Synthetic Oil in a GM 3800 ?

[Merkava_4]

If you own a GM car with the 3800 V6 and you've tried synthetic oil, has the engine ever sounded any different from using conventional oil ?

All these threads about synthetic oil causing upper engine valve train noise is the reason why I've been too scared to try it.

 

[Shannow]

My L67 doesn't reall sound that much different on any of the 30s I've run...seems a bit quieter on 40s (as recommended by my owners manual for freezing condition, but I use it all year

)

 

[FetchFar]

Valve train clatter can be caused by slight aeration foaming in the oil. My 07 BMW is famous for hydraulic valve lash adjuster noise/clatter due to air bubbles. Is not because of synthetic vs. conventional. Use a dexos1 rated oil with confidence, since GM specifies better foaming resistance in that spec, which they say helps the oil function better as a hydraulic fluid in variable valve timing mechanisms, and by default, the hydraulic lifter functions.

 

[Realtech214]

I think M1 is most famous for making engines sing. I have experienced it too. My first synthetic use was M1 and it made my truck "loud-er" Any pennzoil synthetic or dino will not cause more engine noise, it dosnt for me. PYB is as quiet as PP and PU in my 4.3

 

[Shannow]

I noticed that with M1 0W-40 in my 4Runner V-6 before I read about it on the 'net...on my diesel, didn't notice it at all, but being a diesel, it's noisy full stop.

 

[Subdued]

Those 3800s are already rather noisy, I wouldn't be too worried about oil adding to it.

 

[smithph]

I have run Valvoline Synpower, Napa Synthetic, Pennzoil Platinum, G-Oil, M1, and even a run of Shell T6 (5w-40). None caused any noticeable sound issues in my 3800.

 

[sciphi]

Not when I had my old LeSabre. That engine sounded the same no matter what oil was in there.

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: Subdued
Those 3800s are already rather noisy, I wouldn't be too worried about oil adding to it.


Not sure what 3800's you have been running.

I am on my fourth one. 3 supercharged 1 N/A. All sound the same no matter what oil I have run. The last two have been supercharged and I used M1 10W-30 all year long.

 

[901Memphis]

My 3.1 sounds noisier on synthetic but noise doesn't equate to wear so I rest easy knowing my engine it protected.

 

[richport29]

I've only ran synthetic in my series 2 since I've owned it. Sounds fine, nothing unusual.

 

[EvanD]

I haven't noticed a difference. I put whatever full synthetic 10w30 is on sale that week. 03 3800 supercharged.

 

[Ram01]

3800 are not picky at all

 

[Recalculating]

Agree with those having no issues with a synthetic in the 3800. Mine seemed to like QSUD the best of all. Currently using Pennzoil Platinum 10W30. It doesn't seem to like the Platinum because I never received my rebate. (true but just joking)

 

[Tzu]

My '00 Impala LS 3800 was changed over to PP10w30 from conventional and ran 95,000 miles on synthetic alone. Recently I switched back to PYB 10w30 and it does seem to be quieter on conventional. It has 228,000 miles on it and leaks 1/4qt. every 5500 miles around the oil pan gasket. I personally will keep using PYB and Wix filters from now on in this car. Great engines they are/were. Try for yourself as it won't hurt anything, but to me they are not fussy on oils.

 

[crazyoildude]

this is why a few people i know stopped using certain oils because of no show rebates

 

[Trav]

2x3800 Gen II engines running exclusively on synthetic. One has been run on Mobil 1 since new according to the original owner records and runs M1 0w40 today.
The other runs SOPUS synthetics (PU at the moment) the last 7 years. I have no idea how they sound on dino.

Both engines are silent as a tomb, if it wasn't for normal belt noise and the slight normal ticking of the injectors you wouldn't know they were running.