I sold my '99 Dakota in Sept. and got a 2016 Chevy Colorado 4x4 with the V6 LFX GDI engine. After buying it I found out about the intake valve and ring coking that can take place with GDIs. I am trying choose an oil that will help to mitigate the possible/probable coking problem.
Owners manual says to follow OLM for OCI with a max of 1 year. 7,500 mi. maintenance service calls to check OLM, so I suppose dealer will do a change at 7,500 no matter what the OLM says. Call is for DEXOS1 (or equivalent) 5W-30. Strangely no change in recommended OCI between "Normal" and "Severe" service.
I live in western Washington so pretty temperate. Some low teen temps in the winter and maybe a few days in the 90s in summer. I think I drive pretty moderately, within 5mph of the limit, left my street racing days behind me long ago. On a ramp I do like to be at the speed limit 1/8 mi before merging not 2 or 3 miles down the freeway like a lot of my fellow Washingtonians
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The majority of my driving is short trips 10 mi or less. Some days sitting in traffic or waiting 2 light cycles to get through but mostly moderate traffic and not an inordinate amount of time idling. Summer trips may be longer, still mostly 20 minutes or less. I will occasionally tow a boat just under 4,000 lbs total tow weight. Very rarely tow it over the mountain passes or other mountain highways. Total milage will probably be around 8,000 per year.
To stay with the low volatility to decrease coking I am only considering full synthetic. I dumped the FF at 1200 mi and filled with Valvoline Full Syn with Maxlife only because that is what my local quick change shop uses for full syn. I have been considering the Valvoline Synpower and Pennzoil Platinum. Pennzoil doesn't publish their numbers, but have seen indications that the GTL base stock is almost a good as their advertising hype. Also taking another look at Amsoil SS. Quite a cost differential between Walmart price for PP (and the rebate) and SS. I am not one to throw money to the wind, but the 7.5 NOAK for SS sure looks good for my purpose.
Opinions and advice welcome!
Owners manual says to follow OLM for OCI with a max of 1 year. 7,500 mi. maintenance service calls to check OLM, so I suppose dealer will do a change at 7,500 no matter what the OLM says. Call is for DEXOS1 (or equivalent) 5W-30. Strangely no change in recommended OCI between "Normal" and "Severe" service.
I live in western Washington so pretty temperate. Some low teen temps in the winter and maybe a few days in the 90s in summer. I think I drive pretty moderately, within 5mph of the limit, left my street racing days behind me long ago. On a ramp I do like to be at the speed limit 1/8 mi before merging not 2 or 3 miles down the freeway like a lot of my fellow Washingtonians
The majority of my driving is short trips 10 mi or less. Some days sitting in traffic or waiting 2 light cycles to get through but mostly moderate traffic and not an inordinate amount of time idling. Summer trips may be longer, still mostly 20 minutes or less. I will occasionally tow a boat just under 4,000 lbs total tow weight. Very rarely tow it over the mountain passes or other mountain highways. Total milage will probably be around 8,000 per year.
To stay with the low volatility to decrease coking I am only considering full synthetic. I dumped the FF at 1200 mi and filled with Valvoline Full Syn with Maxlife only because that is what my local quick change shop uses for full syn. I have been considering the Valvoline Synpower and Pennzoil Platinum. Pennzoil doesn't publish their numbers, but have seen indications that the GTL base stock is almost a good as their advertising hype. Also taking another look at Amsoil SS. Quite a cost differential between Walmart price for PP (and the rebate) and SS. I am not one to throw money to the wind, but the 7.5 NOAK for SS sure looks good for my purpose.
Opinions and advice welcome!
