Oil and Filter Recommendations
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 93
Likes: 7
From: Granbury, TX
Oil and Filter Recommendations
Hey guys,
Its time to do my first oil change on my 1971 original 454
What are your recommendations for the oil and filter. Not sure if it matters but thought I would ask. I'm in Texas so hot typically hot weather. The car has your standard rear main seal leak
Maybe a 20w-50???
Did some searching here but I'm not seeing a past post on it.
Its time to do my first oil change on my 1971 original 454
What are your recommendations for the oil and filter. Not sure if it matters but thought I would ask. I'm in Texas so hot typically hot weather. The car has your standard rear main seal leak
Maybe a 20w-50???
Did some searching here but I'm not seeing a past post on it.
Popular Reply
Oct 16, 2024, 12:07 PM
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 651
Likes: 452
From: Napa, CA
Friends don’t let friends use Fram oil filters. Use Wix or NAPA Gold which is made by Wix. My personal choice for oil is 20w50 from any mfg with a healthy ZDDP package to prevent unwanted wear on your original flat tappet cam and lifters.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 304
From: Charlotte Area North Carolina
Your question will bring lots of opinions and individual preferences out regarding oil and filters that other people use.
This is the oil that I use. I buy it at Walmart since it is a little cheaper than Auto Zone, Advanced Auto, and O'Reilly's. I have used AC Delco oil filters and Fram oil filters on my cars. Never had any issues with either one.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Valvoline...SABEgKIEPD_BwE
This is the oil that I use. I buy it at Walmart since it is a little cheaper than Auto Zone, Advanced Auto, and O'Reilly's. I have used AC Delco oil filters and Fram oil filters on my cars. Never had any issues with either one.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Valvoline...SABEgKIEPD_BwE
GM Cert Corvette Tech
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,559
Likes: 585
From: Anaheim Hills California
Everybody has their own preferences when it comes to oil. You'll see an excessive amount of oil treads on this and many many other car forums. My personal preference when it comes to oil in my classic Corvettes is "Castro GTX 20-50 for Classics" oil which has the ZDDP in it.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 651
Likes: 452
From: Napa, CA
Friends don’t let friends use Fram oil filters. Use Wix or NAPA Gold which is made by Wix. My personal choice for oil is 20w50 from any mfg with a healthy ZDDP package to prevent unwanted wear on your original flat tappet cam and lifters.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 957
Likes: 446
From: Dutchess county New York
Did you know that AutoZones have a clearance section ? Maybe the others too, I have no idea how common it is but the two AZ locally have them. I am retired and thought I wanted to work at an AZ part time. I didn't but in the short while I was there did manage to find the clearance shelf so if you're not particular about brand you can get a 5qt jug for $20.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,800
Likes: 1,944
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
10-W40 Any Brand with ZDDP & use a A/C Delco filter when available
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Let's just hope there isn't another pandemic though!
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 190
Likes: 54
From: Northern VA
In the C3 Tech/Performance section there are two Sticky Threads on this subject. Here is the one with the list of oils. The other is above it that is a perfomance thread.
With a 454 consider an oil sutible for flat tappet. I am using Castrol Edge 5-50 in my 427
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ppet-oils.html
With a 454 consider an oil sutible for flat tappet. I am using Castrol Edge 5-50 in my 427
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ppet-oils.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 790
Likes: 419
From: Western NY
Pat
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,315
Likes: 697
Just keep in mind Wal Mart and all the auto parts places with their name on the containers are filled by "co-packers". They don't have blending/filler plants. It done by others. Not saying that's a bad thing. Companies like Valvoline, Mobil and others have their own blending/filler plants.
During my working years the company I worked for a company that manufactured equipment for 75% of the oil plants in the US. Some plants were spotless. Some not so much.
I use name brand oil not private label.
During my working years the company I worked for a company that manufactured equipment for 75% of the oil plants in the US. Some plants were spotless. Some not so much.
I use name brand oil not private label.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,226
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Not too thick (in cold weather) or too thin (in hot weather). The most engine wear occurs at start up. Thick oil on a cold day is the worst. I use full synthetic 5w/30 or 10w/30 in SoCal.
A high mileage oil contains seal conditioners that may help your rms leak.
Here's a interesting link. This guy is a little long winded, but he has actual scientific testing, as opposed to "I always use....." which doesn't really carry a lot of weight.
https://www.youtube.com/@themotoroilgeek
Per filters, I try to buy a American one. And, I don't use Fram. I've never seen any proof that they actulally caused engine damage, but, they are very cheaply made. I did have a problem with a Fram on a Bronco years ago, with the cheapo drain back valve leaking, causing a lot of valve clatter on start up after an extended parking time. No need to go ultra expensive one either.
A high mileage oil contains seal conditioners that may help your rms leak.
Here's a interesting link. This guy is a little long winded, but he has actual scientific testing, as opposed to "I always use....." which doesn't really carry a lot of weight.
https://www.youtube.com/@themotoroilgeek
Per filters, I try to buy a American one. And, I don't use Fram. I've never seen any proof that they actulally caused engine damage, but, they are very cheaply made. I did have a problem with a Fram on a Bronco years ago, with the cheapo drain back valve leaking, causing a lot of valve clatter on start up after an extended parking time. No need to go ultra expensive one either.
Last edited by Sayfoo; Oct 18, 2024 at 12:26 PM.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 303
Likes: 87
Your question will bring lots of opinions and individual preferences out regarding oil and filters that other people use.
This is the oil that I use. I buy it at Walmart since it is a little cheaper than Auto Zone, Advanced Auto, and O'Reilly's. I have used AC Delco oil filters and Fram oil filters on my cars. Never had any issues with either one.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Valvoline...SABEgKIEPD_BwE
This is the oil that I use. I buy it at Walmart since it is a little cheaper than Auto Zone, Advanced Auto, and O'Reilly's. I have used AC Delco oil filters and Fram oil filters on my cars. Never had any issues with either one.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Valvoline...SABEgKIEPD_BwE
Hey guys,
Its time to do my first oil change on my 1971 original 454
What are your recommendations for the oil and filter. Not sure if it matters but thought I would ask. I'm in Texas so hot typically hot weather. The car has your standard rear main seal leak
Maybe a 20w-50???
Did some searching here but I'm not seeing a past post on it.
Its time to do my first oil change on my 1971 original 454
What are your recommendations for the oil and filter. Not sure if it matters but thought I would ask. I'm in Texas so hot typically hot weather. The car has your standard rear main seal leak
Maybe a 20w-50???
Did some searching here but I'm not seeing a past post on it.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,218
Likes: 9,356
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
K&N tall filters made for trucks with 350s or 454s. Its the same motor so the filter is just bigger. It gives you more surface area so it wont clog as fast. I run either Mobil1 15w50 or VR1 20w50. Both are very reasobly priced at Walmart. Both have extremely high ZDDP for flat tappet cam motors and its thick enough it wont squeeze out of old bearings.....the only motor i have ever run that had a bearing failure was with a 10w30 high zinc oil. So either the bearing delamination was because it was a poor quality manufactured bearing or the oil couldnt perform up the the load of a 427. And it was during a cruise onto the highway ramp in traffic. Nothing significant and at low rpm....