How do the quick lube places do oil changes for less than I can buy even the cheapest oil and filter. it's tempting, but I'd rather use better quality supplies. Do any of these places offer upgrades to their standard oil change package, and can I trust them to use the oil I specify?

 

For everyday drivers there`s probably not much

 

Ive always used GM filters (the blue ones $8ea at the dealership) and Amsoil full synthetic. I change the oil once a year regardless of milage, and change the filter 4 times a year and top up the oil. Its always still been pretty clean for me by the end of my year, and Ive saved a few bucks since 8 litres of Amsoil and 4 filters is cheaper than 4 filters and 20 litres of normal oil.

If your oil is filthy dirty you can pour a litre of diesel in the oil filler and drive it around for half an hour before you change the oil out. Diesels is a lubricant and one heck of a cleaner for the inside of the engine. Sure beats those chemical flushes they charge too much for.

Also, if you are doing your own oil changes, dont forget to go but yourself a grease gun and a tube of grease for it. There is zerks to grease on upper balljoints, lower balljoins, all your steering linkages (including the shaft in the engine bay), and possibly in your driveshaft U-joints too if they have been changed. If your balljoints dont have grease nipples on them, you can get a grease needle, just poke it into the rubber boot and give a few pumps, this is what I have to do on my silverado as they dont have factory nipples on those trucks.

 

is the oem filter that came with the truck the ac delco filter? or another brand

 

The OEM oil filter for 4WD is the AC Delco PF 52. The OEM filter for the 2WD is the AC Delco PF 47.

 

good to know, the price isnt too high on these, would the pf52 be fine to use with mobil 1 synthetic?

 

You can use oil filters with any type of oil you choose.
So yes, you can use that filter with the mobil 1 synthetic.

 

i know some recommend you get a certain filter if your running synthetic, i saw napa gold said for sythentic blends where as their platinum was for full synthetic...didnt know if that was just a ploy to get you to spend more lol

 

Yeah, dont listen to that. When it comes to filters, does not matter what type of motor oil you are putting through it.

 

This is not the best one on the subject, but will give you an idea of the internal workings of an oil filter. One of the main problems with Fran filters are the 'cardboard' end caps.