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Topic: What Engine Oil Are you Using?

in Forum: C3 Engines


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What Engine Oil Are you Using? (1/17)
 6/25/11 4:22pm
Almond81Vette
Former Member

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Stanley, NC - USA

Vette(s):
1981, dark blue w/carmel interior. 350 stock, auto tranny, Q-jet carb, ECM box


Joined: 8/9/2010
Posts: 91

   My reason for asking is Corvette Etc in Charlotte is dropping in a new GM 350/195 crate engine into my 1981 Vette and it has flat tappet cam and since most of today's oils are minus or very little Zinc and Phosphorus additives, what are you using? Brand and weight range would be good to know. This will not be for breakin period, but for after breakin running.
  
   Thanks to our military men and women for keeping us free, take a veteran out to lunch, remember those we lost defending out freedom.


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What Engine Oil Are you Using? (2/17)
 6/25/11 4:56pm
DStoffel
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Wampum, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1999 coupe Magnetic Red /w grey interior 30,000 miles.


Joined: 8/27/2008
Posts: 90

I went to a fully synthetic 5 wt. 30 Pennziol Platinum on my last oil change. I also started using a product called CAM-SHIELD premium ZDDP oil treatment which is supposed to replace the zink & phosporous missing in todays oils that older cars without catalytic converters need. I don't know if it helps but I figured it couldn't hurt.
 
                                                                      Dave


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What Engine Oil Are you Using? (3/17)
 6/25/11 5:07pm
Almond81Vette
Former Member

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Stanley, NC - USA

Vette(s):
1981, dark blue w/carmel interior. 350 stock, auto tranny, Q-jet carb, ECM box


Joined: 8/9/2010
Posts: 91

Well I still have the catalyic converter on......would that make a different?

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Tommy
 
   
What Engine Oil Are you Using? (4/17)
 6/25/11 5:16pm
DStoffel
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Wampum, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1999 coupe Magnetic Red /w grey interior 30,000 miles.


Joined: 8/27/2008
Posts: 90

Yes, I just read the warning on the bottle of cam-shield. It says thi it will cause irreparable damage to the converter.        
 
                                    Dave


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What Engine Oil Are you Using? (5/17)
 6/25/11 7:02pm
eboLifetime Member
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Holland Patent, NY - USA

Vette(s):
#1 *1980 White, Red interior 14,000 mile #2 *1980 Red, Oyster interior 93,000 miles Resto project car, rebuilt to 383 stroker


Joined: 6/3/2008
Posts: 4420

I do not put many miles on my vette in a season so I use valvoline non syn oil. I researched oil test's and found Valvoline to be leading the way.
ZDD has been in oils for a while but govt required it to be removed for better emmissions. It reduces the performance of the cat. New cat's perform better than the old ones we have.
Does your state check your emmissions during inspection on your classic?
I use the additive and I do not have to go through a emission test for inspection. I'd rather protect my motor than the cat........
Evil Smileebo


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What Engine Oil Are you Using? (6/17)
 6/25/11 7:35pm
Jeffm
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Sebago Lake, ME - USA

Vette(s):
1978 Silver Anniversary L82 4spd (M21) Red Leather. Pace Car is in the hands of a new caretaker.


Joined: 2/15/2007
Posts: 964

Amsoil full synthetic SAE 10W-40. in my original engine. Has zinc in it and says it's for flat tappets. I think their 10-40 is the only weight with zinc. Check their web site. Can't tell ya on the cat, I aint got one, either.
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t132/JeffsVette/Vette%20Misc/amsoil.jpg
What Engine Oil Are you Using? (7/17)
 6/25/11 8:44pm
yostusota
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York, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1969 daytona conv. all original 350 350 380 4 sp w/air..and hard top


Joined: 5/18/2010
Posts: 1518

I love this question..in your instance the amsiol or other synthetics that run the ZDDP in them will be fine..if you had an old engine I would avoid synthetics only because they create or find oil leaks..I run Valvoline VR1 20-50..I use that weight because I run the car hard and only in the summer..I do 3 k or so a year..but like some..I still change it 3 times in the summer..makes for good beer convo in the garage..have fun.

Rich

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What Engine Oil Are you Using? (8/17)
 6/25/11 9:48pm
KDADDY79
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Dutchess County, NY - USA

Vette(s):
White '79 Corvette. It's a driver.


Joined: 8/27/2007
Posts: 2484

Valvoline 10-30 in the summer with the Lucas Oil Stabilizer for the zinc.
What Engine Oil Are you Using? (9/17)
 6/26/11 12:13am
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

Penn Grade #1 high performance green oil, Website information
I also add 1/2 bottle of Lucas ZDDP additive.
Rodney


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What Engine Oil Are you Using? (10/17)
 6/26/11 10:16am
longhorn294Lifetime Member
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DeBerry, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1971 383 Stroker- mille miglia red...5 speed


Joined: 2/27/2002
Posts: 1006

 Castrol 10w-30 in winter, 10w-40 in summer with a bottle of ZDDPlus at every oil change.

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What Engine Oil Are you Using? (11/17)
 6/26/11 11:58am
Almond81Vette
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Stanley, NC - USA

Vette(s):
1981, dark blue w/carmel interior. 350 stock, auto tranny, Q-jet carb, ECM box


Joined: 8/9/2010
Posts: 91

In North Carolina cars less than 35 years old still have to have emission check. My guy checks to make sure parts are there but does not do the sniffer test, just have to have the parts. So minus a cat converter could or should fail inspection. Now in NC your car inspection is tied to your tag renewal, so not inspection, no tag.

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Tommy
 
   
What Engine Oil Are you Using? (12/17)
 6/27/11 11:35am
tb2k82ceLifetime Member
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Lemon Grove, CA - USA

Vette(s):
1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.


Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041

There is a lot of stuf on this on the Net by people that have done research in the area.  Below are just a couple of link with some of the latest information on the subject.  Things change so you need to look at the latest stuff not items that were 5 or 10 years old.  In this case however there has not been a lot of change except the modern oils are a little worst maybe.
 
Location for Synthetic oil with high Zinc and Phosphorus content.
 
Note the recommended level of ZDDP
1200 - 1400 PPM general recreational use
1350 - 1400 PPM hot Cams with high spring rates
Watch out for oils in the 1100 - 1250 PPM as they are margianal and could cause issues better save than sorry.
Everything I have found says "Never use oils with less than 1200 PPM"
 
What Engine Oil Are you Using? (13/17)
 6/27/11 12:57pm
CCasey
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New Albany, OH - USA

Vette(s):
1980 Coupe / Snowcrest White / L48, 350 / Comp Cam / Edelbrock Heads / Cyclone Intake / Holley Carb / Holley Fuel Pump / Patriot Headers / Dual Exhaust / Magnaflow Mufflers / 1964 Coupe / Riverside Red / L76, 327, 365hp


Joined: 8/17/2010
Posts: 173

I use Valvoline VR1 20W50 on my '64.
 
I tried Amailie 20W50 synthetic oil in my '80 but like others have noted, synthetics will definitely find a leak.  Now I use the VR1 20W50 in my '80, also.
 
I don't have a cat, either.
CCasey2011-06-27 09:58:09

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Re: What Engine Oil Are you Using? (14/17)
 6/26/15 7:04am
vettejackLifetime Member
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Titusville, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1977 Coupe (White), 2006 Convertible (Victory Red). NCM Life Member #2221.


Joined: 12/19/2007
Posts: 154

The cat convertor has been taken out of my '82 and made into true duals (check engine light bulb also removed behind dash), ending with Flowmasters' at the tips. Florida has no inspections.
Better performance (even better since the Exxon station nearby has a NON-ethanol pump at 90 octane).
So, with that being said, it never changed my preference on oil at all...with or without the cat convertor. I had always used, and still use, Valvoline's synthetic blend 10W40. Specifically designed for cars over 75,000 miles on the clock. No leaks.

|UPDATED|6/26/2015 4:04:52 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: What Engine Oil Are you Using? (15/17)
 9/17/15 12:49pm
TheyCallMeDave
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Crestview (near Pensacola), FL - USA

Vette(s):
1970 built 454 coupe., M21, 336-1 rear, numbers matching . Approx. 550 hp/600 tq. #2 Condition . For Sale : $32,000 very firm . Have a full write up with closeup walk-around video for the serious minded only please.


Joined: 9/16/2015
Posts: 22

Ive been told by mechanics for engine break in oil., to use a good grade regular Dino oil for 2000 miles, then switch to full synthetic   .  In my BB,  I switched to Valvoline full Synthetic 10 w 30  from Mobil 1 full synthetic as the Valvoline beats the pants off in the independent 4 ball wear scar test on the major brands --- Valvoline is tied with Amsoil  on this test as the winner and cheaper to buy .

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1970 built 454 coupe., M21, 336-1 rear, numbers matching . Approx. 550 hp/600 tq. #2 Condition .
For Sale :  $32,000 very firm .
Have a full write up with closeup walk-around video for the serious minded only please.
Re: What Engine Oil Are you Using? (16/17)
 9/17/15 6:01pm
dwa175
Former Member

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leesburg, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1979 coupe and now 2007 c-6


Joined: 7/19/2014
Posts: 195

that's what I use     reg oil with lucas     dwaBeer
Re: What Engine Oil Are you Using? (17/17)
 5/2/16 10:07pm
Carbs49
Former Member

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Vette(s):
1972 Original owner. Order 10/71, built 1/72, purchased 2/72. Car is all original.


Joined: 5/2/2016
Posts: 2

Mobil 5W/30W high mileage/older engine oil.
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