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For those of you who run conventional oil be warned.

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Old 07-06-2011, 05:38 PM
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Default For those of you who run conventional oil be warned.

I have been using full synthetic since new and have noticed that my oil temps are around 225* I have even hit 250 plus.

With conventional oil, anything in excess of 240°F (115°C) will break down and cause oxidation; which in turn forms deposits, varnish and increases wear.
You'll need to change you oil more frequently. Especially... if your road racing or drag racing. It only gets up to 90* in the summer up here in Washington, so if you live down south then keep an eye on the color of the oil and make sure you change once it starts to get dark.

Now.. sythetic oil is known to tolerate temperatures up to 400°F.

I would like to see temps in the 185 range. Even with synthetic.

I will be installing a oil cooler to combat this heat with a thermostatic swtich to regulate oil temps.

Here is my part list
Mocal LS Thermostatic Oil Cooler Adapter
Mocal oil cooler. Not to sure on the size yet
x3 90* -10AN barbed fittings for use with push lock 250psi hose
x1 180* fitting for use with push lock hose
20 ft of push lock 250psi -10AN hose.

I paln on mounting the cooler in a brake cooling vent.
The oil cooler adapter replaces the block off plate up above the oil filter on the block. The switch will allow oil to go thru the cooler once temps reach 190*

Last edited by DavidGXP; 07-08-2011 at 01:31 AM.
Old 07-06-2011, 07:05 PM
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Thanks for the info, David.

We'll look for the detailed install so we can sticky over at gmls4.com
Old 07-07-2011, 08:02 AM
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oil cooling...def. a plus! good stuff Dapp...as always my friend!
Old 07-07-2011, 11:49 AM
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i run conventional i change it every 3k miles should i be worried>?
Old 07-07-2011, 11:53 AM
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Originally Posted by bigalnash
i run conventional i change it every 3k miles should i be worried>?
IMO Nope ... there is a long standing debate between conventional & synthetics. Search LS1Tech for both sides of the debate and decide for yourself.
Old 07-07-2011, 12:05 PM
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I run synthetic in my car, snowmobiles, lawn mower and my snowblower. My tow rig gets conventional oil and I change it every 3-4K or every 3 months whichever comes first.

My truck has 110K miles on the big block motor and the compression is still where it was 100K miles ago.

However my truck never sits. I'm always driving it. The rest sit for a long time and I don't want the oil breaking down from age.
Old 07-07-2011, 01:10 PM
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Originally Posted by bigalnash
i run conventional i change it every 3k miles should i be worried>?
You should be fine.. Just monitor the color and make sure it's not black.
3-4K under normal driving conditions should be fine. Nobody has lost a motor as far as I know from 200+ temps.
Cooler will add oil life, and a few more HP.
Old 07-07-2011, 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by bigalnash
i run conventional i change it every 3k miles should i be worried>?
Definitely should be fine. I actually think changing it every 3K is probably overkill. Something the oil companies want you to do. As stated above, a better indicator of when to change your oil is the color. My guide is to check for transparency. If I can see light through the oil on the dipstick; Usually light brown in color, your fine. Once is starts getting too dark to pass light, then it's time to change. The color doesn't change at a certain mileage(3K), it changes based on a several variable like how hard you drive it, city v. hwy driving, and of course environmental factors such as dusty roads. I live in San Antonio and have several cars with over 200k with changing the conventional oil by sight, which is usually around 4-5K per oil change. But, too each his own. What ever makes you feel comfortable based on your driving habits!
Now I do use the synthentic blend in my TA, just to make me feel good!
Old 07-07-2011, 02:33 PM
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It is pretty cool that GM provided our blocks with oil cooler provisions
Must be there for a reason..
Now if I can only adapt a wet sump!
Old 07-07-2011, 06:31 PM
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This debate has been going since the end of time. Rule of thumb, conventional change by 5K, synthetic can go longer depending on how you drive your car. I change mine probably every 8K using Pennzoil Platinum and it's been great. My oil analysis's have been extremely good too, and that's in the San Antonio 103 degree heat. I still wouldn't hesitate to use conventional though, but I've just always used synthetics.
Old 07-07-2011, 07:34 PM
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i dont even know what is in my car ATM. the dealer changed it before i bought it and i forgot to ask. I wanna get some synthetic in it for my first change tho
Old 07-07-2011, 08:58 PM
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i do a lot of driving, and dont want to change it every 4-5K, i take my synthetic to 6-8K, I took the mobil extended performance to 12K in my honda civic, didnt lose a drop of it.
Old 07-10-2011, 02:47 PM
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Ugh i wish i could run synthetic...conventional is such a pain. I just hate having to do so many oil changes.
Old 07-11-2011, 09:26 AM
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Why cant you
Old 07-11-2011, 09:26 AM
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Why cant you use synthetic
Old 07-11-2011, 12:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Sittingmongoose
Ugh i wish i could run synthetic...conventional is such a pain. I just hate having to do so many oil changes.
uhhhh, you are running synthetic oil....

says right in your sig:

"Royal purple oil and filter"

royal purple is synthetic oil... and the most expensive too heheh...


so whatcha talkin' about???
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Old 07-11-2011, 01:41 PM
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I know dirt racers who monitor oil temps very closely. It's definitely something to look into.
Old 07-11-2011, 04:28 PM
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LOL i never updated my sig opps. I was running royal purple. After i got my engine rebuilt, i had to run conventional because the weight that the shop tuned it for(when they did the internals) is a strange weight. I could only find it in diesel synthetic or something weird like that. I spent like a week researching it last year. I even called a few oil companies about it. So now i am using a racing conventional oil(not happy running in cold though )
Old 07-11-2011, 04:30 PM
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and i edited my sig to match now lol
Old 07-11-2011, 04:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Sittingmongoose
LOL i never updated my sig opps. I was running royal purple. After i got my engine rebuilt, i had to run conventional because the weight that the shop tuned it for(when they did the internals) is a strange weight. I could only find it in diesel synthetic or something weird like that. I spent like a week researching it last year. I even called a few oil companies about it. So now i am using a racing conventional oil(not happy running in cold though )
You running a single-weight?


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