Which oil to use
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 986
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From: California
Which oil to use
Hi... Never owned a corvette before and in fact don't own one yet today... But I do have one on order, a 2012 Grand Sport Convertible... What brand and kind (dino vs synthetic) do these engines come with from the factory??? And what kind of oil do you folks use in your corvettes?? If it comes from the factory with Dino oil, I assume at some point you switch over to synthetic... First, am I correct and if so, when do you switch??? And what brand do you recommend???
thanks... bob...
thanks... bob...
Last edited by diitto; Mar 18, 2012 at 05:14 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
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All Corvettes since 1993 have come from the factory with Mobil 1 synthetic oil.
When you read your owners manual, you'll see GM requires the use of an oil approved to the dexos 1™ specification to maintain your warranty. There are many brands of oil that'll meet the spec and any of them are good to use. There are other brands never were tested to the spec to get on the approved "list" that would work just as good but there's a very small chance you may run into problems with a warranty claim on an oil related failure of the engine.
Oil is like a religion here, you'll have many people post saying Mobil 1 is crap and "brand X" is the best...they're all very good, pick the one you like best.
When you read your owners manual, you'll see GM requires the use of an oil approved to the dexos 1™ specification to maintain your warranty. There are many brands of oil that'll meet the spec and any of them are good to use. There are other brands never were tested to the spec to get on the approved "list" that would work just as good but there's a very small chance you may run into problems with a warranty claim on an oil related failure of the engine.
Oil is like a religion here, you'll have many people post saying Mobil 1 is crap and "brand X" is the best...they're all very good, pick the one you like best.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Intersection of Eau Rogue, Flugplatz and Loews Hairpin
First, am I correct and if so, when do you switch??? And what brand do you recommend???
all new vettes have a built in oil life monitoring system which will basically tell you % wise how much longer you have until you should change your oil. i believe they can go now ~10,000 miles before a change but something in me cannot do that. this may be a waste of money but most people believe in doing their 1st oil change immediately after break-in to get rid of all the little metal shavings and other debris that may find their way into the oiling system during the break-in period. i personally did mine at around 2500 miles. your lucky you dont have the dry sump oiling system because you have a convertible which means you dont have to buy 10.5 quarts of oil!!!!!
to avoid any warranty hassle you need to use an oil that meets GM standards, which is called dexos or something like that. there are a lot of good synthetic oils out there that meet this standard, not just mobil 1. i personally use amsoil OE synthetic as it meets the GM dexos standard, is fairly cheap and has been examined with good results with oil analysis from labs like blackstone.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: King George VA
As stated above, GM factory fill is Mobil 1 5w30 - note that there are other types of Mobil 1 including Mobil 1 Extended Performance and Mobil 1 Super Synthetic (which despite its name isn't as good as plain old Mobil 1). The only ones that meet dexos1 are the Mobil 1 and the Mobil 1 Extended Performance.
The owner's manual requirement is dexos1 and many oils meet this spec including these from AMSOIL:
AMSOIL Signature Series 100% Synthetic 5w30 (Product Code ASLQT)
AMSOIL XL Synthetic 5w30 (Product Code XLFQT)
AMSOIL OE Synthetic 5w30 (Product Code OEFQT)
The owner's manual requirement is dexos1 and many oils meet this spec including these from AMSOIL:
AMSOIL Signature Series 100% Synthetic 5w30 (Product Code ASLQT)
AMSOIL XL Synthetic 5w30 (Product Code XLFQT)
AMSOIL OE Synthetic 5w30 (Product Code OEFQT)
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Last edited by C66 Racing; Mar 20, 2012 at 08:46 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
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Mobil 1 Extended Performance is correct also. In fact, it was approved for the dexos 1™ spec before the regular Mobil 1.
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Team Owner
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From: Springfield MO
Starting in 2012, the C6 comes with a oil that meets GM dexos specs. Most synthetic blends will meet the dexos spec. The oil that GM puts in the C6 at the factory now is a blend made by ExxonMobil. It will not hurt your warranty to use a fully synthetic oil like Mobil1 or any of the synthetics that meet the old GM4718M spec.
GM has discontinued the two old specs they used and now only use the dexos spec. It is also okay to use a dexos spec oil in the older(then 2012) Corvettes, and will not void the warranty. Most Corvette owners are very **** and will only use a full synthetic oil, which is okay for the 2012. Your call.
GM has discontinued the two old specs they used and now only use the dexos spec. It is also okay to use a dexos spec oil in the older(then 2012) Corvettes, and will not void the warranty. Most Corvette owners are very **** and will only use a full synthetic oil, which is okay for the 2012. Your call.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2011
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im sure the inside of my engine block has to be stained purple by now 
I always use royal purple, just my preference. My buddy uses amsoil and to be honest i cant feel or notice a difference between the two to justify one is better than the other, im sure all higher end oil products are the same way atleast I hope it is especially when your paying 8-9 dollars for a qt of oil
I always use royal purple, just my preference. My buddy uses amsoil and to be honest i cant feel or notice a difference between the two to justify one is better than the other, im sure all higher end oil products are the same way atleast I hope it is especially when your paying 8-9 dollars for a qt of oil
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From: King George VA
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,339
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From: Lake Delton (WI Dells) WI
I use -PENNZOIL ULTRA-....it's found for a good price in 5 gallon jugs at Wally world and it's a decent oil which is dexos-approved.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
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Starting in 2012, the C6 comes with a oil that meets GM dexos specs. Most synthetic blends will meet the dexos spec. The oil that GM puts in the C6 at the factory now is a blend made by ExxonMobil. It will not hurt your warranty to use a fully synthetic oil like Mobil1 or any of the synthetics that meet the old GM4718M spec.
GM has discontinued the two old specs they used and now only use the dexos spec. It is also okay to use a dexos spec oil in the older(then 2012) Corvettes, and will not void the warranty. Most Corvette owners are very **** and will only use a full synthetic oil, which is okay for the 2012. Your call.
GM has discontinued the two old specs they used and now only use the dexos spec. It is also okay to use a dexos spec oil in the older(then 2012) Corvettes, and will not void the warranty. Most Corvette owners are very **** and will only use a full synthetic oil, which is okay for the 2012. Your call.
From the 2011 Corvette owner's manual:
"Notice: Use only engine oil that is approved to the dexos specification or an equivalent engine oil of the appropriate viscosity grade. Engine oils approved to the dexos specification will show the dexos symbol on the container. Failure to use the recommended engine oil or equivalent can result in engine damage not covered by the vehicle warranty. If you are unsure whether the oil is approved to the dexos specification, ask your service provider."
I think it's very clear from the above GM wants dexos 1™ to be used to maintain the warranty. The 4718M spec has been superceded by the dexos spec...the 4718M spec has been "retired" by GM and is no longer monitored by them. Any oil container citing the 4718M spec is either an old container or can only claim to meet the spec since GM no longer approves any oil against the 4718M spec. The bottom line is you shouldn't be telling people that using a 4718M spec oil in their '11 or '12 Corvette will not hurt their warranty because that is false...and it's not your wallet that gets hurt.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Lake Delton (WI Dells) WI
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
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The owner's manual on my '12 GS dry-sump says GM recommends a synthetic blend oil. The car itself has the Mobil-1 logo on the oil cap, but I could bet cash money it's a synthetic blend in there 
. Not bad for break-in, but I'll dump it for either Pennzoil Ultra or Mobil-1 Extended Performance (both of which are Group IV true synthetics) at around the 3K mile mark, along with new tranny and differential fluids (probably RP). Good day gang.
. Not bad for break-in, but I'll dump it for either Pennzoil Ultra or Mobil-1 Extended Performance (both of which are Group IV true synthetics) at around the 3K mile mark, along with new tranny and differential fluids (probably RP). Good day gang.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 140
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From: Corpus Christi Texas
Just did my first oil change on my 12' C6 couple last night (easy and painless to do)....I found a Mobil 1 5w-30 full synthetic with dexos certification right in my local Auto parts store. So when you buy your oil look for a little green dexos logo on the jar...so the oil is out there and costs the same as everything else.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,767
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From: Melbourne, Arkansas
Cruise-In X Veteran
The 2011 model year was the first year for dexos 1™ and it's required in all GM gas engine vehicles worldwide. There is only one synthetic blend that meets the dexos 1™ spec...it's a GM brand oil. The C6 still uses Mobil 1 as the factory fill.
From the 2011 Corvette owner's manual:
"Notice: Use only engine oil that is approved to the dexos specification or an equivalent engine oil of the appropriate viscosity grade. Engine oils approved to the dexos specification will show the dexos symbol on the container. Failure to use the recommended engine oil or equivalent can result in engine damage not covered by the vehicle warranty. If you are unsure whether the oil is approved to the dexos specification, ask your service provider."
I think it's very clear from the above GM wants dexos 1™ to be used to maintain the warranty. The 4718M spec has been superceded by the dexos spec...the 4718M spec has been "retired" by GM and is no longer monitored by them. Any oil container citing the 4718M spec is either an old container or can only claim to meet the spec since GM no longer approves any oil against the 4718M spec. The bottom line is you shouldn't be telling people that using a 4718M spec oil in their '11 or '12 Corvette will not hurt their warranty because that is false...and it's not your wallet that gets hurt.
From the 2011 Corvette owner's manual:
"Notice: Use only engine oil that is approved to the dexos specification or an equivalent engine oil of the appropriate viscosity grade. Engine oils approved to the dexos specification will show the dexos symbol on the container. Failure to use the recommended engine oil or equivalent can result in engine damage not covered by the vehicle warranty. If you are unsure whether the oil is approved to the dexos specification, ask your service provider."
I think it's very clear from the above GM wants dexos 1™ to be used to maintain the warranty. The 4718M spec has been superceded by the dexos spec...the 4718M spec has been "retired" by GM and is no longer monitored by them. Any oil container citing the 4718M spec is either an old container or can only claim to meet the spec since GM no longer approves any oil against the 4718M spec. The bottom line is you shouldn't be telling people that using a 4718M spec oil in their '11 or '12 Corvette will not hurt their warranty because that is false...and it's not your wallet that gets hurt.
I use Royal Purple HPS 5-30 for the high zinc and phos levels, but the warranty no longer applies to me......
Mark
