Oil change advice Chevy 4.3

[troutfisher]

Originally Posted By: bigt61
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.


I tow around 4200 all day long,enclosed construction trailer,I drive all over the east coast installing boat slips, and piers Some times it gets dusty getting to job but nothing crazy since its always near big lakes,I have a napa gold air filter,Going to get the carquest synthetic and use the blue filter for 5500 miles and see how it goes. thanks for all the advice,Going to save some money now lol

 

[BrocLuno]

Welcome aboard

OK, so as you have seen, you're getting an eye full of folks who think you are over doing it. Me, not so much.

You're towing all the time, so that's severe in my book. I might go out to 6,000 miles with really good oil like you are using. But prolly not. The reason - to get under there and check the vehicle out. More important than the cost of a bit of oil. And, as long as you are down there anyway, might as well...

I'd prolly just go to spring and fall changes, and skip the mileage thing. If it were me, I'd be on Rotella T6 5W-40 for all the towing and summer heat. Slow speeds off-road can lead to heat soaking too, so the 40 will be good at that. It's not the thickest 40 out there, so not much hit over a 30 ...

For the filter, I'd prolly run Fram Tough-Guard or CQ Blue as you have been. I might go oversized if you have room and they can cross reference one for for you. That way you'd feel more comfortable going longer as you'd have a bit more media area and system volume

 

[barkingspider]

Go w the cheapest 5w30 or 10w30 I can get if ur are doing 3K miles OCI. Take the Mobil 1 to at least 6K OCI

 

[bigt61]

Originally Posted By: troutfisher


I tow around 4200 all day long,enclosed construction trailer,I drive all over the east coast installing boat slips, and piers Some times it gets dusty getting to job but nothing crazy since its always near big lakes,I have a napa gold air filter,Going to get the carquest synthetic and use the blue filter for 5500 miles and see how it goes. thanks for all the advice,Going to save some money now lol


Sounds like a good plan, just stay on top of your oil level.

 

[RF Overlord]

I recently retired from a job where my company vehicle was a 2001 GMC Safari with the 4.3 Vortec, same as the OP's. When I left, that van had 130,xxx on it, every mile but the first 41 were put on by me, with oil changes from Jiffy Lube every 5,000 miles. (before anyone yells at me, the company required us to take them there) That motor ran just as strong and quiet when I left as when it was brand new. Transmission blew up once, though...

 

[Bud_One]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
I really dont think you can go wrong with Pennzoil 5w30 in the old iron 4.3.


+1 - Co worker had a 2000 Chevy single cab long bed with 319k miles and the 4.3 V6 . It Lived on Jiffy Lube oil changes.

 

[nascarnation]

I use Mobil 1 0W40 (my "universal" oil) and change every two years (about 6000 miles total).
But of course my duty cycle is very much the opposite of yours.
My 1999 4.3 has 150,000 miles and for some reason the oil stays beautifully clean, unlike all the other vehicles I have. The only other rig I've owned like this was a Saturn Vue with the Honda 3.5 V6.

 

[troutfisher]

Just dumped the Mobil 1 Extended Performance with 6000 miles on it,oil had alot of towing miles on it and put in Carquest brand 5w30 Synthetic with a blue CQ fliter ,engine is nice and smooth.Going to start using this instead of the Mobil 1,Going to save alot of money,any negative effects of switching oils brands,should I change it early to flush all the Mobil 1 out?Does anybody know anything about this carquest oil,who its made by?

 

[Tony10s]

Originally Posted By: troutfisher
Just dumped the Mobil 1 Extended Performance with 6000 miles on it,oil had alot of towing miles on it and put in Carquest brand 5w30 Synthetic with a blue CQ fliter ,engine is nice and smooth.Going to start using this instead of the Mobil 1,Going to save alot of money,any negative effects of switching oils brands,should I change it early to flush all the Mobil 1 out?Does anybody know anything about this carquest oil,who its made by?


There is no need to flush out any remaining Mobil 1 (absolutely no need to change your Carquest Synthetic oil early). Carquest Synthetic used to be made by Ashland/Valvoline. It is currently made by Amelie Oil Company (see AOC on the bottom of the bottle), and it is a fine oil that's dexos1 approved. The people I know who have used it all say it is a quiet, smooth-running oil as well. In my opinion, you've made a very good choice, and that's a great deal you're getting on that oil and filter.

 

[Shata]

Molbil EP on 3k really is a waste bud. Get regular mobil 1 a good filter like royal purple or fram ultra and go 5k easy do a oil analysis which I'm sure will show you TBN of about 3.5-3.0. I think you're going to fine around 7k but I would always run UAO before going blind.