Oil weight for 5.3? 0-20 no good?

[CapnBob]

Since GM now recommends
Ow40 in 6.2 engines
What about 5.3?
Ow20 seems to thin

 

[OR VietVet]

 

[B-train]

I wouldn't use 0w-20 even if GM hadn't of changed their mind. It's a gimmick for CAFE. Stick with 5w-30 and you'll probably be fine.

 

[the 18th letter]

How much gas mileage does one gain by going from 5w-30 to 0w-20?

 

[homesick]

I wouldn't use 0w-20 even if GM hadn't of changed their mind. It's a gimmick for CAFE. Stick with 5w-30 and you'll probably be fine.

It's a CAFE gimmick, but it's one that carmakers have been forced into over the last 50+ years.

joe

 

[Z15]

They don't recommend 0W-40 in all 6.2L engines. Only those that are in the recall list that pass inspection, a band-aide so to speak with a 10 yrs / 150,000 mile engine warranty while owners sit back and wait for them to self-destruct.

All replacement engines call for 0W-20 as normal.

 

[viven44]

If your vehicle is under warranty it may be best to stick to manufacturer recommendations (0W-20) and change oil more frequently (no more than 5k miles)

Past the warranty period, would be best to stick to 0W-30 or 5W-30… These oil viscosities are already better than the CAFE-choice 0W-20—— if you are working the engine hard and a bit late on oil changes (long road trips) these viscosities will provide you the guardband you need.

I don’t see the point in pushing it all the way to 0W-40 unless your engine is very high mileage and could use a bit more help. (Or aged like heck in short time because of poor tolerances, lol)

Slowly going up on viscosity as the engine gets older is an old pushrod engine trick - nothing new here to be honest.

 

[fondupot]

I thought of it as well, been doing some reading. But I think I'll be staying with my 0W20 Amsoil for now. I'll stick to 5k-6k oil changes and just live with that.

 

[homesick]

LOL, I can't wait for a negative viscosity oil, like -10W30, to get invented.

joe

 

[PPV_2018]

LOL, I can't wait for a negative viscosity oil, like -10W30, to get invented.

joe

I believe that’s called rain water

 

[homesick]

I believe that’s called rain water

More like desiccant?

joe

 

[vcode]

There are literally millions of 5.3L's out there running on 0W20 without issues. GM screwed up some vital engine parts in the 6.2L's and everyone is freaking out over the oil. Change it regularly and you'll be fine.

 

[GMCChevy]

0W-20 has been the specified oil since around 2013 and the 5.3 hasn't had the problems the later 6.2 has so you'd be safe continuing with that weight.
Sure it's a CAFE thing but at the same time all those other gimmicky fuel mileage things built in to newer engines make them pickier about weight of oil then older engines so why mess with it.

 

[Stbentoak]

Once you start up the supercar 0W-40 ladder, you may get one free and a free oil cap.... But the price of the next one's that are on you will rock your socks. I'd personally stick with 0W-20 Dexos and change it a little more often, maybe. You've done nothing wrong, and it is priced like a normal oil change...If the engine barfs out You'd still be covered by the extended warranty. You haven't violated anything....

What about people who have bought changes ahead from the dealership or GM? Do they get the new prescription for those changes?

 

[vcode]

Once you start up the supercar 0W-40 ladder, you may get one free and a free oil cap.... But the price of the next one's that are on you will rock your socks. I'd personally stick with 0W-20 Dexos and change it a little more often, maybe. You've done nothing wrong, and it is priced like a normal oil change...If the engine barfs out You'd still be covered by the extended warranty. You haven't violated anything....

What about people who have bought changes ahead from the dealership or GM? Do they get the new prescription for those changes?

He has the 5.3L. He won't get a freebie as they are not doing the 0W40 thing with that engine.

 

[Stbentoak]

All the more reason not to switch.....

 

[B-train]

I agree with the above posts....however I choose to be proactive and use common sense and critical thinking based on life experiences. 10w-30 was the norm of the 80's, / early 90's. Then 5w-30 came out an everyone was leary (myself included).....I watched motors grenade after running 100k on regular 10w-30 with a switch to 5w-30.

Fast forward, the 5w-30 regime has millions of miles on LS engines, and most GM engines. 0w-20 just seems wrong to me. I've run it, but I don't like it. I think 5w-30 is just a good, sensible oil all around.

 

[Silverado4x4]

This got me thinking, the motors that require and getting 0W40 supercar oil and you bought the maintenance plan that include oil changes for the term of the contract from the dealer being the 0W40 is alot more expensive then the 0W20 I guess they will absorb the extra cost. I suppose since it's a signed contract they have to honer.

 

[fredcook]

I wouldn't move to 0W30. Especially on one with miles on it. We had to have some work performed on one of our 5.3's while on a road trip that required draining the oil. The dealer put 0W30 in it. By time we got home (~700 miles), the oil pan gasket was seeping like crazy. At first I thought they messed with the pan when they didn't need to, so I checked torque. All were OK, and it didn't look like any bolts were ever removed. No sign of manipulation. On a hunch, I changed the oil, putting 5W30 back in. Sure enough, seepage stopped.

 

[acesttz]

I am running 5-30 in a 2015 5.3 with 150,000 miles on it. So far no problems.