What oil and weight to run
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: May 2011
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From: Lake County Ca
What oil and weight to run I have a stock bottom end 5.3 with heads, cam, and a precision 7675 turbo I was wondering what oil everyone is running and what weight? I see a lot people running rotella, valvoline vr1 or even brad penn oil, synthetic or no? I was running mobil 1 5w-30 synthetic before.
Thanks for any help!
Edit: The turbo is still fresh and i haven't ran any oil through it yet if it makes any difference
Thanks for any help!
Edit: The turbo is still fresh and i haven't ran any oil through it yet if it makes any difference
Last edited by ul-ss; Feb 17, 2016 at 10:09 PM.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 129
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From: Lake County Ca
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 152
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From: Saskatchewan, Canada
I am running a forged LS2 transplant in my 1998 Camaro 6 spd manual car with 3.42 gears. I use a 5w50, tho a 15w40 would be of equivalent value to you. Steer away from anything 10 weight higher for sure. A 5w40 synthetic is the base you would want to consider your oil weight from with the temps our cars produce under full throttle loads.
If you have any other questions, please pm me.
Ryan
If you have any other questions, please pm me.
Ryan
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100k mile 2004 5.3 block, btr stage 2 turbo cam, on3 78mm turbo.......my tuner said to run 20w50 oil after my oil pressure dropped on the dyno a bit from running rotella 15w40. oil pressure has been high ever since......
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One thing you need to consider when talking oil for a FI application is its zinc content. It's best to run a high zinc content oil on a FI application. Rotella T and Valvoline VR1 are a couple locally found oils that have high zinc content.
The weight will be more up to your engine tolerances. My motor was built with loose tolerances. Hence why I run 20W-50 weight oil. I like the Valvoline VR1 Racing oil. Its cheap, easily found, has the weight that I need and most importantly has a high zinc content.
If you can find it, and afford it, for your application the best oil IMO would be AMSOIL Z-ROD 10W-30.
The weight will be more up to your engine tolerances. My motor was built with loose tolerances. Hence why I run 20W-50 weight oil. I like the Valvoline VR1 Racing oil. Its cheap, easily found, has the weight that I need and most importantly has a high zinc content.
If you can find it, and afford it, for your application the best oil IMO would be AMSOIL Z-ROD 10W-30.
Last edited by SpeedJunkee; Feb 20, 2016 at 08:54 AM.
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Brings up an interesting question. Do supercharged motors require a thicker weight motor oil as well? Especially if they are self contained? I figure since no oil is running through a heater (turbo) the oil prob would get less hot and thus a thicker oil might not be needed if all the rest of the motor specs are the same (clearances etc).
I've used VR1 for my 521 BBF application but that had larger clearances and gaps and 20w50 worked great.
My current supercharger 5.3 I have yet to stick oil in it but I got 5w30 Mobil 1 and a mobile filter. I figure it might be on the thin side since it had 150k on it when I got it. What are your guys thoughts?
Not to hijack.
I've used VR1 for my 521 BBF application but that had larger clearances and gaps and 20w50 worked great.
My current supercharger 5.3 I have yet to stick oil in it but I got 5w30 Mobil 1 and a mobile filter. I figure it might be on the thin side since it had 150k on it when I got it. What are your guys thoughts?
Not to hijack.
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Self contained superchargers run their own oil. But the engine still sees boost and its more about protection of the engine. Even with self contained FI setup, higher zinc is still important as the pistons see boost. Non self contained superchargers and turbo chargers will be fine running both thick and thin oil. Base the oil weight on the clearances of your engine, not what turbo or blower you run.
A stock bottom end 5.3 like the OP is running would be best with 10W-30 for the factory tolerances. 20W-50 works better for me since I have much looser tolerances, but it would not be ideal for a stock 5.3.
A stock bottom end 5.3 like the OP is running would be best with 10W-30 for the factory tolerances. 20W-50 works better for me since I have much looser tolerances, but it would not be ideal for a stock 5.3.
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Running a turbo even under a lot of boost often will not thin out the oil as much as you might think. Again, you are looking for the proper weight for your engine and its tolerances, NOT the turbo.
For a stock 5.3, 10W-30 is your best choice. AMSOIL Z-ROD comes in 10W-30. That would be my oil choice if I were in your shoes.
For a stock 5.3, 10W-30 is your best choice. AMSOIL Z-ROD comes in 10W-30. That would be my oil choice if I were in your shoes.
manufacturers and builders following bearing clearances call for oil weights for a reason and old school SBC and BBC we ran straight 30w or heavier and todays engines wouldn't live, starving some critical areas before they go bad, hence the high tech oils today with 0w-20 and such 0w-40 is very popular....follow the builders advice! or do what you can afford...
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From: Colorado Springs, Co/ Central, Ca
On a stock type engine I have had good luck with Mobil Syn 5/30, Rotella/or delo 5/40, and have ran the conv rotella/dello 15/40. The delo 5/40 syn is my favorite. Colder climates do better with the thinner 5/30. The oil needs to still be thin enough to circulate thru and cool the turbo.
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On a stock type engine I have had good luck with Mobil Syn 5/30, Rotella/or delo 5/40, and have ran the conv rotella/dello 15/40. The delo 5/40 syn is my favorite. Colder climates do better with the thinner 5/30. The oil needs to still be thin enough to circulate thru and cool the turbo.