What is the best oil for the beast. - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

soslow · 10-25-2009

With the issue of taking zinc out of the new formulted oils, I need to know if anyone has the definitive answer for using an oil with the best protection for our beloved LT-5 that will provide the necessary protection that the old oils used to. I don't want to use a zinc additive because it has been reported that it destroys the catalytic converters.

XfireZ51 · 10-25-2009

I'm using the Castrol GTX 15W-40 Diesel. It has the levels of zinc etc that everyone's been talking about here at $4/qt. No additives necessary.

Hammer · 01-30-2011

I think I'm going to try the Valvoline VR1 10-30 next time around. High zinc and phospherous and Marc H. said it would be a good oil. Hard to get though, not readily available at the common stores, although 60w, 50w and 20-50 weight is. Weird.

xlr8nflorida · 01-30-2011

Use high mileage mobil 10W-30.

todesengel · 01-30-2011

I use amsoil

tomcat · 02-01-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by todesengel

I use amsoil

I also use Amsoil 10W-40W. Notice the oil take longer to temp up.

Manfred E...........

91 #906

ZR-1nce removed · 02-08-2011

Amsoil has a high zinc 10w40 that alot of us use. I'm sure your local performance shop can order it for you.

Hammer · 02-28-2011

I'm switching to the Valvoline VR1 racing oil, 10-30, for the next oil change. Real high in zinc and phosphorus and Marc Haibeck said it would work well for our motors.

tomtom72 · 03-01-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomcat

I also use Amsoil 10W-40W. Notice the oil take longer to temp up.

Manfred E...........

91 #906

I noticed that also vs M1 10w-30, and when it's 'up to temp' the temp is a tad higher than the M1. But if I flog it thru the twisties it doesn't seem to end up at as high a reading as the 10-30 M1. If I flogged the car with the M1 for say 30 minutes the gauge would be 1/2 way, with the Amsoil it doesn't get quite to the 1/2 point. Seemed strange to me.

I did some reading over at the oil guy's site. Jim from FLA posted a link awhile back and I read the whole thing front to back. I think I'm going back to 10w-30 full synthetic.

Tom

xlr8nflorida · 03-01-2011

I can't find that technical document I posted but its around somewhere.

The jist of the article was that Mobil 1 High Mileage was fine for the LT-5 engine.

There are disadvantages to adding zinc if not done properly. I'm sure Valvoline and the others are good if you can find the 10W-30.

I go with what has worked for me. I have had several engines well over 100,000 that ran like a raped ape and they were clean as a whistle.
Mobil 1 works for me.

I buy it often for $19.99 to $25.00 for 5 quarts. I buy a ton of it for the 3 Corvettes and Mobil 1 has a rewards program.

I change my oil seasonal regardless of mileage. Many times I change it prematurely at 3,000 miles. If I get busy, then higher mileage.

On my Z - its really spoiled. Often times, it only has a few hundred miles on the oil. It gets seasonal changes, especially after the winter storage if I'm in a cold state. My oil cooler oil stays in good shape as a result. It is way overkill but my oil changes are dirt cheap since I always get the oil on sale and do it myself. If memory serves me right, regular mobil 1 is good for 6 months and extended mobil is good for 1 year. (as long as within mileage limitations)

I also do my coolant now at 1 year intervals.

10-25-2009	#1
soslow Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: SELDEN, NEW YORK Posts: 26	What is the best oil for the beast. With the issue of taking zinc out of the new formulted oils, I need to know if anyone has the definitive answer for using an oil with the best protection for our beloved LT-5 that will provide the necessary protection that the old oils used to. I don't want to use a zinc additive because it has been reported that it destroys the catalytic converters.

10-25-2009	#2
XfireZ51 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chicagoland, IL Posts: 9,700	Re: What is the best oil for the beast. I'm using the Castrol GTX 15W-40 Diesel. It has the levels of zinc etc that everyone's been talking about here at $4/qt. No additives necessary.

01-30-2011	#3
Hammer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ideho Posts: 2,653	Re: What is the best oil for the beast. I think I'm going to try the Valvoline VR1 10-30 next time around. High zinc and phospherous and Marc H. said it would be a good oil. Hard to get though, not readily available at the common stores, although 60w, 50w and 20-50 weight is. Weird. __________________ [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS]John Boyd[/FONT][/I] [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1]Ideho[/SIZE][/FONT][/I] [FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1][I]2015 ZL1 [/I][I]Camaro #1121 BLACK/BLACK 6 SPD (540 RWHP)[/I][/SIZE][/FONT] [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1]1991 ZR-1 #458 [COLOR=red]RED/[/COLOR][COLOR=black]BLACK 72[/COLOR]k miles ([B][COLOR=red]SOLD[/COLOR][/B]) 1991 ZR-1 #473 [COLOR=red]RED/[/COLOR][COLOR=black]BLACK [/COLOR]37k miles ([B][COLOR=red]SOLD[/COLOR][/B])[/SIZE][/FONT][/I]

01-30-2011	#4
xlr8nflorida Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Posts: 1,096	Re: What is the best oil for the beast. Use high mileage mobil 10W-30.

01-30-2011	#5
todesengel Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: O'Fallon, Mo Posts: 738	Re: What is the best oil for the beast. I use amsoil

02-08-2011	#7
ZR-1nce removed Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Gettysburg, PA Posts: 247	Re: What is the best oil for the beast. Amsoil has a high zinc 10w40 that alot of us use. I'm sure your local performance shop can order it for you. __________________ 90 ZR-1 #0951 Bright Red (sold) 06 Z51 MN6 Velocity Yellow (sold) 2023 C-8 Z51 ELB WAZOO Member

02-28-2011	#8
Hammer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ideho Posts: 2,653	Re: What is the best oil for the beast. I'm switching to the Valvoline VR1 racing oil, 10-30, for the next oil change. Real high in zinc and phosphorus and Marc Haibeck said it would work well for our motors. __________________ [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS]John Boyd[/FONT][/I] [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1]Ideho[/SIZE][/FONT][/I] [FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1][I]2015 ZL1 [/I][I]Camaro #1121 BLACK/BLACK 6 SPD (540 RWHP)[/I][/SIZE][/FONT] [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1]1991 ZR-1 #458 [COLOR=red]RED/[/COLOR][COLOR=black]BLACK 72[/COLOR]k miles ([B][COLOR=red]SOLD[/COLOR][/B]) 1991 ZR-1 #473 [COLOR=red]RED/[/COLOR][COLOR=black]BLACK [/COLOR]37k miles ([B][COLOR=red]SOLD[/COLOR][/B])[/SIZE][/FONT][/I]

03-01-2011	#10
xlr8nflorida Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Posts: 1,096	Re: What is the best oil for the beast. I can't find that technical document I posted but its around somewhere. The jist of the article was that Mobil 1 High Mileage was fine for the LT-5 engine. There are disadvantages to adding zinc if not done properly. I'm sure Valvoline and the others are good if you can find the 10W-30. I go with what has worked for me. I have had several engines well over 100,000 that ran like a raped ape and they were clean as a whistle. Mobil 1 works for me. I buy it often for $19.99 to $25.00 for 5 quarts. I buy a ton of it for the 3 Corvettes and Mobil 1 has a rewards program. I change my oil seasonal regardless of mileage. Many times I change it prematurely at 3,000 miles. If I get busy, then higher mileage. On my Z - its really spoiled. Often times, it only has a few hundred miles on the oil. It gets seasonal changes, especially after the winter storage if I'm in a cold state. My oil cooler oil stays in good shape as a result. It is way overkill but my oil changes are dirt cheap since I always get the oil on sale and do it myself. If memory serves me right, regular mobil 1 is good for 6 months and extended mobil is good for 1 year. (as long as within mileage limitations) I also do my coolant now at 1 year intervals. Last edited by xlr8nflorida; 03-01-2011 at 06:17 PM.