Towing season coming up

[Petrou]

ok so here it is. 2002 Chevy 2500HD 8.1 4x4 six speed manual. Getting ready for the big hay hauling season, wondering if anyone had any motor suggestions or oils they have used with great results. Preferably synthetic cuz its gonna be cold winter most likely. oh and loads will be up to 12000 lbs this years maybe more if i find a flatbed goosneck trailer

 

[Colt45ws]

Maxlife full synthetic 5W or 10W30.
M1 High Mileage 10W30 or HM 5W30, if you can find it.
German Castrol 0W30.
Maybe if you want even heavier Rotella Syn 5W40 would works as well.

 

[OVERKILL]

How cold do your winters get? Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck 5w40 might be a good choice if you are really beating the *poop-style word goes here* out of it.

 

[beanoil]

Rotella T Synthetic 5w40.

 

[Jim 5]

I'd be running XD-3 0w30 (if you ever get north of the border) or GC.

Love that 8.1.

 

[jorton]

I think that's a diesel.

Mobil 1 5w-40
Royal Purple synthetic 15w40(check api approval)
Shell Rotella 5w-40

Do round bales from Montana make it all the way to South Texas?

 

[Jim 5]

I think it's the monster gas engine that used to be mated to the Allison transmission (for Autos). GC sounds perfect for that.

 

[Colt45ws]

Yes, its a monster gas engine.

 

[afoulk]

I always wanted to take one of those for a spin just to see how they ran. Shame they don't make them anymore.

 

[mmmmoil]

With the cold winters and it being a gas engine, I'd choose the Mobil 1 5w30 truck and suv. Pick up a couple 5 q's at Walmart for $22 while you still can.

 

[ZR2grizz]

Calls for a 5w30(I believe)and that should work very well in the fall/or year-round for that matter, best value would be PP right now. Also, from what I've heard, the 8.1L burns oil and fouls plugs like crazy(or more than other engines), hope yours doesn't, but if it does I would be looking value along with quality.

 

[Petrou]

Ok. First of all.. im not sure if they make it all the way to texas, i do know washington oregon idaho, i know they get it, but i wouldn't doubt or put it pass me if they do get that far down, good hay season you cant beat a good quality alfalfa hay from around here.

Second, winters get rather cold down to 30 and even 60 below with the wind chill. i have seen 30 below before 50mph winds, and yes it gets very cold when you got six horses to tend to round the clock and two of them are only a year old.

third, beet the poo out of it, i try not to. but yes the 8.1 liter does burn oil and fould plugs, i go through a quart about every 1500 miles and have put a set of plugs in and yes they were fouled. but a can or two of seafoam and conoco gas keeps them clean ill post my plug pics when i get them out here in just a few months.

fourth, i would love to try German Castrol, 0-30 but i have no idea where to find or how to find it. i will take any help i can on that.

I LOVE THE 8.1 PEOPLE COMPLAIN ALL THEY WANT
i got 18 mpg out of it once average about 13.5 in town without a/c. about 16 on the highway usually if there are no hills and i drive at 65-70. Thanks for all the input guys. like i said i would love to find some german castrol if anyone can let me know what to look for and where

 

[Jim 5]

You're getting about the same mileage I got on my Avalanche with the 5.3L v8 and 4.10 gears.

GC is Castrol Syntec 0w-30. It has to say "made in germany" somewhere on the bottle. Somebody will pipe up and remind me where. This does great in really cold conditions (I'm really familiar with the kind of cold you're talking about), but also in long OCI's. Also at normal engine temperatures it's darn near a 40wt, which might help some with the oil burning.

Can't help you with where to buy, but if you're ever in Alberta, I can tell you exactly where to get it. That and XD-3 0w30 which is in many ways just as good.

 

[Petrou]

great thank you. I have never heard or seen xd-3. but if i do make it up that way ill be sure to take a look. we also got a 1998 ford f250 with the 4.6 liter and thats another one i wanna try it in.

 

[Colt45ws]

You can get "german" Castrol Syntec 0W30 at an Autozone if you have one around there. It says "European Formula" on the front and "Made in germany" on the back in small print. This would work well.
Like Jim said its not far off from being a 0W40.

Was the F250 available with the 4.6? I thought the smallest was the 5.4. Is this the F250 "Light Duty"?

As an addendum, its is important to note for posterity that vehicles are not affected the way many people think with wind chills. They will only cool to true air temperature and no more. It may cool it down faster from the air moving around it but once it hits air temperature thats it.

 

[Petrou]

ok. cool. thanks. ya we have oreilly and napa here. there is also a parts plus and carquest but carquest wont have anything like that. thank you, i think that will work out perfectly.

 

[ZR2grizz]

I think the closest AZ is in Helena, and as said earlier and on their website they should carry the GC 0w-30. I head over there all the time, and will be looking into this oil for a friends VW VR6. Let me know if your interested (I know where U live, haha!!!) A 120mi. run (one-way) is a long haul for just an oil run.

Later,

 

[FZ1]

Suggest you have a Trailer Hub replacement kit and tools to change a hub or two so you don't get caught on the road. When is the last time you inspected/changed/greased your trailer wheel bearings? Good luck,Cowboy.

 

[addyguy]

I'd go with Rotella T Synthetic 5w40. Stout oil that may help reduce consumption.

 

[Drew99GT]

A CJ-4 HDEO synthetic 0w30 would be the perfect oil for your truck, but they're hard to come by in the States.

GC 0w30 would be a good option as well - robust but capable of handling the below 0 starts.