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Old Feb 9, 2020 | 12:07 PM
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Default High mileage oil?

Just got a C5 two weeks ago. It’s showing 9% oil life left, so it’s time to change my oil. Since it has 82,000 miles on the clock, I was thinking about putting the High Mileage Mobil 1 in it.
I know for conventional oil you should switch over to high mileage oil around 75,000 miles. Is this necessary if the engine has had synthetic oil since new? Just asking, haven’t had an LS engine with this many miles on it. My 2006 GTO only had 34,000 when it left the nest in 2010.
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Old Feb 9, 2020 | 01:20 PM
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With a quality synthetic oil changed at proper intervals, high-mileage oils are not necessary.
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Old Feb 9, 2020 | 01:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Navy Blue 210
With a quality synthetic oil changed at proper intervals, high-mileage oils are not necessary.
Thanks for the response. Didn’t think it would be necessary, but wanted to check with you Corvette experts first.
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Old Feb 9, 2020 | 06:44 PM
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OP, using either the current full synthetic Mobil 1 or Mobil 1 High Mileage full synthetic will be ok. According to reports on this forum, the Mobil 1 High Mileage full synthetic contains additives that were in the Mobil 1 full synthetic that was recommended and used in the new 1997 - 2004 C5’s.
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Old Feb 9, 2020 | 07:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Rick369
OP, using either the current full synthetic Mobil 1 or Mobil 1 High Mileage full synthetic will be ok. According to reports on this forum, the Mobil 1 High Mileage full synthetic contains additives that were in the Mobil 1 full synthetic that was recommended and used in the new 1997 - 2004 C5’s.
Thanks a lot for the advice
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Old Feb 10, 2020 | 08:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Rick369
OP, using either the current full synthetic Mobil 1 or Mobil 1 High Mileage full synthetic will be ok. According to reports on this forum, the Mobil 1 High Mileage full synthetic contains additives that were in the Mobil 1 full synthetic that was recommended and used in the new 1997 - 2004 C5’s.



The "additives" are ZDPP, an additive that helps combat wear in high pressure contact areas in the engine, especially at the lifter/cam lobe interface. While roller lifters have considerably reduced the pressure in this area, the LS engines were designed to be a long-life engine, and at the time of their design, the oils still had a decent amount of ZDPP, which was taken into account, during the design phase. Since then, the EPA has required the oil companies to reduce this compound because it supposedly adds to the degradation of catalytic converters.
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Old Feb 10, 2020 | 07:27 PM
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I would just stick with what’s recommended on the cap. It’s there for a reason.
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Old Feb 10, 2020 | 10:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Joewass65
I would just stick with what’s recommended on the cap. It’s there for a reason.
That’s what I did, got the regular Mobil 1 5w-30, not the high mileage
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Old Feb 10, 2020 | 11:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Joewass65
I would just stick with what’s recommended on the cap. It’s there for a reason.
Branding & Marketing
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Old Feb 11, 2020 | 08:16 AM
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Originally Posted by Joewass65
I would just stick with what’s recommended on the cap. It’s there for a reason.
But the cap was manufactured YEARS ago, and the oil that the cap specified, basic "5W30 Mobil 1", is no longer produced, as "Mobil 1". The high mileage Mobil 1, is now closer in formulation to the original Mobil 1.
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Old Feb 11, 2020 | 08:17 AM
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Originally Posted by leadfoot4
But the cap was manufactured YEARS ago, and the oil that the cap specified, basic "5W30 Mobil 1", is no longer produced, as "Mobil 1". The high mileage Mobil 1, is now closer in formulation to the original Mobil 1.
Well, too late now. I put the regular Mobil 1 in it, 5w-30
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Old Feb 11, 2020 | 09:11 AM
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Originally Posted by MusicCityMan243
Well, too late now. I put the regular Mobil 1 in it, 5w-30
You should be OK, because as I previously mentioned, the primary need for the ZDPP additive package was for cars that have flat tappet cams, which our beloved C-5s do not have. However, it was nice to know that there was a little "extra protection" against wear in the "high pressure" contact points in the engine.
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Old Feb 11, 2020 | 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by leadfoot4
You should be OK, because as I previously mentioned, the primary need for the ZDPP additive package was for cars that have flat tappet cams, which our beloved C-5s do not have. However, it was nice to know that there was a little "extra protection" against wear in the "high pressure" contact points in the engine.
I’m sure the LS1 will be just fine. They’re great engines. Mobil 1 is about the best oil I could put in it too. No worries here.
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Old Feb 11, 2020 | 11:54 AM
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That is still relatively low mileage TBH. I have 158k on my 02 C5 and only 80k on my 93 C4 and I use Mobile 1 HM in both. The C4 is more so due to the age than the mileage. I switched over to HM for the C5 because I developed a small oil leak and the HM has seal conditioners in it that are supposed to help this (which they did 100% fix it for months now) plus the extra additives for cleaning the engine. I have read somewhere that the HM does not contain ZDDP anymore, at least not in high concentrations to preserve the Cat-converter. HM or not, it is still M1 full synthetic 5w-30 which is what is most important, and as many have stated on this forum before, the HM current is closer to the original MB1 when it was recommended originally than the current MB original is. That being said, I use regular full synthetic for my 2000 e38 BMW which also has 158k miles because it runs like new and perfectly clean underneath with no leaks or issues. This is the first time, to my knowledge, either vette has been filled with HM. The c4 had 10w-40 synthetic, but runs MUCH better with 5w-30 synthetic HM. Unless it addresses a specific need or presents a cost worthy benefit, no reason to switch.

Last edited by Bstan1009; Feb 11, 2020 at 11:55 AM.
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Old Feb 11, 2020 | 06:37 PM
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Come on guys. The “formulation” has changed in 5w-30 mobile one? Please. I realize we are all ocd about our cars but this is getting out of hand. Branding! Marketing! I will revolt! The government is out to get me!! Lol. Put the recommended oil in your car and drive the damn thing. It will be fine. I’ve seen more problems with cars when people try and being smarter than gm engineers.

Last edited by Joewass65; Feb 11, 2020 at 06:38 PM.
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Old Feb 11, 2020 | 06:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Joewass65
Come on guys. The “formulation” has changed in 5w-30 mobile one? Please. I realize we are all ocd about our cars but this is getting out of hand. Branding! Marketing! I will revolt! The government is out to get me!! Lol. Put the recommended oil in your car and drive the damn thing. It will be fine. I’ve seen more problems with cars when people try and being smarter than gm engineers.
I put Mobil 1 5w-30 in it, don’t have a coronary!!!!
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Old Feb 11, 2020 | 06:42 PM
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Originally Posted by MusicCityMan243
I put Mobil 1 5w-30 in it, don’t have a coronary!!!!
i was referring to the other comments in this thread. This forum is great for many the few. Other times people over think things.
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Old Feb 11, 2020 | 06:59 PM
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[QUOTE=Joewass65;1600945943]i was referring to the other comments in this thread. This forum is great for many the few. Other times people over think things.[/QUOTE

Yeah, I’m kinda getting the same vibe. Ask a question, you’ll get a whole slew of answers.
It’s all appreciated though, as I know they’re trying to help. This is my first Vette (C5), and I’m learning as I go here. I asked about the gas gauge dropping and setting off the CHECK GAUGES light when I first got it, and the help I got is appreciated. Techron has helped it, although it’s not totally gone. I put it in every other tank full.
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Old Feb 11, 2020 | 07:43 PM
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[QUOTE=MusicCityMan243;1600946034]
Originally Posted by Joewass65
i was referring to the other comments in this thread. This forum is great for many the few. Other times people over think things.[/QUOTE

Yeah, I’m kinda getting the same vibe. Ask a question, you’ll get a whole slew of answers.
It’s all appreciated though, as I know they’re trying to help. This is my first Vette (C5), and I’m learning as I go here. I asked about the gas gauge dropping and setting off the CHECK GAUGES light when I first got it, and the help I got is appreciated. Techron has helped it, although it’s not totally gone. I put it in every other tank full.
yeah it is hard to go wrong with factory reccomended TBH. Only reason i chaned to HM is to help with a small oil leak and it did rectify it. Other than that is isnt much any reason to switch. The whole clowning of "HM being closer to the regular M1 when it was reccomended back in 90s" is kind of unfounded though. I have personally spoken with M1 reps on a few occassions as anyone here can too with a phone call away and they can explain how and why the HM lf today is closer to the originally reccomended M1 back in the day. This is for sure a fact. Does it mean you should use HM over regular? I dont believe so.
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Old Feb 11, 2020 | 08:09 PM
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[QUOTE=Bstan1009;1600946313]
Originally Posted by MusicCityMan243

yeah it is hard to go wrong with factory reccomended TBH. Only reason i chaned to HM is to help with a small oil leak and it did rectify it. Other than that is isnt much any reason to switch. The whole clowning of "HM being closer to the regular M1 when it was reccomended back in 90s" is kind of unfounded though. I have personally spoken with M1 reps on a few occassions as anyone here can too with a phone call away and they can explain how and why the HM lf today is closer to the originally reccomended M1 back in the day. This is for sure a fact. Does it mean you should use HM over regular? I dont believe so.
Thanks for the advise.
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