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My concern w/ 0w-20 motor oil in the 6.2 (or 5.3) - valvetrain noise tells all

HopnDude

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So, I've had my 2022 (2021 year end roll over model) Silverado w/ 6.2L since early February 2022. I just now did my 1st oil change at 6650 miles.

What I noticed:
It's starting to get a little more chilly from fall weather, and before changing the oil I could hear a little valvetrain chatter on startup. Even after the oil was at operating temperature, I could still hear audible valvetrain chatter. The sound is eerily similar to that of rocker arms needing adjusted for valve lash. Given this is all stock, this should not be the case unless some form of valvetrain work just took place.

So, I brushed it off as just good ol fashion valvetrain chatter and nothing more.

I changed my oil, just standard Mobile 1 Full Synth 0w-20 and OEM ACDelco PF63 filter.

I've noticed almost immediately after the oil change, that the valvetrain chatter is damn near absent?! This seems very concerning. 0w-20 should 'theoretically' stand the weather of time like 0w-30 or 5w-30 but w/ a lower temperature vicus rating and a thickness of 20 at operating temperature. Sure, with tighter tolerances, this should be just fine. Except the reason for 0w-20 instead of 0w-30 or 5w-30 is a thinner oil for better fuel economy.

I installed a JTL Oil Catch Can within the first 500 miles, and I've had to empty it about 3 times within those first 6650 miles. Especially after having seen a video showing some oiling differences and at the end, what happens when fuel (unburnt blowby that gets past the piston rings, and reason we get the Oil Catch Cans) gets into the oil and how little protection you get.

Bottom line:
I'm concerned about going long intervals on oil changes with 0w-20 like I did with my 2016 Canyon using 5w-30 on the 3.6L. I think I might start changing my oil at 5000 miles regardless of how much life the system says the oil is still good for. This, all because the oil seems to be thinning out to a unsafe point that I can start to hear some valvetrain chatter due to the thinning viscus nature of the 0w-20 'fuel efficient' oil that GM has chosen to use.

Also, I don't race the truck, I drive rather conservatively, especially having achieved a 50 mile best of 26.3mpg.
 
So, I've had my 2022 (2021 year end roll over model) Silverado w/ 6.2L since early February 2022. I just now did my 1st oil change at 6650 miles.

What I noticed:
It's starting to get a little more chilly from fall weather, and before changing the oil I could hear a little valvetrain chatter on startup. Even after the oil was at operating temperature, I could still hear audible valvetrain chatter. The sound is eerily similar to that of rocker arms needing adjusted for valve lash. Given this is all stock, this should not be the case unless some form of valvetrain work just took place.

So, I brushed it off as just good ol fashion valvetrain chatter and nothing more.

I changed my oil, just standard Mobile 1 Full Synth 0w-20 and OEM ACDelco PF63 filter.

I've noticed almost immediately after the oil change, that the valvetrain chatter is damn near absent?! This seems very concerning. 0w-20 should 'theoretically' stand the weather of time like 0w-30 or 5w-30 but w/ a lower temperature vicus rating and a thickness of 20 at operating temperature. Sure, with tighter tolerances, this should be just fine. Except the reason for 0w-20 instead of 0w-30 or 5w-30 is a thinner oil for better fuel economy.

I installed a JTL Oil Catch Can within the first 500 miles, and I've had to empty it about 3 times within those first 6650 miles. Especially after having seen a video showing some oiling differences and at the end, what happens when fuel (unburnt blowby that gets past the piston rings, and reason we get the Oil Catch Cans) gets into the oil and how little protection you get.

Bottom line:
I'm concerned about going long intervals on oil changes with 0w-20 like I did with my 2016 Canyon using 5w-30 on the 3.6L. I think I might start changing my oil at 5000 miles regardless of how much life the system says the oil is still good for. This, all because the oil seems to be thinning out to a unsafe point that I can start to hear some valvetrain chatter due to the thinning viscus nature of the 0w-20 'fuel efficient' oil that GM has chosen to use.

Also, I don't race the truck, I drive rather conservatively, especially having achieved a 50 mile best of 26.3mpg.
I am with you - never let mine go past 5k on oil change. Heck 1st at 964, 2nd at 2300 and 3rd at 7200. 3 oil changes now and at 10k. Cheap insurance on these engines with DFM, etc. Also put in a JLT catch can too.....
 
I put in Mobil 1 ESP 0W30 last oil change and the 6.2 feels and sounds like it’s running smoother. The DFM has already been disabled by the Pulsar LT, and my fuel economy didn’t change. I like the added protection of 0W30 and will likely keep using the same oil as long as DFM is disabled.
 
I put in Mobil 1 ESP 0W30 last oil change and the 6.2 feels and sounds like it’s running smoother. The DFM has already been disabled by the Pulsar LT, and my fuel economy didn’t change. I like the added protection of 0W30 and will likely keep using the same oil as long as DFM is disabled.
Any change in fuel mileage?
 
Why did you opt for 0w-30 vs 20?
The ESP is advertised as having excellent cleaning properties and extended OC intervals.
Odd that 0w20 carries the Dexos stamp when 0w30 does not unless I’m missing something?
Would assume the 30 carries a higher heat resistance?
 
Why did you opt for 0w-30 vs 20?
The ESP is advertised as having excellent cleaning properties and extended OC intervals.
Odd that 0w20 carries the Dexos stamp when 0w30 does not unless I’m missing something?
Would assume the 30 carries a higher heat resistance?
The 0w30 is also Dexos1 Gen2 approved for GM but maybe it’s different in Canada. We had a hot summer and I wanted to test it out for myself. I’m changing back to 0w20 soon and will report any observations. These 6.2-litres make a fair amount of chatter.
 

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