I'm getting ready to change the oil in my GM 4x4 with a 5.3 in it. Which of the following oils would you recommend? Amsoil S2K 0W-30, Amsoil S3K 5w30, or Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30? I'm a Amsoil preferred customer and cost on the two Amsoils is almost identical. This truck sits in the garage most of the time. I drove it 5-6K miles last year. It sees a mix of short runs and interstate driving with very little towing. I do like to hear the pipes when I drive it. It is not babied. Only mods are JBA headers and Flowmaster exhaust. I use a Wix oil filter and an Amsoil EAA air filter. I'm looking to do one change per year.
Which oil for GM 5.3
- Thread starter blsnelling
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Could you please explain why you weren't impressed with th M1s and was with the PP. I'm interested in the PP as well but just haven't seen as much data.
Of the oils listed S3K would be a good choice. Also I am running PP in the wife's sub with a 5.3 & it works good so far.
blsnelling, your 5.3 sounds like mine, but w/o the mods. It's an'00 w/ 25k miles.
Last year I dumped in Mobil 1 10w30 SL w/ Bosch Premium filter and it ran fine for a 12 month OCI. Minimal CSK, but it has always been minimal, even on dino.
I saw no consumption, the oil drained out very dark, but not black, and did not smell burnt at all.
Yesterday I did a change w/ Mobil 1 Extended Performance 10w30 SL and Mobil 1 Extended Performance M1-206 filter. I'm doing another 12 month OCI.
I'm happy with Mobil 1 10w30 for the 5.3.
I dont know much about Amsoil, other than it is a very good quality lubricant. Is the 0-30 "Energy Conserving"? Does your weather frequently go below freezing in the winter? If so, maybe go with 0-30.
I live where 50f is "cold". It's cool living near Mexico.
BTW, how do you like the JBA setup? Any change in MPG w/ the new exhaust?
Last year I dumped in Mobil 1 10w30 SL w/ Bosch Premium filter and it ran fine for a 12 month OCI. Minimal CSK, but it has always been minimal, even on dino.
I saw no consumption, the oil drained out very dark, but not black, and did not smell burnt at all.
Yesterday I did a change w/ Mobil 1 Extended Performance 10w30 SL and Mobil 1 Extended Performance M1-206 filter. I'm doing another 12 month OCI.
I'm happy with Mobil 1 10w30 for the 5.3.
I dont know much about Amsoil, other than it is a very good quality lubricant. Is the 0-30 "Energy Conserving"? Does your weather frequently go below freezing in the winter? If so, maybe go with 0-30.
I live where 50f is "cold". It's cool living near Mexico.
BTW, how do you like the JBA setup? Any change in MPG w/ the new exhaust?
I used Amsoil S2k 0w30 in my 2002 5.3l Yukon Xl (45,000 total miles)for a 10k OCI that ended a couple of months ago. After sampling at about 7500 miles, I decided to do a cleaning with Auto-Rx. The 7500 mile used oil analysis is posted in the used oil analysis forum. It performs outstanding in my vehicle.
Am currrently running a Chevron Supreme conventional 10w30 rinse for an Auto-Rx run, but will change this weekend to Amsoil HDD 5w30. The rinse oil is clean as a whistle showing no ill effects from 10,000 mile OCI's.
Am currrently running a Chevron Supreme conventional 10w30 rinse for an Auto-Rx run, but will change this weekend to Amsoil HDD 5w30. The rinse oil is clean as a whistle showing no ill effects from 10,000 mile OCI's.
I have used both the Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30 and 10W30 in my 5.3L engine. I liked both of these grades vs. the standard M1. I have never used Amsoil, but I would recommend the Mobil 1 Extended Performance for the 5.3L. I think you will be satisfied. I change the oil between 7-8K both times and it still was brown...not black.
These engines seem to like higher vis oils. GC was about perfect for the 5.3L Vortec according to my used oil analysis. I'm running Pennzoil Platinum 10w30 now and everything seems great.
I ran a OCI with Mobil Clean 7500 5w30 and the motor rattled like an old tractor. Ain't gonna do THAT again...
I ran a OCI with Mobil Clean 7500 5w30 and the motor rattled like an old tractor. Ain't gonna do THAT again...
I vote for GC
I decided to at least try Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30. It's cheaper and easier to get. I went with the 5w30 since I do frequent cold starts and it will see Ohio winters with one change/year. If I don't at least try it, I'll always be wondering how it would do. What I drained out was Mobil Clean 7500. I can't say I had any problems with it but I wasn't reading enough consistent good results to build my confidence in it. I feel the same way about PP. There are enough good oils not to use one that I'm not confident in and I guess I'd rather let others be the testers. If I'm not pleased with the Mobil 1 Extended Performance I'll probably go with either S2K or S3K. Which one's better? I have read great results from both. The price is the same on both.
So far my engine is much quieter since I switched from Mobil Clean 7500 to Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30. Before, on a cold start, I had loud clatter that sounded like a lifter. It would go away after a few seconds of 1500-2000RPM. It was normally gone by the time I got to the end of the driveway. It did not sound like piston slap to my ear. Maybe it's carbon build up. I did do a few full throttle runs from 65-90 before the switch. Whatever it was, I have barely heard it since the switch. The loudest this noise ever was was with Amsoil 5W-40. So far, I'm sold on the Mobil 1 Extended Performance.
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