LT1 Based Engine Tech 1993-1997 LT1/LT4 Engine Related

Synthetic or natural?

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Old Oct 30, 2003 | 01:49 PM
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phrozen's Avatar
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Synthetic or natural?

So, we're new to the whole camaro thing and we wanted to get your opinion on which oil is preffered for someone looking to keep their car a street legal performance car. Thanks in advance!
Old Oct 30, 2003 | 01:51 PM
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I use 20w 50 dinosaur juice and have no probs . Use it in every car I have and none have ever needed a rebuild . Just change it every 3000 or so and youll be fine .
Old Oct 30, 2003 | 02:12 PM
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I use 15w-50 Mobil 1 synthetic in the Z, Motul in my bikes, and whatever is on sale in the 4Runner

Last edited by bigdreamZ; Oct 30, 2003 at 02:15 PM.
Old Oct 30, 2003 | 03:58 PM
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If it's brand spandin new, I'd recommend using 5W-30 Synthetic. If you drive several miles at a time in relatively clean environs you can stretch your intervals a bit. For short hops, idling, and dirty climate I'd say 3000 miles/3-mo interals regardless of syn or dyno juice.

For a new engine with tight clearances, perhaps dyno may be fine for breakins, but I like to think that keeping reletively close tolerances means less wear and that the thinner syns will get to the far away cervices faster than thicker oils (most wear occurs at startup).

If your engine has many miles and has used thicker dyno oils from the getgo I'd say go for a 10W-30.

You will find many varied opinons about this subject, but for what it costs to go synthetic is worth knowing that your getting oiled.

With these engines (any engines)sometimes it doesn't make any difference what you use if the integrity of the engine is questionable from the factory or compromised thereafter, bad things can happen.JMHO
Old Oct 30, 2003 | 04:02 PM
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I use 10w-30 mobil 1 full synthetic. Seems to work good for me.
Old Oct 30, 2003 | 04:24 PM
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Its been proven synthetic is a better motor oil, it simply flows better and has less impurities in it. I will always use synthetic in whatever I drive, it is worth the price difference.
Old Oct 30, 2003 | 04:43 PM
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Like it was mentioned before....depending on if your motor is new or not. If I had like 80k on it and have been using regular dion oil, I'd stay with it as people have had problems with leaks after switching at high mileage. The oil of choice here is Mobil 1 10-30 or so. If you got money and don't mind spending it. Amsoil and Redline are the way to go but at like 8 bucks a quart. Synthetic is definately the way to go though for the engine.

As for the transmission its different. Regular dino oil is better because the tranny needs....how would I say ..a lil more friction as the synthetic oil is too slick for tranny's.
Old Oct 30, 2003 | 05:14 PM
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I use whatever is on sale along with a frame double guard filter. As long as its changed regularly doesn't really matter what you use.
Old Oct 30, 2003 | 05:56 PM
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Originally posted by BigJustinZ28
I use 20w 50 dinosaur juice and have no probs . Use it in every car I have and none have ever needed a rebuild . Just change it every 3000 or so and youll be fine .
20w50?? that's insane on these relatively new cars.. ugh that stuff flows like molasses....
Old Oct 30, 2003 | 06:08 PM
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Originally posted by AndyB
I use whatever is on sale along with a frame double guard filter. As long as its changed regularly doesn't really matter what you use.
If you care about your engine it does.
Dino for break in period, then i would go sync. after that. I lke mobil 1, much better then redline of amsoil. I had ALOT more piston slap with redline and amsoil then I ever had with mobil 1. I jsut started putting mobil 1 in my GF car.

As long as you dont get the cheep stuff and get a good filter you will be ok. Id suggest mobil 1 though.
Old Oct 30, 2003 | 06:11 PM
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OK, synthetic it is then... well, maybe. Our car has about 78k on it. Is there any way to tell whats in it currently(I'm a car newb)? And as far as the tranny goes it's an auto so it would be taking ATF anyways... unless there's a difference for that and I didn't realize it...
Old Oct 30, 2003 | 09:02 PM
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Are you asking about transmission fluid or engine oil?
Old Oct 30, 2003 | 10:06 PM
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No need to use conventional oil during break in, synthetic all the time. If you needed conventional for break in why would corvettes and firehawks come pre-filled with synthetic?
Old Oct 30, 2003 | 10:21 PM
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5-30w. i like mobile 1 and valvoline.
Old Oct 30, 2003 | 11:29 PM
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Originally posted by Kataklysm
No need to use conventional oil during break in, synthetic all the time. If you needed conventional for break in why would corvettes and firehawks come pre-filled with synthetic?

I have to agree. Using Conventional oil for Break in is an old wise tail. Most guys did this for cost reasons as you need to change the oil sooner on the first initial run. Like Kataklysm said, If it cant be done, why is GM doing it? They do it on alot of their vehicles. I have used synthetic on all my old and new motors for the last 7 yrs and never have had a problem.



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