Average OCI of 19,000+ on dino

[Superbuick96]

The 4.3 Vortec powered Chevy Blazer I inherited earlier this year saw an Dino Oil Change every 19,131 on average. The previous owner wasnt feeling well,and keeping up with Oil changes was the last of his worries.(you can't fault him) It saw an oil change at 15K,33K,50K,and 76K. All with dino from the dealership. You would think the 4.3 would be half dead drowned in sludge, but it wasnt when I received it, the engine ran like a top! Yes the oil was filthy when I changed it, but I have successfully cleaned it up. So is this a testiment to the GM Vortec 4.3, or the capabilities of dino oil??

 

[c3po]

Maybe it is a testiment too the previous owner's driving habits, meaning very few short trips.

 

[StevieC]

Something fishy about this... Don't know...

 

[Superbuick96]

Originally Posted By: c3po
Maybe it is a testiment too the previous owner's driving habits, meaning very few short trips.
Yes, I forgot to add, the previous owner )my father-in-law RIP) drove it like Grandpa. Always under 2000 rpms, and probably 90%highway/10%city driving..

 

[c3po]

Originally Posted By: Superbuick96
Originally Posted By: c3po
Maybe it is a testiment too the previous owner's driving habits, meaning very few short trips.
Yes, I forgot to add, the previous owner )my father-in-law RIP) drove it like Grandpa. Always under 2000 rpms, and probably 90%highway/10%city driving..


That's the reason, meaning highway driving, not much stop and go, and he was easy on the car. I think driving habits are sometimes more important than maintenace.

 

[JT1]

Some people are just lucky I guess, A customers vehicle(chrysler 2.4) came in with over 50k miles on her oil change(@140k) using valvoline conv. She never even topped it up, nothing registered on the dipstick and when i drained it about a qt of the most horrendous smelling sludge came out. I was appalled, but she seemed pretty casual about it.

 

[jorton]

Originally Posted By: Superbuick96
You would think the 4.3 would be half dead drowned in sludge, but it wasnt when I received it, the engine ran like a top!


Did your Father in Law get a tune-up for the Blazer? If not, she's due now.

 

[Superbuick96]

No other then changing he air filter he didnt. I did chaged the tranny fluid/filter,cap roter, plugs wires, fuel filter/pvc, belt,breaks, oil/filter Edit: Oh yeah and coolant/thermostat

 

[Brett Miller]

Sounds like a perfect time for an Auto-Rx treatment. Outside of the intake gasket issues, the 4.3 is a fine and durable engine.

 

[cjhepburn]

Have you had the Blazer long enough to gauge oil consumption?

 

[mechtech2]

If it was using oil, it had a perpetual oil change.
Even if the engine is in decent shape right now, it would have been much better with proper maintenance.

 

[crazycrak]

Those newer 4.3 W/balance shafts are durable engines I have seen them so sludged up that when you pull the drain plug a few drops of oil comes out and then the hole stop up with sludge so bad that I had to take a screw driver and make a hole in it ever few secconds for it to drain

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted By: crazycrak
Those newer 4.3 W/balance shafts are durable engines I have seen them so sludged up that when you pull the drain plug a few drops of oil comes out and then the hole stop up with sludge so bad that I had to take a screw driver and make a hole in it ever few secconds for it to drain

 

[crazycrak]

Originally Posted By: StevieC
Originally Posted By: crazycrak
Those newer 4.3 W/balance shafts are durable engines I have seen them so sludged up that when you pull the drain plug a few drops of oil comes out and then the hole stop up with sludge so bad that I had to take a screw driver and make a hole in it ever few secconds for it to drain

Yeah the oil filter was heavy and had also thick dark goopy oil or slime whatever you want to call it lol It was a engine I would have loved to pull the oil pan and valve covers off just to see inside

 

[Cutehumor]

good thing, it didn't have an intake gasket leak. the engine would have been toast by now

 

[caprice_2nv]

Our cube van at work, an 04 Chevy 3500 with the 6.0L gas engine, was going up to about 25,000km's on oil changes, the OLM goes off around 12,000km's. Lately they've been doing it around 20,000 on average, they just don't care much about the truck. Always bulk dino at the GM dealer. It has almost 130k miles on it now.

 

[Warstud]

I've got the same engine in my Xtreme and if I went that long between OCI I'd be running it nearly dry. ARX it!

 

[Herz]

4.3 is a great engine minus the oil leaks. it can take the abuse.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: Warstud
I've got the same engine in my Xtreme and if I went that long between OCI I'd be running it nearly dry. ARX it!


Sadly, I saw someone kill an Xtreme that way....

 

[Superbuick96]

Originally Posted By: cjhepburn
Have you had the Blazer long enough to gauge oil consumption?
Ive had the Blazer now for around 8 months, doesnt leak, or burn oil. I havent had to top it off yet. I run Vavoline max life blend 5w-30 in it now...