Bought a new 2011 Silverado 1500

Pennzoil motor oil
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blue_goose

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I've usually changed out the oil within 1000 miles on most of my new vehicles...my previous car was a 2010 Honda Fit and Honda recommended that the "break in" oil stay in until the OLM signaled for a change. I did that with the Honda....


How about with the 5.3 Vortec? Keep the factory fill in until the OLM signals for a change or change out at 1000-1500 miles?

I noticed that GM vehicles now strongly "suggest" using a Dexos marked oil....as was told by dealer that factory fill is a semi synthetic which seems to be the case

Thoughts?



Goose
 
s'up Blue. Remember you from the HHR days. We both have different rides now. I'd leave the factory fill in until 5000 or OLM signals its down to 25%.
 
Don't forget the dexos1 recommendation if going by the OLM. Likely the 5.3 doesn't need dexos1, but it is a very stout specification.

My Cruze says dexos1 is required. Different engines, different needs.
 
Originally Posted By: Blue_Goose
my previous car was a 2010 Honda Fit

Sorry for a bit of OT, but what made you go from a Fit to a Silverado?
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete

Sorry for a bit of OT, but what made you go from a Fit to a Silverado?


I saw one of those Fit's on the road today. I was looking at it while at a stoplight
and I remember thinking, they probably named it fit because it fits into small places.
grin2.gif
 
Are you going to keep it for 250,000+ miles? If so and you want the least potential for wear, change it early!

If not, leave the (probably minimal) metal soup in. It wouldn't be "bad".
 
Originally Posted By: tpitcher
Are you going to keep it for 250,000+ miles? If so and you want the least potential for wear, change it early!

If not, leave the (probably minimal) metal soup in. It wouldn't be "bad".


Metal soup is right. I would have drained that factory fill after the first 300 miles.
 
Originally Posted By: Blue_Goose
I've usually changed out the oil within 1000 miles on most of my new vehicles...my previous car was a 2010 Honda Fit and Honda recommended that the "break in" oil stay in until the OLM signaled for a change. I did that with the Honda....


How about with the 5.3 Vortec? Keep the factory fill in until the OLM signals for a change or change out at 1000-1500 miles?

I noticed that GM vehicles now strongly "suggest" using a Dexos marked oil....as was told by dealer that factory fill is a semi synthetic which seems to be the case

Thoughts?



Goose


GM does not use any special break in oil or break in additives. IMO change the FF out early. I like your 1000 mile mark. It is what I generally do. Did that on the 2 5.3L Silverados I had actually( 05 and NBS 07 like your 2011 ).

As to the Dexos spec. Have you actually read your owner's manual? It isn't "strongly recommends" they flat out say to "only" use Dexos unless you can't locate any and then they say to use API w/ Starburst. Page 10-10 Vehicle Care in your manual.

Now, with that said, there is no mechanical reason your 5.3L needs Dexos oil like a DI engine might. Your 2011 5.3L is no different than my 2007 5.3L was. Any API w/ Starburst oil will be just fine. No mechanical reason it needs a semi synthetic either. 5W30 conventional is fine( I ran Full Synthetic FWIW ).

Less hassle for you if you just run an oil that meets/exceeds the Dexos spec however. If you are a Mobil 1 fan their 5W30's are actually Dexos licensed. So is Pennzoil Platinum 5W30. Most of the name brand companies will tell you now on the bottle if they meet/exceed the spec. Some of them told GM to stick it in regards to the licensing fee( good for them ).

So bottom line is Dexos is not mechanically needed for your 5.3L but warranty wise GM has done more than strongly recommend it.
 
I recently changed the oil on my daughter's 2008 Avalanche with the 5.3L. It still has castings and silicon grit draining out of it after 63.5K miles. So I think some early changes are a good idea.

I also had a used oil analysis done on the previous oil change. Based on the OLM it had 47% left after 5K miles. But the oil was already pretty well played out IMO. Here is a link to the used oil analysis:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...rue#Post2282382
 
From the manual:

Use only engine oil that is approved to the dexos specification or an equivalent engine oil of the appropriate viscosity grade.


It also says a little farther on: you may use a substitute engine oil displaying the API Starburst symbol and of SAE 5w30 viscosity grade.


Ok thanks HEMI...I now find that in the manual...

I've been away from this scene for a bit but what is the dexos spec? And what benefit is it to certain engines?

Too early to go to Pennzoil Platinum?

Hi Lone! yep I do remember ya from the HHR days...that was great car...sort of wish I still had it!

The Fit was a good car...I could milk 40 mpg out of it if I tried. Just never got comfortable in it and when trying to pass on the highway without a running start it could pretty scary. Have always wanted a truck and with the incentives and rebates I ended up paying about 10K less than MSRP. Yeah 100 mile a day commute does hurt the wallet but may pick up a beater to spell the truck a few times a week. The benefits outweigh the negatives for me



Goose
 
Originally Posted By: Blue_Goose
I've been away from this scene for a bit but what is the dexos spec? And what benefit is it to certain engines?

The Dexos-1 spec is for a tougher, more robust oil that gives longer oil life, better fuel economy, more engine protection, costs more to make, and costs the oil maker a significant licensing fee to GM. (Dexos-1 is GM's worldwide gasoline engine oil spec; Dexos-2 is their light duty diesel engine oil spec.)
Here's more:
http://www.gf-5.com/gsuniverse/sitetemplates/gf5/SPIDER DIAGRAM.html
 
Originally Posted By: Blue_Goose
From the manual:

Use only engine oil that is approved to the dexos specification or an equivalent engine oil of the appropriate viscosity grade.


It also says a little farther on: you may use a substitute engine oil displaying the API Starburst symbol and of SAE 5w30 viscosity grade.


Ok thanks HEMI...I now find that in the manual...

I've been away from this scene for a bit but what is the dexos spec? And what benefit is it to certain engines?

Too early to go to Pennzoil Platinum?

Hi Lone! yep I do remember ya from the HHR days...that was great car...sort of wish I still had it!

The Fit was a good car...I could milk 40 mpg out of it if I tried. Just never got comfortable in it and when trying to pass on the highway without a running start it could pretty scary. Have always wanted a truck and with the incentives and rebates I ended up paying about 10K less than MSRP. Yeah 100 mile a day commute does hurt the wallet but may pick up a beater to spell the truck a few times a week. The benefits outweigh the negatives for me



Goose


No, it isn't too early to go to Pennzoil Platinum. That would be a very good choice and it is a licensed Dexos oil so that just makes things easier on you.
 
Hello fellow Silverado owner:

I have a 2011 with the 5.3 myself. I decided to change the factory filter and topped off at roughly 1000 miles and did my first change with Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 @ 2500. I changed again @ 5000 miles with Quaker State Ultimate Durability 5w30 and will be doing another change in a few days when I hit 10000 miles on the odometer. I plan on using Quaker State Ultimate Durability again this change.

I really like this oil and it meets the dexos spec. I understand the new SN version of Pennzoil Ultra 5w30 will have the dexos certification when it comes out. If so as the truck gets older I may switch to it and do longer oil change intervals as I suspect PU will have a higher TBN than Quaker State Ultimate Durability. Also, I know some internet reports of excessive oil usage exist with the AFM equipped 5.3 GM engines. To keep any buildup off the rings this may be a reason to go for the "factory clean" of PU as the truck ages.
 
Thanks for the link..it does look like dexos1 outperforms most of the GF5 spec oils except for durability which I imagine leads to the shorter OCI. VIP Automotive does sell the GM Dexos1 5W30 for about 4.50 a quart. Good to know that is available at other places vs the dealer...so does dexos replace GM6094M spec?

I'm at 1000 miles on the dot right now...have had the truck for a week...I may change out Saturday if weather is decent...always have had good luck with Purolater...don't see a reason to change now although the PF48 seems to be a good choice as well


This oil change looks pretty simple to do...heck don't even need ramps
smile.gif





Goose
 
Have they changed it so the oil doesn't drain out onto the crossover pipe for the exhaust? Talk about a stupid design...
 
I changed my FF at 1050 miles. Again at 4000 and according to the OLM after that. As was stated GM's FF is just Dexos with no break in additives so there is no harm at all in an early change.

The truck engines are not the target for Dexos but got lumped in cause they figured it would be easier to spec. one oil across the board. That said Dexos is stout and the more popular synthetics meet the spec. I'd use syn if going by the OLM.

I understand completly switching from a sub-compact to a truck. I was raised on trucks and my first new car was a Scion XA. I traded it in in less than six months. There just really is no going back once you drive a truck...
 
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