Top end is all fresh but the bottom end is stock with stock 119K bearings. what would be the best oil to use to help protect a bottom end with 119K on it? should i go with slightly heavier oil? Lucas?

 

What's the oil pressure? Nothing wrong w/ 5W-40. All any heavier oil is gonna due is bring up the pressure & may not be as effective on top end, a$$uming that top end includes cam bearings. UOA's on BITOG site show that LS engines like a 5W-30 on the heavy side of 30. So, 5W-40 is probably ideal in your case. Only product I ever add to oil is Auto-RX, zinc &/or moly. Anything else, IMO is snake oil syrum.

 

AMS oil is the best. I run it in everything i own.

 

new oil pump so the oil pressure is around 45-47 at idle

 

have you had it analyzed and compared against other oils to be sure?

I have, and I can assure you that it is no better than M1.

 

No sir sure haven't had them compared. Ill take your word for it.

 

Yah, really a heavy 5W-30 or any 5W-40 is fine. Can get a UOA from an oil lab if you want to confirm how well the oil is protecting, but, from what has been documented on BITOG, either noted oils are fine.

FYI, Patman (known oil guru) tested Pennzoil Platinum when the original "green" Castrol Syntec was no longer being made & the Pennzoil was found to be a decent cost effective replacement confirmed by UOA's. Currently, Castrol Edge is said to be the same as the old Castrol Syntec; again proven w/ UOA's. BITOG web site can answer most any oil related questions & back up the information w/ UOA's. Castrol Syntec is a know 5W-30 that's closer to the 40 end of the scale.

 

hahahah that actually made me chuckle.

"AMS oil is best!"
"it's no better than mobil 1"
"oh okay"

as far as the oil analysis test researching I've done, the German Castrol 0w30 and Pennzoil Platinum/Ultras are very good. I know my car burned the Pennzoil more than anything I've ever run so I now run GC 0w30 in my 125k mile car without much consumption, but may switch to something thicker soon. also you want a good oil filter (K&N, Mobil 1, etc.). honestly I think any major brand synthetic is fine for a daily driver, but I don't grandma mine so spending a few extra $ is worth it, autozone has sales on the GC all the time too.

 

Well ****. That explains why my engine tick in both the 01 SS and the 04 LQ9 Escalade got ALOT quieter when I switched from M1 to Castrol Edge.

Would you guys say Pennzoil is a better oil than the Edge?
01 SS with 140k- Runs like a dream.....

 

Speaking of oil, what spark plug do you guys normally run?

 

hahaha what does oil have to do with spark plugs... but to answer your question most guys, myself included run the NGK TR55 plugs

 

so either M1 5w-40 or Castrol Syntec 5w-30... thanks guys

 

Nothing, and thanks.

oh, and to stay on topic, I use Castrol Edge syntec 10w30

 

The Mustang I sold LOVED to eat up the Royal Purple I put in it. I used it one time and a little over 1000 miles later, I was already 2 quarts short.

I dunno what that has to do with anything though.

 

No, we are saying that they are acceptable oils to use. Above was noted where he burned oil while using the Pennzoil. From what I've read & seen in UOA's, Edge is the better choice, but, the Pennzoil is acceptable. Edge is also closer to 40 on the viscocity scale. So, it's a little thcker.

I personally still use the original German Castrol "the green stuff." Haven't yet depleted my stash. Once the stash is gone, will use Edge.

 

I just put Castrol Edge 5W-30 in my truck last night (black bottle). From what I could find on BITOG it seemed to be 11.3 Cst new but then fell out of the 30W band when changed. Am I looking at the wrong data?

 

I use 5w 30 royal purple on 112k miles no issues

 

Personally I use German Castrol 0W-30 and M1 0W-40 on my 128K bottom end and change it at 4k miles. Those 2 oils are at the ideal viscosity for LS motors and are cheap. When they are on special they are just over 40 with a M1 or K&N filter. You really shouldn't need to use anything other than those 2, anything more expensive and you are wasting money.

 

Haven't read anything about it. How many miles? They all break down eventually. As you know, that's why we change the oil. If it's breaking down early, then that is good info to know & I'll look for a better oil when my green GC stash runs out.

The issue is that German Castrol is now Castrol Edge & none of the new blends are the original "green stuff" German Castrol 0W-30. Several suitable replacements have been tested. Agreed, the current GC (Castrol Edge) & Mobil 0W-40 are on the list of good replacement options.

Also, earlier I related 5W-30 to Castrol & it should have read 0W-30. I had 5W on the brain from discussing the Pennzoil.

 

I use Rotella T6 with a WIX or Pureolator Pure One filter with a 95k stock bottom end. No consumption, clean oil and it's pretty cheap.