Hello,
I inherited this car about eight months ago. It has the GM 3400 V6, is at 155k miles, and has been in the family from day one. This new situation has resulted in a new lease on life for it under my ownership. Oil changes have been regular intervals of 3000 miles (5000 kilometers) or thereabouts in the past. Most of these changes were done at a Jiffy Lube equivalent with whatever 5W30 they keep on tap and what you call "jobber" filters. It runs well and in the past few months I've replaced the fuel pump and fuel filter, radiator, water pump, thermostat, cooling lines to the transmission (new coolant too), bypassed that stupid security sensor in the ignition switch, and this weekend I'm taking off the starter to have it rebuilt locally, unless of course it is too cold out. After a transmission fluid change to come in the spring-the first ever since it left Lansing fifteen years ago-I figure it'll be good as gold for a few more years. I would like to get 250k or more miles out of it if I can.
I'm curious what you think about the oil. I've picked up a few ACDelco Professional PF52 filters off of RockAuto since I figure the size and increased media should be of some use and better than what was on before. I think this will be the first OEM filter on the car for 15 years. As I understand it, the classic PF52/PF47 are high quality filters and made in the States so I like that too. I've done two oil changes so far and put Castrol GTX 5W30 in along with Fram orange can filters (I have since learned a life's knowledge of oil filters from BITOG and will not repeat). We haven't had much in the way of clear sunlight lately so a photo of the internals with the oil cap off didn't come out well. There is a visible varnish and I am wondering if that is a function of miles on the engine or oil choice/filter performance? Or maybe something else? I've received a Blackstone Labs kit and I intend to send that off when I do the next oil change.
I'd like to worry about the rest of the car and leave a well performing engine to do its thing with good oil and filters, so I'd appreciate suggestions or comments. Is there a (preferably conventional) oil with better cleaning additives?
Thanks
I inherited this car about eight months ago. It has the GM 3400 V6, is at 155k miles, and has been in the family from day one. This new situation has resulted in a new lease on life for it under my ownership. Oil changes have been regular intervals of 3000 miles (5000 kilometers) or thereabouts in the past. Most of these changes were done at a Jiffy Lube equivalent with whatever 5W30 they keep on tap and what you call "jobber" filters. It runs well and in the past few months I've replaced the fuel pump and fuel filter, radiator, water pump, thermostat, cooling lines to the transmission (new coolant too), bypassed that stupid security sensor in the ignition switch, and this weekend I'm taking off the starter to have it rebuilt locally, unless of course it is too cold out. After a transmission fluid change to come in the spring-the first ever since it left Lansing fifteen years ago-I figure it'll be good as gold for a few more years. I would like to get 250k or more miles out of it if I can.
I'm curious what you think about the oil. I've picked up a few ACDelco Professional PF52 filters off of RockAuto since I figure the size and increased media should be of some use and better than what was on before. I think this will be the first OEM filter on the car for 15 years. As I understand it, the classic PF52/PF47 are high quality filters and made in the States so I like that too. I've done two oil changes so far and put Castrol GTX 5W30 in along with Fram orange can filters (I have since learned a life's knowledge of oil filters from BITOG and will not repeat). We haven't had much in the way of clear sunlight lately so a photo of the internals with the oil cap off didn't come out well. There is a visible varnish and I am wondering if that is a function of miles on the engine or oil choice/filter performance? Or maybe something else? I've received a Blackstone Labs kit and I intend to send that off when I do the next oil change.
I'd like to worry about the rest of the car and leave a well performing engine to do its thing with good oil and filters, so I'd appreciate suggestions or comments. Is there a (preferably conventional) oil with better cleaning additives?
Thanks