Short driving, need advice

[KeithKman]

2001 Tahoe with the 5.3. My drive to work is under 3 miles each way. I drive to work and drive home 5 days a week. The engine temp doesn't even get to operating temperature. I know this kills oil.

I'm currently running Mobil Clean 5000 with a PureONE filter. I just picked up a bunch of M1 0w-40 since it's on sale for $4.99 a quart. I'm planning on changing it next weekend.

How long should my OCI's be?

 

[spasm3]

If you are not driving longer on the weekends , i'd change every three months and use an hdeo( handles fuel dilution better). If you are getting it good and hot each weekend, I see no reason not to go 5000 miles.

 

[Vibe_2007]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
If you are not driving longer on the weekends , i'd change every three months. If you are getting it good and hot each weekend, I see no reason not to go 5000 miles.


+1, I agree with this. My commute with my Vibe is only around 6 miles each way and I compensate for that by taking at least a once weekly 45 minute trip on the highway to get her nice and warm. I split the difference between what is recommended in the manual (6 months or 5,000 miles) and do a 4 month 4,000 mile change with either Pennzoil yellow bottle or Mobil clean 5000 from the stash.

 

[KeithKman]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
i'd change every three months and use an hdeo( handles fuel dilution better).


What would be an example of a HDEO oil?

 

[bigdawg74]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
If you are not driving longer on the weekends , i'd change every three months and use an hdeo( handles fuel dilution better). If you are getting it good and hot each weekend, I see no reason not to go 5000 miles.


So let's say all the OP drives is to work and back. No long weekend trips. 30 miles/week x 13 weeks (3 months) = 390 miles. And then change the oil. Really?

Seems awful wasteful.

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: bigdawg74
Originally Posted By: spasm3
If you are not driving longer on the weekends , i'd change every three months and use an hdeo( handles fuel dilution better). If you are getting it good and hot each weekend, I see no reason not to go 5000 miles.


So let's say all the OP drives is to work and back. No long weekend trips. 30 miles/week x 13 weeks (3 months) = 390 miles. And then change the oil. Really?

Seems awful wasteful.


Thats 130 cold starts where the oil never gets warm enough to vaporize off the fuel, with the cost of main an rod bearing replacement, its not wasteful at all.

 

[Vibe_2007]

Originally Posted By: bigdawg74
Originally Posted By: spasm3
If you are not driving longer on the weekends , i'd change every three months and use an hdeo( handles fuel dilution better). If you are getting it good and hot each weekend, I see no reason not to go 5000 miles.


So let's say all the OP drives is to work and back. No long weekend trips. 30 miles/week x 13 weeks (3 months) = 390 miles. And then change the oil. Really?

Seems awful wasteful.


Not wasteful if the engine doesn't get up to temp enough to get the oil nice and hot.

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: KeithKman
Originally Posted By: spasm3
i'd change every three months and use an hdeo( handles fuel dilution better).


What would be an example of a HDEO oil?


rotella t-5 10w30, amsoil hdd 5w30. Or what i run in my 5.3 avalanche when i tow. Rotella t-6 5w 40.

 

[gathermewool]

3 months? Bringing in costly repairs as scare tactics?

If those are the only miles you're putting on it, then 6 months would be my min. The only way to know for sure is to send out a sample

 

[fdcg27]

Don't you ever go anywhere other than to work and back?
Surely you must do at least some other driving?
How else could this ten year old beast have reached 141K?
The conditions you describe would be tough on any oil.
I don't think you drive enough to get your money's worth from the M1.
I'd say that a 10W-30 HDEO might be a good choice for you, along with maybe yearly drains.
If you changed once a year at your current stated useage levels for the vehicle, you'd be putting only ~1500 miles on the oil.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: gathermewool
3 months? Bringing in costly repairs as scare tactics?

If those are the only miles you're putting on it, then 6 months would be my min. The only way to know for sure is to send out a sample


+1

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: gathermewool
3 months? Bringing in costly repairs as scare tactics?

If those are the only miles you're putting on it, then 6 months would be my min. The only way to know for sure is to send out a sample


No scare tactics, like you just my opinion. For the last 2 years my son has had the same driving conditions 2.5 miles to high school 5 days a week. never gets it warm. I can pull the stick in the winter and smell the gasoline in the oil, i change his every three months.

 

[KeithKman]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Don't you ever go anywhere other than to work and back?
Surely you must do at least some other driving?
How else could this ten year old beast have reached 141K?
The conditions you describe would be tough on any oil.
I don't think you drive enough to get your money's worth from the M1.
I'd say that a 10W-30 HDEO might be a good choice for you, along with maybe yearly drains.
If you changed once a year at your current stated useage levels for the vehicle, you'd be putting only ~1500 miles on the oil.


I got the Tahoe with 120k miles on it. I do drive on the weekends sometimes, but the majority of the driving the Tahoe sees is to work and back.

For example, in a few days I'll be going to Lake Mead outside of Las Vegas and back (~550 miles round trip).

 

[The_Eric]

Three miles each way in Cali? Why not ride a bike and save the truck for grocery runs and longer trips.

 

[KeithKman]

Originally Posted By: The_Eric
Three miles each way in Cali? Why not ride a bike and save the truck for grocery runs and longer trips.


I thought about it, but the main thing keeping me from doing that is the major construction they are doing at the intersection between my house and work.

 

[mechtech2]

Modern FI cars are MUCH better than old style FI or carburetor equipped cars.
Being in Cal also attenuates any problems [it just aint that cold].

So how long with that oil?
Since no one else has that exact car with that exact drive and exact oil, it's tough to guess accurately.

M1 0-40 is one of their best oils, and 5K should be very safe.
But that would take you three years with no week end driving!
So once a year should be good.

 

[fdcg27]

How often do you do road trips?
If you're doing them at least monthly or so, that presents an entirely different picture.
You'd at least be getting the oil warm enough to evaporate the moisture every few weeks, which would then let you go to a longer drain.
How long did it take you to put 21K on the Tahoe?

 

[KeithKman]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
How often do you do road trips?
If you're doing them at least monthly or so, that presents an entirely different picture.
You'd at least be getting the oil warm enough to evaporate the moisture every few weeks, which would then let you go to a longer drain.
How long did it take you to put 21K on the Tahoe?


I got the car about 1.5 years ago. I was driving a lot since I was going to school 250 miles away. Since I'm done and work close to home I haven't driven that much.

I do the occasional road trip. I just ordered the BlackStone test kit. I want to see what this Mobil Clean 5000 shows.

 

[KeithKman]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
M1 0-40 is one of their best oils, and 5K should be very safe.
But that would take you three years with no week end driving!
So once a year should be good.



I picked up the M1 0w-40 since it's on sale for $4.99 a quart and it's one of their best oils.

 

[fdcg27]

Please post your UOA here.
I'm sure many of us would be very curious to see how the MC5 held up in your use.