Driven DI40 Oil question
Tech Contributor
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Le Mans Master
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From: Loveland
Burning Brakes
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From: Louisiana
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Lurker
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From: Denton, TX
St. Jude Donor '19-'20
Please read this article by Driven.
Dont get me wrong. I have been running Driven DI 0w40 in my engine since the day I picked it up from the shop after having a cam installed. No issues at all. Not knocking the brand at all.
I was surprised when a friend, who also had the same work done, ran across this article and sent it to me.
For clarification, I havent tracked the car since the engine work was done and I dont daily drive it but I think I will change back to Mobil 1 at the next oil change.
Your circumstances may be different than mine so I'm just offering the link as insight for those considering Driven. YMMV.
https://drivenracingoil.com/n-2-why-...e26FLP3_1HzJZq
Dont get me wrong. I have been running Driven DI 0w40 in my engine since the day I picked it up from the shop after having a cam installed. No issues at all. Not knocking the brand at all.
I was surprised when a friend, who also had the same work done, ran across this article and sent it to me.
For clarification, I havent tracked the car since the engine work was done and I dont daily drive it but I think I will change back to Mobil 1 at the next oil change.
Your circumstances may be different than mine so I'm just offering the link as insight for those considering Driven. YMMV.
https://drivenracingoil.com/n-2-why-...e26FLP3_1HzJZq
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
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From: Loveland
So many people think they are using, super duper magic, oil in their car, then have issues. Mobil 1 full synthetic 0W-40 is great oil, with the required Dexos, recommended by GM. Racers might even use 50 weight oil in their cars, but not good for a normal car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2019
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From: Louisiana
I thought the issue is the additive package, specifically detergents. Wouldn't a -50 with the correct additive package be fine for street usage? The DexosR for the lt6 comes to mind.
Le Mans Master
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From: Loveland
I wouldn't run it. It's to thick. GM says 40 weight oil. These newer Corvette engines are designed with closer tolerances and need the correct oil.
Originally it was 35 weight oil and they raised it to 40 weight.
Originally it was 35 weight oil and they raised it to 40 weight.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2019
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From: Louisiana
My -50 UOAs look great with very low PPM of metal wear.
Le Mans Master
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From: Loveland
What about 60 weight or 80 weight oil. A lot of wear happens at start up when the engine is cold, even worse with thick oil. That's why they went to multi viscosity oils. A little bit lower viscosity when at low temp, normal viscosity at normal temp. Don't forget viscosity is different than weight. Every given weight oil has a full range of viscosity, depending what the temp is. All oil has thicker viscosity at cooler temps than when warm. Oil NEVER gets thinner when cold.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2019
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From: Louisiana
What about 60 weight or 80 weight oil. A lot of wear happens at start up when the engine is cold, even worse with thick oil. That's why they went to multi viscosity oils. A little bit lower viscosity when at low temp, normal viscosity at normal temp. Don't forget viscosity is different than weight. Every given weight oil has a full range of viscosity, depending what the temp is. All oil has thicker viscosity at cooler temps than when warm. Oil NEVER gets thinner when cold.
GM even says that the -50 is fine, so I'm curious what evidence you have where increasing viscosity is causing a problem. https://www.gmdexos.com/brands/dexosr/index.html
Le Mans Master
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From: Loveland
I totally understand what w stands for, and 50 is the weight not,,,, viscosity. I also understand what is recommended for the C7, and it isn't 50 weight oil. Of course GM recommends 50 weight oil, but not for the C7. Or if you are tracking your car and "needs to be removed".
Last edited by kodpkd; Dec 14, 2024 at 09:43 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: South Florida
It's simple. Thicker oils have less cold start protection. Most of all engine wear occurs at cold start. Running a 5w50 oil on a stock internal engine, for daily driving, is foolish and you're just doing more harm than good. Even with a cam and bolt ons, follow GM's recommendations for oil weights/viscosity.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
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From: Loveland
This is a great websight. Compares viscosity at all the temps compared to weight, and higher weight vs lower weight oil.
https://wiki.anton-paar.com/en/engine-oil/
https://wiki.anton-paar.com/en/engine-oil/
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 954
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From: Louisiana
I totally understand what w stands for, and 50 is the weight not,,,, viscosity. I also understand what is recommended for the C7, and it isn't 50 weight oil. Of course GM recommends 50 weight oil, but not for the C7. Or if you are tracking your car and "needs to be removed".
The only reason the -50 would need to be removed would be to hit MPG/Emissions targets.