Spurkey

I've got an '02 Hawk with 56,000 kms on it (~35,000 miles), my last oil change I put in the German Castrol everyone's been raving about and an Amsoil SDF32 filter, up until then it was Mobil 1 and the "stock" GM filter. The engine temperature is definitely lower, the temp gauge used to sit bang on the middle with Mobil 1, now it's slightly lower: there's now a gap between the needle and the middle white mark so it's maybe 2-3 degrees but it's still noticeable.

The one thing that *does* worry me is the oil pressure is way higher now - with Mobil 1 the needle'd be just past halfway at idle then go up to 3/4s or so under moderate acceleration. With GC it's at about 3/4 at idle then goes almost all the way up under moderate acceleration. I've checked the oil level 3 friggen times now and it's almost exactly at the line, maybe a little under. Is this pressure normal? Is it anything to worry about?

FBDYLVR

iTrader: (14)

More oil pressure is better.

Mike02Z

iTrader: (13)

Unless you have a 98 the temperature gauge is a dummy anyway. Both lower temperature and higher oil pressure are both good things though so don't worry. I noticed my oil pressure went up when I switched to GC as well.

Shatterz

iTrader: (2)

What is this german castrol and where do you get it???

not_my_z

iTrader: (1)

don't mean to hijack the thread, but what's different about the 98's temp gauge?

Kman

Castrol 0w-30. Auto Zone is the only place that sells it. Black bottle with white and red writing on it. Says "Made in Germany" on the back.

bmfcamaro

iTrader: (1)

im in germany now maybe i should look for it over here. hopefully i can find some.

VA2001SS

I noticed higher oil pressure as well, even though it's 0w30 the GC is nearly 0w40 accounting for the higher oil pressure. Works for me.

Patman

The needle in the 98's oil pressure gauge will actually move up and down as the oil pressure moves up and down, but from 99-02 it was more of a dummy gauge and the needle would just sit in one spot and would only move down if the oil pressure got really low. So if your oil pressure was 30psi at idle and 50 psi while moving, the needle would not move, it would be the same under both conditions.

02SS#406

iTrader: (1)

This stuff is the bargain of the bunch. I only hope AZ keeps carrying it, because I've never seen it anywhere else in the DFW metroplex. Since I've gone to this product, I also have higher oil pressure, no oil consumption, and a LOT quieter engine. I also run the larger Wix filter so I can run 6 quarts, for a little more protection.

Mike02Z

iTrader: (13)

I'm guessing you meant temperature gauge not oil pressure gauge. As far as I know the oil pressure gauge in all fbodys will move up and down with an increase and decrease in RPM. Whether it is accurate or not is another story.

The only year fbody that had a somewhat accurate temperature gauge is the 98 all later years just sit in one spot unless the car overheats then they move into the red.

Patman

I thought that the oil pressure gauge was the same way in the 99-02? Or was it just the water temp?

Z28Camaro01

iTrader: (6)

In my 01 it moves with rpm... as far as temp gauge its moves very very little... I also picked up some of the GC today... Putting it in this weekend

Frosty

iTrader: (17)

Just the water temps, my oil gauge goes up and down as it should.

robertbartsch

My F-body 99 oil pressure guage varies a lot depending on RPM and oil viscosity.

Thicker oil results in a higher pressure - as I remember. My temp guage is a mono reading...