Changing the oil...which oil to use?

[Stallion]

What do you guys put in your C3s? Anything special?

I think I'm going to order the K&N oil filter. Along with the air filter. I know they are pricey, but do you think they are worth it?

Thanks!

 

[Edmond]

What do you guys put in your C3s? Anything special?

I think I'm going to order the K&N oil filter. Along with the air filter. I know they are pricey, but do you think they are worth it?

Thanks!

Don't have a C3, but I do have experience with the K&N oil filter. The 1" hex nut on the bottom makes the oil filter wrench obsolete and so much easier.

Have you considered synthetic oil?

 

[Stallion]

I actually haven't considered any specific oil yet. What are the advantages/disadvantages to this type of oil and any other oils that are recommended?

Thanks!

I think I will go with that K&N filter then.

 

[Edmond]

Synthetic oil will be less likely to break down at higher temperatures than conventional oil. It offers better protection. Corvette's come stock with Mobil 1 synthetic oil from the factory now. You can get the 5 quart containers at Wal Mart for ~$19.00 or so.

I've read studies that the K&N is right up there in filtration quality along with Mobil 1 and Delco... Whatever you do, I would not recommend the use of a FRAM filter.

 

[6shark9]

"Whatever you do, I would not recommend the use of a FRAM filter."

Yes, and too bad 3 out of 4 places that sell oil filters stock only orange boxes these days.

 

[Edmond]

"Whatever you do, I would not recommend the use of a FRAM filter."

Yes, and too bad 3 out of 4 places that sell oil filters stock only orange boxes these days.

Unfortunately, FRAM seems to be quite popular and most stores are only stocking them.

How about a Chevy dealership for the Delco filter? Call them and ask them how much an oil filter is.

 

[Culprit]

Why don't you guys like FRAM filters? I've been using FRAM oil filters since I started chainging oil with my dad when I was 8 or so and I have never had a problem with any of them on any vehicle for several hundreds of thousands of miles. I like them even bettern since they came out with the Double Guard series several years ago. The DG's have Teflon in them. The oil picks up the teflon and it coats the engine making cold starts easier on the engine (when most of the wear happens).

Personally I don't use synthetic in an engine that wasn't designed to require it's use. I keep the oil changed often and have never had a problem.

Just my two cents. I am interested to hear why you guys don't like FRAM filters.

Culprit

 

[Stallion]

Okay, guys, thanks for the replies. I have a hard time putting something in the Vette that isn't top quality, so I think I will go with the synthetic oil, even if it's not necessary. With all the joy and happiness she brings me, she deserves the best. I love her. :love

Hmmm...I don't know. If a Marine is using FRAM, then this is more convincing. Because I'm going to be a Marine when I grow up. Honestly, I am. SEMPER FI, DO OR DIE

But I do think I'm going to go with K&N. Honestly, I've only heard good things about them, and that goes back to putting the best in my Vette. I make enough money (caddy ), so it's not a terribly big issue with me.

Thanks!

TR

 

[cruzer99]

If you have more than 20-30K miles on the engine you might be sorry if you switch to synthetic oil. There is a good chance the engine will start leaking oil because the synth oil penetrates better than standard oil it will find places to leak out of that the reg oil wont.

Good luck and FYI synthetic oil is better........

 

[87vette]

I just wanted to add that I have also used Fram for the last 25 years on all types of engines including hi performance and never had any problems that were filter related. I have read some bad things about fram filters lately and used AC Delco on my last oil change. I plan on using K & N the next time, but the only oil I run any more is Castrol. It does a good job for me. Just wanted to add my .02. Thanks for listening.

 

[Culprit]

Cruzer82 brings up a good point. I don't use synthetic so I can't speak from experience, but I have been told that if you want to use synthetic oil in an engine you have to start using it within the first 3-5000 miles of engine life, and that once you go to synthetic you shouldn't go back to real oil in that engine.

Culprit

 

[Edmond]

I don't feel secure with the case quality of the FRAM's and from what I've read about their filtration capabilities, it's very average. To me, it didn't make sense to pay $10 for the X2 FRAM's when I could get Mobil 1 or K&N for the same price. From the studies I've read about Mobil 1 and K&N, their filtration capabilities are excellent and case strength seems very good.

 

[Stallion]

Okay, then I think I'll have to go with the standard oil. I have 45k miles (original ) on her. What brand should I go with, though? Any preferences?

 

[Yoda]

Answering a question I'm not trying to highjack this .... really!!

Culprit asked about the Fram oil filter.. I only suggest that everyone stop by a NAPA parts house and check out the Cut Away demo they have on different Oil Filters :eek Also somewhere around here is a very good thread about the difference's..

But seeing the cut-aways is very eye opening. I used Fram Filters for years and even had a discussion with a GM rep in 1970 about using Fram in my '69 Firebird 400. He said he wasn't sure if the warranty would be good since I did my own oil changes and used Fram filters. Being the bright brash young man I was... I told the GM rep, "I find that interesting, but I bet the Excutives at FRAM would find it even more interesting, that GM would NOT honor their warranty because of the FRAM oil Filter" :eek

Never needed to have any engine work done on the warranty..

Bud

 

[Stallion]

Mobil 1 10-30 is recommended for high mileage cars. The numbers speak for themselves. Synthetics are far superior to petroleum products when it comes to ash formation which causes sludge, co-eficient of friction and thermal breakdown . I started using Mobil 1 in my vette when I bought it. It had 75k miles and there are no leaks. Don't let others talk you out of it. Synthetics are the best by far. So if you plan on keeping your vette for a while use Mobil 1.





Use Mobil 1 gear lube in your differential for long life and trouble free driving. Gets rid of noise in the clutch packs.

I think I will go with Mobil 1, but I don't really have a high mileage car. She has 45k original miles. Is this enough to use that Mobil 1 10-30 in my Vette? If you have 75k miles and use synthetic with no problems, then I think I will too.

 

[Culprit]

Thanks Bud. I'll go to NAPA and check it out as well as try to do some reading up on the subject. I might be stubborn and set in my ways, but I'm open to learning and gathering the facts then making an informed decision.

Those of you using synthetic, how far do you go between oil changes? Using real oil (and a FRAM filter ) I change mine about every 3000.

Culprit

 

[JohnZ]

Give your 45K-mile engine what it's seals are used to - good-quality brand-name 10W30 oil (Pennzoil, Valvoline, or any other brand name); they all have to meet OEM manufacturer's test requirements, and the label on the back of the container will show that they meet API (American Petroleum Institute) test requirements as well. I wouldn't get real finicky about spending premium money for oil filters either - the brand-name filters all have to meet OEM requirements too.

You're not building a LeMans 24-hour endurance racing engine, you're just changing the oil and filter in an ordinary car that gets regular oil changes; there's no economic justification at all to spend a 500% premium for synthetic oil that's changed at least once a year anyway on a car that doesn't see much mileage driven (compared to a daily work commuter/vacation car).

Oil and spark plugs are all about MARKETING - like the man said, "It's Marketing, son, Marketing - that's where the money is." Fram has made a gazillion quality oil filters - I think that "famous oil filter test" website is way overblown, and far out of context as well. Ferrari uses Fram filters exclusively, and has for 35 years; I've had seven Ferraris since 1972, and never had an oil filter problem, nor do I know of any Ferrari owner who ever has.

Oil is oil - they all have to pass the same tests, and they're all the same. Why do you think they spend $10 billion a year hyping their oil and changing the container design and colors every year? They're all trying to visually differentiate their oil from the other guy's, when there's no way to prove one brand's superiority over the other guy's. If any one brand was REALLY technically superior to any other, they'd advertise it that way, but they can't prove it, so they don't. "It's Marketing, son, Marketing - that's where the money is."

 

[JR-80]

Synthetic oil is superior to petroleum based lubricants in all respects. Sure, regular oil will do the job, but to extend the life of your engine, get better gas mileage, run cooler and avoid oil related engine failure, use synthetic. An extra 20 bucks per oil change is cheap insurance.

 

[Tom73]

I run Mobil 1 10w30 in all of my Vettes. Also use AC Delco filters. Leaks with synthic, just old wives tales. One had over 80,000 miles on it when I switched it over and no problems with leaks. But if you already have leaks, then use dyno oil until you get the leaks fixed as the synthic oil is too expensive to leave on the drive way

tom...

 

[cdhorn]

Oil and Filter

There is an assumption that "more is better", but this is not always true. I have owned many 350 engines in cars, trucks, boats, and cowboy cadillacs, and I have have never had an oil or filter related failure. These have been used in daily drivers as well as occasional use like in my midyear corvettes and malibu boat. The ONLY oil issues I have had are:

I used a paraffin based oil in a small 4 cylinder in the winter and got a gummy white deposit from the moisture combining with the paraffin.

I had 2 350 engines develop valve lifter noise shortly after startup when using a "partial synthetic" . This completely dissappeared after I switched back to petroleum based standard oil.

There are several rules of oil use that I follow religiously:

Don't change brands of oil in an engine or mix brands or weights of oil.

Change the oil at least once a year or 3000 miles whichever comes first. Moisture is a real killer in an engine. Regular oil changes, and bringing the engine up to operating temperature when it is started are the best ways to prevent moisture accumulation in the oil.

I use Valvoline All-climate because it is inexpensive and readily available anywhere I travel in my corvette. I have also used almost every kind of oil filter there is.

My recommendation would be to use the same oil as the previous owner unless he used Quaker State or Pennzoil which are (or were at least) paraffin based. Unless you race your corvette or plan to abuse it in some way such as with extended oil changes or driving it in the winter, any petolem based oil which is changed regularly will be fine.

My last Suburban had 310,000 miles on it when I decided to upgrade, and it still would go 1500 miles before I had to add oil. My "new" upgrade is a 95 Suburban with only 140,000 miles. I don't need to add oil to it between changes.