ZR1 Oil and filter recommendations
03-01-2019, 02:11 PM
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
ZR1 Oil and filter recommendations
Its time for my 1st oil change on my recently purchased ZR1.. I used Mobil 1 5w-30 in my modded C5 Z06 for 10 years with no issues and sold the car with 72k miles... I've heard people say avoid Mobil 1, because of numerous spun bearings. Never heard this before but I'm new to the Ls9.. Also, is there a such thing as a dry sump oil filter? Whats the difference between those and a regular oil filter? Looks like a 10.75 quart oil change as well.... Thanks for any input!
03-01-2019, 02:29 PM
#2
Safety Car
If you've never changed oil on a dry sump system, look it up on here and read up. Maybe watch a YouTube video or three as well.
Make sure you get all the oil out of it. There's two drain points.
Make sure you add the oil to the dry sump tank. Do not touch the "cap" on the valve cover.
I strongly prefer Wix Gold or Wix XP filters (Napa gold or platinum). AC-Delco filters do not have the flow capacity to handle the full flow from the oil pump. They will open the bypass valve at high RPMs. Most aftermarket filters (Wix, Champion labs made filters like Mobil 1 and K&N, etc.) have significantly higher flow capacity than the AC-Delco filters.
For full synthetic oil for these engines (even the lowly LS2s), I prefer Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic oils.
Make sure you get all the oil out of it. There's two drain points.
Make sure you add the oil to the dry sump tank. Do not touch the "cap" on the valve cover.
I strongly prefer Wix Gold or Wix XP filters (Napa gold or platinum). AC-Delco filters do not have the flow capacity to handle the full flow from the oil pump. They will open the bypass valve at high RPMs. Most aftermarket filters (Wix, Champion labs made filters like Mobil 1 and K&N, etc.) have significantly higher flow capacity than the AC-Delco filters.
For full synthetic oil for these engines (even the lowly LS2s), I prefer Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic oils.
Last edited by C6_Racer_X; 03-01-2019 at 02:32 PM.
03-01-2019, 07:09 PM
#4
03-01-2019, 08:07 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
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2018 C6 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10, '17
Its time for my 1st oil change on my recently purchased ZR1.. I used Mobil 1 5w-30 in my modded C5 Z06 for 10 years with no issues and sold the car with 72k miles... I've heard people say avoid Mobil 1, because of numerous spun bearings. Never heard this before but I'm new to the Ls9.. Also, is there a such thing as a dry sump oil filter? Whats the difference between those and a regular oil filter? Looks like a 10.75 quart oil change as well.... Thanks for any input!
I have tested multiple brands of synthetic oil in both my C6Z race car and my C7Z, including routine samples to Blackstone, cutting open of all filters and pulling my motor on multiple occasions to examine all bearing surfaces, oil pump, lifters, crank journal, cylinder walls, piston skirts, cam etc. I have run my oil to 300 degrees, ran my oil at sustained 4k-7k rpms at 260 degrees for hours at a time and beat the living hell out of the car in full race prep, endurance conditions. I've also driven my C7Z on the street in normal conditions, lolly gagging around town for thousands of miles. I have had the most luck as defined by my regular analysis with Mobil 1 5w30, Mobil 1 0w40, Amsoil Signature Series 5w30, Amsoil Premium Protection 10w40. For filters I have tried many, and prefer ACDelco UPF48R or Wix. There are other very good options out there as well.
A perfectly fine option for a street driven LS9 is Mobil 1 5w30 or Amsoil Signature Series 5w30 with a UPF48R filter.
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CDNZ (03-05-2019)
03-01-2019, 08:25 PM
#7
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Valvoline has a racing oil (Mineral oil). $37 a quart.. ouch! I've also had Blackstone labs test Royal Purple, Pennzoil Full Synthetic and Mobil 1 when I had my C5Z.. All of them had plenty of active ingredient at 5k miles.
Last edited by David426; 03-01-2019 at 08:31 PM.
03-05-2019, 07:33 AM
#11
Racer
2010 ZR1 with 47K miles currently on the clock. I use Royal Purple 5W-30 HPS synthetic motor oil. I change my oil every 10K miles. I add a pint of Archoil AR9100 friction modifier. I also use a K&N reuseable SS oil filter. With less restriction, oil flow increases. The OEM oil filter size is a joke for the RPMs the LS9 turns. If I tracked my car, I would remove the SS mesh element. With today’s engine materials and oil technology, oil filters should be obsolete. I remove the SS mesh element every other change and clean it with gas in a black oil drain pan. Once the oil settles, I check for metal particles. They are there and are considered normal engine wear. I check my oil level at least 3 to.4 times a week. No problems.
Ed
Ed
03-05-2019, 07:59 AM
#12
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I am with Wes, Dave....
Drain oil out of the sump only, add some 7/11 oil, 10/40, Fram filter for an 85 IROC.... While you are at it, drain coolant, add Green Prestone with no water.
Drain oil out of the sump only, add some 7/11 oil, 10/40, Fram filter for an 85 IROC.... While you are at it, drain coolant, add Green Prestone with no water.
Last edited by TXGS507; 03-05-2019 at 08:07 AM.
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David426 (07-23-2020)
03-05-2019, 08:17 AM
#13
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tonysz06 (03-07-2019)
03-07-2019, 05:15 PM
#17
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You getting all of this David?
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David426 (07-23-2020)
04-05-2019, 11:04 AM
#18
Racer
