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2003 Corvette oil advice

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Old Mar 9, 2021 | 12:56 PM
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Default 2003 Corvette oil advice

My car is due for an oil change, has 112,000 miles on the odometer. Mobil 1 oil changes are difficult to get around here, one shop uses Kendall Synthetic GT-1 MAX Motor Oil. Is this a comparable substitute?

Thx in advance!
Jerry

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Mar 10, 2021, 07:37 AM
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Originally Posted by aclassicnut
My take is as follows: Your scar came from the factory with Mobile 1 in it. I can honestly say that GM Engineers didnt tell someone to go the store, Hey Get some of that there "Mobile 1" and lets try it out. They did some of their own research, and filled thousands of engines with Mobile1, there has to be a reason. It was the way your car engine broke in with. So i'd stay with MOBILE ONE! nuff said
lol
lol
My take on this is.
Whichever oil company paid gm the most mula to be the fill of choice became the "signaure" oil for gm
Old Mar 9, 2021 | 01:05 PM
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The shop can't get Mobil 1? Honestly, I don't know enough about Kendall Synthetic to answer, but I do know that not all synthetics are equal. If it were me, I'd either find a shop that can get the oil you want, or I would order the oil online (or just buy it at any auto parts store or Walmart) then have them use the oil you bring in. Other than royal purple, I wouldn't even consider using anything other than Mobil 1 in my Vette.
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Old Mar 9, 2021 | 01:10 PM
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Plenty of shops will let you bring oil and just charge labor for an oil change. We do it here at the dealership, so an independent should have no trouble.
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Old Mar 9, 2021 | 01:36 PM
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I'm going to go out on a limb and say the Kendal synthetic oil will be fine. Kendal is a decent brand name.
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Old Mar 9, 2021 | 07:36 PM
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Probably the Kendal product is fine.

But if you want to research the issue, here is one source:

https://540ratblog.wordpress.com/
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Old Mar 9, 2021 | 07:38 PM
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I use Kirkland Costco brand synthetic, dexos approved and half the price of others.
no issues
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Old Mar 9, 2021 | 07:40 PM
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Default 2003 Corvette oil advice

I contacted a local shop, they will stock Mobil 1 in a few days! Yahoo...customer service!

Thx all!
Jerry

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Old Mar 9, 2021 | 09:35 PM
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I always use Mobil 1 in my car. Kendall may be a good brand, but Mobil 1 definitely is.
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Old Mar 10, 2021 | 06:28 AM
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My take is as follows: Your scar came from the factory with Mobile 1 in it. I can honestly say that GM Engineers didnt tell someone to go the store, Hey Get some of that there "Mobile 1" and lets try it out. They did some of their own research, and filled thousands of engines with Mobile1, there has to be a reason. It was the way your car engine broke in with. So i'd stay with MOBILE ONE! nuff said
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Old Mar 10, 2021 | 07:37 AM
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Originally Posted by aclassicnut
My take is as follows: Your scar came from the factory with Mobile 1 in it. I can honestly say that GM Engineers didnt tell someone to go the store, Hey Get some of that there "Mobile 1" and lets try it out. They did some of their own research, and filled thousands of engines with Mobile1, there has to be a reason. It was the way your car engine broke in with. So i'd stay with MOBILE ONE! nuff said
lol
lol
My take on this is.
Whichever oil company paid gm the most mula to be the fill of choice became the "signaure" oil for gm
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2021 | 07:45 AM
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Originally Posted by walleyejack
lol
lol
My take on this is.
Whichever oil company paid gm the most mula to be the fill of choice became the "signaure" oil for gm
Bingo! Its a partnership. It drives me crazy when people say "The engine was developed around Mobil 1 so thats what I use". And look how many people insist on Mobil 1 because its on the filler cap! Clearly it works.

I use AMSOIL in my '03 Z which holds up better to the heat and abuse of tracking. Mobil 1 is fine also, but for regular street driving anything that says "Full Synthetic" on it will be just fine. I know not all "full' synthetics are the same, as only a small percentage of the base stock needs to be synthetic to be classified as "full synthetic", but if this car is just a driver then I woundn't worry about what brand your shop can get.
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Old Mar 10, 2021 | 08:01 AM
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I believe, if I remember correctly, full syn only requires 2 or 3% to be called full syn.
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Old Mar 10, 2021 | 08:12 AM
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[QUOTE=Kubs;1603125834]

I use AMSOIL in my '03 Z which holds up better to the heat and abuse of tracking.

Here's another vote for AMSOIL. I've used it for years for all my bikes needs(lube, tranny)etc., and in all the cars I REALLY care about!
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Old Mar 10, 2021 | 11:33 AM
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[QUOTE=Ramets;1603125945]
Originally Posted by Kubs

I use AMSOIL in my '03 Z which holds up better to the heat and abuse of tracking.

Here's another vote for AMSOIL. I've used it for years for all my bikes needs(lube, tranny)etc., and in all the cars I REALLY care about!
Amsoil is good oil. I also have no vested interest in Exxon/Mobil. I'm not trying to start trouble, either. But I AM curious as to where you got factual information stating "Amsoil holds up better than Mobil 1 to the heat and abuse of tracking"? Please elaborate. I have never had issues with Mobil 1, and currently run 0w40 Mobil 1 in the LS7 in my C5. But if Amsoil is that much better, I think we'd all be interested in seeing the proof, and then making the switch.......

Last edited by grinder11; Mar 10, 2021 at 11:33 AM.
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Old Mar 10, 2021 | 11:43 AM
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Originally Posted by grinder11

Amsoil is good oil. I also have no vested interest in Exxon/Mobil. I'm not trying to start trouble, either. But I AM curious as to where you got factual information stating "Amsoil holds up better than Mobil 1 to the heat and abuse of tracking"? Please elaborate. I have never had issues with Mobil 1, and currently run 0w40 Mobil 1 in the LS7 in my C5. But if Amsoil is that much better, I think we'd all be interested in seeing the proof, and then making the switch.......
AMSOIL is a true 100% full synthetic base stock, not a mix like the other "Full Synthetics". The $20 Wal Mart Mobil 1 gallon is a not 100% synthetic base stock. You would need to get into racing oils by Mobil 1 before you get that benefit, and racing oils don't have cleaners and detergents needed for street use. Racing oils get changed so often they dont really have to fight moisture and contamination. Certain oils by Amsoil (Z-Rod, Premium Protection, etc) have the same levels of zinc and phosphorus as their racing oils, but also the cleaners and detergents needed for street use. Some high mileage Mobil 1 oils have elevated zinc for protection, but also not 100% base stock. They tend to break down sooner.

Engine oil temps are the same with either oil, but oil analysis I did back on my C4 years ago showed less particles in the AMSOIL than Mobil 1. I also used to get diff whine and power steering whine with Mobil gear oils. Running Amsoil my diff cover was 10° cooler (infrared gun) than with Mobil and no sounds from power steering with Amsoil. This was all in my C4 but I have been using Amsoil for the last 12+ years so I have no back to back data on my C5.

Last edited by Kubs; Mar 10, 2021 at 02:39 PM.
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Old Mar 10, 2021 | 01:39 PM
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[QUOTE=Kubs;1603127129]
Originally Posted by grinder11

AMSOIL is a true 100% full synthetic base stock, not a mix like the other "Full Synthetics". The $20 Wal Mart Mobil 1 gallon is a not 100% synthetic base stock. You would need to get into racing oils by Mobil 1 before you get that benefit, and racing oils don't have cleaners and detergents needed for street use. Racing oils get changed so often they dont really have to fight moisture and contamination. Certain oils by Amsoil (Z-Rod, Premium Protection, etc) have the same levels of zinc and phosphorus as their racing oils, but also the cleaners and detergents needed for street use. Some high mileage Mobil 1 oils have elevated zinc for protection, but also not 100% base stock. They tend to break down sooner.

Engine oil temps are the same with either oil, but oil analysis I did back on my C4 years ago showed less particles in the AMSOIL than Mobil 1. I also used to get diff whine and power steering whine with Mobil gear oils. Running Amsoil my diff cover was 10° cooler (infrared gun) than with Mobil and no sounds from power steering with Amsoil. This was all in my C4 but I have been using Amsoil for the last 12+ years so I have no back to back data on my C5.
The 100% syn gets my vote. As for GM and the the dexos, 1 big scam, like many business dealings....
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Old Mar 10, 2021 | 02:29 PM
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Originally Posted by walleyejack
I believe, if I remember correctly, full syn only requires 2 or 3% to be called full syn.
If that is true, someone in the government has nicely lined pockets courtesy of big oils marketing division, and probably free 55 gallon drums of oil, too. Sickening. I wonder if the CEO of Exxon/Mobil and some of these oil companies would be comfortable with us, as consumers, buying 2%-3% of company stock, then having 'full' control of the company? I think not.......
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Old Mar 10, 2021 | 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by grinder11
If that is true, someone in the government has nicely lined pockets courtesy of big oils marketing division, and probably free 55 gallon drums of oil, too. Sickening. I wonder if the CEO of Exxon/Mobil and some of these oil companies would be comfortable with us, as consumers, buying 2%-3% of company stock, then having 'full' control of the company? I think not.......
I think it is actually closer to like 20%, but it is still not very high. There are 5 grades of base stock and only grades 4 and 5 are a fully synthetic made stock I believe. The others have some form of natural stock from the ground.
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Old Mar 10, 2021 | 08:14 PM
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Originally Posted by grinder11
If that is true, someone in the government has nicely lined pockets courtesy of big oils marketing division, and probably free 55 gallon drums of oil, too. Sickening. I wonder if the CEO of Exxon/Mobil and some of these oil companies would be comfortable with us, as consumers, buying 2%-3% of company stock, then having 'full' control of the company? I think not.......
my bad,,, typo..was supposed to say 10-20%
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Old Mar 12, 2021 | 04:41 PM
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My only issue with AMSOIL, Why is it not sold in stores, and made readily available?

And before the cult guys come out of the woodwork saying AMSOIL supports small business partners, and so on, save it.

I'm not saying its bad oil, could be the greatest, but why can't I get the best, without ordering online, or tracking down a dealer? Seems like a weird business model.
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