To go synthetic or not?

[wallyuwl]

OK guys, I have a 2010 Equinox with the DI 2.4 4 cyl. 25k miles. I have a certificate type thing where I get oil changes and tire rotations for free until 31k. It saw GM dino until about 15k. M1 synthetic since.

The plan: get one oil change today at 25.5k miles. One at 31k right before the certificate expires.

The question: I have to pay the $30 difference to get M1. Dino is free. It will be a 5k OCI. To make things slightly more complicated, I have a stash of Synpower and P1 filters and could do the oil change myself for about $17 (give or take, dont' remember exactly). But since I have it in for the tires I'm thinking just have them do the oil right away, too.

What would you do, for this oil change and the next one in 5k?

Once I reach the mileage where the certificate isn't good any more I plan on using Synpower with the P1 and Bosch filters I have accmulated cheap.

 

[edvanp]

Free Dino for your next 2 changes and after that, Synpower done at home. The OCI depends on your driving habits and mileage. I put about 1k a month on my vehicles and do 2 changes a year, March/September with synthetic. That works well for me.

 

[1999nick]

Do not waste M1 synthetic on a 5,000 mile OCI. Dino is plenty good for that distance. When you are out of warranty and can do a 10,000+ OCI, that is the time for M1.

 

[daman]

"what would i do?"

you asked...

I'd toss them free coupons in file 13 and do my own service with M1 a quality filter and go off the OLM and don't look back.

i HATE stealerships to many shady workers that just move em in and out,plenty of posts on it here.

 

[callbay]

Your "Dino from the dealer" plan sounds best.

 

[dubie2003]

Why not just provide the M1 yourself and have them re-fill the bottle with their dino for use later for a flush or in lawn equipment? Defiently the cheaper option.

Does anyone else know how a dino will hold up in a DI motor like his?

 

[someguy]

Just pay the $30 and let them handle it. Its worth it for now if you are comfortable with their techs. The stash wont go bad.

 

[mongo161]

+1 Get the Dino changes from the Dealer.

 

[wallyuwl]

Thanks guys. My appt. is soon so I gotta leave soon.

I'm going to do 5k OCI with the free dino for the next two. After that I'm going to start using my 50 qt. Synpower stash with the P1/Bosch filter stash I have. It will be 70% hwy anyway during this time. Never had a "problem" with dino the first 13-15k, though it does seem to run smoother on the M1. But the $30 savings will come in handy right now considering our other car needs over $500 in repairs (and that is just parts, I'm doing all the work myself).

 

[NHHEMI]

The GM DI engines are very hard on oil. I personally would stick with 5K OCI's but only with synthetic. If I was using dino it would be 3K. GM is starting to do recalls on some vehicles equipped with DI engines to change the algorythm of the OLM to shorten the time.