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Thinner or thicker oil

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Old 08-27-2005, 02:40 PM
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Default Thinner or thicker oil

ok so i guess i am a little confused.
some say that you should only run 5W30 in the LS1 bc that is what the car calls for and that viscosity of oil is what is ideal for ultimate protection due to the LS1's oil galleries and clearances.
then others say that running a thicker oil is better (say amsoil 5W40 or castrol syn 0W30).

what are the pros/cons of these weight oils? i have piston slap and i have heard of others putting in a thicker oil to help keep the chatter (noise) down. but wouldnt switching to a thicker weight oil (5W40 or 0W30) cause wear n tear due to clearances and oil galleries in the LS1 that were made for 5w30 weight. also wouldnt it be harder on the oil pump?
Old 08-27-2005, 03:30 PM
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I was told by the performance shop that did my motor work to switch from the 10w30 I was running to full synthetic 10w40 to keep the oil from breaking down at high temps, which the 10w30 Durablend was doing in my car.
Old 08-27-2005, 04:37 PM
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GM recommends 5W-30 in the LS1 due to CAFE standards and also to the fact that a STOCK LS1 will last a long happy life on a 5W-30. The bearing clearances inside the LS1 can support a 40W oil easily, even as high as a 50W although I feel a 50W is too thick for even a hard driven high temp LS1. The Aussie LS1's across the ocean do not put anything less than a 40W in theirs'. I've done quite a few used oil results w both 30W's & 40W oils. The 40W's cut the wear numbers in half compared to the 10W-30.
Old 08-27-2005, 04:37 PM
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maybe I'll switch to a thicker oil. I've been using mobil one and i'm not very happy with it. it works great for about 2,000 miles, then I suddenly start losing oil like crazy. FL heat.... Maybe a 40 would be better...
Old 08-28-2005, 09:43 AM
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go thicker oil....
I run Mobil 1 15W50
Old 08-28-2005, 12:25 PM
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I run gear oil in my motor. Works quite well, i reccomend it really.
Old 08-28-2005, 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Slow Hawk
I run gear oil in my motor. Works quite well, i reccomend it really.
I was thinking about trying olive oil, give it a shot and lemme know how it works!






15w50
how do you like it? Do you eat any oil?
Old 08-28-2005, 01:38 PM
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patman should chime in soon...hes the expert
Old 08-28-2005, 01:53 PM
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To keep galling and blistering to a minimum I use Wesson vegetable cooking oil 0W20. In colder climates use Mazola corn oil 0W10. Although I here Extra Virgin Olive Oil 0W15 works good year round.

In my LS1 I use MobilONE 10W30

Last edited by gollum; 08-28-2005 at 02:08 PM.
Old 08-28-2005, 02:46 PM
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I wonder how USA casterol stacks up against mobil1? I would just like to try something new, maybe i just need a thicker oil. who knows?
Old 08-28-2005, 03:19 PM
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I think I'm going to try this:
http://www.evergreenamerica.com/Orde...-Silk-Here.htm
mixed with some Mobil 1 5w30
Old 08-28-2005, 03:58 PM
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you guys run oil?!?!















just kidding!
Old 08-29-2005, 05:52 AM
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15w50 is far too thick, unless you don't drive on the street much and spend most of your time road racing.
Old 08-29-2005, 07:54 AM
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During the spring/summer/fall months I run 15w50 and 10w40 during the winter months. All my heavy track time is during the spring through fall months. Not a single problem in over five years.

Keith
Old 08-29-2005, 12:15 PM
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i wouldnt run a 30weight unless its one of the thicker 30's.

mobil 1 10w30 burnt up a quart and had thick soup on my drain plug(liquid metal)
id say bearing wear was high, as i hear mobil 1 thins out too much for hard driving in the 30 weight formula.

castrol 0w30 here.
Old 08-29-2005, 12:19 PM
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Originally Posted by LSONE
15w50
how do you like it? Do you eat any oil?
I started using heavier oil becuase of oil consumption....
I always run a heavier oil in my vehicles...it doesn't break down as fast
Old 08-29-2005, 12:47 PM
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Lucas oil claims to help blow-by,piston slap and oil consumption...it's thicker.
I'm adding a quart to my next oil change.
Old 08-29-2005, 01:02 PM
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Originally Posted by LSONE
I wonder how USA casterol stacks up against mobil1? I would just like to try something new, maybe i just need a thicker oil. who knows?
belgium 5w40 isa better choice.
i think i saw where patman says the new M05 american aint all that bad.
Old 08-29-2005, 03:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Patman
15w50 is far too thick, unless you don't drive on the street much and spend most of your time road racing.
what is the thickest oil you would use for normal driving, considering it gets very hot down here. I really want to try not to use mobil 1 again, and i cant get german casterol. what are my alternatives?
Old 08-29-2005, 09:55 PM
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LSONE,
I just switched to Amsoil 5W40 from GC 0W30. The motor is quieter on startup and oil pressure is slightly higher. I'm sure Patman would recomend this oil as well as several others in this viscosity. I would say stick with a 5W40 or 10W40 and you can't go wrong. I am very happy so far with the Amsoil 5W40. It has a high HTHS of 4.2.


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