Viscosity question

[dbierman]

New here, first post, been doing a lot of reading and searching but can't find my answer. There's a lot of info to dig through here.

My question is, and I'm sure it's been asked and addressed, I just can't find it...

I'm not a big fan of the 0w-20 oils, just seems too light weight to me. Can I use the 5w-30 weight oil and not cause any issues with my engine/warranty?

I don't live in an area of extreme temps and no heavy towing.

It's a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500, 4X4 with the 5.3.

Thanks for any help.

 

[PimTac]

Hmmmm.


There are countless thick vs thin threads here. You can use the 0w20 with confidence despite your fears.

 

[LeakySeals]

Yes, that 5.3 will have no issue with 5w30 synthetic. They won't know what viscosity was used if something happens. They will only be able to prove neglect. Like sludge, varnish, etc. One word of advice, do NOT use conventional oil with the 5.3 AFM system. The AFM is very sensitive, the lifters can get stuck in the collapsed stated when the AFM cuts oil and goes into v4 mode. Many delete AFM entirely. With a tuner or device.

 

[kschachn]

If you haven't found an answer to this question you haven't searched very hard. Probably the #1 favorite question of newbies (and some oldies that should know better).

 

[turnbowm]

Originally Posted by LeakySeals
Yes, that 5.3 will have no issue with 5w30 synthetic. They won't know what viscosity was used if something happens. They will only be able to prove neglect. Like sludge, varnish, etc. One word of advice, do NOT use conventional oil with the 5.3 AFM system. The AFM is very sensitive, the lifters can get stuck in the collapsed stated when the AFM cuts oil and goes into v4 mode. Many delete AFM entirely. With a tuner or device.

They will certainly know if they ask for receipts to prove that the required servicing was performed.

 

[dbierman]

Originally Posted by kschachn
If you haven't found an answer to this question you haven't searched very hard. Probably the #1 favorite question of newbies (and some oldies that should know better).

I searched for over an hour. As I said in my original post "I'm sure it's been asked and addressed, I just can't find it..."

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted by PimTac
Hmmmm.


There are countless thick vs thin threads here. You can use the 0w20 with confidence despite your fears.

Everyone I know uses M1 0-20EP in their 6.2 engines with very good results. Some well over 100K.

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted by turnbowm
Originally Posted by LeakySeals
Yes, that 5.3 will have no issue with 5w30 synthetic. They won't know what viscosity was used if something happens. They will only be able to prove neglect. Like sludge, varnish, etc. One word of advice, do NOT use conventional oil with the 5.3 AFM system. The AFM is very sensitive, the lifters can get stuck in the collapsed stated when the AFM cuts oil and goes into v4 mode. Many delete AFM entirely. With a tuner or device.

They will certainly know if they ask for receipts to prove that the required servicing was performed.

Yeah, if they suspect neglect they might. Ive had 2 go back. One was oil consumption warranty. They changed the oil and sealed it. So what oil i used didn't matter. Another was a bearing issue. They never asked what weight oil. They never asked for any oil receipts. Because when they checked on the engine it was obviously spotless.

 

[MLRTYME]

Don't fear using 0W20 oil. 0W20 synthetic oils are robust enough to handle the GMC 5.3. You can run 5W30 synthetic without harming the engine but I honestly do not feel you need to go to a thicker viscosity. Check the UOA in the forums and you'll see a quality 0W20 oil is sufficient.

 

[JMJNet]

FWIW, you can put anything from 0w-20 to 5w-30 without any issue just make sure it is synthetic for the best protection.

The 0w-20 is usually used to have better mpg.

 

[FCD]

Originally Posted by dbierman
New here, first post, been doing a lot of reading and searching but can't find my answer. There's a lot of info to dig through here.

My question is, and I'm sure it's been asked and addressed, I just can't find it...

I'm not a big fan of the 0w-20 oils, just seems too light weight to me. Can I use the 5w-30 weight oil and not cause any issues with my engine/warranty?

I don't live in an area of extreme temps and no heavy towing.

It's a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500, 4X4 with the 5.3.

Thanks for any help.


While the only reason that 0W-20 is specified is because of fuel economy regulations, you can use it without a problem, specially as you say the truck does not see extreme temps and you don't do heavy towing... your truck is brand new and unless you use the specified oil you could void the warranty.


After the warranty is up, feel free to run 5W-20, 0W-30 or 5W-30.

 

[dogememe]

You aren't the only one running 5w-30 in a newer Silverado. Just had a customer at the parts store yesterday, he brought 5w-30 synthetic to the counter and asked me to look up an oil filter for his 2018 or 2017 Silverado 5.3. He must drive a lot because he came in like a few months ago for the same thing. Not that I can afford any truck that expensive but if it was mine you bet it would get 5w-30 as well. I don't even run 5w-20 in my Ford...

 

[kschachn]

Originally Posted by FordCapriDriver
While the only reason that 0W-20 is specified is because of fuel economy regulations, you can use it without a problem, specially as you say the truck does not see extreme temps and you don't do heavy towing... your truck is brand new and unless you use the specified oil you could void the warranty.
.

There is no evidence that is true here in the US. No one has ever posted a statement from their owner's manual nor the warranty booklet that states oil grade is a warranty item. People post that all the time but without any evidence whatsoever.

 

[4WD]

See my signature … I have been through these discussions … If you go to GM Authority … the evolution of the 5.3L is spelled out … and on the lubrication front we have oil coolers, advanced oil pumps, increased oil capacity, and piston oil jets … They did not do this the Ford way … just send a TSB …

I run M1 EP 0w20 to the OLM limit …
OnStar says the Tahoe OLM is at 17% and wife driving it while I'm in the EU …
Darn … will I make it back or let her drive my truck … LoL …

 

[SnowDrifter]

We've been using Xw20 oils now for over a decade. The vehicles that use them have racked up well over 200k miles now without issues related to that oil.

Is there a specific failure mode you're trying to avoid? Or are you just off-put because it's new tech for you?



Since I'm assuming you intend to keep the truck to the 350k+ mileage range where these small things matter, your best bet would be to run the factory recommended oil for a few OCIs, get the break in done, then play around with different viscosities and examine UOAs WITH a particle count,and weigh or otherwise somehow quantify any debris in the filter. Go with whatever gives you the best results

 

[aquariuscsm]

Do any current owner's manuals still contain the verbiage "Do not use 5/0W20 under extended high speed driving",or "Use 0/5W20 for fuel economy"?

 

[Bryanccfshr]

0w20 is fine, 5W30 is fine, 10w30 is fine, 0w40 is fine.
However since it is a new GM I would stick with that Dexos 1 gen 2 so you are stuck with 0w20 or 5W30.
Either will be perfectly fine.

 

[turnbowm]

Originally Posted by kschachn
Originally Posted by FordCapriDriver
While the only reason that 0W-20 is specified is because of fuel economy regulations, you can use it without a problem, specially as you say the truck does not see extreme temps and you don't do heavy towing... your truck is brand new and unless you use the specified oil you could void the warranty.
.

There is no evidence that is true here in the US. No one has ever posted a statement from their owner's manual nor the warranty booklet that states oil grade is a warranty item. People post that all the time but without any evidence whatsoever.

Herewith is an excerpt from the Kia Warranty Policy...

The items specified below are not covered by the KIA New Vehicle Warranty:

ï‚· Damage due to factors beyond the manufacturer's control, including but
not limited to - •Misuse of the KIA Vehicle, such as driving over curbs,
overloading, racing etc. (proper usage is described in your Owner's
Manual).
ï‚· Accidents, such as collision, fire, theft, riot, etc.
ï‚· Alteration, modifications, tampering, etc.
ï‚· Impact damage, surface corrosion or cosmetic conditions, resulting from
or due to, but not limited to, stone chips or scratches in paintwork or
damage to glass.
 Damage due to - •Lack of proper maintenance as described in your
Owner's Manual.
ï‚· Improper maintenance or the use of other than the specified oil or
lubricants as recommended in your Owner's Manual.

https://www.kia.com/content/dam/kwcms/au/en/files/service/Kia-Warranty-Policy.pdf

 

[A_Harman]

Yes, you can run 5w30 in the GM 5.3, and it won't cause problems.
But it was designed for and proven on 0w20, so you can run that with confidence.
I did hundreds of hours of testing at GM on M1 0w20 in the GM L83, and never had a problem.

 

[StevieC]

I would run 20wt until your warranty is up for easy warranty claim should something happen it makes it far easier if the OE / Dealer doesn't try to give you the gears.