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STOP Following OEM Oil Advice (GM Recall Proves Why)
youtube ^ | 3 May, 2025 | The Motor Oil Geek

Posted on 05/05/2025 7:15:01 PM PDT by MtnClimber

724,753 views May 3, 2025 #motoroil #chevy #viscosity GM recently issued a recall that impacts Chevy, GMC and Cadillac trucks and SUV’s that feature the 6.2 L87 V8, and even if you don’t have one of these vehicles, it reveals important information. Let’s break down the recall and how it actually busts the internet motor oil myth that you can’t use an oil thicker than what the OEM recommended.

Here is the proper framework for making decisions regarding oil.

Step 1 - Utilize the OEM recommended oil and do two early oil changes during the break-in process (500 to 1,000 miles and again between 3,000 and 4,000 miles). If the engine is already broken-in, skip to step 3.

Step 2 - Take used oil samples at each oil change to establish the trend analysis.

Step 3 - Go 5,000 miles on the third oil change and take a used oil sample. If the wear rate per 1,000 miles is below 5 ppm, you are good. If the wear rate is between 5 ppm and 10 ppm per 1,000 miles, go another 5,000 miles on the OEM recommended oil and resample. If the wear rate is still greater than 5 ppm per 1,000 miles, then move to step 4.

Step 4 - Review the used oil analysis data to see if the OEM recommended oil is falling short in any aspect (low viscosity, additive depletion, higher wear rate). If it is falling short, try a different oil of the same viscosity that meets the OEM spec. Go 3,000 to 4,000 miles on that oil and then refill with that same oil and go another 5,000 miles before taking another sample. See if the change in brand drops the wear rate per 1,000 miles below 5 ppm. If it does, you are good. If it does not, then move to Step 5.

Step 5 - Since the change in brand did not get the wear rate per 1,000 miles below 5 ppm, use next higher viscosity grade of whichever oil had the lowest wear rate per 1,000 miles. If it was the non-OEM brand, resample at 5,000 miles to check the wear rate per 1,000 miles. If it was the OEM brand, you will need to use it for 3,000 to 4,000 miles to flush the non-OEM oil out of the system before going 5,000 miles on the higher viscosity OEM oil to take another sample. If either higher viscosity oil brings the wear rate down, then stay with that viscosity grade. If the wear rate per 1,000 miles is still above 5 ppm, go back to Step 4 and repeat. If the wear rate per 1,000 miles is below 5 ppm, you are good. You can then use the oil analysis results to fine tune the oil change interval.

For more about Oil Analysis, check out: https://www.speediagnostix.com

Here are links to information related to the recall: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025...

https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/u...

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2014/11/...

Here are the links to the other videos mentioned in this video.

For more on motor oil Viscosity, check out this video: • The "W" DOESN'T Stand For WEIGHT! A C...

For more on the 3 stages of lubrication, check out this video: • Water Skiing Explains LUBRICATION - T...

For more on motor oil wear protection, check out this video: • FAKE Oil Claims: The “Lubricity” Test...

For a deeper dive into the science of lubrication, check out my good friend Rafe Britton's channel ‪@LubricationExplained‬

To learn more about my dad, check out his interview with Dale Earnhardt Jr: • How Lake Speed's Journey Went From Ka...

Who is the ‪@themotoroilgeek‬? I'm a Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Certified Lubrication Specialist and Oil Monitoring Analyst (I've maintained both of those for over a decade). I also worked for Joe Gibbs Racing for 12 years as their lubricant specialist. During that time, we worked with Wix Filters (one of our sponsors) to test and develop filters for our race engines. We also worked with Lubrizol and Chevron-Phillips Chemical to test and develop oils for our race cars. Following that, I was the head of R&D for Driven Racing Oil. During that time, I formulated and tested over 50 products. We also worked with Cummins, Comp Cams, Oak Ridge National Labs and General Motors on various R&D products. Those efforts are recorded in peer reviewed white papers published by SAE International and ACS Sustainable Chemistry journals. Today, I provide Tribology consulting and used oil analysis via SPEEDiagnostix.


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: automotive; generalmotors; l; maintenance
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To: SaxxonWoods

My prior truck was a 2006 Frontier. Transmission blew up at 150K. (2005 and 2006 had a problem) My 2000 Frontier made it to 212K and only got rid of it because I needed 4WD.


61 posted on 05/06/2025 9:19:54 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: bankwalker

“I will never own a vehicle with that stop start crap ...”

Wife’s Honda has it. But it’s easy to keep it from shutting down by using a light foot on the brake when stopped.


62 posted on 05/06/2025 9:20:26 AM PDT by SaxxonWoods (The road is a dangerous place man, you can die out here...or worse. -Johnny Paycheck, 1980, Reno, NV)
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To: Tijeras_Slim

Got my money’s worth out of the Frontier, I split miles between it and my 2016 F150. Got a guy who wants the Ford, he says 2016 is a good year for them. But it’s only got 72k so he’s not getting it. Both are 4wd. I am tempted to dump both and get a midsize but if I go through all that I want a lot of horsepower just for fun.


63 posted on 05/06/2025 9:25:07 AM PDT by SaxxonWoods (The road is a dangerous place man, you can die out here...or worse. -Johnny Paycheck, 1980, Reno, NV)
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To: Mariner
Buy a Toyota and smile.

I switched to Toyota about 22 years ago, have never repaired one thing on any of them, except Batteries and Tires. Change the oil every 5000 or 6 months and don't forget it. I have mixed feelings about changing all the other fluids and transmission but The Car Care Nut on YouTube is a very good source, as is the hand waver Scotty Kilmer.

I still have a 2001 Ford Expedition with about 180,00 miles that runs very smooth to be honest.

64 posted on 05/06/2025 9:47:23 AM PDT by itsahoot (Many Republicans are secretly Democrats, no Democrats are secretly Republicans. Dan Bongino.)
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To: VTenigma
The problem with these engines is the Multi-cylinder delete system that GM deployed to satisfy the insane commie CAFE standards imposed by Odinga and Biteme.

To be honest Cadillac started messing around with the 4-6-8 engine over 40 years ago.

65 posted on 05/06/2025 9:52:23 AM PDT by itsahoot (Many Republicans are secretly Democrats, no Democrats are secretly Republicans. Dan Bongino.)
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To: itsahoot

And they were a disaster then too.


66 posted on 05/06/2025 10:12:36 AM PDT by VTenigma (Conspiracy theory is the new "spoiler alert")
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To: cableguymn
Toyota is grenading engines too

I have a 2022 Highlander with the V6 engine anything after that uses the turbocharged 4 cylinder which I would avoid because the engine is overworked to try and meet café standards. Better to get a used one even at 100,000 or more miles.

When I was a kid you looked at any car with over 25,000 as needing a valve job or something or it wouldn't be on the lot, it was a rare car that got to 100,000 miles in the late 40's or early 50's.

67 posted on 05/06/2025 10:12:53 AM PDT by itsahoot (Many Republicans are secretly Democrats, no Democrats are secretly Republicans. Dan Bongino.)
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To: SaxxonWoods
But it’s easy to keep it from shutting down by using a light foot on the brake when stopped.

Same on Toyota, just takes getting used to it. Stop and start during the Summer in Tucson, insane.

68 posted on 05/06/2025 10:18:52 AM PDT by itsahoot (Many Republicans are secretly Democrats, no Democrats are secretly Republicans. Dan Bongino.)
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To: cableguymn

Exactly, Toyota is having their share of problems lately. Loved my ‘92 pickup for 225,000 miles. I have a 2010 Tundra with 79000 miles (WFH is great!). Think I’ll hang on to it a while yet.


69 posted on 05/06/2025 10:31:26 AM PDT by stevio (Fight until you die!)
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

“... do not go beyond 5000, even with synthetic”

Yup. Tried that on my last ‘06 Corolla after 400K miles. I stretched it out to 10K between synthetic changes. Even used molybdenum disulfide additive. Within a year the engine got sloppy, becoming harder to start. Luckily (I guess) I was rear ended last year allowing me to replace it with another 06 at the cost of the salvage payment. Now I stick with 5K/Synth per change.


70 posted on 05/06/2025 10:45:03 AM PDT by Justa (Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people....)
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To: bankwalker
I will never own a vehicle with that stop start crap ...

At a certain point down the road, you might not have a choice. That said, I recently bought a base model BMW with a mild hybrid system. It replaces the conventional starter and I never hear it at stop lights. When stopped, it keeps AC/heat running and provides a boost to the engine when accelerating from a stop. I can disable this feature and keep the car running, but it has to be disabled each time the car starts. I can't tell the difference from a noise standpoint in either mode. Admittedly, the mild hybrid system is just another thing to go wrong. Just something to explore if you go car hunting..

71 posted on 05/06/2025 11:21:34 AM PDT by EVO X ( )
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To: itsahoot
To be honest Cadillac started messing around with the 4-6-8 engine over 40 years ago.

My Dad had one back in the day. It caused major headaches on a couple of family vacations. It would vapor lock under certain weather conditions if my memory serves me correctly..

72 posted on 05/06/2025 11:24:40 AM PDT by EVO X ( )
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To: bankwalker
how long have you been an ams oil affiliate?

Since long before the internet existed, long enough to know the previous spelling and the current one.

Why do you ask?

73 posted on 05/06/2025 12:03:02 PM PDT by Mogger ( 7th generation Vermonter, refugee in New Hampshire hoping NH remains sane.)
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To: Mariner

“Buy a Toyota and smile.”

Not anymore...
Have you read about the 100,000 plus twin turbo V-6’s that were recalled?
This crap engine replaced their bulletproof V-8’s in the giant Tundra and other vehicles.


74 posted on 05/06/2025 3:28:43 PM PDT by mowowie
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To: Mariner

My ‘87 Supra Turbo 6 cyl made it to 300,000 miles when i sold it and probably ent many more miles.
Their new 6 turbo 6’s not so much..


75 posted on 05/06/2025 3:31:27 PM PDT by mowowie
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To: MtnClimber

It’s a design error, not oil or thin oil.
My ‘13 Prius and ‘17 RAV4 Toyotas have 480K miles between the two of them. Both bought new and oil changes at every 10K as recommended by Toyota using 0W-20 synthetic oil. Neither car needs added oil between changes. Only repair so far was a weeping water pump on the RAV4, that’s it.


76 posted on 05/07/2025 9:31:41 AM PDT by fishnuts2 (Not rich enough to be a democrat)
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To: fishnuts2
It’s a design error, not oil or thin oil.

I have read also that there may be an issue with some engines that the lifter bore diameter may exceed tolerances. I don't know for sure, but it could be that there is an oil pressure drop due to this with low viscosity oil. An oversize lifter bore diameter would be a manufacturing issue, not a design issue. It is something that Quality Control should have caught.

This L87 engine produces 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque and is used in trucks with 13,000 lb towing capacity so it is not a light engine like a Prius or a RAV-4. I used to have a Toyota 4-Runner and had 250k miles when I traded it in and had no real engine problems. But I could only tow light loads.

77 posted on 05/07/2025 11:39:30 AM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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