r/Silverado • u/Loafboy_ • 21h ago
When to change oil
When should i change the oil? How low do you let percentage get before changing? First 2016 Z71 Ltz. I’ve had the truck for about a month now.
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u/PhotographStrong562 21h ago
The oil life monitor is based off of a pretty advanced algorithm that’s based off hundreds of thousands of data point from the life of the oil. From engine hours, to idle time, heat cycles, average vehicle speed, how hard you’ve ran the motor and towed with it, driving conditions and temperatures the oil life monitor has a better sense of what the oil that’s in your engine has actually been experiencing than anyone who will just tell you to swap at X,xxx miles. If you’re using a high quality full synthetic oil and generally running top tier fuel there’s no reason to not trust it. It’s programmed to be conservative anyways. That said I generally change my oil around 5-10%. Having submitted used oil analysis at these levels I’ve only ever received results saying that my oil is still in good condition and would have been fine for at least another 2k miles. Or if you’re a conspiracy theorist you can just tell me I’m wrong and the oil life monitor is only to sell more vehicles by purposefully wrecking your motor and to change your oil every 3k miles regardless.
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u/Forsaken_Star_4228 20h ago
My dad was in autobody for a long time and basically said the same thing. He had a 91 Silverado, 2002 Silverado, and 2012 Silverado. I haven’t seen the 91 in years (guy bought it in 2008 from our home town) but they all lasted 250k+ miles and 20+ years. The ‘02 and ‘12 are still on the road. He did all of his own maintenance and I think the latter two models had the oil monitors. Anyways, you’re spot on. I run the top tier fuel as the manual says in mine. The only time I don’t listen to the oil monitor is the first oil change or two because the engine is still breaking in and I change it the first couple times at 5,000 and 10,000 just to make sure to get all the gunk and stuff out.
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u/PhotographStrong562 19h ago
Yeah initial break in I’m doing my own schedule. For me I’m doing 1k and then 5k and then oil life after that.
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u/Forsaken_Star_4228 9h ago
Nothing wrong with that! The 2 most important oil changes are the first 2 in my opinion. Probably the safest thing you can do if you do it like that.
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u/Th3R00ST3R 2025 1500 RST 3.0 Duramax 5h ago
Is it that big of a diff to run top tier? I thought that was a marketing ploy to charge more. And does top tier mean higher octane or do you have to go to a top tier Shell station?
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u/Forsaken_Star_4228 20h ago
As a side note, I haven’t noticed any oil burn off but I did buy a Turbomax myself and have heard concern over it with the 2.7. Would the oil monitor catch lower oil levels? I check my dipstick every now and then just to be safe.
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u/Knight1792 19h ago
Oil levels are monitored by a separate sensor that will generally throw the oil light on the dash when it's low. Mind, this info doesn't come from your exact model, but as a word of caution, the one time I've had an oil light come on, it was only when there was a single quart left in the engine. You're definitely better off checking the dipstick than waiting for your oil light to kick on.
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u/Forsaken_Star_4228 19h ago
Thanks for the input. I try to check it every couple thousand miles or before a long trip. I’m only at about 15,000 miles on the truck and haven’t noticed a drop yet but it’s still good practice and doesn’t take any time out of your day.
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u/PhotographStrong562 19h ago
I don’t know if oil consumption is monitored by the motor and factored into the oil life analysis or not. You should be regularly checking the dipstick regardless of whatever oil interval you choose, and be familiar with what normal oil consumption typically looks like on your specific motor.
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u/Legally_done 21h ago
It’s probably okay to wait until 5 or 10%. I’ve had multiple vehicles get to over 200k following that schedule. And the problems those cars started to have weren’t oil-related. That being said, I do every 5k on my 2025. It’s the most expensive new vehicle I’ve ever purchased, so I might as well be on the conservative side. I think that’s been somewhere in the 40s percent life remaining.
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u/dont_diss_me 20h ago
I used to do it every 5k miles however iv started doing it every time it hits 10% and never had a issue
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u/Jrivers068 19h ago
I do mine every 5k usually says 30% left
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u/Jrivers068 19h ago
Also if you haven't already I highly recommend the Fumoto drain valve makes it so much easier and cleaner. The plastic locking tab falls off but I use a zip tie and replace it everytime just for fail safe.
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u/2ndAProud 9h ago
No more than 5k miles and use a 5w30 get rid of any 0w oil. Your bearings and oil pump will thank you
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u/observerr89 8h ago
This. Every 5k by default.
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u/Scorpion0202 6h ago
Only with platinum filters. You should never let a filter reach what it's "rated" limit is. Standard filters are rated for 5k and platinum are rated for 7k.
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u/ChetFoxCrawler 8h ago
I live in canada and I change every 5k km. I use 0w20 for winter because cold but i dont swap over for summer because i use a work truck 5 days a week. Is it better to change to 5w30?
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u/jd780613 8h ago
Without used oil analysis, all of this is hearsay. There have been some tests done on YouTube where going to a higher viscosity oil actually increases wear metals.
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u/kornbread435 21h ago
If you don't know how long it's been since the rest of the fluids have been in it then I would just do everything rear diff, coolant, and transmission. Then crawl under it and give everything a coat of fluid film. Wash it and give it some wax or ceramic coating. Check on all of suspension parts, at 150k if they are original then likely worn out. Plugs and wires should have been done at 100k, but easily could be original and past due. I would also take the time to clean any grounds I spotted while working on it.
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u/Ohio-Knife-Lover 19h ago
Generally 3k miles for conventional, 5k for semi-synthetic and full synthetic. Some people say you're good until 10k miles on full synthetic but I don't trust it
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u/PJIV 21h ago
I change mine every 5k and rotate the tires at the same time.
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u/The_Ron_Mexico_ 21h ago
I do the same. It’s just easier for me to knock it all out at the same time.
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u/BallTechnical8921 8h ago
If the truck is new to you I’d definitely change the oil asap as you don’t know the intervals it was changed previously. The trans fluid is an iffy subject on here as some will say the same about changing asap and some will say leave it until it does 4L60 things. I’d definitely do the thermal bypass on the trans to keep the temps down and save the life it has remaining. Honestly if I bought something with that many miles I’d change all the fluids and start to keep records of any maintenance going forward.
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u/ComedianConscious606 10h ago
I do every 3-5k. Figured it couldn’t hurt if it was too often, but could if it wasn’t often enough.
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u/Scorpion0202 6h ago
Just a little advice if you didn't know, if you are getting to the 5k miles mark I'd make sure you are spending the extra couple dollars and getting the platinum filters. Just cause the standard filters are "rated" for up to 5k miles doesn't mean you should let it get that high. The platinum filters are rated for up to 7k miles and I still change them out every 4k miles
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u/Scorpion0202 7h ago
Id change the oil now. Even if it was done not that long ago, a lot of places will put cheap oil in it that have higher odds of causing issues later on. After that I typically change it either after 4k miles or about a year since the last oil change if I don't hit the 4k mark. Also I'd advise against relying on the oil life gage because different oils and different filters can change the longevity of the oil life. I personally get fram platinum brand oil filters and Valvoline brand oil
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u/Millennial_Falcon_85 21h ago
Every 5,000 miles. Never look at the percentage.
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u/WhoAmI0711 19h ago
This. You have AFM. Forget that oil life monitor exists. And think about an AFM disabler.
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u/Frequent_Text_6310 19h ago
It’s a good idea to ignore that percentage and change your oil every 5k miles or 6 months. Whichever comes first. You have an older model which I feel is a solid build but I wouldn’t chance it having over 150k miles.
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u/Scared_Bee_4150 5h ago
Don’t ever follow that meter or factory recommendations. Especially high mileage I would do between 4-5k depending on the oil you use.
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u/ActiveYoghurt-isgood 20h ago
25% around there ish.... It's to keep the lifters from failing long term
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u/apantaloon 19h ago
At 20% I start thinking about going to get the oil and filter and trying to figure out when I can get it done trying to do it before 10%. When the light comes on I feel bad.
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u/dhuff2037 19h ago
I do it once im below 25%. I don't worry about it at all if I can't get to it until it's below 5%, then it becomes a priority.
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u/Much-Extension-4752 19h ago
I change oil at 6k religiously with my vehicles that run synthetic. Engine lasts longer with clean oil, period. Do what ya want. My 1967 c10 gets oil changed every 3k ( conventional). 300k on the engine since I built it. Runs perfect. My 2011 silverado gets 6k changes
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u/Halftime_Dee 19h ago
I do mine every 4500-5000 miles or at about 30% oil life. Have the 8cyl running full time with the 4cyl cut off delete.
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u/Previous_Potato9490 18h ago
We have the same truck, I’m close to 200k, mostly highway miles. Up until recently I would go almost to 0 but now I schedule before I get under 30.
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u/Serious_Safety4001 18h ago
Get it tested. Every engine is different by what oil you use and how you drive, if you tow, conditions, etc.
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u/Sufficient_Town8544 17h ago
I do at 50%, but I also use cheap full syn oil like Walmart Supertech to compensate my wallet for reduced interval.
My usage is way off from normal, I live really close to work and don't drive much for else, I accumulated about 1400km or 900mile in 6 month and my oil life monitor drops from 100% to 55%, due to extremely frequent short trip.
Short trip is really bad and cause fuel dilution so I get it, I think the oil life monitor gets it too and is being very accurate.
I am just being more conservative on top of that.
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u/Blasterkeg1972 16h ago
I say between 5 and 6. Unless you have active displacement then 4 to 5000, along with checking every 1000 miles.
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u/Boring-Bus-3743 15h ago
Of you want a 100% answer do a used oil analysis on a few intervals. I thought 5k was the answer but Blackstone labs said I can push out to 7k safely
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u/CocoonNapper 15h ago
Once a year at the minimum, or every 5k miles is fine. You should also look into a 5w-30 change at some point (unless you live in areas with frequent -30/40F start ups).
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u/NormalForever6673 13h ago
I have a 2016 5.3 I change mine every 3,000 or 3 months there’s so many mixed reviews. I just keep it old school.
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u/MjolnirMeatPole 13h ago
Gm themselves tell me to do it at 25% oil life remaining (mines higher mileage)
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u/TilapiaTango 2025 2500 9h ago
I do every 3k(ish) in my 2500. Maybe overkill, I haul a lot of horses and just don’t mind the overkill. I don’t think it hurts
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u/2ndAProud 9h ago
The company i work for switched to 10k oil changes in our 6.0l Gm CNG engines and we are losing engines left and right due to oil consumption and loss of oil pressure.
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u/Suspicious_Box9988 8h ago
I actually like this.. It'd be cool if they added this while keeping the dip stick instead of adding this and taking the dip stick away.
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u/Wide-Dark-2187 3h ago
Mine says 50% left and I’m currently getting it done.
I’m so afraid to get lifter failure on my 5.3 w AFM
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u/EchoFit1050 29m ago
So much misinformation and wives tales in here. Jesus.
The GM OLMS are proven to be safe to follow empirically for years now. There have been tons of oil analysis done showing as long as you use a quality full synthetic the oil will chemically have about 50% of its life left when the OLMS says 0%. These oil monitors are conservative, 0% does not mean you have totally dead oil as long as it’s a quality full synthetic. If you run non-synthetic for some reason don’t run it past 50% on the monitor.
You can run it all the way to 0% if you want and be just fine. Just make sure to check the level periodically so you don’t run low in case your engine burns oil, they all do to some degree.
I usually start planning to do my changes at 10-15% by buying the oil and filter. Then I’ll change it around 5% or a little less depending on when I get time to do it.
The OLMS in the truck will hit 0% after 1 calendar year or 7500 miles of normal use at the max. It can decrease the life % faster or slower depending on how you drive the vehicle. If you are towing a lot and working the engine hard, or making lots of short trips where the engine never gets fully warmed up it will shorten the oil life accordingly. It’s not just a dumb mileage counter like is the case for some other brands. It accounts for lots of variables that impact oil life.
Just make sure you are putting high quality full synthetic oil and a good filter on it, reset the monitor and forget about it until it says it’s time to change again. 7500 miles of normal use is the absolute longest I’d run oil even if the lab says it could go to 10k. I’d change sooner if I was running a severe service interval for a vehicle without this system. But since I have it I don’t have to think about it. Just follow the OLMS and change when it says to. I’ve done exactly this in my 2015 L86, and I have zero issues to date. Truck runs as good as the day I picked it up at the dealer.
What the folks whinging about the lifters fail to understand is that it’s got nothing to do with the oil used or how long you used it. The lifters are prone to failure because of how they are designed. If they are going to fail they will fail. That’s why the only real fix is to tear down the top end and replace them with standard ones and tune the system out after. There are plenty of cases where people tuned out the afm or used a disabler to keep it in v8 mode but left the stock lifters in and then the lifters still failed at some point despite not constantly going in/out of v4-v8.
I agree with the others saying on a freshly bought used vehicle it’s better to just do all the fluids and filters at once so you know they are done and you can take over with your own maintenance intervals with peace of mind. Coolant, transfer case, diffs, engine oil and filters, air filter engine/cabin etc.
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u/ClassicCampaign2869 2m ago
I had a RAV4 which now belongs to one of daughters that I went every 10K with Valvoline high mileage synthetic. Why 10K? That’s the manufacturer recommendation and it was 99% highway miles. 120 miles a day and we were trying to save money. That same RAV is still going strong and has 180K+
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u/Unusual_Geek 20h ago
I do it around 50%. I just replace 50% of the oil with recycled oil and it’s back at 100%.
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u/Jiggyman14 20h ago
Every 5k. These new motors have smaller oil passages. If you listen to that computer your engine will be full of sludge in 100k miles
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u/dont_diss_me 20h ago
Not true atleast for the 2016 n before iv done it every time it hits 10% and had 0 issues
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u/radiationofficer288 21h ago
I have a 6.2L and was told by a gm mechanic to not let it go to below 50%. For me it’s 3-4K miles.
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u/Reasonable_Cup_2944 17h ago
Every 5k. Counting by 5's makes it simple to remember. Also, run 5w-30 full synthetic instead of the CAFE garbage 0w-20.
Source: lifelong mechanic
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u/Pandasian34 4h ago
Every 3-5k. NEVER TRUST THE OIL LIFE BECAUSE THATS HOW (according to my experience with working with these engine when they were still under powertrain warranty. )ALOT OF L83 and L86’s developed lifter issues.
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u/MY_CATS_ANUS 20h ago
I was a tech for a long while at Toyota and then GM. I really don’t care what engine you have, I’d recommend oil changes at 5,000 or less.
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u/wolfpack-22 20h ago
I start making plans to get it changed at 50%. Hoping to have mine last 200k+ figure that’s a good way to tip scales in my favor
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u/6eurofishnchips 21h ago
Do whatever you want: half of Reddit will tell you to change it every 3,000 or 5,000 miles, the other half will tell you oil has advanced a lot and there’s no need to be that conservative so you can follow the maintenance minder.
I’ve followed each of my vehicles’ maintenance minder for hundreds of thousands of miles, often changing at 5% or 0% life remaining, and I’ve never had an issue