time between oil changes

[deerefan]

I have a 2005 Z71 Silverado I bought 3 months ago. I put about 450 miles a week on my truck, so I'm changing the oil about every 6-7 weeks. According to my oil life system, when i do change it it is usually at about 55-65% life still left. That's @ 3k miles. I've considered changing to a synthetic oil and changing it @ 5k miles instead of 3k. I currently use Castrol 10w30 and was thinking of trying their synthetic. Anyone have any advice? Should I just stick w/ 3k mile changes with either synthetic or regular? By the way, 80% of my driving is highway. I live 45 miles from work. Thanks for the help.

 

[BobG_in_VA]

"According to my oil life system, when i do change it it is usually at about 55-65% life still left. That's @ 3k miles."

Ok, tell me again why you change at 3K? If you are doing mostly road miles, you certainly could get 4K easily if not 5K. Remember when vehicles called for changes at 7K? bobg in va

 

[Marcussen]

I have always changed oil at 5000 mile intervals. Never had any problems I usualy run my cars and trucks 200,000 miles plus. I recently switched to synthetic and are now doing 7500 between changes. I use the Pennzoil/Quacker state from Wal-Mart it's under $20 for 5 quarts.

If you use one of the extended life synthetics get an oil analysis when you change and you will probably end up going 10,000-15,000K or more between changes.

 

[kenmac]

I use Amsoil a group 4 synthetic & dirve 20,000 b-4 changes . I have done oil analysis that shows that I can go this far b-4 changing. Just my opinion , but I wouldn't go much more than 3000 on regular oil without uao's. or some additive to hold the oil up for longer drains

 

[DUMBDOG]

I have a 2005 Z71 Silverado I bought 3 months ago. I put about 450 miles a week on my truck, so I'm changing the oil about every 6-7 weeks. According to my oil life system, when i do change it it is usually at about 55-65% life still left. That's @ 3k miles. I've considered changing to a synthetic oil and changing it @ 5k miles instead of 3k. I currently use Castrol 10w30 and was thinking of trying their synthetic. Anyone have any advice? Should I just stick w/ 3k mile changes with either synthetic or regular? By the way, 80% of my driving is highway. I live 45 miles from work. Thanks for the help.

I also have a 05 Z71 Silverado. Bought it new a year ago in September. I believe that Chevy knew what it was doing when it put it the system to tell you what the remaining oil life is left, mine is changed when the system indicates that it is due for a change. There is a difference in the remaining oil life of highway driving over the short city trips. I follow the pickups computor over the old advice of oil changes. They were for the old engines and the old oils. The new oils and engines are a lot better now.

The only reason that they are still promoted is to generate sales for the oil change places. We also have a responsibility to the planet and that is to get the maximum usage out of our non renewable resources.

 

[kenmac]

We also have a responsibility to the planet and that is to get the maximum usage out of our non renewable resources.



Another good reason to go synthetic

 

[bobkrack]

I have a 2005 Z71 Silverado I bought 3 months ago. I put about 450 miles a week on my truck, so I'm changing the oil about every 6-7 weeks. According to my oil life system, when i do change it it is usually at about 55-65% life still left. That's @ 3k miles. I've considered changing to a synthetic oil and changing it @ 5k miles instead of 3k. I currently use Castrol 10w30 and was thinking of trying their synthetic. Anyone have any advice? Should I just stick w/ 3k mile changes with either synthetic or regular? By the way, 80% of my driving is highway. I live 45 miles from work. Thanks for the help.

I am always thinking of how to the long-haul over the road truckers manage to change oil at regular mileage intervals.... One trip crosscountry might be 3500 miles. Do they change oils at 3000 miles?

I change my oil every 90 days regardless of the mileage - exception being when my truck has been not used for a substantial length of time. 90 2, 3, 5 mile trips are probably much harder on the oil than 90 days of non-stop nearly round the clock operation.

My point being, oil that has been properly heated enough to boil out most of the contaminants is much better oil than oil that has never or hardly ever brought to operating temperature?

No flames please.

Bob

 

[kenmac]

My point being, oil that has been properly heated enough to boil out most of the contaminants is much better oil than oil that has never or hardly ever brought to operating temperature?

Never heard that one. Boil out contaminants


Oil for the big rigs isn't the same oil that is usen in gasoline engines.Also, the place that does my uao's told me that these rigs come in all the time for a sample analysis

 

[thatguy]

I know the quick lube places preach 3k mile oil changes, but what amazes me is the difference in mfg suggestions.. My wifes Honda CRV (2002) calls for oil change up to 10k miles.. That in my opinion is way to long, and I go for the 5k changes since she had 95% highway miles..

I would love to see a comparision between an oil analysis and the vehicles computer oil life meter though.. My company car has an oil life meter and it pretty much bottoms out at 6k miles (which is the frequency the maintain them)..

Brian

 

[dqdave1]

Gm oil life is tracked by the on board computer; it will moniter your driving habits and then will tell you when to change the oil. I also have a 2006 chevy and I change the oil when the computer tells me to. I run Mobil 1 in it. It has gone as far as 8,000 miles before computer says to change it. I trust the computer; that is why GM put a oil life system on board. Use it.