Oil recommendations?
07-22-2013, 11:30 PM
#3
On The Tree
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: PA
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
^^^ +1. Can't go wrong with Valvoline vr1. We use Brad Penn Grade 1 5w30 partial synthetic to give a little more protection on cold starts but either would be a good choice as long as you're not running cats.
07-23-2013, 12:08 AM
#5
I run German Castrol in all my other cars. For a stock LS1, it's more than enough.
It conforms to the SL rating, not the newer SI rating. SL allowed for more ZDDP type additives, which the EPA deemed bad since it ruins catalytic converters... after like 100k miles.
VR1 I believe loosely conforms to SI, but since it's an "off-road use" race oil, Valvoline puts lots of anti-wear addictive in there. You can get the NSL version, but it has no detergents and doesn't really provide additional protection. So you have to change your oil every 500 miles or so. Conventional VR1 oil is about every 3k. The synthetic provides no additional benefits, but costs twice as much.
Btw, two things to look for in an oil are anti-wear and cushion. This is especially important on bearings that see a high load or valvetrain items like rocker arms or cam lobes that see direct loads. Oil acts as a shock absorber in this instances as the loads aren't trying to sheer the oil apart like a piston riding up and down the cylinder.
So, you want oil that has extremely high anti-sheer properties as well as high-levels of cushion. The VR1 oils are always near the tops of those types of tests.
It conforms to the SL rating, not the newer SI rating. SL allowed for more ZDDP type additives, which the EPA deemed bad since it ruins catalytic converters... after like 100k miles.
VR1 I believe loosely conforms to SI, but since it's an "off-road use" race oil, Valvoline puts lots of anti-wear addictive in there. You can get the NSL version, but it has no detergents and doesn't really provide additional protection. So you have to change your oil every 500 miles or so. Conventional VR1 oil is about every 3k. The synthetic provides no additional benefits, but costs twice as much.
Btw, two things to look for in an oil are anti-wear and cushion. This is especially important on bearings that see a high load or valvetrain items like rocker arms or cam lobes that see direct loads. Oil acts as a shock absorber in this instances as the loads aren't trying to sheer the oil apart like a piston riding up and down the cylinder.
So, you want oil that has extremely high anti-sheer properties as well as high-levels of cushion. The VR1 oils are always near the tops of those types of tests.
07-23-2013, 01:03 AM
#6
Unfortunately if you ask this question a thousand times you will get a thousand answers. My advice would be to spend some time on bob is the oil guy and decide for yourself. I jumped on the Mobil1 train when I first joined here but have since moved to shell rotella t 15w40 and a purlator filter. It is all a personal choice about the tolerances you want to see in the engine. Just look at the data and come to your own informed decision.
Trending Topics
07-23-2013, 05:02 AM
#8
When it is said tht high ZDDP oils "ruin" cats, what does that mean exactly? Do they just inhibit their ability to catalyze chemical reactions or do thu actually clog them up. The former would be tolerable but the latter could lead to a performance deficit.
07-23-2013, 05:28 AM
#9
It conforms to the SL rating, not the newer SI rating. SL allowed for more ZDDP type additives, which the EPA deemed bad since it ruins catalytic converters... after like 100k miles.
VR1 I believe loosely conforms to SI, but since it's an "off-road use" race oil, Valvoline puts lots of anti-wear addictive in there.
VR1 I believe loosely conforms to SI, but since it's an "off-road use" race oil, Valvoline puts lots of anti-wear addictive in there.
API increments the ratings in alphabetical order.
SL
SM
SN
07-23-2013, 06:03 AM
#10
I use mobile 1 ow-40 european formula. It meets hgher standards for a true synthetic. I like it and seem to have less oil consumption then pennzoil platnium I was using before
07-23-2013, 08:03 AM
#13
TECH Enthusiast
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 661
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I use Castro Edge 10w 30 (gold bottle) my valve train seems to be quieter with this oil. I've tried all the other of the shelf full synthetics and they perform great, but have a noisier valve train.
In short OP you can't go wrong with a quality synthetic with a quality filter.
In short OP you can't go wrong with a quality synthetic with a quality filter.
07-23-2013, 09:36 AM
#14
Teching In
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Wilmington de
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
10w30 the best??
