Oil Changing

[OFDmedic]

Do I trust the computer to tell me when to change my oil, or should I be changing it every 3000 miles like I did on other vehicles?

[Tommy]

From what I am told, the computer totals the engine revolutions. It also has to be reset at every oil change, or its totally worthless. I think its a good tool as a reminder, but personally I stick to every 3 months or 3,000 miles.

[Black Ice]

Follow the 3months 3000miles..my oil light came on for the first time at 12,000 miles im not following that.

[Dave]

I have been changing oil for the last 1/2 million miles at around 5-6k. I haven't had an engine problem yet. I do use synthetic though also.

[AnT]

i would stick to every 3000-4000 miles

we do it every 3500 or so on our Tahoe

[Bonedoc]

We switched to synthetic and the proper filters to use with synthetic but I still change the oil more often than is suggested (15K - 25K with Amsoil Synthetic). The light comes on to change but we keep track of the miles and swap out the filter at 6K and the oil at 12K - have 59K on the vehicle ('02) - runs well, but wish there were more AFTER MARKET mods for GROUND clearance.

HTH>

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

I have had many GM vehicles in the past, and I have always used Regular Mobil Oil and AC Delco filters. I change the oil every 3k or 3 months, and I have never had any engine problems due to excessive wear. Nice smooth running engines up to the day I sold the vehicles in the classifieds.

I alway thought about using Mobil 1 syn. but never did. Anyone else here use a synthetic oil in their Trailblazer or Envoy?

Chris

Please read the thread. But I also run Mobil 1 5W-30 in my envoy, no ill effects at all.

[spencerg]

Be careful if you reset the light yourself.
I did not follow the manual when it said depress the gas pedal gently and pressed quickly to the floor.
The engine seem to run on when lifting off throttle and generally sounded off at 1500 to 2000 rpm.
Followed the manual, everything back to normal.
Mobil 1 at 5000 miles.

[04TBEXT]

I changed engine oil & filter @ first 500 miles - Mobil-1 5W30 and A/C Delco oil filter. Changed rear differential fluid - Mobil-1 75W90 Synthetic gear lube, checked alignment angles (had to set toe), changed oil again - Mobil-1 5W30 & A/C Delco filter and rotated tires (suspension settlement) @ 3000 miles. Will continue oil changes @ 3K - 4K intervals w/tire rotations @ every other oil change. Other fluids & filters as needed.

[04TBEXT]

spencerg...I read your post (#9) in this discussion (referencing "engine seem to run on" and "sounded off at 1500 - 2000 rpms". Asking with all due respect, Was the engine running during this procedure???"

[rt9bil]

play it safe, change it every 3K or so. I don't know anyone that lets it run down to 0%. I can't see taking that chance. If GM told me that they would replace my engine if it blows up, then i'd say ok.

[XTREEME]

Well, you probably don't care to take advice from a Corvette guy, but I believe that the first oil change early is very important. By 3000 for sure. Even though they are making engines much "cleaner" these days, with less metallic runoff from a brand new engine, I still think that there is enough residue created to warrant an early cleanup. After that first one though, anything earlier than 5000-6000 miles is just overkill IMHO. (unless of course it takes you a full year to get to 3000 miles, or the opposite where you are racing during those 3000 miles). I change oil (and other fluids) after every race. But for daily drivers, its just filling up the oil companies pockets.

I know this horse has been beat into the ground so many times on so many different forums, with so many differing opinions. I've been following this method for over 20 years, and have never had any problems.

[04TBEXT]

ENGINE 101 tells us that our vehicles' engines all consume oil. The phrase, "my engine doesn't burn a drop of oil" is pure fallacy. I feel that as we may increase the oil change durations it is ever so much more important to maintain a proper oil level between oil changes. I understand that only approximately 30 - 35% of the engine oil's responsibility is lubrication and the balance is engine cooling (transfer of heat). If we decrease the amount of oil in the oiling system, we leave greater responsibilties on the amount of remaining oil. This invokes higher oil operating temperatures, oil breakdown, oil coking & the dreaded "sludge deposits." Some engine have oil level sensors, which alert the driver to a low oil level. I'm not an advocate of waiting until the light tells me to add oil. I check my oil level usually every other gas fill-up (approx. every 40 or so gallons of fuel useage). I check it in the morning after the vehicle has sat overnight. I think maintaining a proper engine oil level is as important as (not to be misconstrued as a substitute for) engine oil & filter changes.

[XTREEME]

ENGINE 101 tells us that our vehicles' engines all consume oil. The phrase, "my engine doesn't burn a drop of oil" is pure fallacy. I feel that as we may increase the oil change durations it is ever so much more important to maintain a proper oil level between oil changes. I understand that only approximately 30 - 35% of the engine oil's responsibility is lubrication and the balance is engine cooling (transfer of heat). If we decrease the amount of oil in the oiling system, we leave greater responsibilties on the amount of remaining oil. This invokes higher oil operating temperatures, oil breakdown, oil coking & the dreaded "sludge deposits." Some engine have oil level sensors, which alert the driver to a low oil level. I'm not an advocate of waiting until the light tells me to add oil. I check my oil level usually every other gas fill-up (approx. every 40 or do gallons of fuel useage). I check it in the morning after the vehicle has sat overnight. I think maintaining a proper engine oil level is as important as (not to be misconstrued as a substitute for) engine oil & filter changes.

Good point. You can't just ignore the engine between oil changes. Gotta keep checking fluid levels and tire pressures too.

[Dave]

I change my on all my vehicles every 6k and I use synthetic. I have over 76k on my Grand Prix GTP and 33K on my V-8 EXT. I'm sure I burned a little oil as all engines do, but I never had to add a quart of oil.

I also change the oil at 3000 miles.

Changing the oil every 3k won't hurt any, except your wallet and the demand for oil. Oil companies want us to believe 3k is normal.

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

I change my on all my vehicles every 6k and I use synthetic. I have over 76k on my Grand Prix GTP and 33K on my V-8 EXT. I'm sure I burned a little oil as all engines do, but I never had to add a quart of oil.

I also change the oil at 3000 miles.

Changing the oil every 3k won't hurt any, except your wallet and the demand for oil. Oil companies want us to believe 3k is normal.

I'd been in the habit with my last vehicle of changing the oil every 3 months or 3K with Mobil 1 5W-30... but with the 'voy I think I'll go to 5K or 6 months.... can't hurt too much. Not to mention that while the truck has 43K miles on it, the engine only has ~25K miles ('02 with the swapped 'non faulty' 2003 style I6)

[Black Ice]

I have about 20000 on my Tb right now do you think i should just change over to synthetic now?

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

I have about 20000 on my Tb right now do you think i should just change over to synthetic now?

I would. You're basically good to go after ~500 miles on the factory fill; if I'd bought a new truck I would've changed it at that point.

[Envoy Fan]

I have about 20000 on my Tb right now do you think i should just change over to synthetic now?

Never too soon to change over to synthetic. GM puts synthetic Mobil 1 in at factory on Corvettes and some Cadillacs.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/GM_Fan/Mobil1oilcap.jpg

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

Never too soon to change over to synthetic. GM puts synthetic Mobil 1 in at factory on Corvettes and some Cadillacs.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/GM_Fan/Mobil1oilcap.jpg

ha! good to see I'm not the only one who did the LS1 oil cap swap....

[The Black Pearl]

How can I get a Mobil 1 cap? Changing to synthetic in June.

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

How can I get a Mobil 1 cap? Changing to synthetic in June.

eBay. I got the cap and the plate they install on corvettes. Here's a (very much dirtier than usual since it was winter when I took it) pic of my engine compartment; I'll post clean pics later on.

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/envoy/IMG_0029.JPG

:D

[The Black Pearl]

The following is a caption from a Mobil 1 cap, would it fit a 2004 Trailblazer I6 extended? I noiced that you are using a K&N filter, any problems? I read a post that someone had problems with using a K&N filter on a Trailblazer.

Brand new AC Delco Mobil 1 oil fill cap. Fits LS1 and LS6 engines. Quarter turn type.

Thanks

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

The following is a caption from a Mobil 1 cap, would it fit a 2004 Trailblazer I6 extended? I noiced that you are using a K&N filter, any problems? I read a post that someone had problems with using a K&N filter on a Trailblazer.

Brand new AC Delco Mobil 1 oil fill cap. Fits LS1 and LS6 engines. Quarter turn type.

Thanks

Yup, the 1/4 turn type would fit your I6. Just look for the ones that say "fits LS1 engines" and you'll have it.

The K&N performs great -- I *think* there was an increase in power and gas mileage, but I cant be sure. I installed the K&N about 30 minutes into owning it. Brought it home from the dealer and yanked the engine apart to start mods almost instantly :laugh:

[The Black Pearl]

I'm on a no toys diet until Christmas. The 2 DVD players and the other little toys caught the eye of Mrs. Clause. Kind of hard to hide these things, but when my TB went in for an adjustment last week it came back with mud flaps :D

Oil cap with plaque next. Its under the hood and never to be found :laugh:

Was the filter easy to install?

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

I'm on a no toys diet until Christmas. The 2 DVD players and the other little toys caught the eye of Mrs. Clause. Kind of hard to hide these things, but when my TB went in for an adjustment last week it came back with mud flaps :D

Oil cap with plaque next. Its under the hood and never to be found :laugh:

Was the filter easy to install?

Well, I came out of the operating room wearing two band-aids and had leftover parts, but it's in there and works :laugh:

No, seriously, it was an easy install; took me about 45 minutes since I did some clean-up while everything was apart too, but all you need is two screwdrivers -- one flat and one phillips. There are I believe 3, maybe 4 screws holding the airlid (yes, it is that entire huge box) on, and the stock filter should just lift out of the airbox. (that was the leftover part). The K&N Will have a tensioner clamp to hold it on the intake tube, but basically installs the same. Replace the airlid and screws and you're done! :cool:

Good luck; I won't comment on the thought that your wife will never find it under the hood -- don't want to sound....uh... "un-politically correct," if you will. ;)

[Bonedoc]

Relative to 'changing oil' - anyone find it hard to read the dipstick on the TB.
Our '02 seems to contact the inside walls of the stick sheath on the way down and is smeared when removed. The F for full is overcast with smeared oil and there is (or seems to be) NO clear demarcation of the oil level.
Anyone else experience this? Thanks...

Doc :confused:

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

Relative to 'changing oil' - anyone find it hard to read the dipstick on the TB.
Our '02 seems to contact the inside walls of the stick sheath on the way down and is smeared when removed. The F for full is overcast with smeared oil and there is (or seems to be) NO clear demarcation of the oil level.
Anyone else experience this? Thanks...

Doc :confused:

That's the way it goes when GM decides to get cheap about their dipsticks. (or rather, maybe they ARE dipsticks!)

I agree though; I hate that.

[Black Ice]

Do you guys change you own oil in your TB,, and if so is it hard to do?

[deathbynosleep]

Do you guys change you own oil in your TB,, and if so is it hard to do?
I did it the first 3000, but now I take it somewhere to get done. It's not worth the time i don't think. The filter is pretty hard to get from under the car unless you take off part of the bottom. I think you can reach it through the wheel well also.

[Tommy]

I take mine to the dealer. They gave me free oil changes for a year which is up this month. After that i will still take it to them. The price isnt too bad and they are very close to me.

[thecarbonman]

I have been changing oil for the last 1/2 million miles at around 5-6k. I haven't had an engine problem yet. I do use synthetic though also.
I'm with you Dave, I have been changing oil & filter for 35 years many cars and trucks and have never had any failure do to oil, and I have been changing them at 5000 miles.
My wife's TB runs Mobil 01 and now I go 5000-7500 miles. The dealer told me that the light is set at about 7500 miles. To me changing oil at 3000 miles is a waste. That was somethimg the oil companies started years ago, notice most of the oil change places are owned by the oil companies. Just a side note I,m a retired mechanic that worked in both Ford, GM dealerships, I finished my career working for a crew chief from the Indy 500. I have seen cars go 65,000 miles without ever having the oil-filter changed, they were still running, but not the best.

[Dave]

I'm with you Dave, I have been changing oil & filter for 35 years many cars and trucks and have never had any failure do to oil, and I have been changing them at 5000 miles.
My wife's TB runs Mobil 01 and now I go 5000-7500 miles. The dealer told me that the light is set at about 7500 miles. To me changing oil at 3000 miles is a waste. That was somethimg the oil companies started years ago, notice most of the oil change places are owned by the oil companies. Just a side note I,m a retired mechanic that worked in both Ford, GM dealerships, I finished my career working for a crew chief from the Indy 500. I have seen cars go 65,000 miles without ever having the oil-filter changed, they were still running, but not the best.

I think dealers and maintenance facilites also want us to believe 3k should be the normal time to change oil. They get more profit that way. A $25 oil change consists of a $7 filter and 5 qts of oil at $1.50 or so a quart. That is $14.50. They probably get it cheaper since they buy it in bulk. So every oil change they are making a $10 profit for around 15 minutes of work. They also get to look at the rest of your car to find additional repairs.

Some say 5-6k is too much but I don't think so especially if you are using synthetic. I rarely have to even add a quart of oil between changes. I haven't on the last 5 or 6 new cars.

I will have them change the filter though at every oil change. That is small insurance. Some cars, the Porshe 911 recommends changing the oil at around 12.5 k and the filter around 25k . A lot of European manufacturers say 6k is too often by over 200%. But if I had to pay $20 for a qt of synthetic oil, I can see why they say that.

[kaycee42]

Do I trust the computer to tell me when to change my oil, or should I be changing it every 3000 miles like I did on other vehicles?

3000 miles/ 3 months / Engine light(computer) Once a week, I check under the hood and tires. The computer has been my guide to oil changes, it has been close to 3000/3500 when the light comes on my 02 TB w\ 40,000 miles

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

3000 miles/ 3 months / Engine light(computer) Once a week, I check under the hood and tires. The computer has been my guide to oil changes, it has been close to 3000/3500 when the light comes on my 02 TB w\ 40,000 miles

Mine usually comes on sooner than that -- but then I tend to do alot of driving where I sit idling for periods of time. Someone once said (heck if I remember where) that it's based on engine rotations, not mileage. That almost makes more sense to me, since you're still "using" the oil (circulating it and breaking it down) when the engine is sitting idle, not just when going down the road.

[04TBEXT]

I think technology has changed but our "oil change" mentality has not. Oil contamination and break-down have been addressed through improvements in "dino" oil processing and the invention/introduction of synthetics. Improvement in engine fuel delivery (i.e. fuel injection) has helped in reducing fuel-generated oil contamination and improved ignition system operation has helped in a better combustion process. With contamination under control and break-down addressed, engine oil change intervals can be increased. As/if oil change intervals increase, it is everso more important to remember to maintain a proper engine oil level.

[The Black Pearl]

My dealership charges my $15.00 and I provide the filter and oil. For $15.00 its worth having them do it.

[deathbynosleep]

yeah the firestone near me charges like 14 bucks. Or i can buy the stuff myself and get one of my friends to do it free at his work.

[dirtychevymama]

This is the only time we have actually went by the oil life %.....still waiting to see how long it goes for....normally Chaz does it every 3,000. He was just curious as to how long it would take....:undecided

[Super 88]

:offtopic:

Wow - a 4 year old thread brought back to life! :D

[dirtychevymama]

:offtopic:

Wow - a 4 year old thread brought back to life! :D
Crazy...I didn't even realize that...I suppose the new similar thread posting thing helped! :O)

[Robert1101]

:offtopic:

Wow - a 4 year old thread brought back to life! :D

That might be the record. The last one I commented on was just over 3 years old.

[rbarrios]

This is the only time we have actually went by the oil life %.....still waiting to see how long it goes for....normally Chaz does it every 3,000. He was just curious as to how long it would take....:undecided

may just be 10 to 12,000 miles.

Im currenlty at 10,032 miles since my last oil change.