Chevrolet 1998 Oil Weight Specification

From 1998 Suburban Owners Manual (Chapter 6, Page 16)

Modified 7/10/2004

Although in its rebuttal to my complaint filed with the Better Business Bureau, Heritage Warranty Insurance claims that I should have used 10W40 oil in my 1998 Chevrolet Suburban's engine, the Chevrolet 1998 Suburban Owners Manual clearly states in Chapter 6, page 16, "SAE 5W-30 is best for your vehicle." In order to properly maintain my engine, I strictly followed the manufacturer's directions.

Heritage Warranty Insurance has claimed that I did not properly lubricate my engine. Heritage says the oil should have been 10W-40, and should have been changed every 3,000 to 7,500 miles.

The Records from Pelham Bay Car Wash & Quick Lube go back 15 months. This Vehicle History Record shows that I performed regular Oil Changes at intervals averaging every 1,626 miles. The Oil-Change receipts shown below verify the dates and odometer readings of the Oil-Change History of my Suburban. 

I made certain that my engine oil level was good, and anti-freeze reservoir was always full with coolant, and as stated by Chevrolet (1998 Suburban Owners' Manual, Chapter 7, Page 44), DexCool was always used as per manufacturer specifications. Once again, the frequency of my oil change history demonstrates that I properly lubricated and maintained my engine. On the receipts, Number 14 of the 20 point service check is for Radiator Fluid. Fluid levels were always checked and maintained well within limits of both Chevrolet, and the specifications listed in the rebuttal submitted to the BBB of Nebraska by Heritage Warranty Insurance. Heritage claims that I used the wrong oil, "Wrong grade of oil (5W30 when it should have 10W40)." My 1998 Suburban Owners' Manual (Chapter 6, Page 16) specifies that, "SAE 5W-30 oil is best for your vehicle." Technicians at Chevrolet concur that SAE 5W-30 is the correct grade oil for my vehicle. I always used either GM GoodWrench when available or high quality Castrol oil. I never used, "Cheap oil" in my engine. Chevrolet has installed a new engine in my vehicle, and has put SAE 5W-30 oil in the new engine that I have paid $6,000.00 for out of my own pocket. As witnessed in my oil-change history, I averaged 1,626 miles per oil-change.
Heritage claims that breakdown of the motor oil could have been caused, in part, by effects of an internal leak to the Intake Manifold.
If there was any internal leakage occurring, it was transparent to me because besides my own daily monitoring, I brought my vehicle in for Lubrication Maintenance so often that oil and Anti-Freeze fluid levels were always found to be normal; nothing to indicate a problem. There was no indication of any problem until I heard a tapping from the engine when I started the car after it sat overnight. That is when I brought my vehicle in to New Rochelle Chevrolet for diagnosis/service.

View the Heritage Warranty Insurance Denial