oil weight question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 123
From: CA.
oil weight question
i usually use 10 40 here in pa. i have a 454 with 74k miles. just got service manual and noticed it has a chart that says use 20,50 at temps 70 and up. some of my driving like this time of year is in 50s but when car is hot i dont think a haevier oil will matter hurt. dont want to change for different times of year since i dont drive much so question is should and can i use the haevier oil all the time? and is 10 40 too thin to use in summer weather with temps in the 80s or 90s?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Working on the car NY
Another (very) good oil to consider is Chevron delo 15w-40 that's available readily in WalMart. 10w-40 is in disfavor because it requires alot of VII's (viscosity index improvers) to attain the spread. 15w-40 requires less and 15w would be fine in cooler weather. Too thick (50w even in a multi wt oil) isn't necessarily better
. That's my .02
. That's my .02
Last edited by TWINRAY; Oct 31, 2007 at 10:37 AM.
CF Community Team
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Instructor
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From: Washington DC
in general, you'd want to use the thinner oil assuming a stock motor, the reason is that most engine wear occurs at startup, and thinner oil get circulation faster. I have a race motor in mine so I need all the additives and stuff to be proper, my shop uses the valvoline 20w-50 in mine but its only driven in warmer months.
Le Mans Master
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Team Owner
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From: Sorrento Italy
If your target is max performance, best lube, on my humile opinion, is the full sint castrol 0/30 oil, thin but best for power output.
Instead a very good all round oil (but expensive as well...) is the valvoline fully sint comp 5/60 (too heavy for my personal taste anyway...)
Instead a very good all round oil (but expensive as well...) is the valvoline fully sint comp 5/60 (too heavy for my personal taste anyway...)
Race Director
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From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
The issue with most of the oils now are reduced levels of zink, an additive that helps minimize valvetrain wear with flat tappet cams. Most cars less than 15 years old don't have flat tappet cams. Rotella has higher levels of this additive. I just scored an unopened 6 gallon case of Rotella 15-40 at a garage sale.$20 (old formula)
Last edited by 63mako; Oct 31, 2007 at 11:46 PM.
Instructor
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From: Canton MI
Source for Shell Rotella
I saw it the other day at Meijer by the gallon. I guess maybe Meijer isn't nationwide but here in MI, they're aplenty.
I hear all these good things about Rotella being good for our Corvette engines. My question is, is 15W-40 a good weight to use? Does it even come in any other weight than that? I am about to put a new motor in and will soon care about the oil I use (lets be frank, before it didn't really matter what I put in there...I was burning it anyways)...is this a good choice for a good oil to use? Just wondering...
I hear all these good things about Rotella being good for our Corvette engines. My question is, is 15W-40 a good weight to use? Does it even come in any other weight than that? I am about to put a new motor in and will soon care about the oil I use (lets be frank, before it didn't really matter what I put in there...I was burning it anyways)...is this a good choice for a good oil to use? Just wondering...
Race Director
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From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
CF Community Team
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There are people with alot more knowledge than me that are recommending Diesel rated motor oils for these old cars. Engineers etc. Rotella is one of them. I have been using them for a while now with no problems.
Le Mans Master
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From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
I switching to a lucas Oil products, available at pep boys
I am trying the 20/50 for this next raod trip round turkeyday (about 900 miles)
http://www.lucasoil.com/products/dis...tid=3&loc=show
here are the specs
http://www.lucasoil.com/images/media...0_plus_oil.pdf
LUCAS MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
Lucas Racing 20/50 Plus Racing Oil Product Number: 20500, 20501, 20502, 20503
CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES --- SECTION II
======================================== ======================================
Chemical Name: Petroleum hydrocarbon plus additives.
Formula: Proprietary information.
Components: Hydrotreated distillate, heavy paraffin, solvent dewaxed distillate, zinc, copper, calcium,
and magnesium detergents.
Hazardous Components: Zinc, copper compounds. Oil mist if generated.
Appearance: Liquid. Color: Clear brown Odor: Characteristic petroleum.
Vapor Density (air = 1 ATM): Greater than air.
Boiling Point: >500°F.
Viscosity cSt @ 100°C: Greater than or equal to 16.5
Density: 7.462 pounds/gallon
Specific Gravity @ 60°F: .8961
Solubility in Water: Negligible @ 25°C.
Stability: Stable under normal conditions of storage and handling.
Incompatibility: Avoid contact with strong oxidizing agents.
======================================== ======================================
Check out theire full product list here
http://www.lucasoil.com/products/index.sd
I am trying the 20/50 for this next raod trip round turkeyday (about 900 miles)
http://www.lucasoil.com/products/dis...tid=3&loc=show
here are the specs
http://www.lucasoil.com/images/media...0_plus_oil.pdf
LUCAS MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
Lucas Racing 20/50 Plus Racing Oil Product Number: 20500, 20501, 20502, 20503
CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES --- SECTION II
======================================== ======================================
Chemical Name: Petroleum hydrocarbon plus additives.
Formula: Proprietary information.
Components: Hydrotreated distillate, heavy paraffin, solvent dewaxed distillate, zinc, copper, calcium,
and magnesium detergents.
Hazardous Components: Zinc, copper compounds. Oil mist if generated.
Appearance: Liquid. Color: Clear brown Odor: Characteristic petroleum.
Vapor Density (air = 1 ATM): Greater than air.
Boiling Point: >500°F.
Viscosity cSt @ 100°C: Greater than or equal to 16.5
Density: 7.462 pounds/gallon
Specific Gravity @ 60°F: .8961
Solubility in Water: Negligible @ 25°C.
Stability: Stable under normal conditions of storage and handling.
Incompatibility: Avoid contact with strong oxidizing agents.
======================================== ======================================
Check out theire full product list here
http://www.lucasoil.com/products/index.sd
Last edited by sweethence; Nov 2, 2007 at 11:57 AM.
