what oil to run.
#41
LS1Tech Administrator
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Schiller Park, IL Member: #317
Posts: 32,349
Likes: 0
Received 1,785 Likes
on
1,273 Posts
I am 100% positive that if I had used synthetic oil and done the ridiculous 4,000-5,000 mile oil changes that dozens and dozens of people I know through the years with LSx engines have done.......there is absolutely no way my engine would have lasted as long as it did. It would have lasted as long as all their identical engines would have lasted....from builders such as LPE, Katech, TSP, all the known builders..........in the range of 40,000-60,000, maybe someone has logged more, not positive.
4000-5000 mile change intervals are not necessarily bad, it all depends on the application and how you use the engine. You can't know for sure if a given change interval shows above normal wear for a specific application without a UOA; even 3000 miles might be too long in extremely severe conditions and/or with low detergent racing oils.
That's some pretty good statistical data since 1998 when we all started buying our LSx cars. Talking upwards of 100 people I know through the years.
How is that not good data.........to know that synthetic oil simply does not protect an LSx engine as good as conventional.
How is that not good data.........to know that synthetic oil simply does not protect an LSx engine as good as conventional.
My advice to anyone looking for real answers about oil is to vist a site like bobistheoilguy.com, and to begin doing UOAs on their specific engine to see what works best.
Last edited by RPM WS6; 11-27-2013 at 09:32 PM.
#42
Launching!
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can you explain why some on here claim that their camaros and trans ams came out the factory with mobil 1 and some have oil caps with mobil 1 5w-30 printed on them? Not disagreeing with your above statement, just curious.
#43
LS1Tech Administrator
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Schiller Park, IL Member: #317
Posts: 32,349
Likes: 0
Received 1,785 Likes
on
1,273 Posts
Other than this, there was no option for a factory synthetic fill for the F-body LS1s. The Mobil 1 caps can be easily installed on F-body LS1s just the same as C5s.
#44
Launching!
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yea I assumed someone could easily just get a Mobil 1 cap and install it. But I seen a few guys on these oil related threads defend the synthetic oil by claiming they came out the factory with Mobil 1 and even had Mobil 1 on the cap.
#45
LS1Tech Administrator
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Schiller Park, IL Member: #317
Posts: 32,349
Likes: 0
Received 1,785 Likes
on
1,273 Posts
That is absolutely true, when speaking of the LS1s in the C5s. But it's the same LS1, and therefore it would be absurd to claim that LS1s weren't "designed" for synthetic oil.
#47
12 Second Club
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Bucks County, Pa.
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Some people on here just DO NOT understand how motor oil works, nor it's VERY varied functions which DO depend on type/grade/add packs/base stocks/viscosity indexes/TBNs/etc.
Will an engine outlast the rest of the car with timely conventional changes?
ABSOLUTELY!
Will that engine possibly perform better, quieter, cooler, with MUCH LESS start up wear (especially in the cold) with a high quality, high viscosity index SYNTHETIC oil?
EVEN MORE ABSOLUTELY!!!
Last edited by dailydriver; 11-29-2013 at 06:31 PM.
#48
12 Second Club
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Bucks County, Pa.
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The arguement against this is quite simple actually - synthetic was the factory fill for every LS1 engine put into Corvettes. In fact, synthetic was the factory fill for Corvette engines going all the way back to the Gen II LT1 in 1992.
There is no design difference between the Corvette and F-body LS1s, so what's OK or good for one is OK or good for both.
Therefore, there is no merit to his claim that GM didn't "design" these engines for such an oil.
There is no design difference between the Corvette and F-body LS1s, so what's OK or good for one is OK or good for both.
Therefore, there is no merit to his claim that GM didn't "design" these engines for such an oil.
The ONLY difference between our f body LS1s and the ones which went into the y bodies (NOT the LS6es in the Z06es, of course) was the intake manifold not having an EGR inlet, the exhaust manifolds were different, and maybe the cam was slightly different a few years, THAT'S IT!
Otherwise, they could have come off of the same exact line, using the same exact materials/seals/gaskets/etc.
Last edited by dailydriver; 11-29-2013 at 09:38 PM.
#49
12 Second Club
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Bucks County, Pa.
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
AS IF their "oil is oil" builders/old timers know more about oil/lubricants than the many actual tribologists on that site.
#50
TECH Resident
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I always love oil threads. Always read something new sometimes good. I use M1 10-30 since day 1 I have been thinking about getting some zinc additive, my changes are religious.
#51
Launching!
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Common synthetic oils are nothing but a marketing ploy. I don't think they really protect any more than the common conventionals. Now if you're talking about synthetic racing oil, that's a whole different ball game. But the fact that GM put m1 in the vettes but not the exact same motor in f bodies tells me there can't be anything too special about the synthetic oil.
#52
12 Second Club
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Bucks County, Pa.
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Common synthetic oils are nothing but a marketing ploy. I don't think they really protect any more than the common conventionals. Now if you're talking about synthetic racing oil, that's a whole different ball game. But the fact that GM put m1 in the vettes but not the exact same motor in f bodies tells me there can't be anything too special about the synthetic oil.
And YES, there IS a difference when speaking of Red Line, Motul, some Amsoils, Torco, LAT, Joe Gibbs Driven, etc. over the 'on the shelf at Wal Mart', group 3 synthetics, even if people think they do not protect any better, or cause any less friction/wear than conventionals.
I would still take M1, or especially Pennzoil Platinum, Ultra, or Quaker State Ultimate Durability over any of the conventionals, or even semi-synthetics of the same or other companies.
#54
Launching!
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yea I actually ran across those caps on WS6Project the other day.
All I wanna know is why did GM put synthetic in the vettes but not in the camaros with the exact same engine? If synthetic is so superior, then why would GM not spend the extra money(what like maybe $10 a car?) to put synthetic in the camaros/TAs? If synthetic is so superior, then why wouldn't GM perform the SIMPLEST task to increase the longevity of their engines? I'm not being sarcastic at all. If anyone has an opinion or answer to those questions, I'm very interested.
I don't think synthetics are bad by any means. Sure maybe SOME of them "protect" better. But there is nothing wrong with conventional oil. AGAIN, NONE OF THESE ENGINES WILL EVER FAIL DUE TO OIL BRANDS/SYNTHETIC/CONVENTIONAL.
Clean, correct weight oil changed at the correct intervals is all you have to do.
All I wanna know is why did GM put synthetic in the vettes but not in the camaros with the exact same engine? If synthetic is so superior, then why would GM not spend the extra money(what like maybe $10 a car?) to put synthetic in the camaros/TAs? If synthetic is so superior, then why wouldn't GM perform the SIMPLEST task to increase the longevity of their engines? I'm not being sarcastic at all. If anyone has an opinion or answer to those questions, I'm very interested.
I don't think synthetics are bad by any means. Sure maybe SOME of them "protect" better. But there is nothing wrong with conventional oil. AGAIN, NONE OF THESE ENGINES WILL EVER FAIL DUE TO OIL BRANDS/SYNTHETIC/CONVENTIONAL.
Clean, correct weight oil changed at the correct intervals is all you have to do.
#55
Save the manuals!
iTrader: (5)
The economics of auto manufacturing (slim profits) are such that every little penny counts. Save 100 pennies on some of the tens of thousands of parts on every car that a company like GM makes, and you are talking real money...
#56
Staging Lane
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Ft.Polk LA
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My 02 SS I run Royal Purple religiously. And my 02C5Z i run Redline becuase of the higher zinc content, allows rings to seat better. It isn't a big fan of RP like the SS, but thats the nature of a Vette.
#57
Launching!
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If that's the truth, than it really supports my theory.
All GM had to do though was add in the cost of the synthetic oil to the price tag of the f bodies. Nobody would've noticed an extra couple dollars.
All GM had to do though was add in the cost of the synthetic oil to the price tag of the f bodies. Nobody would've noticed an extra couple dollars.
#58
12 Second Club
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Bucks County, Pa.
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We are lucky that they even decided to put the same LS1 in our rides (albeit lower rated on paper only), since many y body owners were probably more than upset over that, despite it being almost 'tradition' at this point going back to the 1st and 2nd gen f bodies.
It seems that the General is even unwilling to do this nowadays since the ZL1 only gets the LSA, and NOT the ZR1's LS9 (although the base SS gets the C6's base LS3), and ONLY now that there is a new C7 y body, and engine name/design for it LT1), have they decided to put an LS7 into an f body (Z28).
#59
Save the manuals!
iTrader: (5)
In the end, the consumer pays what the market will bear and what the perceived value of the vehicle is. There is minimal linkage to what the car actually costs to build. In fact, auto makers often loose money on some models of car every time they sell one. Any dollar saved goes to the shareholders.
Your point above about regular oil above is correct. The oil spec (met by synthetic and non-synthetic oils) and oil change intervals in the owners manual will get the hardware past the warranty periods and design life without issue. Any extra benefit from a "better" oil would pay off for those of us pushing the car past its design life. (Which is pretty much everyone on this site with an F-Body at this point.) Although... "pay off" is a relative thing. Money wise, I've probably sunk more money in to synthetic oil than I would have spent to rebuild the engine at 100K.