Running heavier oil than spec

[fantastic]

View attachment 345347

Certainly get some 40 or 50 grade in there. 15w-50 Mobil if you're normally above 20F. 15w-40 HDEO next. What are you thinking?

 

[Auto tech]

About 200k. Synthetic. My fingers are crossed. Do you have any predictions?

Hard to say without looking at it

 

[Auto tech]

About 200k. Synthetic. 5w30. Do you have any predictions for the longevity? It's a clean truck and has a decent maintenance record. It did have several different owners, but the last guy took very good care of it according to the shop he went to.

Hard to predict. I've seen engines in horrible condition continuing to run. They may consume oil or have lots of blow-by or smoky exhaust but still running. Those 4.3 engines were awesome. I have a 1994 4.3. they did tend to shed lots of iron that had you not had the magnet drain plug you may not have realized

 

[4wd]

Had a 2005 - ran Mobil 1 5W-30 or Delvac 15W-40
Many of them live long lives on the road and water …

 

[PBlackard]

Not many vehicles use magnetic drain plugs for oil (transmission, yeah). Something tells me this has been ongoing and the previous owner installed that to monitor.

My 2000 Chevy Express with the 4.3 Vortec came with the magnetic plug for the engine oil drain.

 

[Shannanigans]

I have a 1996 S-10 with the 4300. 318,000 miles. You could run a Euro 5-30 which is a bit thicker if you like but you don't need to baby that engine, just give shorter OCI's like 5,000 or 12 months. If see any sludge, use a quality engine flush.

What would you recommend for an engine flush? And thanks!

 

[bruce381]

rub on fingers is is smooth and silky or gritty

 

[bruce381]

also if sludgy and over 10K on oil change could just ne ? normal?

 

[1WildPig]

I'd add a half qt of Marvel Mystery Oil to the last 500 miles of your present oil change interval (so no more than 1/2 qt over full) and then change it using a full qt of MMO with the rest a 15w40, like Delvac 1300, for another full interval or about 2500 miles anyway ...and then, if no apparent issues, start using Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w30... adjust as you go along...

 

[Shannanigans]

rub on fingers is is smooth and silky or gritty

I'll do that tomorrw! Thx, and stand by....

 

[ZeeOSix]

View attachment 345347

How many miles on that OCI? An engine with 200K miles on it shouldn't be generating that much normal wear, so something might be going on. Did you cut open the oil filter to see if there were any larger particles, or look in the drain pan? That debris on the drain plug is most likely just "black paste" like ferrous debris. Run the xW-40 oil and monitor on the next oil change.