LLY first 3000 miles

[Brian W. Littleton]

P/U 3500 SRW on 2/13/04 (built 1/13/04) and drove from SF, CA to Reno on I80 and returned on US 88
mountain rode averaged 20.7 per computer staying below 65 mph.
Left for Salt Lake City 2/18 towing enclosed snowmobile trailer loaded 5000#, held at 60mph until Nevada and then abveaged 75mph to SLC, dropped trailer for service and headed to Alpine, WY and from there to Laramie and piched up a 25' goosneck flat bed and drove it home to SF averaged about 70mph on last leg.
Current average MPG is 15.7.
Only service was changed to Amsoil 3000 5W/40 at 606 miles before SLC trip.
Great truck and a great engine just puuuuurs.

[Chris N5CWM]

Thanks for the report Brian! Do you have any pics of your SRW 3500? I've yet to see one on any local lots.
BTW I had a 2001 GMC Yukon XL 2500 8.1 4x4 4.10s.
Yeah, HAD one. The $3.00/gallon rumors before the war worried me so I sold it. Now I'm looking at the new ones again, but waiting to see if GM puts the DMax in the 2500 Suburban/Yukon XL. Might be a looooooong wait. :rolleyes:

[mark45678]

Please Make sure you change the rear end and transfer case fluids ASAP!! I just did mine with 1K on it .... IT was GRAY just like my 01 truck , theres a lot of wear in going on in these two parts! T case holds just over 2 qts and the rear holds 4 qts.... it will only take 45 mins to do both! both have drain plugs...... I used mobil 1 syn ATF and mobil 1 syn 75-90...

[Kennedy]

Did I miss something with Amsoil 5w40? I always though it was 5w30. It is my understanding and experience that a 30w oil is a bit on the light side for a diesel. Others have used it w/o incident but I wouldn't recommend it. I'd suggest the Amsoil 15w40 as a better alternative.


Encouraging mpg figures though!!!

[Brian W. Littleton]

Kennedy,
Good point it is 5W-30 Series 3000. We have been using it on all of our truck V8's and Ford Diesel.
Amsoil dealer reccomended it, but I will question them again. I haven't changed the rear end or transfer case yet and will do that at 5000 miles.
Do you suggest SEr. 2000 75W-140 on rear end.
GM shows a special oil for the front end on 4x4's and I can't get a suggestion from Amsoil for a replacement.
Headed to Wyoming Monday towing about 13K.