I have a Chevy 1500 regular cab short box 4x4. It has a 4.3 litre cpi and a overdrive automatic. I have a set of 33X12.5/16 tires on her. I will be tow and hauling wood and other toys I have with her. I have been told that I have a lead foot also. But my question is that I have rebuilt the motor 30 over and have replaced everything. I was considering using a 15W 40 oil and a AC filter. Would a 15w 40 be a good oil to use. Also is a AC filter the best. If this helps I plan on using a oil cooler in this truck.
Chevy 1500 Pick-Up oil
- Thread starter JR
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15W-40 seems to work pretty well in older 4.3L with worn valve seals and suspect oil control rings to reduce consumption. It might be a bit much for a fresh engine with below 0F starts in Michigan.
I might consider the new Motorcraft 5w30 Synthetic Blend which should be under $1.50 Qt if it is priced comparable to the 5W-20.
Gene
I might consider the new Motorcraft 5w30 Synthetic Blend which should be under $1.50 Qt if it is priced comparable to the 5W-20.
Gene
I would never go to a 40 weight or higher without doing an oil analysis on a thinner oil first.
You best oil would be a 10w30, there is no reason to use a 15w40 and it may have disadvantages. 10w30 is the most popular viscosity in use in the USA.
I would go with synthetic 15w40, but that's just me.
I probably wouldn't use a conventional 15w40 in your winter.
Hope this helps.
I probably wouldn't use a conventional 15w40 in your winter.
Hope this helps.
The 4.3, like many later GM engines, tends to consume a lot of oil by conventional standards. A quart every 2000 miles or less is not uncommon. "Low tension" piston rings for gas mileage may be the cause. I had good luck with 10w30 in the winter and straight 30 in the summer. The owners manual did allow straight 30 above 50F.
I agree with others: If you're not burning oil, I'd stick with 10w30 and maybe go to 5w30 for cold winters. Use your favorite conventional oil; Pennzoil is a good one.
I drive very hard I the sound of 5+ grand shifts and I do a lot of highway driving of 80 to 85 speeds. I am by accetent running a 205 degree thermostat, auto part store mistake. I have a habit of allowing my truck to idle for extended periods of time.If I am only gonna be out of my truck for no more then 45 minutes I will leave it run. And some mrnings a get ahead of myself in the morning and the truck may run up to an hour before I leave for school.
I have a good deal of experience with the 4.3L (I'm currently driving a '92 C1500 w/4.3L) and would recommend the following for you:
Rotella T or Mobil 1 Truck and SUV 5w-40
AcDelco PF52 filter
Rotella T or Mobil 1 Truck and SUV 5w-40
AcDelco PF52 filter
15w-40 did reduce my consumption a great deal, but did nothing to cure the blue smoke present on startup from the bad valve seals. Switched to Pennzoil High Mileage 10w40 and had noted the following:
Consumption even less. I haven't measured it yet, but I'm figuring 3/4 quart every 3,000 miles!
Blue smoke highly reduced. Not nearly as much, nor nearly as "thick". Also, turning from blue to a very light blue/almost back to white!
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