Changing Oil + Filter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: Philadelphia PA (Birthplace of the USA, UNESCO World Heritage City)
I will only say this once as if I can remember the words coming from Dave hills lips.
A C5 is a very unique car. Although the LSX motor lives in many cars. Its only the Y body Bottom breather " that runs in the 190F to 230 range, and a normal operating temperature.
The very special heat additive package required for a Y body LSX motor., without the package, shear and heat will break down the total additive package found in other synthetic oils. there is a reason the C5 was designed to run at these elevated temps, and a reason why the OLM was designed to make sure these motors could be certified to 200,000 miles. A very specific oil spec was made for these cars. I really don't care what anyone uses in their car. It no skin off my nose... Buying a used C5 from someone who ignored the Chief Design engineer for the C5, means the motor was abused, especially in climates that exceed ambient temps north of 90 F. when the additive package breaks down, so does the integrity of the lubrication system. There is no actual oil specimen used in the OLM, therefore, there is no means to determine if the wrong oil was used or the additive package destroyed due to shear. The OLM was designed to reflect operating conditions using the correct oil. Not the cheapest synthetic on the shelf.
Just an FYI... with no intent to argue or debate the point.
Bill aka ET
A C5 is a very unique car. Although the LSX motor lives in many cars. Its only the Y body Bottom breather " that runs in the 190F to 230 range, and a normal operating temperature.
The very special heat additive package required for a Y body LSX motor., without the package, shear and heat will break down the total additive package found in other synthetic oils. there is a reason the C5 was designed to run at these elevated temps, and a reason why the OLM was designed to make sure these motors could be certified to 200,000 miles. A very specific oil spec was made for these cars. I really don't care what anyone uses in their car. It no skin off my nose... Buying a used C5 from someone who ignored the Chief Design engineer for the C5, means the motor was abused, especially in climates that exceed ambient temps north of 90 F. when the additive package breaks down, so does the integrity of the lubrication system. There is no actual oil specimen used in the OLM, therefore, there is no means to determine if the wrong oil was used or the additive package destroyed due to shear. The OLM was designed to reflect operating conditions using the correct oil. Not the cheapest synthetic on the shelf.
Just an FYI... with no intent to argue or debate the point.
Bill aka ET
Since then (20+ years ago), oil technology has come a long way, and Mobil 1 0w40 (European Formula) Synthetic has better proven cold start protection at a 0 weight when cold (where 90% of engine wear occurs), and also has a higher HTHS rating designed for better wear protection on motors that run very similar temps to the C5, such as many BMWs which run in the high 200 degree range.
Now, 20+ years later, if the Corvette engineers tested the LS1/LS6 again with more modern oils, I bet they would change their recommendation on what oil to use.
You can read everything you want to know about oil (or ask questions) at the forums at https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ub.../forum_summary
The oil nerds there know much more than we do here on this forum about oil.
Read about HTHS ratings here:
https://commercial.lubrizoladditives...f-engine-oils/
Mobil 1 spec sheet (note the 0w40 has a higher HTHS rating of 3.6 versus 3.1 for the 5w30 which means better wear protection at the negligible expense of slightly lower fuel economy): https://mobiloil.com/en/motor-oils/mobil-1/mobil-1
Last edited by ArmchairArchitect; Nov 3, 2017 at 01:17 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Understand what you're saying; no one is arguing that the best oil for the C5 in 1997 was the Mobil 1 5w30 Synthetic.
Since then (20+ years ago), oil technology has come a long way, and Mobil 1 0w40 (European Formula) Synthetic has better proven cold start protection at a 0 weight when cold (where 90% of engine wear occurs), and also has a higher HTHS rating designed for better wear protection on motors that run very similar temps to the C5, such as many BMWs which run in the high 200 degree range.
Now, 20+ years later, if the Corvette engineers tested the LS1/LS6 again with more modern oils, I bet they would change their recommendation on what oil to use.
You can read everything you want to know about oil (or ask questions) at the forums at https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ub.../forum_summary
The oil nerds there know much more than we do here on this forum about oil.
Read about HTHS ratings here:
https://commercial.lubrizoladditives...f-engine-oils/
Mobil 1 spec sheet (note the 0w40 has a higher HTHS rating of 3.6 versus 3.1 for the 5w30 which means better wear protection at the negligible expense of slightly lower fuel economy): https://mobiloil.com/en/motor-oils/mobil-1/mobil-1
Since then (20+ years ago), oil technology has come a long way, and Mobil 1 0w40 (European Formula) Synthetic has better proven cold start protection at a 0 weight when cold (where 90% of engine wear occurs), and also has a higher HTHS rating designed for better wear protection on motors that run very similar temps to the C5, such as many BMWs which run in the high 200 degree range.
Now, 20+ years later, if the Corvette engineers tested the LS1/LS6 again with more modern oils, I bet they would change their recommendation on what oil to use.
You can read everything you want to know about oil (or ask questions) at the forums at https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ub.../forum_summary
The oil nerds there know much more than we do here on this forum about oil.
Read about HTHS ratings here:
https://commercial.lubrizoladditives...f-engine-oils/
Mobil 1 spec sheet (note the 0w40 has a higher HTHS rating of 3.6 versus 3.1 for the 5w30 which means better wear protection at the negligible expense of slightly lower fuel economy): https://mobiloil.com/en/motor-oils/mobil-1/mobil-1
Oil has improved over the last 20 years for sure and since my car is getting old I use High Mileage synthetics, either Castrol or Mobil 1. These oils contain more zinc and seal conditioners than regular oil. Great for a 15-20 year old engine.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,954
Likes: 685
From: Avon Lake OH
I just changed the oil in my '99 FRC. On the recommendation of the engine builder, the PO had run Valvoline 20W-50 VR1 oil and AC/Delco PF46 filters for the first several changes during the first 3.5K miles on the new "warmed over" LS-6 engine.
I switched to Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 and Wix 51042XP / NAPA Platinum filter. For track day events I will switch to Mobil 1 FS 5W-50.
If you are concerned about the Phosphorus and Zn levels in the Mobil 1 oil, then refer to here;
https://mobiloil.com/~/media/amer/us...pecs-guide.pdf
weight P PPM Zn PPM
Mobil 1 5w-30 800 900
Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 1000 1100
Mobil 1 FS 5W-50 1000 1100
Mobil 1 TDT 5W-40 1100 1300
Mobil 1 15W-50 1200 1300
Believe it or not the newly updated SN rated Mobil 1 High Mileage oils no longer have the higher P and Zn levels that they once did when they were SM rated.
I switched to Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 and Wix 51042XP / NAPA Platinum filter. For track day events I will switch to Mobil 1 FS 5W-50.
If you are concerned about the Phosphorus and Zn levels in the Mobil 1 oil, then refer to here;
https://mobiloil.com/~/media/amer/us...pecs-guide.pdf
weight P PPM Zn PPM
Mobil 1 5w-30 800 900
Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 1000 1100
Mobil 1 FS 5W-50 1000 1100
Mobil 1 TDT 5W-40 1100 1300
Mobil 1 15W-50 1200 1300
Believe it or not the newly updated SN rated Mobil 1 High Mileage oils no longer have the higher P and Zn levels that they once did when they were SM rated.
