Big cam cars. What oil to use?
09-24-2010, 08:25 PM
#1
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Big cam cars. What oil to use? Before anyone says it, I tried searching...
I have a "big" cam. It's an MS3. It has 115K miles and had the cam since ~30k. I'm having issues with oil consumption and would like to possibliy thicken the oil to keep it from slipping past the rings. It's been run on Mobile 1 5W-30 since new.
I'm stating to think that the cylinders are turning oval. I haven't done a cylinder leak down test since I bought the car, so I can't answer any questions like that...
Should I step up a viscosity on the oil or just run 5W-30 and top it off till the next oil change?
Don't ask my how much it drinks (cause my clutch is toast right now so I drive like an old man). I think it's usually around 2 quarts added per 3-4k miles.
Let me know what all y'all run in your large cam cars...
I have a "big" cam. It's an MS3. It has 115K miles and had the cam since ~30k. I'm having issues with oil consumption and would like to possibliy thicken the oil to keep it from slipping past the rings. It's been run on Mobile 1 5W-30 since new.
I'm stating to think that the cylinders are turning oval. I haven't done a cylinder leak down test since I bought the car, so I can't answer any questions like that...
Should I step up a viscosity on the oil or just run 5W-30 and top it off till the next oil change?
Don't ask my how much it drinks (cause my clutch is toast right now so I drive like an old man). I think it's usually around 2 quarts added per 3-4k miles.
Let me know what all y'all run in your large cam cars...
09-24-2010, 08:33 PM
#2
The majority of the oil guys will tell you that there is much better oil than Mobil 1 for the price. From my experience, Mobil 1 burns up quickly. It also seems to run thinner than it actually advertises.
I use Penzoil Platinum 10W-30. It quiets the sewing machine sound a lot, and doesn't burn up. I also have higher oil pressure than with Mobil 1. If you do some research, Platinum is a high rated oil. I think it should help your oil consumption problems.
I had the same issue with M1, but not as bad. You should definitely do the usual tests to make sure that you don't have a hurt engine.
I use Penzoil Platinum 10W-30. It quiets the sewing machine sound a lot, and doesn't burn up. I also have higher oil pressure than with Mobil 1. If you do some research, Platinum is a high rated oil. I think it should help your oil consumption problems.
I had the same issue with M1, but not as bad. You should definitely do the usual tests to make sure that you don't have a hurt engine.
09-24-2010, 08:50 PM
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Before anyone says it, I tried searching...
I have a "big" cam. It's an MS3. It has 115K miles and had the cam since ~30k. I'm having issues with oil consumption and would like to possibliy thicken the oil to keep it from slipping past the rings. It's been run on Mobile 1 5W-30 since new.
I'm stating to think that the cylinders are turning oval. I haven't done a cylinder leak down test since I bought the car, so I can't answer any questions like that...
Should I step up a viscosity on the oil or just run 5W-30 and top it off till the next oil change?
Don't ask my how much it drinks (cause my clutch is toast right now so I drive like an old man). I think it's usually around 2 quarts added per 3-4k miles.
Let me know what all y'all run in your large cam cars...
I have a "big" cam. It's an MS3. It has 115K miles and had the cam since ~30k. I'm having issues with oil consumption and would like to possibliy thicken the oil to keep it from slipping past the rings. It's been run on Mobile 1 5W-30 since new.
I'm stating to think that the cylinders are turning oval. I haven't done a cylinder leak down test since I bought the car, so I can't answer any questions like that...
Should I step up a viscosity on the oil or just run 5W-30 and top it off till the next oil change?
Don't ask my how much it drinks (cause my clutch is toast right now so I drive like an old man). I think it's usually around 2 quarts added per 3-4k miles.
Let me know what all y'all run in your large cam cars...
09-24-2010, 11:05 PM
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Lol. I prefer conola...
I've never heard anything but praise from M1.
I might do some research then. I know Valvoline is a good brand, but I'd be hesitant with Penzoil... I'd only use Penzoil on a DD that used dino oil.
Is Royal Purple a pretty "thick" oil for it's viscosity rating? I'd rather switch to that than Valvoline...
I've never heard anything but praise from M1.
I might do some research then. I know Valvoline is a good brand, but I'd be hesitant with Penzoil... I'd only use Penzoil on a DD that used dino oil.
Is Royal Purple a pretty "thick" oil for it's viscosity rating? I'd rather switch to that than Valvoline...
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09-24-2010, 11:08 PM
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I haven't checked valve seals. Can I get away with pulling the valve covers and not replacing the gaskets? I can prob pick them up for $10 a piece, but I'd rather not spend $20 just to "check" the oil consumption. I know it's cheap, but I'm on a tight budget at the moment...
09-25-2010, 12:08 AM
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Agreed. I'm not familiar with the tendancy of the LS1 engine block. Is it common for them to oval out? Or are they find with highly modified engines with lots of HP added?
You say I need "cam grade oil"... Where can I get that and does it litterally say "cam grade oil"? Or are you telling me to run 90W-140 through my engine? lol
You say I need "cam grade oil"... Where can I get that and does it litterally say "cam grade oil"? Or are you telling me to run 90W-140 through my engine? lol
09-25-2010, 03:17 AM
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One of my buddies cars did the same thing. Switched from a synthetic oil to a convential oil and it stopped burning it! Btw If your running synthetic oil and only running the car 3k miles between changes then there is no point in running the synthetic. You don't get the actual benifit of the synthetic oil unless you run it 5k miles or so!!
09-25-2010, 03:31 AM
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The majority of the oil guys will tell you that there is much better oil than Mobil 1 for the price. From my experience, Mobil 1 burns up quickly. It also seems to run thinner than it actually advertises.
I use Penzoil Platinum 10W-30. It quiets the sewing machine sound a lot, and doesn't burn up. I also have higher oil pressure than with Mobil 1. If you do some research, Platinum is a high rated oil. I think it should help your oil consumption problems.
I had the same issue with M1, but not as bad. You should definitely do the usual tests to make sure that you don't have a hurt engine.
I use Penzoil Platinum 10W-30. It quiets the sewing machine sound a lot, and doesn't burn up. I also have higher oil pressure than with Mobil 1. If you do some research, Platinum is a high rated oil. I think it should help your oil consumption problems.
I had the same issue with M1, but not as bad. You should definitely do the usual tests to make sure that you don't have a hurt engine.
09-25-2010, 07:50 AM
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As by nature the LS platform uses oil...thats just how it is. If you want to go with a different oil say a 10w30 or 15w40, that will probably slow down your consumption. Have you tried doing a catch can or switching to the ls6 pcv system? Personally we run Royal Purple in everything. Ive had oil tests done on 50k miles, 75k miles, 130k miles on different brands of cars running RP and have had very good results.
09-25-2010, 09:32 AM
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I'm running the German Castrol, 0w-30 currently in the SS abd G8. I have some usage in the SS, but none in the LS3.In my old engine I tried the following synthetics: GC, Mobile, Rotella, Walmart brand (its Quaker State), Valvoline. It consumed less other brands of synthetic oil than it did with Mobile 1 5w or 10w-30. With Mobile I'd have to add a quart in 3k miles. The others half a quart. It was also my experience that conventional oil was used even less, about 1/4 quart.
The captured gaskets in the valve covers are pretty resilient. Mine are still the originals with over 110k miles and the valve covers have been pulled off multiple times.
The captured gaskets in the valve covers are pretty resilient. Mine are still the originals with over 110k miles and the valve covers have been pulled off multiple times.
09-25-2010, 11:35 AM
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I run amsoil and have had no problems yet. I run a delco filter and change it every 5k. I went from running M1 and a M1 filter to my set up now and I burn less oil and the motor is a little quieter now also being that mine has that piston slap. my oil pressure sits about 5psi higher also. The car had 83k on it