Which oil do you use

[SteelBlueZR1]

Mobile 1 high Mileage 10-30 recommended by Halbeck due to right zinc levels.

[scottfab]

This poll should have been set up to change your vote. (not sure there is that feature) I'm going to be trying Royal Purple or that new Casterol (caster oil) stuff and can't change my vote.

[cvette98pacecar]

Originally Posted by SteelBlueZR1

Mobile 1 high Mileage 10-30 recommended by Halbeck due to right zinc levels.

I think Mark H. has been Recommending Amsoil AMO10W40.

[XfireZ51]

Castrol GTX 15-W40 Diesel.

[Paul Workman]

Considering the well established fact that ZDDP is important to flat tappet motors (from personal experience with a SBC motor too), If I assume those indicating Mobil 1 are using the oil of the current API "SN" rating (read: much reduced ZDDP levels), am I alone or does that bother anyone else to think so many ZR-1s are "in harms way"? ARE they in harms way?

p.

[VetteMed]

Originally Posted by Paul Workman

Considering the well established fact that ZDDP is important to flat tappet motors (from personal experience with a SBC motor too), If I assume those indicating Mobil 1 are using the oil of the current API "SN" rating (read: much reduced ZDDP levels), am I alone or does that bother anyone else to think so many ZR-1s are "in harms way"? ARE they in harms way?

p.

I've been using Mobil 1 High Mileage, which has close to the correct levels of Zinc.

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by VetteMed

I've been using Mobil 1 High Mileage, which has close to the correct levels of Zinc.

OK, but do you think "High Mileage" makes up the bulk of the Mobil 1 responses? I'm guessing not, but dunno. If most are using the regular Mobil 1, then the message the poll conveys bothers me - it is missleading w/ regard to what should be used i.e., a higher ZDDP oil

Put another way...

If the high percentage of use is based solely on that sticker under the hood of all 92+ MY Vettes, then there is potential for problems and it knaws at me (though oil - related problems don't seem to appear all that much - on this board at least).

Maybe ZDDP in the LT5 is not that big a deal (to some). But, I can't see me rolling the dice on mine - Make mine synthetic w/ ZDDP comiserate with 1990.


I'm just sayin...the graph bugs me cuz it (to me) clearly recommends the wrong stuff.

P.

[VetteMed]

From what I've seen in other posts, I'd guess maybe 30-40% of the Mobil 1 users are using the High Mileage formula. That's a WAG though, with no facts to back it up.

Some thoughts to consider, though, include the fact that spring pressures are less in the LT5 as compared to an OHV flat-tappet motor, so the importance of the zinc content may be less. Also, improvements in oil technology in the last 20 years may mean that even without the zinc, there's still adequate protection of those camshaft lobes and lifter faces.

Originally Posted by Paul Workman

OK, but do you think "High Mileage" makes up the bulk of the Mobil 1 responses? I'm guessing not, but dunno. If most are using the regular Mobil 1, then the message the poll conveys bothers me - it is missleading w/ regard to what should be used i.e., a higher ZDDP oil

Put another way...

If the high percentage of use is based solely on that sticker under the hood of all 92+ MY Vettes, then there is potential for problems and it knaws at me (though oil - related problems don't seem to appear all that much - on this board at least)

Maybe ZDDP in the LT5 is not that big a deal (to some). But, I can't see me rolling the dice on mine - Make mine synthetic w/ ZDDP comiserate with 1990.


I'm just sayin...the graph bugs me cuz it (to me) clearly recommends the wrong stuff.

P.

[XfireZ51]

Paul,

I'm one of the guys that changes the oil in his "toy" cars every 2,000mi along w filter. Did that with the 84 also. So High Mileage or Synthetic means nothing to me. The Castrol Diesel has the ZDDP levels needed at the price of regular oil ($4.50/qt) and I've used the GTX stuff for over 30 years.
The issue of ZDDP never came up w my 84 and as you know that was a flat tappet motor. I converted over to a full roller setup in 2000 for performance not the ZDDP issue. I have posted pics of the new cams in my LT-5 motor after about 2500mi of use. Lobes look like new.

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Originally Posted by XfireZ51

Paul,

I'm one of the guys that changes the oil in his "toy" cars every 2,000mi along w filter. Did that with the 84 also. So High Mileage or Synthetic means nothing to me. The Castrol Diesel has the ZDDP levels needed at the price of regular oil ($4.50/qt) and I've used the GTX stuff for over 30 years.
The issue of ZDDP never came up w my 84 and as you know that was a flat tappet motor. I converted over to a full roller setup in 2000 for performance not the ZDDP issue. I have posted pics of the new cams in my LT-5 motor after about 2500mi of use. Lobes look like new.

Dom, have you compared the ZDDP data from a few yrs ago vs today's levels in the Castrol you're buying? I'm told that the levels were dropped when catalytic converters were required on the big rigs.