Trailblazer I6 recommendation - dino(?) to syn

[Silver]

Just bought this '07 I6 4.2L truck with 30k miles on it. No idea what the oil history is, or what's in it now for that matter. Most likely dino.

Stop and go in North Ga (Atlanta) traffic for about 30 mins morning and evening with a 5-min blast down the interstate 85-90mph. I'm usually light on the throttle to save mpg, but will get on it every now and them, usually from a roll or stop. I like torque.

Manual specs 5w30 but I'm wondering how it would do with a 5w or 0w20? Probably too thin, eh?

Second question is should I go to a syn blend then syn, or just straight to syn? Let's assume the worst - that it's had dino for the first 30k miles. What would you recommend? I would really like to use a 0w-something and do buy into Haas' theories on the subject.

I know all oil's good oil and all that jazz... I'm picky and curious.

 

[Steve S]

Believe anything you must.

 

[HangerHarley]

Have an '03 GMC Envoy XL.

4.2L, V6.

Never used ANYTHING BUT 10w30 since DA IT WAS NEW. If not 5w30.. but more than likely. 10w30 (year round its fine, really. Dino too maybe in deep winter we go 5 but 10 is fine) .. Never anything else. EVER.

Car runs perfect. Better than new cars.

Believe whatever you wish.

Castrol GTX.

 

[SrDriver]

I would pickup some 0W30. Wal-Marts here have it in 5 quart jugs. Mobil 1 Synthetic. It will give you better winter starts and can improve fuel mileage a tad too.

 

[beanoil]

GC and my Envoy was not a good mix. Got the best fuel economy on Schaeffers 7k 5w30. Pick 7 quarts of your favorite, and change it at reasonable intervals. That I6 is a smooth motor, but 6 huge holes in the fuel tank. You'll find the cruise control "attack" (pull in going up a hill) to be abrupt, and it will pull hard, running the RPM way over what you can do with your foot. Good luck. My Envoy was the worst GM vehiole I ever owned.

 

[spasm3]

Is this a di engine? if so i would run synthetic, perhaps 0w30 as SrDriver suggested. i have used this in my escape and avalanche during the winter. The oil pressure seems to come up faster.

 

[HangerHarley]

Originally Posted By: beanoil
GC and my Envoy was not a good mix. Got the best fuel economy on Schaeffers 7k 5w30. Pick 7 quarts of your favorite, and change it at reasonable intervals. That I6 is a smooth motor, but 6 huge holes in the fuel tank. You'll find the cruise control "attack" (pull in going up a hill) to be abrupt, and it will pull hard, running the RPM way over what you can do with your foot. Good luck. My Envoy was the worst GM vehiole I ever owned.


Aside from that Full RPM race like a Ford Taurus when you press all the way down on the gas, i can say this Envoy XL has had not one hiccup nor issue.

Same with the Mercury Sable we had. Many people "Hate" that car.. it was the most reliable vehicle we every owned, for a new car in the 90s.

I have to completely report the opposite on my 03 Envoy XL. Not even any Squeaks and rattles, like two previous GM SUVs had that were ANNOYING as [censored].

You also dont need to put anything but conventional 10w30 in this truck. Y promise. So why would you?

 

[HangerHarley]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
Is this a di engine? if so i would run synthetic, perhaps 0w30 as SrDriver suggested. i have used this in my escape and avalanche during the winter. The oil pressure seems to come up faster.


It is 100% NOT a Direct Injection engine.

It is a 4.2L V-6 NOT Inline 6 (thought it has same displacement, power, and torque as Inline 6s 20 years older from different countries, in a heavier vehicle) and its pretty good.. Get on it and it will revvvvvv up like poster that does not like Enboy said, but other than that, be good to it and it will be good to you.

We got ours in 04 as a dealer leftover, low miles and still is.. from I-95 to around town driving, never an issue. Not one.

We got it "Only because it didnt have a Leather interior. Everybody that buys this wants the leather interior, or they dont buy it. This one didnt have it, so here you go. Leftover Demo. Enjoy."

Leftover Dealer Demos (Previous model year, not sold, that is on the dealer showroom floor and used for test drives) are wonderful things. Didnt have Leather seats, either.

 

[FXjohn]

trailblazers are too early to have DI

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: HangerHarley
Originally Posted By: spasm3
Is this a di engine? if so i would run synthetic, perhaps 0w30 as SrDriver suggested. i have used this in my escape and avalanche during the winter. The oil pressure seems to come up faster.


It is 100% NOT a Direct Injection engine.

It is a 4.2L V-6 NOT Inline 6 (thought it has same displacement, power, and torque as Inline 6s 20 years older from different countries, in a heavier vehicle) and its pretty good.. Get on it and it will revvvvvv up like poster that does not like Enboy said, but other than that, be good to it and it will be good to you.

We got ours in 04 as a dealer leftover, low miles and still is.. from I-95 to around town driving, never an issue. Not one.

We got it "Only because it didnt have a Leather interior. Everybody that buys this wants the leather interior, or they dont buy it. This one didnt have it, so here you go. Leftover Demo. Enjoy."

Leftover Dealer Demos (Previous model year, not sold, that is on the dealer showroom floor and used for test drives) are wonderful things. Didnt have Leather seats, either.

Uh no, it IS an Inline 6. It is the Vortec 4200. 4.2L DOHC, Inline 6.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Atlas_engine

 

[HangerHarley]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: HangerHarley
Originally Posted By: spasm3
Is this a di engine? if so i would run synthetic, perhaps 0w30 as SrDriver suggested. i have used this in my escape and avalanche during the winter. The oil pressure seems to come up faster.


It is 100% NOT a Direct Injection engine.

It is a 4.2L V-6 NOT Inline 6 (thought it has same displacement, power, and torque as Inline 6s 20 years older from different countries, in a heavier vehicle) and its pretty good.. Get on it and it will revvvvvv up like poster that does not like Enboy said, but other than that, be good to it and it will be good to you.

We got ours in 04 as a dealer leftover, low miles and still is.. from I-95 to around town driving, never an issue. Not one.

We got it "Only because it didnt have a Leather interior. Everybody that buys this wants the leather interior, or they dont buy it. This one didnt have it, so here you go. Leftover Demo. Enjoy."

Leftover Dealer Demos (Previous model year, not sold, that is on the dealer showroom floor and used for test drives) are wonderful things. Didnt have Leather seats, either.

Uh no, it IS an Inline 6. It is the Vortec 4200. 4.2L DOHC, Inline 6.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Atlas_engine




Ahhhhhhh, ok. it IS Inline.

I was wondering because ive had other Inline 6 4.2s before and it felt very very similar. Of course the truck weighs more.. but not by a huge margin. only a significant one.

Thanks Nick R! That explains a lot, as i always asked "how do they do that."

Explains the large sump too...

I learned something today. im drankin too.

 

[wings&wheels]

I have the SAAB version of this truck, a 2006 97x, w/ the 4.2 6. Great engine, great vehicle, my everyday tool.

I've used Mobil 1 Mobil 1 0w-40 for the 44K+ miles that I've had the truck. I typically run the OLM to about 10%.

Why this particular oil? it is a good oil and its required by our other SAAB's so it has it has become my "fleet" oil for the family workhorse cars.

BTW, if you haven't, check you air filter. I believe the manual says 50K intervals, i looked at mine at 38K and changed it immediately..it was filthy. I noticed a slight mpg increase per the display after i changed it...it was that bad.

 

[kd3yt]

I bought a 2007 Trailblazer, 4.2L I6,last June with 34,000 miles. Right away changed the oil and put in Pennzoil Platinum 5W30. Has ran great and just changed it again and put same oil in it. By the way, I love this vehicle! Will check the air filter!

 

[Silver]

Originally Posted By: wings&wheels
I have the SAAB version of this truck, a 2006 97x, w/ the 4.2 6. Great engine, great vehicle, my everyday tool.

I've used Mobil 1 Mobil 1 0w-40 for the 44K+ miles that I've had the truck. I typically run the OLM to about 10%.

Why this particular oil? it is a good oil and its required by our other SAAB's so it has it has become my "fleet" oil for the family workhorse cars.

BTW, if you haven't, check you air filter. I believe the manual says 50K intervals, i looked at mine at 38K and changed it immediately..it was filthy. I noticed a slight mpg increase per the display after i changed it...it was that bad.


I thought all the Saabs got the 5.3.

40 wt? Really...

 

[HangerHarley]

Im a little confused by the people putting Synthetic and 40-wt in this truck.

So what it says "Saab" on it, looks nicer, cost more, and had suspension by Saab. All good things, and YES if i got this truck id get THAT one, any one is fine i love it.

BUT THE ENGINE BLOCK SAYS "GM!"

P.S.: Inline-6 kicks V-6 [censored]. Trust me on this. It did so.. Twice. From "Across the pond."

 

[wings&wheels]

its a GM, was made in the same plant as the trailblazer and something else. I bought it when gas was hovering just below $4 a gallon and great deals were to be had on suv's, especially the mid to big ones. I do like it though, it was an interesting idea to market a SAAB suv. It's been good but the interior finish isn't what it should be for its intended market segment.

the family's other 2 SAAB cars and my wife's BMW all specify or allow 0W-40. i buy it a few cases at a time and usually get a decent deal from the local supplier.

m1 is a good oil, and the 0w-40 is at the lower end of the vis scale, but i really didn't put that much thought into it.

 

[beanoil]

That vehicle is one of GM's masquerades. GMC Envoy, Chevy Trailblazer, Buick Rainier, Saab 9-7x, and Isuzu Ascender. Funny thing, while they are all identical, the Isuzu had a longer warranty at 5/75k while GM was at 3/36k. And while the vehicle was nice, it did get really poor mileage for it's size and class. Mine managed 14.something on a long trip once. For the other 40,000 miles I owned it, city or highway, it hovered between 13 and 13.4 MPG. It rattled like a baby carriage. The headliner was dropped by the service department 6 times in the 4 years I had it for annoying, high pitched squeaks from the overhead AC vents. But it's traded now, and someone elses issue.