C5 Engine oil
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 201
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C5 Engine oil
Hello everyone, I'm new here. actually I've been a lurker for some time but never had anything to add to the discussions. But...I just bought a C5. ,2003. I still have my 1970 of 24 years. It's part of the family so i'm going to keep it.
Heres my first question, (i'm sure i'll have more), :
What type of engine oil, and brands and weights should I be using in my C5. I'm going to be changing it in about another 500 mi and I was wondering what you more experienced folks with this era vette are using.
Dave C.
Heres my first question, (i'm sure i'll have more), :
What type of engine oil, and brands and weights should I be using in my C5. I'm going to be changing it in about another 500 mi and I was wondering what you more experienced folks with this era vette are using.
Dave C.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,318
Likes: 2,066
From: Guelph, Ontario
The two main things you want to look for in choosing an oil for the C5 are that it's a 5w30 and that it meets the GM4718M specification. Only a synthetic oil will meet this spec. Here is the list of GM registered oils for that specification:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
You can save time,hassle and money if you follow the Oil Life Monitoring System in you DIC. Running full synthetic and a good filter AC Delco Wix,NAPA Gold and so on(no cheapies like Fram, Pureolator and so on) Just change it when the % gets low or 1 year. Depends on how much you drive. Got to warn you This kind of thread can really start a fire storm,,Lots of Mobile 1 only ,that's the factory fill,I change it every 3,000 mi regardless and so on. Haven't seen him on here lately,,but member evil twin was one of the corvette engineers that developed the OLM system and gave a detailed description of the many parameters that were programed to be calculated into the oil life span. It is well tested and proven. Well that's my 2 cents!! Welcome to the fray,,enjoy your new ride!! I followed a similar path as you did,,I had my big block shark around 10 or so years before I got my FRC ,,and I kept my shark as well,,but I do drive the FRC a lot more now
!!
!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
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Thanks to both of you for the reply. I'll keep the list of oils from Patman and the list of filters from itzza427. I'm going to sqeeze in one more question on this blurb. What if I'm on the road, I need a quart of oil and no synthetic to be found. Can I put a quart of regular oil in?
Dave C.
Dave C.
Advanced
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 92
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From: Anderson SC
But my 2000 C5 LS1 requires 6.5 qts to fill after dumping the old oil and installing a new filter. I can't see anyone getting so low that they would have to add whatever they could find.
After 6,000 miles of use, which is the mileage accumulated on mine before the oil life monitor reached 3%, the dipstick was showing at most 1/3 quart below the full line. However, the C5's have adequate storage under the rear glass so keeping 1 qt handy shouldn't be a problem.
Oh, and for the record, I use Mobil 1, 10W-30 because winters here in SC are rather mild. Never see any temperatures near zero deg F.
Last edited by Boodieman; Feb 17, 2009 at 05:16 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,419
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From: Arroyo Grande CA
Thanks to both of you for the reply. I'll keep the list of oils from Patman and the list of filters from itzza427. I'm going to sqeeze in one more question on this blurb. What if I'm on the road, I need a quart of oil and no synthetic to be found. Can I put a quart of regular oil in?
Dave C.
Dave C.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,414
Likes: 25
From: Texas
i hope the OP dosen't mide me tagging onto his post....
i'm getting ready for my 1st oil change too, and have been used to the old SBC in the past, this is my 1st LS engine...
should I use a 5-30 or 10-30? i'm in south texas, does not get cold here, but the summers are very hot....
also, is the off the shelf AC delco oil fiter fine?
i'm getting ready for my 1st oil change too, and have been used to the old SBC in the past, this is my 1st LS engine...
should I use a 5-30 or 10-30? i'm in south texas, does not get cold here, but the summers are very hot....
also, is the off the shelf AC delco oil fiter fine?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,813
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From: We cant stop here... this is bat country
Honestly people, weights dont exactly mean the world here. You aren't going to have a problem running 0-30, 5-30, 10-30, 40 etc. The bottom line is there are a ton of people here that say "Well the oil cap says Mobil 1 and thats all I'll ever run". That's baloney, plain and simple. There's also a lot of people here that will tell you about the shear number of oils that are out there that are MORE than capable of meeting anyone's expectations and then some.
IF you truly want to learn about oils, you read up on Used Oil Analysis'. And for this knowledge and more, you start here: www.bobistheoilguy.com
IF you truly want to learn about oils, you read up on Used Oil Analysis'. And for this knowledge and more, you start here: www.bobistheoilguy.com
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,658
Likes: 25
From: Rochester Minnesota
For those of you in warm climates, what do you think you're gaining by using 10w-30 instead of 5w-30?
They're both 30 weight oils at operating temps and even in warm ambients, the 5w will give you quicker lube to the bearings (especially the cam bearings) than a 10w will.
No big difference between the two but curious??
They're both 30 weight oils at operating temps and even in warm ambients, the 5w will give you quicker lube to the bearings (especially the cam bearings) than a 10w will.
No big difference between the two but curious??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
Thanks to both of you for the reply. I'll keep the list of oils from Patman and the list of filters from itzza427. I'm going to sqeeze in one more question on this blurb. What if I'm on the road, I need a quart of oil and no synthetic to be found. Can I put a quart of regular oil in?
Dave C.
Dave C.
Advanced
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 92
Likes: 2
From: Anderson SC
For those of you in warm climates, what do you think you're gaining by using 10w-30 instead of 5w-30?
They're both 30 weight oils at operating temps and even in warm ambients, the 5w will give you quicker lube to the bearings (especially the cam bearings) than a 10w will.
No big difference between the two but curious??
They're both 30 weight oils at operating temps and even in warm ambients, the 5w will give you quicker lube to the bearings (especially the cam bearings) than a 10w will.
No big difference between the two but curious??
So I really look at it like I'm not really gaining much by using the 5W-30. The Corvette owner's manual claims 10W-30 is acceptable down to zero deg F so I fell I'm more than covered.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 412
Likes: 34
From: Blairsville....North Georgia Georgia
Oil?
I use what's on sale. As long as it's synthetic. My vette is 10 years old and runs like a charm. P.S.: admittedly though most of the changes have been with Mobil One but that was/is that I can get it at COSTCO for a pretty good price. I have used CITCO, QUAKER AND CASTROL.
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
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C5 Engine Oil
Well, you have all eased my mind some now. I know enough about this C5 to be dangerous. What's next...Nitrous?
2KFRC5, good place to store a bottle (oil that is). But, I haven't carried an extra bottle/can of motor oil with me since I was running Little British Cars on a regular bases. Heck, I don't even carry extra oil in my Austin Healey I'd better not need it in a stock, fairly new Chevy. Chevys have been my daily driver for more than 20 years. '94 blazer pulled a boat for 13 years til 160k miles and never needed oil between changes. If this baby starts using oil it won't last in my barn. I'm just theorizing with the questions, because I don't know anything.
Thanks again to everyone.
Dave C.
2KFRC5, good place to store a bottle (oil that is). But, I haven't carried an extra bottle/can of motor oil with me since I was running Little British Cars on a regular bases. Heck, I don't even carry extra oil in my Austin Healey I'd better not need it in a stock, fairly new Chevy. Chevys have been my daily driver for more than 20 years. '94 blazer pulled a boat for 13 years til 160k miles and never needed oil between changes. If this baby starts using oil it won't last in my barn. I'm just theorizing with the questions, because I don't know anything.
Thanks again to everyone.
Dave C.