Blazer 4.3 liter vortec engine. Dexos 1 is needed?

[mmayorca]

Hi guys, this is my first post. I live in brazil and own a 00 Chevy Blazer equipped the usual powertrain, the 4.3 liter vortec (L35) providing power to a 4l60e transmission. Here in my country GM sais that even a 20w-50 it's good oil for this engine.

The recommended oil viscosity, according to my owner's manual, varies to a 10w-40 to 20w-50, and surprisingly there's no official recommendation for the usual 5w30 recommended is US. But i sticky with the 5w30 since there's no oil consumption or low oil pressure.

My question it's about the compatibility of this engine with modern oils, like ACEA C3, ILSAC GF-5 and the Dexos 1 certification, it's ok to use this modern oils in the vortec, or there's a better solution?

Thanks.

 

[Chris142]

Our 96 went over 300000 miles on whatever 10w30 i had .

 

[Justin251]

The 4.3 vortec motors in the lift trucks at work get rotella triple t 15w40.

They are lpg I dunno if that matters.

 

[lubricatosaurus]

Originally Posted By: mmayorca
My question it's about the compatibility of this engine with modern oils, like ACEA C3, ILSAC GF-5 and the Dexos 1 certification, it's ok to use this modern oils in the vortec, or there's a better solution?

Yes, dexos1 is the best choice. Your engine can use "SN" oil, which is a lower, less performing spec than dexos1. Using dexos1-rated oils means you are using a higher quality, tougher oil because dexos1 is simply a set of tough tests the oil must pass for wear, deposits, foaming, etc., all the things that make an engine oil better. ... SN is the minimum you should use, although if you find some SL or SM oil, you can use that too.

5w30 is fine of course. You will notice that SN (or SM, SL) oils can be conventional oil made from GroupII basestocks, but dexos1 has so far needed the use of at least some GroupIII synthetic basestocks blended in to perform well enough to achieve the dexos1 rating, so dexos1 oils are a bit more expensive because they have some or all GroupIII and/or GroupIV synthetic basestock.

A list of all the officially approved dexos1 oils are at: http://www.centerforqa.com/dexos-brand1/ and notice you have 2 things to shop for, #1. the right weight (5w30 or 0w-30) AND #2. dexos1 printed on the oil bottle label somewhere.

 

[dlundblad]

Originally Posted By: lubricatosaurus
Originally Posted By: mmayorca
My question it's about the compatibility of this engine with modern oils, like ACEA C3, ILSAC GF-5 and the Dexos 1 certification, it's ok to use this modern oils in the vortec, or there's a better solution?

Yes, dexos1 is the best choice. Your engine can use "SN" oil, which is a lower, less performing spec than dexos1. Using dexos1-rated oils means you are using a higher quality, tougher oil because dexos1 is simply a set of tough tests the oil must pass for wear, deposits, foaming, etc., all the things that make an engine oil better. ... SN is the minimum you should use, although if you find some SL or SM oil, you can use that too.

5w30 is fine of course. You will notice that SN (or SM, SL) oils can be conventional oil made from GroupII basestocks, but dexos1 has so far needed the use of at least some GroupIII synthetic basestocks blended in to perform well enough to achieve the dexos1 rating, so dexos1 oils are a bit more expensive because they have some or all GroupIII and/or GroupIV synthetic basestock.

A list of all the officially approved dexos1 oils are at: http://www.centerforqa.com/dexos-brand1/ and notice you have 2 things to shop for, #1. the right weight (5w30 or 0w-30) AND #2. dexos1 printed on the oil bottle label somewhere.


Dexos is the best choice for this engine? I am not sure when Dexos came to be, but I imagine the 4.3 was here long before.

If OP wants to use a Dexos blend, that is great, but I doubt that engine will notice a bit of difference especially seeing how it spec's a 10w40-20w50 where he is from.

Once again folks, we have an example of the US simply trying to get better fuel economy and that oil weights really don't matter. Use the correct viscosity for your ambient temperature and you are golden.

 

[bigt61]

In Rio, I'd use whatever 10w30 or 40 you can find. Dexos is probably overkill unless you're extending your OCIs. That is one tough engine.

 

[lubricatosaurus]

Originally Posted By: mmayorca
My question it's about the compatibility of this engine with modern oils, like ACEA C3, ILSAC GF-5 and the Dexos 1 certification, it's ok to use this modern oils in the vortec, or there's a better solution?


As far as "is there a better solution", well, kind of, yes. It depends on if you do hard driving, like towing a lot, spending a lot of time at high RPM. If you do, I'd try to use an oil that achieves the toughest specs on the entire planet. Look for an oil that has MB 229.5 printed somewhere on it. Good choices for that are Mobil1 0w-40 or Castrol Edge 0w-40, but any oil on the list: https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/229.5_en.html will do. Note most of these oils will also meet BMW LL-01 and Porsche A40 too.
Another choice would be to use Rotella T6 5w-40 which has similar high performance specs it meets.

Light Duty, easy driving, no towing: Use SN, SM, or SL conventional oil.

Partly Heavy Duty, some hard driving, light towing: Use dexos1

Heavy Duty, towing a lot, high RPM driving up/down mountains, rough use: Any MB 229.5 oil, or Rotella T6 5w-40.

 

[mmayorca]

I was looking for the MB.229.5 specs also or some heavy duty diesel engine oil. Here in brazil rotella it's called rimula, i'll be looking into it. I usually do light duty driving, never tow anything, but sometimes i get caught in HEAVY traffic.

 

[JHZR2]

I'd say that a dexos 5w30 is a good bet, but use whatever is modern with a correct viscosity. I wouldn't go with 20wt...

 

[lubricatosaurus]

Originally Posted By: dlundblad
Dexos is the best choice for this engine? I am not sure when Dexos came to be, but I imagine the 4.3 was here long before.

Yes, dexos1 is "best" from the standpoint of less ring deposits, less engine wear, etc., so a higher performance option, yes it is. It does depend on how the engine is being used to some extent and if the owner wants better. The dexos1 spec was put in place since the 2011 model year GM vehicles, and is better than SN as dexos1 adds a lot of extra tough tests, the whole point.

Like I mentioned already, if you really torture that engine, use a Euro-spec oil or Rotella T6 5w-40. Again, depends on usage and the owner's view of risk here.

Originally Posted By: dlundblad
Once again folks, we have an example of the US simply trying to get better fuel economy and that oil weights really don't matter. Use the correct viscosity for your ambient temperature and you are golden.

If the owner wants to save about 1% to 3% fuel, he will stick with a 0w30 or 5w30 here, compared to using the thicker higher friction 40 weights. Oil viscosity matters to those who want to save fuel or are using their engines in hot heavy duty conditions like towing, racing, etc.

 

[lubricatosaurus]

Originally Posted By: mmayorca
I was looking for the MB.229.5 specs also or some heavy duty diesel engine oil. Here in brazil rotella it's called rimula, i'll be looking into it. I usually do light duty driving, never tow anything, but sometimes i get caught in HEAVY traffic.


I think for those conditions, you don't have to use Rimula (I am assuming that's the same as the full synthetic Shell Rotella T6 5w-40 product). You certainly could if you want the highest level of performance you can get. ... If you don't tow much, about any oil will be adequate if its SN, SM, or SL. Certainly dexos1 would give you an extra level of performance for less ring deposits over time no matter what.

 

[mmayorca]

Thanks for the advices. At the next OC, I'll be looking for the best price between dexos 1 and MB.229 oils, since i like that "extra level of performance", and the major brands with this especifications are not that expensive, compared to "usual" oils. Hee we have Pentosin, Petronas Syntium, YPF and Helix Ultra with fairly prices.

 

[Bud_One]

Originally Posted By: bigt61
In Rio, I'd use whatever 10w30 or 40 you can find. Dexos is probably overkill unless you're extending your OCIs. That is one tough engine.


+1 -Back in 1996 - I had a 1993 S10 Blazer with the 4.3 - ran Kendall 10w30 and Pennzoil 10w30 - sold it with 264k miles on it. Never had an oil related issue.

 

[Justin251]

That engine was designed way before dexos was even thought about.

Correct me if I'm wrong but it's a small block 350 with two cylinders chopped off.

Just pick a quality conventional or synthetic and go with it.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

Originally Posted By: Justin251
That engine was designed way before dexos was even thought about.

Correct me if I'm wrong but it's a small block 350 with two cylinders chopped off.

Just pick a quality conventional or synthetic and go with it.

Hey, don't let logic get in the way of offering too many opinions!

 

[Pontual]

I found Dexos1 and Synthium 3000 for about R$23 - R$25 on ML. I'd use Synthium 3000 (actually I have both in my stach). S 3000 is 5w40 (MB229.5) better IMO, because Rio 40 graus is nearby, and the fuel economy difference is 1-2%, at warmup.

 

[mmayorca]

Nice! I'll be looking into the syntium 3000, the syntium 5000GM it's also very good and dexos 1 approved. Currently i'm running M1 5w30 since I get a good deal on it. Penstosin High Performance it's also MB 229.5 approved and sometimes you can get a 5 liter jug for approximately R$170.

You own a Blazer also?

 

[stchman]

The 4.3L engine in the S-10 Blazer is a great engine.

I had the same engine in my 1998 Chevy C1500. 5w30 will be fine in that engine, you can run dexos1 spec oil, but dexos1 is only required since 2011, but it is a better spec than older oils.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: lubricatosaurus
Yes, dexos1 is "best" from the standpoint of less ring deposits, less engine wear, etc., so a higher performance option, yes it is.

How is it "better" than an A5/B5 oil that has forgone dexos1 approval? OCIs should be extended, anyhow, since this engine didn't use the Vette spec, or specify synthetic or a blend in the first place.

 

[NH73]

If you listen to GM, yes, you should use Dexos1. As Dexos1 supersedes 6094M. But Dexos1 is a lot stricter than 6094M.