Anyone here try Redline 5w-40? I hear that is pretty much the best oil you can use. Not too thick, definatly not too thin. I think I'll try that stuff. Now where do I buy it in Canada? Anyone know?

 

How much is Redline?

 

Redline is like 8 bucks a quart. Thunder racing sells it.

 

Go over to bobistheoilguy.com . You can find Redline for like $7 a quart and you can buy it in cases of 12. But I can't find 5w-40. I'm going to have to call and get it.

 

Thats pretty damn expensive.

I'll stick to Mobil 1.

 

15w50 mobile 1 is all i use summer/winter..i have over 210,000km on my stock bottom end

 

A lot don't.

Engine tolerances determine oil viscosity nessesary. Oil viscosity is determined by oil base composition, additive properties, and operating temperture.

IF you run extremly high tempertures, for a VERY long time (such as a oil-cooled-TURBO engine, or in circle track / NASCAR sky-high rpms) then yes... you need to run a higher grade oil to keep viscosity from breaking down.

With the LT1 not being boost-friendly, and having a PCM-limit of 7000 rpms or so... I find it VERY had to believe anyone NEEDs more than 10W30 unless they have a dedicated race-car that operates above 5000 rpms for hours at a time.

Extra viscosity will make oil pressure rise, sapping hp, and may even cause problems with bearing wear in cold tempertures.

Not worth it. Get SuperSyn 10W30, or "upgrade" to Redline if you want. Best way to increase your oil system (which makes the SBC nearly bullet proof because it's a killer design) is to use an over-sized filter and make frequent oil changes (I do every 3000 to 4000 miles with synthetic... but some consider this overkill).

 

Yeah, it's even worse in Canada. Growing up in Saskatchewan, I had to put up with my friend complain about CN$19/liter for his Porsche 944.


Best price I've found is from B&B Autoparts here in the Puget Sound area. I belive I got a case at ~$5.75 per quart (~$6/qrt with taxes).

Per bottle it's about $7 though. Get it by the case if you want.

I'm sticking to Mobile 1 from Walmart though. Can't beat $19 for a 5 quart jug.

 

umm... might want to talk to an engine builder. Everyone I've talked to gave me the engine rule of thumb:

You need 10psi for each 1000rpms ... up to ~55psi max.

Anthing beyond that is wasted hp in the form of:
a) pumping losses (from the pump dragging)
b) oil heating due to the design of the bypass in most oil pumps

This explains why the stock SBC's pump has a bypass kick in at 60psi. The Z28 "white spring" for HIGH-rpm racing (i.e. 7000 rpms+) cuts this back to about 70psi before the bypass valve kicks in.

As long as you're above 10psi/1000 rpms your fine... in fact the lower you go (by choosing a LOWER viscosity grade like 5W30, using a larger oil filter, or with some internal oil passage work) you'll probably get a few poines out of it.

 

More than likely you'll find that the 15w50 is going to be too thick, and if you did oil analysis on it after you've run it a few thousand miles, your wear numbers will be higher than normal.

I've gotten amazing wear numbers in my Formula using the German made Castrol Syntec 0w30, which is a thicker 30wt which is close to a 40wt actually, as it's 12.2 cst at 100c (12.5cst to 16.3 would be 40wt oil)

Thicker is not always better, and from the oil analysis results I've seen from LT1 powered vehicles, they tend to like oils of around 12 to 14cst.

No matter what oil you choose, the best thing you can do to help you determine if it's right for your engine and your driving habits and climate, is to send off a sample of the used oil for analysis. Blackstone labs or Wearcheck are both very good choices. I use Wearcheck Canada myself.

 

Hey where did your friend find Redline in Saskatchewan? That would help me out alot! I don't really want to import it from the US because of customs charges but if its cheap enough I will. Thanx for the help!

 

I have been using mobil 1 15w 50 in my car for a while now and have not had any problems. Went with the thicker oil because I wanted to have some extra protection for the motor.

 

I use 5W-30 mobile one in my 158k mile car. Thats what it calls for so thats what i use. I dont know if the fact that i run a 150 shot of nitrous effects what oil i should use but i havent had any problems yet.

 

Hmmm, I've been around alot of sbc's that are new or rebuilt, or in very good shape, and most of them, especially LT1's, never get more than 50psi warm at WOT on 30 or 40 weight oils and get about 40 normal driving. The white spring or one that doesn't activate the pressure relief valve until about 65+ is definitely something I'd get doing a cam swap. I guess this is why the Chrysler V8's like my 318 tend to run at 60+ at WOT.

Jason

 

I use the 15-50W super Synthetic Mobile 1...hardcore oil...lst for ever...wouldn't put in anything else...you can actually feel a noticeable difference whne you switch to it...it's a very nice oil...wouldn't use anything less...Mobile reccomends it for High Pro cars...

It provides good engine protection...trust me....spent allot of time in the 5-6K range spinning hte wheels...