conventional oil
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
Likes: 2
From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
conventional oil
Could not find an answer to this on the search feature. I notice that 99% of folks on this forum use synthetic oil. My question is, if you want to use conventional oil in 5w30wt, which ones are some of the best. Right now I`m using Castrol. Are there any better than this out there??
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 641
Likes: 3
From: Long Island NY
Originally Posted by bogus
Castrol is fine. It's what I use when I use a conventional oil.
Valvoline and Mobil are also good.
I dispise Quakerstate.....
Valvoline and Mobil are also good.
I dispise Quakerstate.....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 855
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
Kendall makes an excellent dino oil.
I use to work in the aviation business as a mechanic and Mobil products were used exclusivly. So I'm biased towards Mobil, thats all I use in my vehicles.
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
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by artvette
I've always used Quaker State and had the occasion to tear down the upper end of my 351 Ford van at 90,000 miles for a head gasket and the engine was mint down to the crosshatch on the cylinder walls. Not a drop of grunge anywhere. The lifters even pulled right out with two fingers. No complaints here.
I am going to guess here... but I think that there was an old school of thought that QS was junk... it may go back to the days of coal burning cars or something.
I should retract my statement until I figure out the empirical data!
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
From: DFW TX
Originally Posted by bogus
You know, I don't really know why I hate Quaker State... I just do.
I am going to guess here... but I think that there was an old school of thought that QS was junk... it may go back to the days of coal burning cars or something.
I should retract my statement until I figure out the empirical data!
I am going to guess here... but I think that there was an old school of thought that QS was junk... it may go back to the days of coal burning cars or something.
I should retract my statement until I figure out the empirical data!
I really can't say but to this day I have never used it.
Maybe they produced a bad batch years ago and the legend lives on.
Last edited by vetster86; Aug 20, 2005 at 07:51 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
Likes: 2
From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
Originally Posted by bogus
my guess? leaks vs. high mileage.
No leaks, & 36,000mi on my `87. I don`t abuse the car, but I just enjoy changing the oil & filter every 3000mi (sort of like a religious expierence
). I was using Mobil-1, but that gets pretty expensive if you are going to change oil that frequently. I know Mobil-1 dosen`t break down as quickly as conventional oil, but it does get contaminated just as quickly. I enjoy doing things with the car, & since I`m not a mechanical genius, I try to stick to things that I think I can actualy do. So far I`ve changed the valve seals, the exhaust system, right rear hub assembly 
. & the transmission flush, pan & filter with my own hands. ( got the bruises, cuts, ripped skin, & blood blisters to prove it 
). If it weren`t for the advice & tips of the great people on this forum, I would not have attempted half of the above projects.IMHO, along with having the car, this forum, & the knowledgeable people in it, are part & parcel of the Corvette expierience.
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
Every oil from way back in the day has some "sludge myth" associated with it, QS, castrol, and pennzoil. You will still find people who strictly wont use these oils (although they are all VERY good nowadays)
www.bobistheoilguy.com
www.bobistheoilguy.com
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 4
From: Slidell La
Originally Posted by vetster86
My dad raced Super Stock back in the 60's, as a kid I still remember him saying Quaker State was not a good oil it would break down to fast.
I really can't say but to this day I have never used it.
Maybe they produced a bad batch years ago and the legend lives on.
I really can't say but to this day I have never used it.
Maybe they produced a bad batch years ago and the legend lives on.
The OS Superblend and redtop oils would , based on my observation, allow sludge to build up on the heads and rocker assemblies and oil passages. Over time this would cause oil starvation on that part and could result in engine failure. QS claimed the oil lubricated better, and perhaps it did, but apparently the additive package wasn't strong enough to prevent sludge build up in the engines I observed. I know you can discuss oil chg. freq etc,, I did an actual evaluation on 2 pontiac 350 engines in 1972. Both had 3000 mile oil changes, 1 with QS SB, and the other with Havoline. At 70,000 miles the timing chains were replaced on both engines. The one with Havoline required no clean up on parts and only new gaskets. The QSSB required pressure cleaning due to build up. So,, I discontinued using QS and switched. I am sure QS has improved oil in the last 35 years or so,, so perhap this no longer applys. Perhaps this is why Dads did not use QS or Firestones. But I run my C5 on Firestones even though Dad would not be caught on them. However I use Mobile 1 in all my cars. 99 Nassau Blue,, and a dad
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Originally Posted by jimcork1
Ok,, I am one of the dads that saw QS up close on engine tear downs.
The OS Superblend and redtop oils would , based on my observation, allow sludge to build up on the heads and rocker assemblies and oil passages. Over time this would cause oil starvation on that part and could result in engine failure. QS claimed the oil lubricated better, and perhaps it did, but apparently the additive package wasn't strong enough to prevent sludge build up in the engines I observed. I know you can discuss oil chg. freq etc,, I did an actual evaluation on 2 pontiac 350 engines in 1972. Both had 3000 mile oil changes, 1 with QS SB, and the other with Havoline. At 70,000 miles the timing chains were replaced on both engines. The one with Havoline required no clean up on parts and only new gaskets. The QSSB required pressure cleaning due to build up. So,, I discontinued using QS and switched. I am sure QS has improved oil in the last 35 years or so,, so perhap this no longer applys. Perhaps this is why Dads did not use QS or Firestones. But I run my C5 on Firestones even though Dad would not be caught on them. However I use Mobile 1 in all my cars. 99 Nassau Blue,, and a dad
The OS Superblend and redtop oils would , based on my observation, allow sludge to build up on the heads and rocker assemblies and oil passages. Over time this would cause oil starvation on that part and could result in engine failure. QS claimed the oil lubricated better, and perhaps it did, but apparently the additive package wasn't strong enough to prevent sludge build up in the engines I observed. I know you can discuss oil chg. freq etc,, I did an actual evaluation on 2 pontiac 350 engines in 1972. Both had 3000 mile oil changes, 1 with QS SB, and the other with Havoline. At 70,000 miles the timing chains were replaced on both engines. The one with Havoline required no clean up on parts and only new gaskets. The QSSB required pressure cleaning due to build up. So,, I discontinued using QS and switched. I am sure QS has improved oil in the last 35 years or so,, so perhap this no longer applys. Perhaps this is why Dads did not use QS or Firestones. But I run my C5 on Firestones even though Dad would not be caught on them. However I use Mobile 1 in all my cars. 99 Nassau Blue,, and a dad
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 0
From: Dixon Ca
Originally Posted by artvette
I've always used Quaker State and had the occasion to tear down the upper end of my 351 Ford van at 90,000 miles for a head gasket and the engine was mint down to the crosshatch on the cylinder walls. Not a drop of grunge anywhere. The lifters even pulled right out with two fingers. No complaints here.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
From: Walton KY
I own a couple of Valvoline Instant Oil Change shops. I carry Valv as my main oil of course but do carry Quaker State, Pennzoil, Castrol, Kendall, and Shell Rotella in the back. I am located in the Cincinnati area and Pennzoil is a MAJOR seller. One of my stores goes through a 55 gallon drum in a month...that is a lot considering I charge $3 more to run an "off" brand. We get very few requests for Mobil. In order of popularity...Valvoline, Pennzoil, Castrol, Quaker, Kendall, and then Mobil. Valvoline is the oil everybody in this area says sludges up first.
I was told by me salesman that on a comsumer basis dino oil is oil. I believe that this is true to an extent. I think when you are harder on a vehicle is when the differences start to show. He tried to tell me you stick the 5 top selling brands in 5 pans and cook down to nothing and analyze it, you will find less than 2% difference in what is left over. I don't know if I believe it.
IMHO....spend the money and run a synthetic. If you have a leak try Valvoline's MaxLife Full Synthetic. I run in it in my truck and Vette and love it. Truck does not leak or burn any at 160K and the leaks on the Vette have slowed down at 82K.
I was told by me salesman that on a comsumer basis dino oil is oil. I believe that this is true to an extent. I think when you are harder on a vehicle is when the differences start to show. He tried to tell me you stick the 5 top selling brands in 5 pans and cook down to nothing and analyze it, you will find less than 2% difference in what is left over. I don't know if I believe it.
IMHO....spend the money and run a synthetic. If you have a leak try Valvoline's MaxLife Full Synthetic. I run in it in my truck and Vette and love it. Truck does not leak or burn any at 160K and the leaks on the Vette have slowed down at 82K.