What Kind of Motor Oil Do You Use?

[Steel2686]

I've always been a Valvoline fan for standard oil, and Mobil 1 for synthetics (post 50k miles). I was just wondering what everyone uses here? Is there an oil that "performs" a bit better? I've heard some good things about Royal Purple, but it's tough to find in auto parts stores in my area. Is it worth looking for? Any gains from it? Thanks!

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Mobil 1. Use the best, forget the rest.

[95TransAm]

I don't know how Royal Purple performs in comparison to other oils because the first day she came home, I already was under there changing the oil.

I can say this though, my car does something consistently every time I start her up. When she first comes on, the oil pressure stays at constant 45ish, not pegging at all. After about maybe 5-8 minutes (depending on outside temps), the oil pressure drops to slightly under the first mark at idle. When this happens, I can legitimately say that my car pulls harder every time. I don't know if it has to do with royal purple or whatever. They do claim a possible 3% hp increase...but I'm usually pretty skeptical when it comes to claims like that. I did buy it because I heard really good things on it, and oil to me is an extremely important part....but like I said, it does pull harder when that pressure drops.

The downside....5 quarts of royal purple + k&n oil filter = about $50 per oil change.

I get royal purple at napa...they almost always have it in stock, and if they don't, they will order it for you at no extra cost.

[Christopherrr]

Mobil 1

[Injuneer]

You might want to go to the CamaroZ28.com site, and do a "search" for posts by "Patman". He has spent a lot of time evaluating different oils in his engine, using oil analysis as a measure of engine wear.

He has some interesting data on several motor oils. Interestingly, he claims, and has viscosity data to support, that the Mobil 1 5W-30 and 10W-30 synthetics are actually on the low side of a true "30" viscosity, and makes the case for using a 10W-40 Mobil 1. He also has some data on (I believe??) a Castrol synthetic 0W-30, made in Germany that has produced the lowest wear results (as measured by post-change analysis) in his LT1. Not sure if you could extend the results to the LS1, but his posts do make interesting reading, since they are backed up with hard data.

One thread:
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showthread.php?t=238136

[Steel2686]

Great find, Fred! Definitely a good read. I used to use Castrol Syntec in my Lumina Z34. It seemed to muffle the chronic knocking from the Twin-Dual cam 3.4 disaster.

Another question I had... At start-up, I seem to get a bit of valve knock for a few seconds. Is this common with the LS1? I know some LT1 guys around my area say it's common. Thanks again!

[97LT1Z28]

Valvoline ! ! ! I ran my third generation camaro almost 300,000 miles on the same motor - without rebuilding - on regular valvoline 10W-30. And believe me, I did not baby that car at all - I ran the heck out of it 100% of the time!

[Joe K. 99 Zeee!!]

www.bobistheoilguy.com

Enough oil info and opinion to make your head spin!!


I'm running Castrol GT-1 Synthetic 5w-30 right now.

[N20LT4Bird]

I blend my own Mobil 1 and regular mobil oil.....7 quarts of mobil 1 would put me in the poor house. I just recently switched to this after using Valvoline durablend for years. The bearings were worn pretty good on my last stroker.....dont know if any of it could be contirbuted to the oil, but I figure I should switch.

[Joe 1320]

Mobil 1.

Same here. Changed every 3K miles.

I did head gaskets at 120K miles. The cylinders still had the factory crosshatch hone and there was no visible wear. I might opt for the 10-40 from now on though.

[Performin Norman]

I use mobile one

[HottestZ28]

Mobil 1/ ACdelco 1218 filter

[Z Ya Later]

I don't know how Royal Purple performs in comparison to other oils because the first day she came home, I already was under there changing the oil.

I can say this though, my car does something consistently every time I start her up. When she first comes on, the oil pressure stays at constant 45ish, not pegging at all. After about maybe 5-8 minutes (depending on outside temps), the oil pressure drops to slightly under the first mark at idle. When this happens, I can legitimately say that my car pulls harder every time. I don't know if it has to do with royal purple or whatever. They do claim a possible 3% hp increase...but I'm usually pretty skeptical when it comes to claims like that. I did buy it because I heard really good things on it, and oil to me is an extremely important part....but like I said, it does pull harder when that pressure drops.

The downside....5 quarts of royal purple + k&n oil filter = about $50 per oil change.

I get royal purple at napa...they almost always have it in stock, and if they don't, they will order it for you at no extra cost.

Yeah, but if you think about it, its almost $50 to have your oil changed by some other place (without a coupon or anything). I consider it worth it

I've run Royal Purple 10W-30 in the Z since I got her and the Jeep for over 2 yrs. now (along with a K&N oil filter). Just in the Jeep alone I noticed a biiiig difference in throttle response, power and gas mileage. Not quite as much of a difference in the Z (because I didn't bother to try anything else lol), but she does seem to run great on it. Definitely a good choice IMHO

[Steel2686]

Im going to have to try Royal Purple.... at least once. The T/A is running Valvoline right now. I did a change right after I brought her home. This brings me to another interesting point... Are the K&N oil filters worth it? I'm not so much worried about the cost as $50 bucks a change is only $100 a year on oil changes. I won't put 1,000 miles a year on this car, so I'm not overly concerned with cost.

[Z Ya Later]

I was told that they have a great flow and filtration rate...but have seen no proof of this. However, they do have the needed anti-drainback valve seem to be at least a decent filter...not a bad choice I think