5.3 Vortec Oil.......What is best?

[Musial-6]

I have 01 Z71 with the 5.3, and was just wondering what the best oil is for my truck.

I live in Oklahoma City where it is starting to get into the 30's and 40's. Is there a better oil to run in cold weather?

The only engine mods I have are a Flowmaster and an AEM air intake. I don't know if that makes a difference.

Can some of you Silverado owners give me some advice on what you think is the best?

Thanks in advance!

[jeverett]

I use Valvoline 5w-30 in mine. I have heard mechanics say that the way some of the new engines are designed, if you do not use the recommended oil, it will not lube the entire engine properly. Thats why I stick with 5w30, and the coldest it gets here is maybe 30. It's really a personal choice, I just use what the factory recommends.

[Lockjaw]

I run 10w-30 synthetic in mine. I think it helps with the piston slap, but what do I know.

[bim]

I use Mobil1 5w-30 in my truck and all of my cars, motorcycle too. Never had a problem...

[EdCrabb]

I had a 95 silverado with a 5.3L that I ran to 189000 miles before I traded it in. I ran Valvoline 5W-30 also. It ran as good and with as much power as the day I bought it.

Why?

Well my nieghbor is an off road race mechanic. He builds, tunes and maintaines a custom off road race vehicle that is worth over $100,000.00. He uses Valvoline and has never ever lost a bearing, rist pin, or even found a tiny bit of metal in the oil when he changes it.

Thats good enough for me. I do know that you better run 5W-30 in it, or any warranty you may have will be voided. And you will more than likely cause damage at some point, when is the question, and how much will it shorten the life of the engine.

Happy Trukin!

Ed Crabb
[email protected]

[Suprteck]

I am a firm believer in providing the best and simplest protection possible for my motor

I use a combination of mobil Drive Clean (dino, petroleum ) 5W30, with a Mobil 1 oil filter and OEM Z71 air filter.

In another auto forum there was a tech that worked in oil testing and he was a wealth of information. He had tested so many used oil samples over and over again . He was a firm believer in the supiority of synthetic vs dino oils but felt that both Mobil 1 synthetic and Mobil Drive Clean dino were in the top 2 for both catagories and gave outstanding protection. Vavoline was also there.

NOTE
the Mobil 1 oil filter rated one of the best.

Also a side note if your interested, he found the OEM air filters provided much more protection then after market performance enhancing air filters. This was proven countless times over the year we corresponded, so if people are concerned about using the best oil for their trucks they should also be concerned about the air filter considering that is one part where little damage causing particles enter.

Just my opinion......

[ekg125]

I've used Castrol Syntec 5w30 for 105,000 miles. All that's been done to my truck, since I bought it brand new, was I've changed the oil regularly, all filters and plugs (by the way, I use nothing but AC Delco filters and plugs), PCV Valve, put in some Injector cleaner every now and then, and recently had my mechanic replace my fuel pump assembly. Magically, my fuel gauge is accurate, and my truck runs like the day I bought it! Also, don't forget to rotate your tires twice a year...It'll add more life to them.