My 1968 arrives today. I would like to first change the fluiids. Can anyone tell me the type and quantity of oil, filter and coolant?
Thanks

 

Big block? small block? Stock? Modified?

 

What I know is 327CI/300HP and it is stock.
I assume it is a small block

 

You'll get as many opinions on this as there are grains of sand on the beach. But, if the engine is in good condition and not leaking oil, I would suggest that you use a full-synthetic oil (Mobil 1, Amsoil) in a 10W30 or 5W30 weight. Synthetic oil is SOOOO much better than organic oil (friction reducing, oil life, wear reduction, non-oxydizing....), it's just a "no brainer" for the average 'driver' collector car. Depending on the kind of miles you put on your car, you can extend oil changes to once per year or more. Just change the filter every 3 months and add the amount of lost synthetic oil.

Coolant should be a 50/50 mix of water and good quality antifreeze. Differential should be drained (suction, since there is no 'drain' plug...just a 'fill' plug) and filled with one full bottle of gear lube, one tube of GM Positraction additive, and topped off with part of another bottle of gear lube. Power steering uses...well....power steering fluid but can use auto tranny fluid if necessary (ATF); if present fluid is filled properly, still clear (not cloudy) and doesn't smell bad, just leave it alone. Same with brake fluid, if you don't have any calipers leaking. It wouldn't hurt to ask your seller what kind of brake fluid is in the car. Some folks have gone to some exotic type fluids that cannot be mixed with regular brake fluid. Check what is in the master cylinder (or have a good mechanic check it out) just to make sure you are putting in the same stuff. Manual trannys get transmission gear lube; auto trannys get ATF (DEXRON automatic tranny fluid). Ball joints and steering joints get water-resistant EP chassis lubricant...but I would again recommend synthetic joint grease for these. Do not use EP lubricant in the steering gear box, but rather use steering gear lube; however, synthetic high-temp gear grease is best for the steering box as it will last longer and not break down from engine/exhaust heat as quickly.

 

Outstanding detail. many thanks

 

Unless you're going to take advantage of the extended oil change intervals, there are NO real world practical advantages to using a synthetic oil in an engine designed for conventional oils.

Stand by for the howls of protest and disagreement.

Your choice.

 

Thank you for your suggestion
I am learning

 

Cobfree, I see you are in St. Louis. You might check out these folks. Local C3 club for our area, nice folks.



http://www.stlc3sharks.com/messagebo...asp?FORUM_ID=6

 

Thanks I will. I did join the Corvette Club. Nice folks

 

Read all the literature you want on the benefits of synthetic oils. M. Ward is way off base on this one. Every auto manufacturer, every municipal vehicle maintenance system, every trucking system all know the advantages of synthetic oil for internal combustion engines. Most mfgrs. of new vehicles include them in new builds; the ones that don't just want to save a few bucks. The benefits to engine life...bearings, rings, etc....is nothing short of amazing when compared to even the best organic oils. Read up on it for yourself and make your own decision.

 

Hi CF,
WELL?????
Is it there yet?????
I'm waiting patiently for the first pictures. Were you able to sleep last night?
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

 

Here we go. I'm not going to get into an argument- put up first handed proof or let it go. I have 31 years in the engine manufacturing business that gave me all the proof I need. Yes, many commercial or industrial outfits use it for the extended change interval, no other reason. Believe what you want.

BTW- my daily driver is a recent model Jaguar with a 4.2 L V8, no synthetic required or even recommended. Factory fill is good old Castrol dino oil and the change interval is 10,0000 miles. Jag is not known to be 'cheap' on anything.

 

That's great, Mike. We're happy for you. But you're out of touch with modern oil technology. For every technical paper you can find that says "organic oil is just as good as synthetic oil", I can come up with 100 or more that say it is considerably better. [Makes you wonder who funded the papers supporting dino oil. ]

I just think you are doing the general Forum group a real disservice by telling them NOT to consider synthetic oil. I have no problem with you or anyone else using organic oil, if that is your choice. But why try to convince others to 'live in the past'?

 

I go with synthetics in all my cars.

 

 

I'm offering a different viewpoint than yours- nothing more or less. I presume the average adult (including the OP) is smart enough to do ask questions, evaluate the answers and make up his own mind as to what he wants to do. More importantly, I did not tell anyone NOT to consider synthetic oil simply that the extended change interval was the only tangible benefit. Big difference.

If synthetic oils were universally proven and accepted to be superior in every possible application there would be thousands of independent unbiased, real life case studies documenting this. There aren't, aside from the typical sponsored lab and marketing stuff that proves whatever point the manufacturer wants them to prove. I can point you to studies that show NO difference in long term use across a fleet of vehicles, aside from the aforementioned extended change interval.

I retired from the engine business only last April- the engine oil business has not changed since them, so I'm not 'out of date'.

What direct, first handed experience can you share?

 

Well, with 40 years experience in the heavy-duty truck and military automatic transmission business, I can tell you that our development test folks are simply 'giddy' about the durability benefits imparted to those trannies by synthetic fluids....from heavy-duty pickup truck trannies to military tank units.

And the reason you can't find those studies is because they are considered proprietary information by the businesses who spent their employees time and their money to run the tests. Why should they provide that info to the general public? But....I will be glad to search the 'web' [for about 10 minutes] and report back on any technical papers espousing the benefits of synthetic oil in operating machinery.

OK, the 10 minutes is up and here are the first three results:

http://www.firstfives.org/faq/oil/oilartcl.html

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...oil/index.html

http://www.amsoil.com/products/stree...hitePaper.aspx

For the last write-up, you should download the PDF "white paper" on oil tests in motorcycle engines. It is interesting to note that most of the 'candidates' for this study were synthetic oils, as very few manufacturers recommend non-synthetic oils for racing use. Particularly note the "Wear Resistance" testing results.

 

Cobfree,
Congrats on your new car! Not trying to start an oil debate on your thread, just passing an offer your way so that you are aware of it. If you do decide to try the AMSOIL fluids mentioned above, please drop me a PM or email so I can get you dealer wholesale pricing, about 25% below retail via the AMSOIL Preferred Customer Program.

 

I have to say I'm (rather unusually) with Mike on this one.

Synthetic oil's two biggest advantages are it's ability in extreme heat and extended service intervals.

On a stock car that is not used every day (as so many C3's are) it makes far more sense to do more regular oil changes with a cheaper oil.

Lets not forget that as well as lubricating the engine, the oil also holds in suspension many chemicals and particulates which we could remove by a simple oil change.

I'm not anti synthetic, it's a fantastic development in oil technology. It's a must in a highly tuned motor or a daily driver doing proper mileage, what it's not is the 'only' option.

 

Wait!.... this debate is still in it's infancy! The ZDDP factor has not been thrown in yet!


To the OP; Read this thread:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ppet-oils.html