5.3 Guys, opinion on oil change intervals

[EducatorDan]

(Forgive if this question has already been asked, couldn't find it in my search.)

Just had the 2nd free maintenance on our 2023 Yukon with just a shade over 10,000 miles (our dealer adds one free maintenance to GMs one provided at sale.) Oil change, tire rotation... Wife is planning on keeping this vehicle 100,000 miles plus.

Any opinions on oil change intervals on this super complicated engine? Every 5,000 like the dealer wants or just follow the "oil life" in the cluster? I know some consumer publications have tested the oil life monitors and found them to be pretty correct in judging oil condition but having an engine that runs on 1 cyl when it feels like it makes me nervous. However I also don't like paying $100 for an oil change more often than I have to.

So TahoeYukonForum folks, what say you?

 

[Marky Dissod]

To oversimplify, the longer you want to keep it, the more often you change the oil and filter.
That should also motivate you to find a cheaper oil change place that will let you keep records.
I get that this V8-v7-v6-v5-v4-v3-v2 mode engine probably won't last 300,000 miles like a proper V8 should. (Doubt there's a 1-cylinder mode ...)
I actually think it was DESIGNED TO FAIL before 250,000 miles.
Even so

planning on keeping this vehicle 100,000 miles plus

is selling yourself - or the engine - short.

Most NYC cabdrivers / livery drivers / chauffeurs apply the following 'skew' to the Oil Life Monitor:
If mileage is mostly all highway miles (NOT NYC), they'll change oil when the oil life monitor hits 17% - but NEVER over 5000 miles.
If mileage is more highway than local, they'll change oil when oil life hits 20% - but NEVER over 4000 miles.
If mileage is more local than highway, they'll change oil when oil life hits 25% - but NEVER over 3500 miles.
If mileage is mostly all local miles (NYC, 5 boros, stop'n'go, LOTS of idling, but also lots of restarts), they'll change oil when oil life hits 33%.
If they intend to keep that car after the lease is up, they may change the oil as often as every 2500 miles.

I've failed to mention this previously:
The very few NYC cabdrivers who are well aware that they drive like haemorrhoids change their oil when oil life hits 50%.
50% is NOT a typo. 5_0_%.

You may also want to very seriously consider changing the ATF & ATF filter up to 50% sooner than GM wants you to.
I'd also change the antifreeze every 2-3 years.
Remember: GM would rather sell you an entire new vehicle, than rebuild your engine and transmission.

 

[Doubeleive]

I would be terrified to run any vehicle 10k without a oil change, but that's just me and I don't lollygag I drive so said oil would be blacker than black
especially if it was brand new and I planned on keeping it beyond 10k...
3,000 is my limit on oil, 20k on transmission, differentials/transfer case semi-annually regardless of mileage
coolant annuallly, brake fluid annually
the new ones do not have power steering fluid, but I do that annually also.
everyone has there own opinion.

 

[OR VietVet]

Every 5k with Mobil 1 and a quality filter, like Wix XP, and if you don't want to pay $100 for oil changes, do them yourself.

The 5k miles interval is minimum. I do mine between 3k to 4k and I don't care what the oil life says.

 

[EducatorDan]

I would be terrified to run any vehicle 10k without a oil change, but that's just me and I don't lollygag I drive so said oil would be blacker than black
especially if it was brand new and I planned on keeping it beyond 10k...
3,000 is my limit on oil, 20k on transmission, differentials/transfer case semi-annually regardless of mileage
coolant annuallly, brake fluid annually
the new ones do not have power steering fluid, but I do that annually also.
everyone has there own opinion.

No we did TWO oil changes in 10K. Two free oil changes from the dealership. Every 5000 because they were paying for them. Oil monitor on the last oil change actually said there was roughly 30+% oil life remaining.

Wife insists on dealership service (her car loan, her maintenance money etc.) and if I can follow the monitor I'd love to with Mr. Goodwrench running roughly $100 for an oil change. My hesitation is not trusting this over complicated engine, that and I can still remember my Dad giving me $20 and sending me to the local GM dealer to get the oil changed in his Oldsmobile.

 

[Chad G 1979]

Well you need to remember inflation from when you were a young guy and taking tour dads car to get an oil change. I g3t an oul change and tire rotation for under 100 bucks at my local dealer. Location is everything for pricing.

With that said, none of my vehicles go over 4k miles before getting an oil change. I would rather have peace of mind vs risking issues in long run.

 

[Doubeleive]

No we did TWO oil changes in 10K. Two free oil changes from the dealership. Every 5000 because they were paying for them. Oil monitor on the last oil change actually said there was roughly 30+% oil life remaining.

Wife insists on dealership service (her car loan, her maintenance money etc.) and if I can follow the monitor I'd love to with Mr. Goodwrench running roughly $100 for an oil change. My hesitation is not trusting this over complicated engine, that and I can still remember my Dad giving me $20 and sending me to the local GM dealer to get the oil changed in his Oldsmobile.

ya it's not cheap anymore that's for sure

 

[PPK_]

i had a 2018 sierra with the 5.3 and i installed a significant magnet on the drain plug.. in theory you ought to find random iron in the crankcase.. i changed oil at 3k and 5k and one 7k and could not tell any increase in iron on my magnet. where on my pentastar 3.6 (lot of timing chains) you could see a pickup in iron after 4k.

the 5.3 has fewer rollers and links that a lot of other engines have. it might be able to go a little longer than you think on one change. incidently the pf66 filter (i think) was a 30 micron filter. ok but there are some 20 micron filters which i would use.. if i went longer.

 

[tom3]

Son took his Sierra to a local place to get the oil changed and tires rotated. $135. But you price 7 or 8 quarts of synthetic oil and a quality filter, then hassle with those super torqued lug nuts and lifting, other fluid fills, front alignment check, etc. that $100 is not that bad to get dealer verified service. Could make a difference at some point for warranty work.

 

[B-train]

I'd say stick with 5k intervals - thr dealership isn't wrong, and I'd even say PROACTIVE based on what the oil life monitor will tell you to do.

If $100 is too much, buy a 15mm wrench, oil filter wrench, jack and stands and you are in business. 22mm socket and ratchet/impact if you want to tackle the tire rotation. You can change your own oil for about $45 if you get a deal at advance auto, etc.

But I agree with @tom3

 

[2591tdj]

(Forgive if this question has already been asked, couldn't find it in my search.)

Just had the 2nd free maintenance on our 2023 Yukon with just a shade over 10,000 miles (our dealer adds one free maintenance to GMs one provided at sale.) Oil change, tire rotation... Wife is planning on keeping this vehicle 100,000 miles plus.

Any opinions on oil change intervals on this super complicated engine? Every 5,000 like the dealer wants or just follow the "oil life" in the cluster? I know some consumer publications have tested the oil life monitors and found them to be pretty correct in judging oil condition but having an engine that runs on 1 cyl when it feels like it makes me nervous. However I also don't like paying $100 for an oil change more often than I have to.

So TahoeYukonForum folks, what say you?

I’ve always changed my oil at 3,000 miles but on my newer vehicles running full synthetic I change at 5,000 miles or earlier if the oil life reaches 25%. Local Chevy dealer charges about $85 incl tax for Mobil 1 oil change and tire rotation on my Tahoe. I was 2nd in line on a recent Wed. morning and it took them 2 hrs! They said the new guy was late to work and was overly thorough checking everything out on my Tahoe. I believe they try to find something that needs replacing that they can add to the bill. He found nothing!

 

[B-train]

I’ve always changed my oil at 3,000 miles but on my newer vehicles running full synthetic I change at 5,000 miles or earlier if the oil life reaches 25%. Local Chevy dealer charges about $85 incl tax for Mobil 1 oil change and tire rotation on my Tahoe. I was 2nd in line on a recent Wed. morning and it took them 2 hrs! They said the new guy was late to work and was overly thorough checking everything out on my Tahoe. I believe they try to find something that needs replacing that they can add to the bill. He found nothing!

There are shops that include a rotation with LOF. It's a way they can try and sell more work. But, if you keep up on your stuff, they probably won't find anything. The couple times I let the dealership change mine when getting warranty work done, I paid around $65-70.

 

[2591tdj]

There are shops that include a rotation with LOF. It's a way they can try and sell more work. But, if you keep up on your stuff, they probably won't find anything. The couple times I let the dealership change mine when getting warranty work done, I paid around $65-70.

Mine used to charge those lower amounts but recently increased their fee.

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

Current pricing on Mobil 1, 6qt at Sam's Club is $32
Delco PF63 Filter is $12 at Amazon
Pan-Seal is around $5-8 if you replace it

So just parts for an "oil change" are $52...
If you can get it for $65-$70 you are getting it for $20 in Labor...and that is a good deal.

My dealer is getting the LOF for about $90 now on my 6.2, but it takes 8quarts of oil...seems reasonable.

 

[Stbentoak]

As soon as you even mention “it’s a diesel” at a dealer……that automatically kicks the price counter up about 30-40%.
They think we’re pretty gullible and must know it it takes much more work!

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

As soon as you even mention “it’s a diesel” at a dealer……that automatically kicks the price counter up about 30-40%.
They think we’re pretty gullible and must know it it takes much more work!

Except OP asked for "5.3 guys" so I assumed he has a gasser.

What you mention above is indeed factual, even if it is BS.

 

[Tall56Dog]

Every 5000 with quality synthetic oil and filter. I use Mobil 1 Extended Performance and a K & N filter. Disregard what the oil life monitor says unless you want AFM engine problems.

 

[Plimbob]

I have an 07 Tahoe with 317,000 on it and I put 295,000 of that on and a 2017 with 102,000 and do the changes myself.

The 2007 burns some oil these days, however, leaks more than it burns (for another thread). I use Valvoline in both and change at 3,500. However, I think most all oils on the shelves these days can hold up to normal driving for 3,000-3,500 miles. I use AC Delco premium filters which I buy at Rockauto and order 4 for each vehicle at a time which make it very economical per filter.

Anyway, after all that blabbering - I would change it every 3,500.

 

[Dave in Gig Harbor]

I had my oil analyzed by Blackstone and they said that I can do oil changes every 7300 miles. That is almost exactly what my oil percentage meter says when at zero. Truck is a 6.2 in a Silverado 1500. I use the AC/Delco filter and the correct Dexos oil. Typically, I do the change myself when the oil percentage gets around 15%. So I am doing the oil change at around 6k miles. I do a fair amount of Seattle to SF runs every year, maybe 5 or 6, so I rack up the miles. I set the tuck up with a Fumoto oil drain plug. Makes the oil changes go pretty easily. Truck up on the ramps, center punch the oil filter to allow it to drain, remove and install new oil filter, open and drain the oil into a recycle container, close the valve, clean up, add oil, reset the oil meter and I am good. About 30 minutes and under $50. Bonus is that I get to see what is happening under my truck.

 

[88m53453]

269k on my 2015 5.3. Quality oil and filter every 6-8000 miles. No issues , ( saying a prayer to get to 300+.