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Engine Oil Weight?

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Old 10-17-2018, 11:57 PM
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f1rob
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Default Engine Oil Weight?

When I bought my 1969 Stingray with L68, the previous owner said the engine builder recommended straight 30W oil. It seems to be hard to find a quality brand 30W oil where I am, and the only one available looks like a cheapo special made for diesel engines.

Should I be OK to run 10W30, or what would you guys recommend?

Cheers,

Rob
Old 10-18-2018, 12:23 AM
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doorgunner
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I think it would be O.K. The 10W is for cold weather starting to help the engine crank easier.
Old 10-18-2018, 01:58 AM
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ddawson
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10w-30 would be fine. I like the castrol european formula 0w-30.
Old 10-18-2018, 07:40 AM
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Yes, 10W-30 should be just fine. I'd suggest Valvoline VR1 Racing Oil. http://www.valvoline.com/our-product...vr1-racing-oil

Vic
Old 10-18-2018, 08:57 AM
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Originally Posted by f1rob
When I bought my 1969 Stingray with L68, the previous owner said the engine builder recommended straight 30W oil. It seems to be hard to find a quality brand 30W oil where I am, and the only one available looks like a cheapo special made for diesel engines.

Should I be OK to run 10W30, or what would you guys recommend?

Cheers,

Rob
Rob
Unless you plan to drive it in temperatures below freezing 30w is fine.
Straight 30 is usually recommended because of aftermarket camshaft recommendations
Diesel oil is fine..... it should have more zinc content which a flat tappet cam requires
15/40 is a good compromise if straight 30 is hard to come by
Unless you are racing.... racing oil is not necessary

Barry

Last edited by Engage; 10-18-2018 at 08:58 AM.
Old 10-18-2018, 09:16 AM
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I use Valvoline™ VR1™ Racing SAE 30 Conventional Motor Oil buy it on line I get it by the case. I don't use my car in the winter so I just use straight 30.
Old 10-18-2018, 11:56 AM
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Originally Posted by FINWOLF
I use Valvoline™ VR1™ Racing SAE 30 Conventional Motor Oil buy it on line I get it by the case. I don't use my car in the winter so I just use straight 30.
VR1 SAE 30 is formulated with the same chemistry as the multi- vis grades. One important consideration for VR1 is the ZDP additive is low volitilty. This means more anti wear additive stays with the oil longer than more conventional ZDP.
If your starting the engine in cold conditions, I would recommend a multi vis grade.
Vic
Old 10-18-2018, 03:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Kerz


VR1 SAE 30 is formulated with the same chemistry as the multi- vis grades. One important consideration for VR1 is the ZDP additive is low volitilty. This means more anti wear additive stays with the oil longer than more conventional ZDP.
If your starting the engine in cold conditions, I would recommend a multi vis grade.
Vic
So you think I should go with the 10/30 I don't use it in the winter but maybe 2 times a winter. when I'm done with this last case I'm using I will get 10/30.
Old 10-18-2018, 05:44 PM
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Yes sir, that would be my recommendation. Actually VR1 10w-30 is what I use in my 67 Camaro. A built ZZ4 motor.
5w-30 SynPower in my C6
10w-30 Premium Conventional in my 66 Mustang. a 6 cyl car.
Vic
Old 10-18-2018, 06:08 PM
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Straight from the horse's mouth (1971 Corvette owner's manual).

Old 10-18-2018, 07:41 PM
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They had 5w-20 oil back in 1971. I thought that was a new weight they came out with for CAFE.
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Old 10-18-2018, 07:43 PM
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ddawson
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I used VR1 10w-30 and was happy with it until California deemed it unpurchasable. Amazon and Summit won't ship it to me now.
Old 10-18-2018, 07:59 PM
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10W30 should be fine for that engine.

If you have a "slider cam" with flat tappets, I'd strongly recommend a high zinc oil. I use PennGrade 1 in my older cars with slider cams. See http://amzn.com/B003TPGKJ8 for reference.

Another good high zinc choice is Redline Racing oils. They have a straight 30 weight oil available.

I've personally wiped lobes off a camshaft (in a Mercedes Benz M117 5.6L V8) with Valvoline Racing Synthetic oil. The bottles say "high zinc," and it's probably higher than most "street" oils with API SN or later ratings, but I think it's only 1200ppm Zinc out of the bottle. I now monitor older engines with more frequent oil analyisis, and I look for at least 1200ppm Zinc in the oil I'm draining from the engine after a full use cycle. Obviously starting at that level doesn't hit my target. PennGrade 1 oils are about 1500ppm Zinc from the bottle and I typically see between 1250ppm and 1300ppm in my older engines after 3000 miles. The redline oils are even higher in Zinc concentration, and when I was actually revving high and racing an older engine, I'd used the Redline racing oils, or I added their "Engine Oil Break In Additive" to the PennGrade 1 oil.
Old 10-19-2018, 12:03 AM
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Originally Posted by ddawson
I used VR1 10w-30 and was happy with it until California deemed it unpurchasable. Amazon and Summit won't ship it to me now.
can you have somebody out side of California buy it and ship it to you.
Old 10-19-2018, 09:36 AM
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Originally Posted by ddawson
I used VR1 10w-30 and was happy with it until California deemed it unpurchasable. Amazon and Summit won't ship it to me now.
I could never live there.
Old 10-19-2018, 03:24 PM
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Hemmings also sells a line of 'classic car' oils listing the following properties:


Manufactured for them by Champion Brands. Curious if anyone has tried or how it compares to other types advertising high zinc content.
Old 10-19-2018, 04:10 PM
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I equate oil discussions with" Coke or Pepsi" ! A straight grade oil might be OK for a break in oil, but a lot of engineering that has gone into today's multi-viscosity oils. I wouldn't ignore those benefits. Just be certain, if you are running a flat tappet cam that your oil has a higher zinc content.
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Old 10-20-2018, 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by 69L46
Hemmings also sells a line of 'classic car' oils listing the following properties:


Manufactured for them by Champion Brands. Curious if anyone has tried or how it compares to other types advertising high zinc content.
I haven't tried that brand, but from the specs shown, I would say it's adequate for flat tappets. If it came in cases of 12, I'd consider the 15W50 or 20W50 for the Benz, but the Benz takes 9 quarts to fill. That oil is marginally more expensive than the PennGrade1 (about $10 more for 12 quarts), but the specs look very similar.

A quick Google search and I found that one as "Champion" brand at the Eckler's Classic Chevy website.

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