Oil Question -What Weight
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: Guston KY
Oil Question -What Weight?
Going to change the oil in the Vette for the 1st time since I bought it.
Switching to Mobil 1. :yesnod: Don't know what the previous owner used.
24Kmiles.
What weight is recommended for the L82?
I don't have an owners manual yet.
Thanks, :thumbs:
[Modified by 79-L-82, 8:25 AM 5/10/2004]
Switching to Mobil 1. :yesnod: Don't know what the previous owner used.
24Kmiles.
What weight is recommended for the L82?
I don't have an owners manual yet.
Thanks, :thumbs:
[Modified by 79-L-82, 8:25 AM 5/10/2004]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
Re: Oil Question -What Weight? (79-L-82)
Going to change the oil in the Vette for the 1st time since I bought it.
Switching to Mobil 1. :yesnod: Don't know what the previous owner used.
24Kmiles.
What weight is recommended for the L82?
I don't have an owners manual yet.
Thanks, :thumbs:
Switching to Mobil 1. :yesnod: Don't know what the previous owner used.
24Kmiles.
What weight is recommended for the L82?
I don't have an owners manual yet.
Thanks, :thumbs:
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,920
Likes: 2
Re: Oil Question -What Weight? (79-L-82)
Performance engine with higher miles....Mobil 1 15/50....as it is probably driven harder (that's why it has been upgraded)
Stock engine with higher miles.....Mobil 1 10/30......unless you have a heavier
foot, then 15/50
New engine .....Mobil 1 5/30
For interest sake, I was wondering if someone could comment on altitude's
effect on oil....including colder temperature
Stock engine with higher miles.....Mobil 1 10/30......unless you have a heavier
foot, then 15/50
New engine .....Mobil 1 5/30
For interest sake, I was wondering if someone could comment on altitude's
effect on oil....including colder temperature
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Re: Oil Question -What Weight? (Summerfun)
You want the thinnest oil that doesn't cause high oil consumption or low oil pressure. My 454 is running 5W-30 with good pressure and low consumption (about a quart every 4-5k miles). Hot idle pressure is 35 PSI.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Florida
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Re: Oil Question -What Weight? (MotorHead)
I use Mobil 1 Synthenic 10W30 in my Corvettes. Sorta the middle ground. :)
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Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Re: Oil Question -What Weight? (pws69)
What makes you happy about the oil?
Have had it analysed or done a wear inspection?
If So I'd like to hear about it :D
snip---
I have been extremely happy with the performance of Mobil 1 15W50 in my 69 350/350 since I started using it early in 2003.
Have had it analysed or done a wear inspection?
If So I'd like to hear about it :D
snip---
I have been extremely happy with the performance of Mobil 1 15W50 in my 69 350/350 since I started using it early in 2003.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Re: Oil Question -What Weight? (zwede)
You want the thinnest oil that doesn't cause high oil consumption or low oil pressure. My 454 is running 5W-30 with good pressure and low consumption (about a quart every 4-5k miles). Hot idle pressure is 35 PSI.
Thicker oil is harder to pump up ... go light.
I use 5/20 in most of my vehicles ... 266k miles on my original Buick 3.8
:seeya
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 383
Likes: 0
From: Columbia SC
Re: Oil Question -What Weight? (NHvette)
:iagree: :iagree:
The thinnest oil you can keep in the engine is best. My L48 will leak Amsoil zero weight (from the rear main seal) but it holds the 5W-30 just fine so thats what I ride with.
The thinnest oil you can keep in the engine is best. My L48 will leak Amsoil zero weight (from the rear main seal) but it holds the 5W-30 just fine so thats what I ride with.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: Guston KY
Re: Oil Question -What Weight? (NHvette)
Wow!
I didn't expect this much variety.
5w30 is what I use in most of my other vehicles. That is what is in the owners manuals of them. They are a lot newer though.
I will probably use that or a 10w40 or 10w30.
I was mainly wondering what the owners manual would say. Anyone have one that they could reference?
Sounds like the 5w30 may get the nod based on what everyone is saying. . .
[Modified by 79-L-82, 1:36 PM 5/10/2004]
I didn't expect this much variety.
5w30 is what I use in most of my other vehicles. That is what is in the owners manuals of them. They are a lot newer though.
I will probably use that or a 10w40 or 10w30.
I was mainly wondering what the owners manual would say. Anyone have one that they could reference?
Sounds like the 5w30 may get the nod based on what everyone is saying. . .
[Modified by 79-L-82, 1:36 PM 5/10/2004]
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,145
Likes: 477
From: NM
Re: Oil Question -What Weight? (79-L-82)
5w30 is what I use in most of my other vehicles. That is what is in the owners manuals of them. They are a lot newer though.
I will probably use that or a 10w40 or 10w30.
I will probably use that or a 10w40 or 10w30.
I would go with either 5w30 or 10w30. The most wear occures on start up. So you want the thin stuff (5 or 10) so that it will quickly get through the engine and protect the parts. There is almost zero wear running down the road with a warmed up engine. So 30 is more then enough there. So 5w30 or 10w30. I would stay away from the 40 or 50 unless you are doing a lot of towing or the car has a race engine. That heavy of an oil is hard to pump through the engine and could be hard on tight clearances and hydro lifters.
I use Mobil 1 10w30 in all three of my Vettes (two 73s and one 90). The truck gets Mobil 1 5w30 but may change to 10w30 as it is about to hit 100K.
One other thing about the owners manual, its recomendations are based on what was available at the time. So your manual would reflect 25 year old data (or data that is 25 years out of date :) )
tom...
[Modified by Tom73, 12:43 PM 5/10/2004]
Race Director
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Re: Oil Question -What Weight? (zwede)
When choosing an oil, viscosity stability is more at issue as related to your driving habits than "thinness"
The part befor the W on the can is related to winter conditions....
Read this write-up: http://www.wearcheck.ca/literature/techdoc/WZA007.htm
The part befor the W on the can is related to winter conditions....
Read this write-up: http://www.wearcheck.ca/literature/techdoc/WZA007.htm
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,145
Likes: 477
From: NM
Re: Oil Question -What Weight? (Summerfun)
The part befor the W on the can is related to winter conditions....
tom...
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,920
Likes: 2
Re: Oil Question -What Weight? (Tom73)
Quote from the website above:
"The advantage of using a multigrade oil is that is has greater viscosity stability over a wider range of temperatures. The oil behaves like an SAE 20W when it is cold and an SAE 50 when it is hot. The 'W' in all the SAE grades actually denotes winter ."
"The advantage of using a multigrade oil is that is has greater viscosity stability over a wider range of temperatures. The oil behaves like an SAE 20W when it is cold and an SAE 50 when it is hot. The 'W' in all the SAE grades actually denotes winter ."
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 910
Likes: 20
From: Shorewood IL
Re: Oil Question -What Weight? (79-L-82)
Check out this link related to oil related topics!
http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?
:auto:
http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?
:auto:
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Buckeye, AZ
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Re: Oil Question -What Weight? (baja216)
I spent hours on this; reading, researching, etc. Oils have changed greatly since the 70s. I was using a small amount of oil and after reading dtermined by manufactureers writeups that 20W50 would be better suited for a car older that 25+ years. Sure enough, my consumpiton dropped, oil pressure higher. the only thing is you really shouldn't run it under +40F. I chekced my '78 owners manual to confirm things, and it showed 20W50 for +50F-over +100F. Since this research and experiment of number of other of my club members switched and saw the saem results. There are some excellent writeups on the web explaining the scientifics, and that is waht convinced me.