Older truck with low miles, 2 part Q

[Murphy]

Did a search, most deal with high mileage vehicles.
I have a 1988 GMC 305cu. that I have owned since new. It only has 31k miles on the clock.
It does blow blue upon startup, but other than this, there is no oil consumption.
Have done 6 month-dino-10w-30 oil (mobil)changes from the start as it doesn't get more than 2k per year.
Will a different weight oil help to reduce the blue on startup?
Can I use a synthetic and reduce the changes to once a year without a problem? (getting lazy in my old age)
Thanks,
Murphy

 

[eljefino]

Do you only use this thing on weekends, and let it warm up all the way when you do use it? That's easier on the oil than if it's, say, an airport ramp truck.

You can use a heavy duty (diesel) engine oil and change once per year. Depending on your climate that would be a 5w40 synth or 15w40 cheaper dino. Could also get 10w30 if you special order it.

The puffs on startup are valve seals; a high mileage oil might slow that down but I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Murphy]

The truck can sit for three weeks at a time, but when it does get used, I do try to run it for at least 20 miles minimum.
Not knowing enough about the subject, I've never heard about using diesel engine oil. Here in Maine it gets plenty cold as you know, but if I decide to go for the once a year deal, which weight would I be better off with?

 

[Bullet]

I just changed the valve seals on my truck a few weeks ago. At first it smoked at startup, then at an idle. Little $14.00 parts can make you think an engine is worn out.

 

[Rand]

Mobil 1 Truck and Suv 5w-40(group4) or Rotella T 5w-40(grp 3)would be examples of syn diesel oil...
15w-40 wouldnt be useable in main.. at least not all
year(which was the point)

Rand

 

[theguru]

I agree with Rand as far as oils and would change yearly.

 

[Murphy]

quote:

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Originally posted by Bullet:
I just changed the valve seals on my truck a few weeks ago. At first it smoked at startup, then at an idle. Little $14.00 parts can make you think an engine is worn out.

---

You're right, I should take care of this problem the right way and replace the seals. Truck doesn't deserve a band-aid fix.
I probably will take the Syn. route.
Thanks for the input guys.

 

[Drew99GT]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Murphy:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bullet:
I just changed the valve seals on my truck a few weeks ago. At first it smoked at startup, then at an idle. Little $14.00 parts can make you think an engine is worn out.

---

You're right, I should take care of this problem the right way and replace the seals. Truck doesn't deserve a band-aid fix.
I probably will take the Syn. route.
Thanks for the input guys.

---

Rotella 5w-40 ($12.88/gallon at Walmart) would be about the perfect oil for your engine. Can handle the cold, and the warm, and is great at corrosion resistance which your motor probably faces with such low usage.

 

[williar]

I run my '95 C2500 5.7L about 5K/yr, mostly in the summer hauling a camper. I change the oil spring & fall with dino Pennzoil. I feel there's no need for synthetics with such a short OCI. Maybe after 100K I'll need to do an AutoRx, though. Truck consumes very little oil, even hauling the camper in the summer. 85K on the clock.

I put 200K on my '88 C2500 5.7L before selling it. It used half a quart between 3K changed with dino 10w30. I did need to put in new valve stem seals at about 150K, though.

 

[Ken2]

Murph,
I'd do an Auto-Rx cleaning of your engine to try to soften those old seals, then run your choice of conventional oil with 1-year oil changes. You might try a so-called "oil for high mileage engines" for the seal conditioning qualities.


Ken

 

[04SpecV]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ken2:
Murph,
I'd do an Auto-Rx cleaning of your engine to try to soften those old seals, then run your choice of conventional oil with 1-year oil changes. You might try a so-called "oil for high mileage engines" for the seal conditioning qualities.


Ken

---

With the mileage he drives, it will take yearsto see if Auto-RX works or not.
I'd just change the valve seals if it were mine.

 

[Murphy]

That's a good suggestion Ken, But I think I may be past this point(seal conditioning)now. I've noticed in the last couple of months that the puffs of blue are starting to look more like mosquito contol.

I have to research the Rotella 5w-40 that Drew and others have mentioned. Sounds like it may fit my needs.
Off to do a search....

[ April 05, 2005, 08:18 PM: Message edited by: Murphy ]