Safe to change to synthetic

My 99' Silverado just hit 80,000 miles, I change my oil every 2,500 miles with valvoline high mileage 5w30, the oil comes out almost as clean as it goes in, I was considering using synthetic oil from now on but I wasn't sure if there was a possibility of doing damage?? :eek7: I also add Lucas oil stabilizer with every change.. any suggestions are greatly appreciated..
Thanks, Jimmy

From my knowledge, you should'nt have any problems changing to synthetic oil. But you shouldnt use oil stabalizer at all. The oil has everything you need in it.

I switched to synthetic at 60,000 miles and didnt have any problems with it. Its compatable with regular.

I just changed to synthetic (MOBIL 1) at 92000 miles. 150 miles, so far so good. I just started using Mobil 1 in my 91 Dodge Stealth with 113000 as well. I know this sounds weird since I didn't mess with the trans fluid but both vehicles seem to shift smoother. Their both automatics. It could also be my imagination that my mpg has gotten better as well. I'm pleased.

Mobil 1 is compatable with other oils so there will be no problem. I have been running mine for 5,000 miles between changes and it is working well.

Theres alot of hype about RED LINE Racing oil its supposed to be the Best out there, with the best lubrication. Has anyone used this or heard any pros and cons about it, Im most likely going to use Mobil1.

Red Line certainly is a very good product....... I myself prefer Amsoil though. Some of the test results I seen showed Amsoil sythetic to be a little better, but not by that much. It's been 3 years since I did the comparisons and don't remember which tests they were (probably four-ball wear test and NOACK volatility test, maybe others from on-line info). Both companies may even have made changes to their products.

I've been using the Amsoil 10w40 High Performance (stock #AMO) since 1500 miles and now have 41,000 miles and no problems. Use K&N oil filters........ change filters every 3000 and change the oil about the middle of May (before the hot weather sets in). That's about every 15,000 mile or so even though Amsoil claims up to 25,000 mile intervals to be ok. They also make a XL-7500 synthetic oil good up to 7500 miles but I've never tried it.

Average about 1/2 to 3/4 quarts of oil use between filter changes. Been very pleased!!

Royal Purple is another very high quality synthetic but I've got no experience with it.

Going strictly by test results (on paper) Mobil 1 rated below all three of the brands I've written about but by no means is Mobil 1 a bad product. Alot better than any petroleum oil.

Just my 2 cents..........

Well, I've always heard changing brands or types of oil on an engine with alot of miles will cause them to use oil. But judging from the post, this doesn't appear to be true. So I don't know. My truck has 115,000 miles on and I would'nt switch to synthetic, but that's just me. I did switch to MaxLife, but I had always used regular Valvoline before. My truck doesn't use any oil between changes (3000 miles). After reading about the truck with just 41,000 miles using 1/2 to 3/4 quarts in 3000 miles is kinda shocking to me.

I also use AMSOILin my 2000 5.3,change oil once a year,use Pure One oil filters,and change the filter every 6 months,purchased truck in Oct.2002 with 84,000 miles,it now has 98,000miles,have encountered no problems.....AMSOIL recommends oil change at 25,000 miles or yearly,and filter changes at 12,500 or 6 months....

I run Mobil full synthetic, in my modified (bored, cam, high compression, etc..) SBC S-10, NAPA (WIX) filter. I'm in no hurry to switch over my '99 Silverado, though I probably will eventually.

I've also run full synthetics in other cars (VW, BMW) with no problems, even after other oils had been used.

Keep in mind the type of driving you're doing. If it's hard miles you're putting on the engine and you're changing oil every 2000-2500 miles or so, you are still doing your engine good as long as it's a good brand oil. Changing to a synthetic will ultimately give your engine longer life but there's the added cost of a synthetic to consider as well. Products like Red Line were desigend for more extreme conditions. Thus their molecular struction will show superior to that of conventional oils, synth. blends and even Mobil1.

Changing brands of oil was thought to actualy help sludge build up since different brands contained differnt additives and would break each other down but still provide protection to engine vitals. With the advancements in oil technologies I'm not sure this applies any longer. I personally don't consider any truth to changing oils and oil usage unless going from a good brand to some generic discount brand. :2cents:

Hey "chevytrucks 92"........ sorry if I ruined your day by letting you in on the the best kept secret out there that internal combustion engines are pron to oil consumption.

Since you have me playing defense, let me say that what I really should have wrote is that I use about 1 quarter of a quart of oil in the winter and about half to three quarters of a quart of oil during the hot summer months while I'm towing. Guess I'll have to "love it or leave it".

But enough about my problems....... I'd like to hear more about your truck that doesn't use a drop of oil, gets 45 mpg, still has the original spark plugs, air filter, brakes and tires and never needs washed or waxed!!

But seriously gang........ I'm kinda new to this board and I've found out that there are alot of guys and gals posting here that have quite a bit of useful info. Keep posting and thanks for letting me have some fun!!

"yankeeintruder", did'nt mean to upset ya like that!

I've just never seen a Chevrolet truck use oil at only 41,000 miles! I've seen it at 100,000, but not 41,000.

Don't do it!

Desertmike... change over to synthetic??
I drive 1.5 miles to work round trip, and occasionally tow a single space trailer with my quad on it, so most miles on my truck are easy.
I just didnt want to damage anything by switching.
Thanks for the input guys!!
-Jimmy

That 1.5 mile round trip to work is not as easy as you might think! I've always been told that short trips are much harder on an engine then longer ones (not talking about hundreds of miles trips now lol)

I just wanted to know Desertmike1's reason for saying "Dont do It!!" During the summer months is when I do alot of traveling to Upstate New York, Maine, New Hampshire I encounter alot of steep mountains and with my trailer wanted to make sure I'm running the oil that will best protect my truck when its hot as hell outside and I'm putting miles on my truck. Thanks everyone for your reply's!
-Jimmy

I use Mobil 1 in my 99 volvo T5. I use 1/4 qt between 7500 mile changes. I used Castrol 100% syntec in my 87 Accord...it went 287000 with minimal oil use between 5k changes.... I stake my life on synthetic.

Jimmiz71,
sorry I didn't get back sooner, but I just fineshed setting up my new computer (2.8ghz P4 T3 connection) this bad boy halls A*
I'm looking for the oil dip-stick on this thing!

Any how I'll give you a few of my own thoughts about Synthetic oils, based on other threads I've read and people I have spoken with over the years.

Before I get started I would like to say that I have no dout in my mind that non petrolium based oils are good stuff, in fact Synthetic oil is the only approved lubricant used in Turbine powered aircraft flying all over the sky, but keep in mind that the manufacture of these engines spend a ton of money getting them certified.
This is were I draw the line, I'll let chevy be the ginny pig.

I'll make a list of what I have heard and read about the pro's & con's

Pro-
- Exl lubricant.
- Better for extreem cold wheather.
- Better for extreem hot wheather. (oil has a 30deg higher opperating tempurature)
- Good for turbocharged engines, do to the fact it cools and lubricates the turbine bearings.
- Longer oil change intervals?
- Slower oil brake-down.

Con-
- Expensive.
- Small engine oil leaks become bigger
- dry engines begin leaking oil
- oil consumption?
- oil pressure drops app 5psi?

You have 80,000 solid miles on your truck, and it sounds like you take good care of it, do you really want to turn it into a chevy "test bed"

Any how these are my own personal thoughts (two cents worth)

-Mike

Mike, Thanks for the info, right now my truck consumes no oil between changes and I really have no complaints with what I'm using, The last thing I want is for my motor to start leaking =( Ill probably just stick with the Valvoline High mileage with the Lucas stabilizer Ive been using. Thanks for the advise =)
-Jimmy

The chevy I have now is the only truck I've ever had that doesn't burn oil!!!!!!! Man it feels good not to have to check it every day. I know this doesn't have anything to do witht he post, I just had to tell someone. SOrry

Jayson,,, What kind of oil do you use?? How Many miles on your truck now? I agree with you, My 79' burns oil and it sucks to have to check it all the time, with my z71 (the babied truck) I inspect under the hood every few weeks unless im taking a trip, but it is sweet not to have to worry about it all the time.
-Jimmy

Jimmiz71, I use Valvoline MaxLife as well (10W 30, with STP Oil Treatment) and I have a 92 Silverado with 115,000 and it doesn't use oil nor leak oil. I love it. And I have also heard that an engine on synthetic oil will leak faster then one with regular.

Jayson,,, What kind of oil do you use?? How Many miles on your truck now? I agree with you, My 79' burns oil and it sucks to have to check it all the time, with my z71 (the babied truck) I inspect under the hood every few weeks unless im taking a trip, but it is sweet not to have to worry about it all the time.
-Jimmy
I either use Valvoline 5w-30, or Chevron 5w-30. I use what the factory recommends, even though I've used 10w-30 in all my other rides. I haven't had the slightest problem at all so far, no leaks, no smoke, and it really doesnt knock when you start it up unless its reeeally cold. OH I forgot, I have almost 90K on mine right now. And trust me, they aren't easy miles sometimes.

I lucked out Mine came with a block heater, Up here in New England It gets pretty damn cold.. I just plug it in and its good to go in the morning..
-Jimmy

Once again I must say DONT use the stabalizer. I have seen test on other web sites and its proven NOT to work. It actually hurts not helps. Todays oils are chemically balanced by people that know alot more about oil then we do. Adding a bottle of addative to it does nothing but mess up that balance that the oil manf. intended. If i can find that web site I will post.

oh.. i thought you meant dont use the stabilizer with synthetic, which i DIDN'T plan on doing,,, anyways before I started using it my truck ran rougher when cold and after adding it my engine has smoother starts. How does it do damage to my engine? The only reason i add it is to lubricate better when starting cold..
I would be interested in seeing the details on this product.
Thanks Rostis,
-Jimmy

here is the test this guy did. it has alot of good info on his site.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/images/lucas/lucas.htm

Hello all. This is my first post here. Lots of great info. I was reading some of the posts on oil and noticed 90% of you mention you use Mobil 1 in one form or another. I also notice a negative response to Pensoil. I switched to syntethic about 3 oil changes ago because I've always heard what good syn is and decided to do what I could to help protect my investment. Now, my question is this. Like I said I notived alot of you recommend Moble 1, I have always been a Castrol guy. What are your opinions on Castrol?

Thanks for the input.

I also use CAstrol 10W-40, the thing is if I use 20w_50 in the summer am I just hurting the mileage? It is very common to get 100 degree plus heat in the summer everyday over here and everybody I talk to down here says 5w-30 will break down very very easily, what´s your opinion?

I use the Castrol Syntec 10-40. I know alot of the newer vehicles recommend the lower viscosity oils (5w-) but I dont know about the breakdown ratios. I just have always known 10-30 to be the all around weight so thats what I use. I just went from the GTX to Syntec.

Can anyone tell me if Z-max every 6000 miles with a 10w30 oil increase performance or save gas. I have a 2001 chevy silverado with a 4.8L. Z-Maz supposedly gives you a 150000 mile warranty. And they will fix your engine if anything will go wrong.

Changing to synthetick at hy milage seems like a waste of time. Synthetics atrributes are that it prevents ware so using itearly in a engines life would be best. I started mine at 15,000 miles with mobile one and an upgraded filter. I run my oil a little longer, and i figure with everything working against these gen III engines it will need all the help it can get.

Castrol..........good enough for John Force.......good enough for me

My 87 F-150 with 350,000 still does not burn oil.
20W-50 with Motorcrafts filter.
Now the internal parts have burnt oil all over it but it still does not burn oil.

brandon7777 dont use the z max or slick 50 they are to expensive. and you take it all out when you change the oil even the cheapest synthetic works better than z max and like some one stated earlier you can run synth oil 12 to 24 thousand miles. royal purple and amsoil are the top 2 and if a little does leak use some bars leaks, if the bars doesnt fix it something needs to be repaired engines dont consume much oil (minimal) but i would stay with one brand due to different detergents in the oils (synthetic or regular)

i use royal purple in my 81 chevy 350 and i love it,

I also use CAstrol 10W-40, the thing is if I use 20w_50 in the summer am I just hurting the mileage? It is very common to get 100 degree plus heat in the summer everyday over here and everybody I talk to down here says 5w-30 will break down very very easily, what´s your opinion?

I would never switch to any higher weight oil. I mean, if your truck has 250,000 miles on it and leaks oil badly I would probably go with a 40 or evenb 50 weight oil. However, newer trucks were designed SPECIFICALLY for a CERTAIN WEIGHT oil to be used. For my 1997 c1500 5.0, it is 5w-30. (btw, I have never leaked oil). One oil change I used Valvoline MaxLife 10w-40 with some STP oil additive thinking it would recondition some worn seals and help my truck run better for the long haul, but all it did was give me very poor gas mileage (about 1.5 mpg drop). Now, I am back to religiously changing my oil (about 2,000-2,500 max., I can do this because I get free oil and filters at the shop I work at) and using 5w-30. The mileage is good again and I have even used oil flushes (engine flushes) after draining the oil to get the sludge out and my oil looks like it came out of a brand new car!
Like I said, I would definitely go with the manufacturer suggestion on oils because I am sure they knew what they were doing when they built the car. Furthermore, a heavier weight oil will cause your engine to possibly not start (or at least not start as easy) in cold winter temperatures. The lighter weight oil (5w-30) is the recommendation because it is good in extreme temperatures like winter cold.