I changed my oil recently and I have learned what oil not to buy again

ChevyTech77 · April 19, 2013

I would think using the EP formula you could go 10k. It would be interesting to see how well it is holding up, any chance of getting a used oil analysis?

I would not know how to go about getting this done.

Blackstone Labratories. Very easy to use and fairly cheap as well. I use them regularly.

Z45 · April 19, 2013

The manufacturer warranty gives you specific legals rights and NO Dealer can take that away. Being intimidated or coerced into buying a GM branded product is totally against the Fair Trade Act (Magnuson-Moss). That is an infringement on free trade.

If they (the dealer) tell you differently, it could be construed as against the law and unethical of them to tell you that.

txab · April 19, 2013

Blackstone Labratories. Very easy to use and fairly cheap as well. I use them regularly.

Easy to do.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

kstruckcountry · April 19, 2013

I have a kit from Blackstone ready for my next oil change. Hopefully the results will indicate I can go a little further between changes.

Davidsingletary · April 19, 2013

Yes, my truck was purchased "used."

I bought it in December '09 at 110,000 miles and currently just a few miles from 150,000

I figured out that the truck is quieter with the new oil. But that is only part of the problem:

My name is David, and I have an exhaust leak

I have a video of it, I'll try to get it on youtube or something later...

It's another "common" problem with these trucks, but it is not anything I am going to fix soon.

Z45 · April 20, 2013

I have a kit from Blackstone ready for my next oil change. Hopefully the results will indicate I can go a little further between changes.

Then you need to pay extra for the TBN test.

What is a TBN, and who uses it? In short, a TBN (total base number) measures the amount of active additive left in a sample of oil. The TBN is useful for people who want to extend their oil usage far beyond the normal range.

WilliamBos · July 17, 2015

Thanks for the info. Great to know.

From the owners manual:

Use only engine oil licensed to the dexos1 specfication, or equivalent, of

the proper SAE viscosity grade. ACDelco dexos1 Synthetic Blend is

recommended. See Engine Oil on page 10‑6.

Don't ya just love the word Equivalent? There are some oils out there that meet the exact same spec (GF-5) as required by the Dexos requirement. The companies have not, at this time anyway, paid GM for the licensing of the word Dexos. So if I used Amsoil oil that meets the GF-5 spec I have met "equivalent" as noted in my 2013 owner's manual.

And as a retired GM engineer, who worked for many years in Service engineering. I know that if GM pushed it and you pushed back with receipts showing the equivalent oil was used, there would be no problem.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · July 17, 2015

Up until my current truck I did all of my own oil changes, but once the 2 year maintenance ends on this '14 I will of course do the oil changes. I used Quaker State for awhile, but noticed sometimes when getting out of the truck I would actually hear the oil dripping back into the pan (or that's what I was thinking it was). I then switched to Mobil/Mobil 1 and also got the Mobil 1 oil filter and never had it do that again in the 98. When I start to do the oil changes in my '14 I will go with Mobil 1 oil and filter.

WilliamBos · July 17, 2015

Up until my current truck I did all of my own oil changes, but once the 2 year maintenance ends on this '14 I will of course do the oil changes. I used Quaker State for awhile, but noticed sometimes when getting out of the truck I would actually hear the oil dripping back into the pan (or that's what I was thinking it was). I then switched to Mobil/Mobil 1 and also got the Mobil 1 oil filter and never had it do that again in the 98. When I start to do the oil changes in my '14 I will go with Mobil 1 oil and filter.

I think factory fill is M1 anyway, not sure if semi syn or full syn though.

I used QS defy on my 04, they claimed it was a syn blend. It was slow cranking in -40 weather. Put valvoline max life semi syn in, cranked much faster in colder weather too.

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SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · July 17, 2015

I think factory fill is M1 anyway, not sure if semi syn or full syn though.

I used QS defy on my 04, they claimed it was a syn blend. It was slow cranking in -40 weather. Put valvoline max life semi syn in, cranked much faster in colder weather too.

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Factory and what the dealers will use on these K2 trucks are synthetic blend unless you specify full synthetic at the dealer. At least that's what they will do during the "free" maintenance warranty. When I start changing it myself again I'll use full synthetic and probably still go by the OLM of 7,500 miles even though full synthetic can last 10,000. That way I keep all of the maintenance on schedule with everything else. At least I wouldn't buy full synthetic and still change at 3,000 like was recommended decades ago. I think I read on this site of someone doing that.

WilliamBos · July 17, 2015

I am running syn, at 5,000 miles now. Will change it soon though. No more than 7500 max.

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Cowpie · July 19, 2015

Interesting how Pennzoil and Quaker State are made by the same company, yet so many prefer one over the other.

I never keep receipts, except for business. I just buy oil and filters in bulk and don't worry about it. From the $25,000 motor in my semi truck to the motor in my pickup. I do document maintenance, and for the pickup, I put records of maintenance on the owners section of the Chevrolet website, because it is convenient for me and Chevy could pull it up if they chose to. And I have never in my life used a dexos "approved" oil. I do have a preference for synthetics in everything, not just the motor. Got sold on synthetics in the late 90's when my semi truck was factory filled with synthetics in the trans and diffs. The oil brand I use is normally not a shelf item anywhere. I get it for my pickup from my oil supplier right along with my commercial oils.

Victor Ferreira · July 19, 2015

Personally, I've always used Castrol. But I'll probably go for M1 on the truck just because I feel safer using what everyone else recommends and knows well.

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