Just as some background information, the FSM for northstars suggests packing the oil pump with Vaseline to help it prime. I know its a different motor but it has the same gerator pump on the crank snout. It may not be necessary but GM recommends it for some reason.

 

That's interesting. I'm not sure id ever do it again. From now on, im going to rely on the assembly lube, just like I always have in the past.

But this thread has sparked some interest in engine oil. I usually always run 15-40 because I get it for free, but I'm reading now there bigger differences in diesel oil and gasoline oil.

Looks like a lot of guys are running 10-30, but I'm not sure I'd want to go that thin considering the most pressure I've ever seen at hot idle is 25psi

 

The bearing clearances in today’s engines are much tighter than the older engine and therefore require thinner oil. The thicker weight oil cannot get in the tighter bearing clearances. GM calls for a 5W30 oil.

 

That's very interesting, thanks for posting.

On the assembly line when they're new, I'm wondering if they did this or if they had some procedure for virgin start up. Same question for the Buick engines.

As packing with Vaseline apparently has some chance of going awry, (this thread) I'll maintain not to do it-there's certainly better ways.

There is a transmission "grease" that's made from transmission fluid. It's used to assemble transmissions. I believe it melts into actual transmission fluid. I'm wondering if there's a motor oil based grease that would do the same thing?

 

Paul,

What's your brother's take on using Rotella in auto engines, and specifically the LS? My 55 gal drum of Royal Purple is about gone...

 

My brother has zero experience with LS engines. He wouldn't have any thoughts.

I'd love a 55 gallon drum of my favorite oil but I have nowhere to put it.

 

I've always heard rotella is a great product. I know they make auto oil, not just diesel oil.

 

Update-

Changed tho oil again. Had a shiny haze to it similar to the oil from the blown up motor. The oil looked clean coming out of the pan but when you watched the stream of oil hit the pan, you can tell it was shiny of some kind.
Drain plug had a little bit of that metal sludge on it.
I didn't cut the filter open yet but I saved it.
I'm hoping this is just break in/residual from the last motor.

So I put a napa gold filter on it and 10w40 and started driving the car. It feels great. Runs really well, doesn't make noise, has great power.

Oil pressure has seem to gone up all around. 30-40psi hot idle, 50is cruising.

As far as the oil condition, I can't worry about it at this point. The engine runs too good to pull out again. Cam, crank and rod bearings are all oem,.

I hope this motor stays together. I'm sick of being covered in oil!!!

 

Sounds good! Good luck with it!

 

Paul, any thoughts on the shiny oil/metal sludge? Do you see that with break ins a lot?

 

Have a look in the filter.

 

I've seen oil filters collapse internally and ruin perfectly good engines during flat tappet cam break-ins before shutting them down soon enough.

 

That's not true, Lucas synthetic oil treatment HAS NO paraffin's in it. Post up where you are getting this misinformation. I believe are posting about the old Lucas oil thickener.

AND I've used WHEEL bearing grease for 40 years in all kinds of oil pumps including vane and gerotor pumps WITHOUT a single incident. What ever happened to the OP HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH VASELINE!

This thread is so full of backyard wifes tales its crazy. Good Luck!

Emailed Lucas about waxes or teflon, etc. Here's response:

Thanks for your interest in Lucas Oil Products. Our Oil Stabilizer Products
do not contain these elements. Our formula is proprietary information and
we do not make it available to the public. You can gain access to general
chemical information on MSDS documents and I'm going to attach two of them
to this mail for you to review.
Thanks again,
John Mingus MSDS Info

GENERAL INFORMATION
Physical State: Liquid
Color: Clear
Odor: Characteristic petroleum
Density: 7.089 pounds/gallon
Flash Point: 380oF
Autoignition Temperature: N/D
Boiling Point: >500oF
pH: N/D
Solubility in Water: Negligible @ 25oC
Viscosity cSt at 100oC: Greater than or equal to: 45.0

 

U mad bro?

The guy literally had a glob of Vaseline in his oil filter and you're still here preaching its ok?

 

He has other trouble causing this, Vaseline MELTS IN YOUR HANDS! I use wheel bearing grease and NEVER EVER had a issue in 40 years .............think a little.

 

im not saying vasoline will cause problems, but i certainly wont be doing that again.

Im sure it would have broken down and been fine, but either way, its not for me.

Just the sheer size of the mass i realized it completely blocked the oil passage going from the pump to the filter for some period of time.

So yea, you might prime the pump quicker, but im sure your adding some latency for the oil to get everywhere else.

And im sure there a ton of guys that dont prime the pump at all, and some guys that use this or that method or additive. If something works for you and you think its helpfull, then rock on man.

 

If Vaseline can block the oil filter entrance etc then you have OTHER issues. I'm not blowin smoke here, I've been doing this a long time. If I can use wheel bearing grease without any trouble why can't you? Because you had or have something else going on. I'm not going to say anymore, you guyz believe what you will. Good Luck I hope you got past your trouble what ever it was.

 

But apparently is doesn't melt in your oil... where it matters. Finding a big glob of it in your filter is not a good thing.

Do you really think that stuff is good to have in your engine, between the tight clearances in between your bearings and in your lifters where less viscous oil should be and is meant to be instead?

Its obvious you're only thinking a little...

 

I agree

Bottom line- I started the engine, it had great pressure, drained the oil and found a huge glob of vasoline sitting on top of it like a dog took a crap across it.

Do what you want with that information.

 

For the time line here; wasn't the Vas glob found when the engine was room temp, still on the stand ??