Ready for spring oil change. First for me on this 81 all stock 42,000 mile beauty. Whats your favorite oil and filter ? Mobil 1 has been my main stay on all other rides. Should I change and what is the choise on filters & sae etc. ? Thanks
ben81

Everyone probably has thier own personal favorite, if Mobil 1 has served you well, there is really no reason to switch.
I have run everything from $0.59/qt generic to semi-synthetic in small block chevy's. The only time I had a problem, was when I used Castrol GTX(prevent's thermal viscousity breakdown, they claim). I bought a 79 Camaro, dropped my 350 in it, and two weeks later, I was out leaning on it pretty good, and low and behold it got hot and spun a rod bearing. I won't ever use another Castrol oil. Most people probably have no prob's with it, but I won't buy it. I pretty much just run Valvoline now.
I run 20-50 during the summer in my V8's(I am kinda hard on them) and 10-40 in winter. Haven't really had alot of wheel time in my Vette though, so it has 10-40 in it.

|UPDATED|5/18/2003 8:44:16 AM|/UPDATED|

Over the last 15 years EVERY SINGLE ENGINE GUY I'VE TALKED TO HAS RECOMMENDED VALVOLINE!!!! This is no exageration, I literarly have never heard a performance engine junkie ever recommend anything but Valvoline. I've been using it for 10 years and have zero complaints. The price is right too at $1.29 a quart.

I would definitely stay away from synthetic oils. If you only used synthetic oil from the first day the car was driven then it is definitely the way to go. However, since your C3 probably never had synthetic oil in it I would stick with the regular oils. Engines that have been broken in/regularily driven without synthetic oils have developed their own tolerences and a switch from reqular to synthetic is not a good idea.

Thanks Ric and Privategod

Ben, the timing of your question couldn't have been more prefect for me as I haven't done the spring oil change yet. I've used Valvoline in my cars for years and "The Toy" since I've owned it. This spring I thought I'd give their synthetic a try but after reading Rick's reply I may decide not to.

Let's hear some more opinions/experiences on the switch from regular oil to synthetics.

I have never used full synthetics, only because I was told that synthetics can be tougher to keep from leaking. True or not, I don't know, but I would rather not find out for myself. That could get expensive.

Also is it wise to use say Mobil one in an engine with 98,000 miles that has only had Dino in it? I always thought synthetic oil should only be used from day one and never in an older high mileage engine,have the rules changed?

I found these on another forum, so please don't take this as gospel, but they make sense....

Sooooo.... I started digging into this synthetic oil deal. Here are some things I discovered. No matter what it says on a race car (Quaker state, Pennzoil, etc., you can bet Amsoil or Red Line synthetic is in the crankcase. Indy cars run Amsoil. The reason is that synthetics operate flawlessly at extremes. Extreme hot (can run an engine for a half hour without coolant as an example,) Synthetics cause less friction loss. The EPA mandates that carmakers may NOT use synthetics in their cars for EPA mileage tests. Yes, you get improved mileage with synthetic lubricants. Synthetics don't change viscosity when the temperature changes. At 30 below when petro oil turns to sludge, synthetics pour like water. Imagine how much easier on your engine synthetics are in extreme cold. This is why they were developed originally, for use in jets that had to operate at 55 below for extended periods. What many cite as a problem with synthetics really isn't a problem, but a "feature." Synthetics have an additive package (this is what makes them much more expensive) that is much more comprehensive than what comes in petroleum oils. In the additive package is a super hi detergent additive that keeps the interior of the engine clean. When you put synthetics in an old engine, or one that has seen extreme use, when the detergents clean out the goo around the seals, the seals begin to leak. Presto, synthetics make engines leak is simply a byproduct of how well they work.

and

Synthetic oils were developed for jet engines because they can operate in much higher temperature conditions where conventional oils would break down and coke.

Hey guys. This really did come along at the right time. I was going to post a ? to you all today anyway. Ben, to answer your original post, I put my $ on Kendall GT-1. I ran it in my drag car for years and NEVER had an oil related failure. Same for my 70 Chevy P/U--with 140,000 on it. I, and others, used Valvoline when I started but I kept having rocker arm problems. Another friend of mine had several push rod and bearing problems. We switched to Kendall-the only changes made-and the problem went away. I have heard several testimonials against Valvoline in NHRA circles besides this one. I wouldn't put it in my oil squirt can. Same with Castrol. I've heard too much bad stuff. My question to you all this morning concerns Synthetics. I am pulling the L79 for a complete restoration overhaul and I wonder about going with synthetic when I go back. I've never used it but it is in a Lincoln my wife drives and was when I got it. I am not impressed. It gets dirty quick and to think you can go 10,000 miles without a change is ludicrous!!! The stuff would look like the old rear end lube I changed Saturday. I know some performance boys that swear by it but I am a skeptic and don't want to take chances with this engine. Pro's and Con's? Can we all just go to Red Line synthetic and never worry again? I don't know how zero viscosity would work in a street motor though. Help me make up my mind.

|UPDATED|5/19/2003 1:12:19 PM|/UPDATED|

Ok, I gotta throw in my .02 cents on this one. You guys can find over it! lol Anywhos, this is what I've seen myself. The club I'm in used to have a day where we'd all go down to Van Nuys to this shop for bbq and free oil change day. I stuck with my old favorite, Valvoline 20/50 Racing. My x has had Vettes all his life, is doing a resto on a '69 tri-power now. (Need your guys' help on his ride, I'll post on that later) He has used it for many years in all the cars and trucks he's owned. I saw lots of leaks apear in some member cars after the change to Red Line synthetic. Most if not all of them had more than 30k and were C2, C3 and C4 cars. One guy "got lucky" and had no leaks after changing to synthetic. That's all I got boys, good luck in your choice of oil. Oh, I use a pf35 filter, it's a bit deeper.


|UPDATED|5/19/2003 6:23:59 PM|/UPDATED|