Oil change advice Chevy 4.3

Pennzoil motor oil
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

troutfisher

Joined
Sep 5, 2016
Messages
87
Location
appalachia va
Hello new here,Do not know much about oil, So I have a 2005 chevy 1500 with the small 4.3 vortec,I got it at 76,000 miles 3 years ago,it has 132,000 now.I tow 95% of the time,a lot of highway miles and a lot of off-road slow miles

I change the oil every 3000 with a car-quest blue and Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30,

Is this a good choice for this engine for my driving? How are car-quest filters?,I only use them because I can get them at shop cost

thanks
 
Wayyyyyy overkill for that 4.3. Those engines will last forever on anything that resembles a motor oil lol.
Mine went over 250k (and it's still going, sold it to a neighbor for his lowrider project), all I ever used was store brand oil or QS/pennz/etc and Fram filters for 5-6k oil changes
 
Thats a tough engine and will run on anything from 0w30 to 5w 40. If you are going to change at 3k perhaps Pennzoil conventional or mobil conventional is more economical. You are tossing out synthetic oil at less than 1/2 its life.
 
Your choice of oil and filter are just fine and the engine will last a long time with regular oil changes. However, Mobil 1 Extended Performance is intended as a long drain interval oil up to 15,000 miles when used with a long interval filter like Mobil 1 or Fram Ultra. Is doesn't provide greater protection, just lasts longer. This is what people mean by Mobil 1 Extended Performance being overkill because changing every 3000 miles is not getting your money's worth from the oil. Your fine with your current practice but could save a lot of money by using a less expensive oil or just drive longer on the Mobil 1 Extended Performance. (Bitters almost always make the money saving suggestions.). I run Magnatec 5w30 syn blend in my Sierra. Meets dexos spec and is not expensive for the 3-4K annual mileage. My 2 cents.
 
Welcome - It's pretty hard to come on this site doing 3k on Mobil 1 Extended Performance - run it 5k as a minimum- 7k if you can stand it working your way up. Nobody has to run the more extreme OCI's per US standard - but pay attention to what they run "across the pond" ...
You will wear out before the oil or engine ...
 
Thanks for the advice,What if I switch to car-quest 5w30 synthetic I can get it around for $14.00 for 5 quarts?

Could I use the car-quest red filter instead of the blue if I stick with 3000 miles?

Only reason for 3000 miles oil change is all the towing I do
 
56k miles in 3 years..and like 18 oil changes in 36 months? Seems crazy to me, you drive it alot and change oil way too often. Start by doing 6k mile OCI's..that cuts oil,filter and changes by 1/2 and is easily still safe.
 
welcome2.gif


Doesn't your car have the OLM? If so, you can follow its suggestions with confidence
smile.gif


Yes, the CQ Red is suitable for manufacturer's recommended OCI. CQ Synthetic oil is fine, too. And that's a great price! In fact, that's usually what I do for cars with an OLM like yours, use the cheapest synthetic on sale.

Even conventional works for the factory-recommended OCI (the computer assumes conventional). Sometimes Kmart has Smitty's synthetic blend for well under $10 a jug.
 
Originally Posted By: troutfisher
Thanks for the advice,What if I switch to car-quest 5w30 synthetic I can get it around for $14.00 for 5 quarts?

Could I use the car-quest red filter instead of the blue if I stick with 3000 miles?

Only reason for 3000 miles oil change is all the towing I do


Oil will be fine for longer even with towing. Id spend more time worrying about your transmission, more sensitive then your engine when towing. What about an oil or transmission cooler?
 
Your fine on oil. I would have transmission fluid serviced often and worry less about the oil. If you seem to have a hard time towing still, then invest in aftermarket exhaust to help with power and cooler running engine.
 
Use the regular mobil 1 w/a fram ultra and change it every 7500 it will still overkill but it may make you feel better. With the $12.00 rebate it may be cheaper than the oil you mentioned.
 
Towing isn't doing much to your oil. I know it's hard to extend the oil change out, but really, you can.

Changing it out early isn't making your engine last any longer.

Run it out to 7,000-8,000 miles and do a Used Oil Analysis and it'll tell you how the oil is doing. You could probably run close to 10,000 miles.
 
Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
welcome2.gif


...


Same from me... you could probably go 7500 miles with that combination, and the oil would still be good. Several folks on here going 10k with "regular" Mobil 1. I'd bump up the filter a bit and go 10k. Might be a stretch though, coming from a 3k regimen so a more gradual extension might work...try 5k, see how you feel and get a used oil analysis. If you absolutely have to go 3k, any major conventional oil should serve you well.
 
Mixing oils is not a good ide, so just pick a major brand (Mobil, Castrol, Shell/Penn or Liqui Moly) oil company and stick with it. All those companies have web sites with oil finder or guide pages that will list their best oil for your particular engine.
If you are towing a heavy vehicle in a hot area it might be worth moving up one grade to an Xw40.
If the block is in good condition and not burning or leaking oil, there is no need to use a high mileage oil.
If the engine is in good condition as regards the injection system and coolant loss (Potential HG leak), then it should be possible to extend the present 3K OCI to 5K.
 
How much do you tow? How dusty are the off road slow miles? Are you monitoring the air filter condition? Likely, SuperTech conventional 5W or 10w30 is all you need for short intervals of 3-4k. If you're towing more than 5,000 lbs I'd move up to a 10W-40. If you stay with synthetic, you can double the interval - just watch the oil level and keep it topped off. Those 4.3s with high miles can develop RMS leaks, especially w synthetic. Watch level closely until you get a feel for how much it uses if you extend OCI.
 
Originally Posted By: troutfisher
Thanks for the advice,What if I switch to car-quest 5w30 synthetic I can get it around for $14.00 for 5 quarts?

Could I use the car-quest red filter instead of the blue if I stick with 3000 miles?

Only reason for 3000 miles oil change is all the towing I do


Firstly welcome! Even if you are towing I wouldn't be concerned about the low of miles between oil changes. As echoed in previous posts, that 4.3 is a workhorse. you could run it on Crisco and it'll last. Frankly I would use whatever is on sale. Personally I would use Supertech synthetic and a delco PF52 and run it for at least 5-6k. Even towing, that engine and that combo will offer you grat protection and save you some $$$

My main concern would be the diffs and the transmission. Keep those fluids clean and you should be in good shape. I know you mentioned Amsoil synchromesh. That's some good stuff. Don't forget to drain and fill the other fluids in the drivetrain and you'll be in good shape
 
I really dont think you can go wrong with Pennzoil 5w30 in the old iron 4.3. Go syn if you see a need, but Id extend the OCI out.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

H
Hybrid Oil Change Intervals (OCI)
2
Replies
29
Views
1K
OilStained
S
oil change at dealership
3 4 5
Replies
82
Views
3K
Speedbird001
M
Rethinking My Oil Change Intervals
2
Replies
27
Views
2K
andyd
C
Need help with 1996 Chevy Caprice 4.3 V8 fluids.
Replies
14
Views
747
Lawnman23
C
Advice on switching 1997 GMC 5.7 Vortec to Valvoline Restore & Protect or Mobil 1 0W40
2 3
Replies
44
Views
3K
CleanSump
Back
Top Bottom