When under load the pressure seems to drop a little and when I let off the throttle it seems to jump back up sometimes
The question I have is that at 161,000 miles (now after the trip) and it running great, should I put something like a high mileage 10w30 and a bottle of lucas oil treatment in it? I have heard others say 10w40 or even 20w50...I live in DC which can get pretty warm in the summer and I just want this truck to live longer and am HOPING it has nothing to do with the bearings...
Thanks in advance!