Bruze

It depends on:

- Do you have black or chrome rims?
- What brand of tires do you have?
- Do you have an oil catch can?
- What brand of gasoline do you use?
- What brand of wax do you use?

One might think which oil to use would be a simple question to answer -- but it is very complex because GM engineers are clueless about the question.

SladeX

I'm in Ottawa and I use Castrol Syntec 0w40 in the car. Occasionally may swap out to Mobil 1 0w40 or 5w30 from time to time. I've tossed in amsoil 5w30 too

I did the oil testing early on and found as long as I changed on time ie after a few months of good use or a year later of sparse use, the results were the same for either brands.

So what dictates to me which oil is in the car? Whichever I can get cheaper at the time I need an oil change. I'm running a built LS3 camaro with 240K miles on it now and my C6 with 62K miles.

Danno5069

Ahh yes, GM Engineers, same guys who say its ok to use 87 octane, I choose 91. Same guys who put the worst tires ever made, Goodyear F1's as standard equipment on Vettes. Ill bypass the ring on the finger Prima Donnas recommendations and research whats best for my GS.
Majority of their recommendations boil down to lowest price.
Keep the Shareholders happy

David Petty

I'm at 98k miles and have only ever used Royal Purple 5W30.

My Cam is going bad - related? Up to you.

I do know I, for one, won't be paying extra for purple dye anymore.

This guy does a pretty indepth test of oil quality:

Royal Purple v. Amsoil Walmart v. RedLine

Danno5069

Im on the fence re Castrol vs Mobil 1. I had an Audi S5 Cabrio that I traded for the Vette. Audi Recommended Castrol Professional OE.
I put more faith in German Engineering over profit driven American

Raazor

Bruze

I doubt the tire selectors are the same guys who recommend engine earl.

Also, oil brand/weight depends on if you pop your hood when you get home, to cool the engine off faster vs. if you don't bother with it.

Which cell phone mount you use is also a big factor.



Attachment 48333445

dvarapala

If GM engineers suck so bad then why do you buy their vehicles?

TorchRedFred

Actually GM recommends to use 91 octane. They say it may be safe to use 87 octane but the motor will not perform as well.

Danno5069

Cant find a horse and buggy at a good price.
Im a Municipal water wastewater employee. Im the one that has to deal with all the f ups engineers create when designing pumping stations, reservoirs etc.

Bruze

I'm in my 51st year of dealing with engineers, and I also wasted four years of my life working at a GM plant.

Engineers as a group are not all dumb (or smart) -- same as surgeons, rocket scientists, truckers, accountants, yadda yadda yadda.

During my four years at Rochester Products ('77-'81), we kept wondering where the engineers were hiding that developed all the various carbs. The latest at the time, the "Mod Quad" (-rajet) was pretty complicated. Whoever designed them, we never saw or met any engineers there that could even come close. Of the ones we knew, the best they could do was make us a new copy from the blueprint archives for this or that part. And I'm not exaggerating about their incompetence.

Having said that, GM has for a long time now produced world-class sports cars that can basically keep up with the world's best -- at a fraction of the price. Somebody there must know something.

As for oil brand/weight, I think it's pretty much long-established knowledge that it's more important to change regularly, more often if making a lot of short trips, do not let it get low, and don't overfill. Aside from that, any top brand with appropriate (not necessarily exact) weight for your climate is as good as any other.

Turbo6TA

Exactly ...

sobe88

If stock just run what GM recommends... Mobile 1. If you really want to ask about oils go to Bobistheoilguy and ask about oils.... A guy over there ran Rotella T6 in a Dodge Grand Caravan for 100k miles and showed excellent oil analysis from blackstone labs. So by that maybe you need to run oils aimed at diesel engines.

I hear Husqvarna makes a good oil as well.

HOXXOH

That might have been true in 2010 when this thread was started, but a lot has changed since Danno5069 dredged it up from the dark archives. Wax is no longer in vogue, since polymers and ceramics have been improved.

Bruze

But I hear all these young peeps talking about "getting a wax."

Have we gone back to the future?

Attachment 48332111

SPSandman

Mobile 1 also has some really good rebates with Oil and Filter purchases.


Just do a search

Vet Interested

Mobil 1 if you use your DRL's. Castrol if you do not use them.
(It's a LONG story).

Suns_PSD

After a bit of research I decided to use 0-30W Amsoil Signature synthetic.

And I use another Amsoil Signature product in my 2 diesel passenger vehicles.

Ultimately, I feel these are superior products, and not by just a little bit either.

Good luck.

C6 Snowboarder

I would think a better question if you are letting it sit for 80% of the time.. is this question which has never been asked either: Should you change the oil before storage or after storage? I change the oil in my Black GS before storage -- and I change the oil in my Torch Red GS after storage. no reason other than that is what I do. And
i wait till the oil monitor says <10% life.

Danno5069

I would change oil in boat b4 storage because of possible moisture content. So ive been told will do the same for vette. Its not stored per say as I will start it occassionally and drive it around the block on a dry winter day