Oil temp range and 10w-40
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 72
From: Upstate NY
Oil temp range and 10w-40
I picked up a ‘09 base C6 about a week ago. It’s H/C/I and runs real strong. Today was 90 degrees out and I was out driving around and noticed oil temp about 240….seems high to me. (Wasn’t getting on it at all). Second time this week I saw that temp. Guy I bought from has been running 10w-40 in it and changed it religiously.
Thoughts on the high temps and the type of oil?
Thoughts on the high temps and the type of oil?
Retired & lovin' it!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,475
Likes: 549
From: Jackson NJ
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 756
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From: Florida
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 72
From: Upstate NY
Car calls for 5W-30. Why are you guys saying 10w-30? Did different year LS3s have different oil?
took it out again tonight with temp around 74. Car still got up to 220 and I was not getting on it at all.
took it out again tonight with temp around 74. Car still got up to 220 and I was not getting on it at all.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,194
Likes: 266
From: Virginia
As far as temps that does seem a bit high but then again you don’t have an oil cooler and it was super hot out when you were seeing the 240 temp. In my 2011 base I didn’t check it often but I know it would jump to 220 real quick and that was with pretty normal driving, not feathering the pedal but not ripping on it either.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 258
From: Tampa FL
You might remove the plastic upper radiator support and check/clean between Radiator amd condenser. You might check that fan is acutally turning on and the fan plug for burning/melting.
And as far as useing 10-w30 oil the Ls engine is not Bearing Clearanced to use it.
And as far as useing 10-w30 oil the Ls engine is not Bearing Clearanced to use it.
Last edited by HK770; Aug 22, 2022 at 09:57 PM.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 72
From: Upstate NY
Was out the other night….74 degrees ambient temp and oil temp was up to 219. I’m going to switch back to 5W-30 asap and see what that does. Also rechecking the areas mentioned above. Thanks to all who posted for the help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,194
Likes: 266
From: Virginia
Im sure that 10w40 is causing it to run a little hotter. Switching to 5w30 should help some
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 611
From: DFW Texas
Sounds like you may not have a copy of the 2009 Corvette owners manual. Attached link to a DL PDF. Will provide most of the answers you seek.
https://cdn.dealereprocess.org/cdn/s...9-corvette.pdf
Enjoy your car...GD
https://cdn.dealereprocess.org/cdn/s...9-corvette.pdf
Enjoy your car...GD
Retired & lovin' it!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,475
Likes: 549
From: Jackson NJ
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,010
Likes: 493
From: South Florida
My car is a grand sport so it has the coolers, in 95* south florida heat I have to really TRY to get my oil temps above 200*. Coolant temps are a different story, will routinely get up to 220 if in stop and go traffic for more than a few minutes.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 627
Likes: 110
I picked up a ‘09 base C6 about a week ago. It’s H/C/I and runs real strong. Today was 90 degrees out and I was out driving around and noticed oil temp about 240….seems high to me. (Wasn’t getting on it at all). Second time this week I saw that temp. Guy I bought from has been running 10w-40 in it and changed it religiously.
Thoughts on the high temps and the type of oil?
Thoughts on the high temps and the type of oil?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,194
Likes: 266
From: Virginia
I don’t see any reason to run a 40 weight oil unless you’re tracking the car. To me 5w is always better than 10w because the faster you can get oil to moving parts the better because the majority of engine wear happens on cold starts. I’m no oil expert tho so if I’m wrong someone please educate me. You’ll lose a little bit of power with the heavier oil also, not much tho I’m sure.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
I don’t see any reason to run a 40 weight oil unless you’re tracking the car. To me 5w is always better than 10w because the faster you can get oil to moving parts the better because the majority of engine wear happens on cold starts. I’m no oil expert tho so if I’m wrong someone please educate me. You’ll lose a little bit of power with the heavier oil also, not much tho I’m sure.
"As for the proper oil to use with a hydraulic roller lifter, the best thing to do is consult with the supplier. However, we can say this, from our experience we've found that noisy hydraulic roller lifters result from using oil of the wrong viscosity. Oil that is too heavy will not fill the lifters as it should, too thin and the lifters will bleed down—in both cases the result is noisy lifters."
https://www.motortrend.com/news/dont-rub-cam-wrong-way/