Oil Question

[SteveF]

I have a 1984 C4 with 79,550 miles and am planning on changing the oil & filter for the first time since I got the car.



Any suggestions on what type oil & weight to use? I’m in Pennsylvania & while I don’t plan on driving the car after the snow flies & do plan on driving during cool / cold weather. How about synthetic?



Thanks in advance

 

[Vettefan87]

The best synthetic oil for the money is Mobil 1. For some reason I can't find it in 10w40, I guess they don't make it, but 10w30 is just as good, and is what I run. If you don't plan on running synthetic. I would use Castrol 10w40 or 10w30, I think it is some good stuff and is what I run in my Escort. The oil filter That I run on the vette is K&N or Mobil1, I have heard they are pretty good. Hope this helps.


Justin

 

[Mart]

Mobil 10W30 in mine, by accident I picked up a jug of 5W30 one time and wow is that stuff thin, it almost ran out of the engine.

Stick with the Mobil 10W30.

Mart

 

[c4cruiser]

Going to a synthetic oil, if the engine had never been filled with synthetic before, may cause oil leaks at some seals and gaskets. The synthetic oil can break down old oil sludge deposits and allow seepage in spots where gaskets may have weakened but the oil deposits may have kept oil from seeping through.

I would use a good quality dino oil in a multi grade weight like 5w-30 with the cooler temps coming on. For filters, something like AC Delco, Purolator, Mobil-1, or K&N. Stay away from Fram!

With winter approaching, check the coolant to make sure the protection level is around -20 to -35 degrees. A 50-50 mix of water and antifreeze is equal to -37 degrees.

Consider changing the differential fluid, and if the car has an auto tranny, change the fluid and filter. Lube the balljoints and tie rod ends in the front and rear (early C4's had a greaseable tie rod end at the rear). Check the u-joints to see if they have grease fitting and lube there.

Check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir and it would be a good idea to have the brake fluid flushed and refilled with a good DOT3 or DOT 4 fluid. Check the power steering fluid reservoir and maybe have that flushed and relpaced with a synthetic fluid.

 

[Edmond]

Mobil 1 synthetic here. 5 quart containers at Wal Mart for $20.00. I use the K&N oil filter. 1" hex nut on the end so you don't have to use a oil filter wrench. Filters are about $10 each depending on the shop. Delco, Purolator Pure One and Mobil 1 are good as well. Delco is around $4.00, Purolator Pure One is about $6.00 and Mobil 1 is around $10.00.

Don't know about the shops around you guys but they discontinued carrying the old Mobil 1 filter for my year Vette'. The replacement was a much shorter filter and I didn't feel good about using it.

 

[Vettefan87]

Don't know about the shops around you guys but they discontinued carrying the old Mobil 1 filter for my year Vette'. The replacement was a much shorter filter and I didn't feel good about using it.

Yea the Mobil1 and the ACDelco filters are about the same size now. I bought a ACDelco one for the vette a while back and drove all the way back to Auto Zone to tell them they sold me the wrong filter. Man was I mad, when they told me that that was the new size. So I guess it is just K&N for me now.


Justin

 

[Edmond]

Yea the Mobil1 and the ACDelco filters are about the same size now. I bought a ACDelco one for the vette a while back and drove all the way back to Auto Zone to tell them they sold me the wrong filter. Man was I mad, when they told me that that was the new size. So I guess it is just K&N for me now.


Justin

Did they give you a reason? I would imagine that there is less filtering area with the shorter filter. They do sell K&N's for $8.99 at Summit but you'd have to order quite a few of them in order to save any money. I guess you could go in with your brother and order a bunch of em'.

I think the Purolator Pure Ones are pretty good, I use them in the other cars. No, I'm not going to use a $10 oil filter for my Camry.:L:L:L

On the other hand, the guy across the street who drives an Escort (yeah, the one I laid some smack down on ) uses synthetic oil. :eyerole He says that regular oil "isn't tough enough." With that being said, he also uses the Wal Mart brand Supertech oil filter. He said he likes the case strength. I told him that having a strong case is good but the filtration inside counts a lot too. :L

 

[vetteboy86]

Yeah I think the new AC Delco filter really stinks. I have no idea why they did this. I always liked having a haus of a fitler, now it is a little stubby. Oh well I guess I will not buy anymore AC Delco oil filters.


Craig

 

[Vettefan87]

I guess you could go in with your brother and order a bunch of em'.

So the secret is out huh? Darn . Actually I can't complain he has been very supportive and helpful through my troubles with my car, he has let me drive his vette somewhat often and his TA (on very slim accasions). How many brothers will do that for each other?


Justin

 

[Edmond]

Weren't you guys talking with Mic about who would get theirs done first? I'll give you a little clue about Mic, he's not called Mad Mic because he's like Mr. Rogers.:L:L:L

 

[Vettefan87]

Yea even though Craig doesn't think I should port it I want to take a look at it. I am going to go to his shop on Tuesday, I would go tomorrow but I have to work. I want to ask him about putting on roller rockers and what other cheap stuff I can do to squeeze out a few horses. Mic said he was going to do that this weekend so maybe his write up will help me.


Justin

 

[Edmond]

Yea even though Craig doesn't think I should port it I want to take a look at it. I am going to go to his shop on Tuesday, I would go tomorrow but I have to work. I want to ask him about putting on roller rockers and what other cheap stuff I can do to squeeze out a few horses. Mic said he was going to do that this weekend so maybe his write up will help me.


Justin

1.6 roller rockers? Did you buy them yet? I was flipping through my Summit catalog and saw they have some Summit brand 1.6 roller rockers, set of 16 for $190.00 so I asked some of the guys on the forum about Summit brand products. Warren and Ken said that they're made by the "brand name" guys like Crane and Comp Cams, but Summit just repackages them and sells them for less.

I was told that if you put on 1.6 roller rockers onto a otherwise stock setup, you would gain probably 10 horses but all that gain is near the high end where you probably wouldn't feel it in the seat of the pants. But I'd still do it anyway! 10 is 10 more than I had before.

 

[Vettefan87]

that is exactly my feeling also. Thanks Edmond