A GMC Sierra owner believes that the default oil recommendation for the model is “way too thin.” Does he have a point? TikTok creator Steve Moore (@stevemoore65674) posted a video about his preferences in oil viscosity when it comes to the 2014-2019 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado model years. “If you have one of these trucks, this is a 2017 Sierra, [here are] some of the things you should do,” he says to start the video. Moore recommends switching from the recommended 0W-20 oil to 5W-30. “The only reason they put 0-20 there is they were trying to find the thinnest oil they could run … with less drag on the motor,” he says. “Trust me, I’ve done the research on this.” Moore blames the discrepancy on government fuel efficiency standards. “It’s the bare minimum,” he says. “Put 5W-30 in it. That’s what I run in this truck. Been running it in this truck perfectly fine for a while now. I’d rather more protection with a thicker oil. Doesn’t change anything.” How Does the TikToker’s GMC Sierra Advice Hold Up? The TikToker is correct that manufacturers are generally recommending 0W-20 oil viscosity in newer vehicles, which is a change from the traditional 5W-30 grade. The difference is that the OW-20 is thinner and more fuel efficient, and the 5W-30 will stay thicker for longer. According to Albrecht Buick GMC of Wakefield, the GMC Sierra 1500 generally takes 5W-30 full synthetic oil and can require 0W-30 in extremely cold weather. It recommends 0W-20 diesel engine oil for the Duramax turbo diesel. The transmission fluid thermal bypass valve that Moore talks about is an aftermarket part that allows for increased cooling of transmission fluid, which some drivers prefer because it can make the transmission components last longer. Additionally, the Active Fuel Management (AFM) system is used by GM vehicles to (you guessed it) improve fuel efficiency. An after-market kit can disable that cylinder deactivation mode. Moore Also Recommends Owners ‘Delete the Transmission Thermostat’ Moore isn’t done offering free advice. “Another thing you should do to these trucks: Delete the transmission thermostat,” he adds. “They make kits for them. They’re like a couple dollars. They’re not much. And it’s an easy job to do.” Why does he recommend this? He says the transmission was designed to heat the fluid up so that it could be thinner for fuel efficiency reasons. “When I first got this truck, I would drive it for 10 minutes and my transmission would be at 190 degrees,” he says. “You never want the transmission to get that hot. If it gets that hot when you’re towing something, that’s one thing. But just driving 10 minutes?” Finally, he recommends buying a kit to turn off the truck’s four-cylinder mode. “I don’t like it kicking into four-cylinder mode because it sounds funky, because I have dual exhaust on it,” he says. What Do People Think Of Moore’s GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado Advice? In the comments section of the video, viewers debated the wisdom of Moore’s advice. One person said, “I feel the 0W-20 is too thin myself. My Jeep Renegade recommends it. I use 5W-30, especially over 70,000 miles.” A second person said, “Active fuel management is a crapshoot. I had good luck. My friend had a 2015 Silverado with three engines before it hit 30,000.” A third viewer said, “I have a 2018 5.3L with 66,000 miles and it’s been perfect so far. I use 0W-20 and change every 4,000.” Moore replied, “Oh, it will work. So it’s just the bare minimum. I personally would just rather have a little more protection.” Motor1 contacted Moore via TikTok comment and direct message. We also contacted General Motors via press email for comment. We’ll update this if either party responds. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team
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