Old subject I am sure "Oil Change"

[barlin44]

I now have just over 3K miles on the 8.1 and want to change oil this weekend (that is if no rain) I read somewhere that I should run AC filter and perhaps Mobile one oil. I eventually want to run synthetic but will stay with reg oil for a while. I guess I could pull out my large tupperware case crammed full of leterature, but is it 6 or 7 quarts of oil and by chance someone have the filter #.. The weekend before last coming home from a trip a message came up to say low oil...geez I just bought this MH and it needed oil..I pulled out the 12 foot long dip stick and it appeared to need oil ( man and reinstalling the dip stick sucks). I bought a quart of 5-30 penzoil and the message went out. I want to stay on top of the oil, so this weekend its changing time.

Thanks for a great forum

[edgray]

Barney: It is 6.5 QTS if you use the standard AC Delco filter # PF454. WCC recommends you use conventional 5W30 motor oil until at least 10,000 miles.

Keep an eye on the oil consumption by checking the dip stick AFTER each fuel fill up to allow it to drain back to the pan. IF, repeat IF, you use more than 1 qt for 100 gallons of gas burned, then you have cause for concern and should have it checked while still in warranty. FWIW, "most" 8.1L motors use much less oil than above, both of mine have used around 1/2 QT every 1500 miles.

[oemtech]

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgray Keep an eye on the oil consumption by checking the dip stick AFTER each fuel fill up to allow it to drain back to the pan. IF, repeat IF, you use more than 1 qt for 100 gallons of gas burned, then you have cause for concern and should have it checked while still in warranty. FWIW, "most" 8.1L motors use much less oil than above, both of mine have used around 1/2 QT every 1500 miles.

Soap Box On

1 qt to 100 gals is peer GM BS. If an engine is built correctly it will use some oil until the rings seat. IE - Break the cross hatch pattern left in the cylinders by honing.

GM also says this oil usage can last for 36, 000 miles or more. Hummmm... engine warranty is what? 3 years or 36,00 miles.

Piston Slap at startup is another BS'er. The want you to use a heavier oil to compensate for poor workmanship.

Any engine that I have even taken to the machine shop knows the specs of the bore that fits the piston. If the piston is to small or the bore to big it will slap.

Besides look at where the wrist pin that sets. It is partially in the oil ring groove.

Now look at the stroke of the engine and the angle of the rod and you will see very HIGH side wall pressures.

Soap Box Off

Change oil once a year at minimum, 3,000 on short hauls and maybe 5,000 on lots road mines. I would use a 1 qt filter at minimum and a good oil - the choice of brands is yours.

[kayo]

Good filter is the NAPA 1060. As for oil, Mobile 1 offers a truck/suv blend

[Lued]

I use the NAPA 2 QT filter,and Mobil 1 , miles are 38000 this winter it used 1 QT to 1500 miles.

[dieselclacker]

I would also add, I see from your Avatar that you reside in Napa CA. and it is not necessary, with the mild winters there, to use a 5w/30 oil. A better choice would be a 10w/30 weight as per the owners manual for your temperature zone.

Dieselclacker

[oemtech]

Dieselclacker, I would venture to say that 90% of the RV community that have a gas powered rig could run 10w30 as most put there rigs up for the winter or head south for the winter.

[edgray]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oemtech Soap Box On 1 qt to 100 gals is peer GM BS. Soap Box Off Change oil once a year at minimum, 3,000 on short hauls and maybe 5,000 on lots road mines. I would use a 1 qt filter at minimum and a good oil - the choice of brands is yours.

Dale: you are certainly entitled to your opinion, and I'm so happy I provided you with another opportunity to express it....

Call it what you will, but what I posted about oil consumption is what WCC has said in seminars for years. And that is that GM won't do anything about an engine using less than 1 qt per 100 gallons of fuel. For the "average" RVer, that would be around every 700 miles. Thankfully, most of us do much better than that.

For those owners still under WCC warranty....the change interval requirement is still 3 MONTHS or 3,000 miles, which ever comes first. Owners can chose to follow whatever schedule they want, but I'm not risking my warranty to save a few bucks on oil changes.
Ed

[oemtech]

If you do a few Google searches on GM Oil consumption and piston slap you will find volumes of information that goes back to about 2000. Once the numbers of complaints started to rise GM changed it wording on oil consumption to indicate that 1 qt to 2,000 was NOW NORMAL. Same goes for PISTON SLAP.

You don't see either issue on engines where the tolerances are held tight. I have a Honda CRV with a 175,000+ miles and I drive it like I stole it. But, I change the oil/filter on a regular basis and fix anything close to being broke.

When I hear a service writer tell me it's NORMAL... the hair on the back of my neck stands up. To me that answer is an excuse for - We don't have a fix for this.

[Bug512]

Good luck trying to find 5W30, I just changed mine this weekend. I used a NAPA 1 qt filter and Mobil 1 10W30.

Like I stated in a A little spring servicing I was unable to locate Mobil 1 in 5W30, I checked many walmarts and local parts stores, nothing.

I just have to make sure to change it come September / October with 5W30 for our trip to Washington DC in November and tailgating at football games.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oemtech When I hear a service writer tell me it's NORMAL... the hair on the back of my neck stands up. To me that answer is an excuse for - We don't have a fix for this.

Is it possible that there is no fix as this was engineered into the product from the beginning? Think about it, there has got to be a reason why a company like GM would even consider making engines like this.

I'm not sticking up for GM but my engine is running well having spooled up over 90,000 miles and yes it does have the cursed piston slap for about 20 seconds when cold but it quietens down like a baby in short order. Do I consume oil, you bet, about 1 quart used in some 1,300 miles. For me this translates to about 185 gallons not 100. I ain't complaining.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bug512 Good luck trying to find 5W30, I just changed mine this weekend. I used a NAPA 1 qt filter and Mobil 1 10W30..

5W-30 motor oil is actually quite common in South Carolina however I choose to use 10W30.

[Bug512]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriVer 5W-30 motor oil is actually quite common in South Carolina however I choose to use 10W30.

There was a spot for it on every shelf, but for some reason nobody had any in stock.

Since we are going on a trip next weekend I wanted to get it changed.

[Mr JP]

I just did my service this last weekend and used Mobil 1, m1-302 1 quart oil filter & 7 qt's of castrol 10w-30 oil. Also did the fuel filter & spin on trans filter along with 13 or 14 point lube. Gen set got serviced also. I should be good to this next weekend. Good Luck JP