Normandy Posted September 2, 2016 Report Share Posted September 2, 2016 Hey all, I have an oil change coming up and I want to know if I can run the newer 0w 20 oil in the SS. If not I plan on changing from Casterol Syntec to Royal Purple. Thoughts? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
someotherguy Posted September 2, 2016 Report Share Posted September 2, 2016 Ya know there's oil debates, arguments, myths, and all kinds of marketing out there and people are gonna use what they're gonna use. But I found this very interesting, chopped from another forum (one that has members with cars that have either conventional oil factory fill or synthetic factory fill, depending on model) - "The folks at Blackstone told me that their employees all take advantage of free oil analysis as a corporate perk. They also made it clear that they do not endorse any oil manufacturer or type but... they all use old fashioned non-synthetic oil in their personal rides." ...something to think about Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downeast Johnny Posted September 3, 2016 Report Share Posted September 3, 2016 Ya know there's oil debates, arguments, myths, and all kinds of marketing out there and people are gonna use what they're gonna use. But I found this very interesting, chopped from another forum (one that has members with cars that have either conventional oil factory fill or synthetic factory fill, depending on model) - "The folks at Blackstone told me that their employees all take advantage of free oil analysis as a corporate perk. They also made it clear that they do not endorse any oil manufacturer or type but... they all use old fashioned non-synthetic oil in their personal rides." ...something to think about Richard Gotta a link, Richard? There's not enough info in your quote to reach an informed opinion. (Too many unknown variables that may have influenced the employees decisions on oil choice). A diesel mech whom I trust, (Many years experience and continued schooling), says that synthetic will at least double the life of a diesel engine. Personally, I feel like the reduced friction achieved with synth is worth the extra cost. I use it in everything from my trucks to my line trimmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Normandy Posted September 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2016 (edited) Gotta a link, Richard? There's not enough info in your quote to reach an informed opinion. (Too many unknown variables that may have influenced the employees decisions on oil choice). A diesel mech whom I trust, (Many years experience and continued schooling), says that synthetic will at least double the life of a diesel engine. Personally, I feel like the reduced friction achieved with synth is worth the extra cost. I use it in everything from my trucks to my line trimmer. I agree. That being said I have always run Casterol Syntec since I bought the truck. Would the older LQ9 engine work properly using the thinner oil 0w20?? Edited September 3, 2016 by Normandy (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
someotherguy Posted September 3, 2016 Report Share Posted September 3, 2016 No link, it's just anecdotal "these guys said this to another guy" type of info so take it for what that's worth. I found it interesting, at any rate. For a while now I tend to go with what the manufacturer recommends and not experiment too far beyond that. If GM says use 5W30, I'm using 5W30. I think 0W20 would be too thin both cold and hot, unless you live somewhere that it's always extremely cold. The manual will usually list an alternate recommended oil type for certain conditions, though I haven't looked to see what else may be in there. Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EXGM Posted September 3, 2016 Report Share Posted September 3, 2016 Yeah is there some specific reason you want to use 0w-20? I agree in cold climates that would work well but IMHO the engine should be designed to use that oil. I would guess the tolerances are tighter on a 0w engine. I'm not sure I would use that on an older engine that was designed with a heavier oil. Im of the school if you use synthetic from day one your ok. I didn't have any history on my truck so I have no idea what the former owner ran. Since synthetic has so much more detergent I didn't want to run risk not knowing what the motor looked like inside. When I had the valve covers off it was pretty clean but I still am using a blend oil (Dexos). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downeast Johnny Posted September 3, 2016 Report Share Posted September 3, 2016 I agree with Richard and Matt on the question of OW oil. Unless your in a very cold environment, or it is spec for your engine, I wouldn't go there. Follow your owners manual recommendation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
someotherguy Posted September 3, 2016 Report Share Posted September 3, 2016 Just looked in the 2006 manual. 5W30 recommended for below 0F/18C through above 100F/38C; on the next page it does say IF temp falls below -20F/-29C (that's damn cold!) that "it is recommended that you use either an SAE synthetic 5W30 oil or an SAE 0W30 oil." So even if you're somewhere super cold, they still want a hot viscosity of 30. By the way that mention of synthetic 5W30 for extreme cold is the only mention of synthetic I see in the chapter about oil. I run conventional 5W30 (Castrol GTX) in my SS's. My SRT8's get 0W40 Mobil 1 synthetic because that's original factory fill for them. Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Normandy Posted September 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2016 Yeah is there some specific reason you want to use 0w-20? I agree in cold climates that would work well but IMHO the engine should be designed to use that oil. I would guess the tolerances are tighter on a 0w engine. I'm not sure I would use that on an older engine that was designed with a heavier oil. Im of the school if you use synthetic from day one your ok. I didn't have any history on my truck so I have no idea what the former owner ran. Since synthetic has so much more detergent I didn't want to run risk not knowing what the motor looked like inside. When I had the valve covers off it was pretty clean but I still am using a blend oil (Dexos). I know the newer more efficient engines use the new 0w20 oil. Honestly I was curious if I could as well. If I can't im not worried about it. I'll just buy 5w30 RP and be done with it. Just looked in the 2006 manual. 5W30 recommended for below 0F/18C through above 100F/38C; on the next page it does say IF temp falls below -20F/-29C (that's damn cold!) that "it is recommended that you use either an SAE synthetic 5W30 oil or an SAE 0W30 oil." So even if you're somewhere super cold, they still want a hot viscosity of 30. By the way that mention of synthetic 5W30 for extreme cold is the only mention of synthetic I see in the chapter about oil. I run conventional 5W30 (Castrol GTX) in my SS's. My SRT8's get 0W40 Mobil 1 synthetic because that's original factory fill for them. Richard Interesting, GM does not run synthetic in the engine but they run synthetic gear and trans oil.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS-GTP Posted September 4, 2016 Report Share Posted September 4, 2016 These various oil viscosity mostly boil down to fuel efficiency vs wear. In recent years there has been a push for fuel efficiency so the car companies have sacrificed wear. A car listed for 0W30 will run just fine on 5W30 or even 10W30 but fuel economy will go down. And 5W30 vehicles will run on 0W30 if your willing to live with increased wear. Heck back in 2004-2006 I'm not sure if 0W30 was even a valid oil yet, if it was it might of been our listed oil. In any case I would stick with 5W30, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Normandy Posted September 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2016 These various oil viscosity mostly boil down to fuel efficiency vs wear. In recent years there has been a push for fuel efficiency so the car companies have sacrificed wear. A car listed for 0W30 will run just fine on 5W30 or even 10W30 but fuel economy will go down. And 5W30 vehicles will run on 0W30 if your willing to live with increased wear. Heck back in 2004-2006 I'm not sure if 0W30 was even a valid oil yet, if it was it might of been our listed oil. In any case I would stick with 5W30, I bought Royal Purple 5w30 but haven't had time to change it yet.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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