‘It’s the bare minimum’: GMC Sierra owner faces backlash after sharing oil advice

Whenever car discussions happen, one topic always persists — reliability. A recent TikTok user, who is a proud owner of a GMC Sierra, sparked a lively debate when he suggested that reliability can sometimes be more in the driver’s hands than most people would care to admit. He was specifically talking about how owners of the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado should choose the oil they use in their trucks.

Recently, TikTok has also been buzzing with debate over whether Toyota’s place at the top of the reliability rankings is still deserved. So the platform becoming a space where people share the ins and outs of owning a car is nothing new. Slowly, the app is turning into a go-to resource for everything from negotiating with a car seller to budgeting for a trip to the mechanic.

For TikTok creator Steve Moore, the issue came down to power and longevity. He wanted more out of his truck, and he doesn’t believe default oil recommendations are always enough — especially for trucks. Moore said, “If you have one of these trucks, this is a 2017 Sierra, [here are] some of the things you should do,” to open his video. He continued, “The only reason they put 0W-20 there is they were trying to find the thinnest oil they could run … with less drag on the motor. Trust me, I’ve done the research on this.”

Moore blamed government policy, arguing that the 0W-20 oil recommendation is often the “bare minimum.” He said he would much prefer if GMC Sierra owners switched to 5W-30 instead. It’s a much thicker oil and, according to him, doesn’t otherwise change how the truck runs. That is generally true, but there are some important nuances here. For one, 5W-30 is technically less fuel efficient, which ends up being a major factor in decision-making for most drivers.

Motor1 reports that the GMC Sierra generally performs better on 5W-30 full synthetic oil and may even require the thicker 0W-30 during winter conditions. However, for the Duramax turbo diesel engine, the manufacturer’s recommendation remains 0W-20 diesel engine oil.

One commenter on TikTok wrote, “It’s funny you bring this up. I have a 2021 GMC Sierra AT4 with the 3.0 Duramax. I have 60k miles now and the last two oil changes (every 5k and I always check my oil after each service to make sure it has oil) I check my oil after 1000 miles and I’m almost 2 quarts low.” Most other users said they still use 0W-20 and have been experiencing similar issues. One user, however, opted out entirely, writing, “I’m sorry, that’s just too much BS on a newer truck to cause problems. I will just drive something from the 60’s and 70’s.”

Ultimately, Moore isn’t lying — but it all depends on the compromises a driver is willing to make. It’s true that with more technology built into modern vehicles, they are heavier and more complex to maintain. That said, there are ways around it, such as changing the oil you use. It will just cost more. After all, to grow, you will always have to shed some skin.