engine oil
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 216
Likes: 1
From: Hemet California
engine oil
I am trying to find the correct motoroil to use in my 1986.
The shop manual and owners manualare very insistant the APService designation be API Seervice SF/CC or SF/CD.
I shoped at three car parts stores and discovered that I could not find these designstionson any oil.
I have been told that if a car is older rtan 1988 which mine in then you need special oil for older cars.
So I am wondering what you gys are using,
The shop manual and owners manualare very insistant the APService designation be API Seervice SF/CC or SF/CD.
I shoped at three car parts stores and discovered that I could not find these designstionson any oil.
I have been told that if a car is older rtan 1988 which mine in then you need special oil for older cars.
So I am wondering what you gys are using,
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,776
Likes: 182
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Moderator Emeritus
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 46,133
Likes: 111
From: Maryville Tn
CI 5 thru 12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '23
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Nothing special rquired. Any 5w30 oil with the API starburst on the bottle will work fine. 92-96 models with the LT1 require synthetic.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,700
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
The op has an 86. I believe that's when GM switched midyear from flat tappet to roller cams. It might be prudent for him to find a motor oil that has the maximum amount of ZDPP or an additive to prevent cam and lifter wear. The op asked a legitimate question and probably doesn't appreciate smart a$$ answers. I know I wouldn't.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,065
Likes: 215
From: Epping NH
The op has an 86. I believe that's when GM switched midyear from flat tappet to roller cams. It might be prudent for him to find a motor oil that has the maximum amount of ZDPP or an additive to prevent cam and lifter wear. The op asked a legitimate question and probably doesn't appreciate smart a$$ answers. I know I wouldn't.
the vast majority of us are car guru's nuts, but the everyday joe who just likes driving vettes but may not be as concern with what's under the hood and can easily get confussed by all the choices in auto fluids. Heck I remember when I first got my 96 I was baffled by the orange anti-freeze...my brain was programmed for green antifreeze...initially thought the stuff had gone bad and turned orange
!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
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
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 765
you don't need any "special oil". newer and current ratings replace and exceed the requirements of older API oil classifications. use any, current spec, quality oil with a quality filter, and change at recommended intervals (at a minimum). you'll be fine. nothing special - it's just one of millions SBC produced over the last 60 years. ...and for a little light reading -
http://www.pqiamerica.com/apiserviceclass.htm
http://www.pqiamerica.com/apiserviceclass.htm
Last edited by Joe C; Jul 26, 2012 at 11:05 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,030
Likes: 10
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,719
Likes: 3,498
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
The op has an 86. I believe that's when GM switched midyear from flat tappet to roller cams. It might be prudent for him to find a motor oil that has the maximum amount of ZDPP or an additive to prevent cam and lifter wear. The op asked a legitimate question and probably doesn't appreciate smart a$$ answers. I know I wouldn't.
Z-ROD 10W-30
http://kahunamotorsports.com/zrt-product-page.html
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
Jerry welcome to the forum. You will learn a bunch about your new obsession here. Oil, as you have already gathered, is a frequent subject, the classic dead horse so to speak. The API designation SF/XX is an indicator of the make up of the oil. your CC-CD was the standard in 86. Oil has constantly improved and with each improvement the designation has gone higher in the alphabet. I just bought some that is API service SN. Each upgrade fully meets the requirement of all previous API service grades. So to answer your basic question you can use any quality oil with the viscosity specified in your owners manual.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,815
Likes: 10
From: New York New York
The op has an 86. I believe that's when GM switched midyear from flat tappet to roller cams. It might be prudent for him to find a motor oil that has the maximum amount of ZDPP or an additive to prevent cam and lifter wear. The op asked a legitimate question and probably doesn't appreciate smart a$$ answers. I know I wouldn't.
I was told to use 15/50 but I mainly use 15/40
However, I must add that the search bar does wonders as well.
Last edited by uptown193; Jul 26, 2012 at 03:05 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,528
Likes: 2
From: PA
..
..WW
