I live in So Cal and my mechanic has always advised me to use Penn 20-50 if I am not going to use a synthetic. I have used it in every car I have owned for the last twenty years without any problems. My 02 SS has just over 12k miles on it and I have been thinking of changing to a synthetic oil. Does anyone have any recommendations as to brand and weight (I am sure you do). I would appreciate the input.

When I start my car in the morning I hear what sounds like a sticking valve. This goes away once the engine is warmed up. Could this problem be related to the weght or the type of oil I am using? This car is a keeper and I want it to be around for a while.

Thanks for any input

 

The ONLY two oils I will ever run in my WS6 or the wife's Intrigue:

Mobil-1 -- 5W30

Castrol Syntec -- 5W-30

 

I use Royal purple, works great. That valve may be more than just and oil problem. I might have someone check it out.

 

Ditto's.......... Mobil 1 here. I think 20W50 is a very bad idea

 

The noise you are hearing at start-up is most likely the imfamous LS1 piston slap. There have been no consistant solutions to it, by the owners or by GM.

Don't expect it to go away with a change in oil.

I will recommend using Redline or Royal Purple oils. They are superior products and their specs will prove that. You'll notice most oil manufacturers won't publicly advertise these numbers. You'll redily find them for both Redline and RP products. Why? because they have something to be proud of.

Just my .02

BTW I run RP 10-30 but my climate here in Arkansas in alot different.

 

Mobil 1, 10w/30 for me in the warm climate I am in. 5w30 if your temps go below 30 Deg F. Look in your manual. The oil that was run in older style engines are not as good and may not be covered under warranty if you have an engine problem. Clearances are different now. Also, sounds like that may be the dreaded #1 piston slap you are hearing when you start. Later>>>>>>

 

ONLY use the weight recommended in the manual for your climate. If you want synthetic, get any of the better brands. I use Redline and get it @ http://www.myoilshop.com/ Yeah, it's expensive, but you don't change it every 3 thousand miles. I forget what the bottle says, but in most situations you can safely change it every 8000 miles or more.

 

5W-30 Mobil 1 for me.

 

5961713,

You have an '02 correct? Your car came with Mobil 1 5w30 from the factory. All LS1 engines did starting Oct '01 onward. That's why the Owner's manual says you can go 12 months (or when the oil change light comes on, which ever is first) before a change. Why change a good thing. Stick with the syn. Personally, I change mine every 3,000 but you will get a different opinion on that subject with every other person you ask.

As for the weight, if you run anything other than the factory recommended 5w30 or 10w30 and (heaven forbid) you have an engine problem, you may run into problems having it covered under warranty if the dealership finds that you were running a different weight. Not saying you will, but no need to create hardships for yourself.

Just my two cents.

 

I'm not trying to start trouble here, but I've NEVER seen any proof that any F-body comes from the factory with synthetic oil. If you go to a dealership for an oil change, they WILL use non-synthetic unless you ask for synthetic. I've never seen it printed anywhere in the manual either. I doubt my car came with synthetic. It's an '02 and was built in January of this year.

 

no trouble started... it isn't printed anywhere and most dealership service depts don't know about it. I did confirm it though with one of the engineers over at SLP so I take it as reliable info. Plus, if it wasn't syn, why would the service manual let you go 12 months before a change?

Regardless, I think we all agree that syn is the way to go.

 

Thanks for all of your replies. I will change to synthetic with my next oil change and will change to the weight recommended in my owners manual. Also thanks for the info on the "piston slap" being possibly my problem. I had a '94 Formula Firebird and do not remember hearing that noise in the morning. Will have the dealer check it out just to be safe. Regarding 8-12k miles between oil changes...not for me. Every 3-4k as I am a firm believer in that the best thing you can do for your engine is to keep clean oil in it. Synthetic or otherwise. Does anyone have any idea how much HP the Magnaflow catback exhaust system gives? Thanks again this site is a great resource for me.

 

I've only used Mobil 1 5W-30, haven't had a problem with it yet so I doubt I'll use anything else.

 

You really don't have to change the oil every 3-4k miles with synthetic. It's just a waste of your money and creates more waste that has to be disposed of.

 

I use Mobil 1 5w 30. I would save the higher weight oils for later in life for that car... when the oil rings on the pistons arent doing their job as well (less would be burned). I noticed a marked difference in the amount and quality of noise coming from the engine when I switched to synthetic. Also, I have never had the piston slap or any of the other typical LS1 cold start problems. I started with mobil 1 at 300 miles, did a normal break in, then drove/drive the car pretty hard. Almost no oil consumption... (I am a worrier so I check how much is in there on the way back out). 6.5 qts in, about 6.0-6.1 out in 3500 miles or so.