I bought my 82 Firebird a year and a half ago. I had to do a lot of restoration and only finished it two weeks ago. I started it twice a week for about 15 minutes. I took it on the road for a few miles when I could but a lot of the time it wasn't drivable. I serviced it a year ago. When it had done so little milage I felt there was no need to service it again for a few months but I find out the less milage it does the more it needs the oil changed. I am going to service it again in a day or so. I got some 20W 50 oil as since the engine is 22 years old then I figure mineral oil would be the best to use. Since I started the car twice a week and let it tick over for a few minutes each time is my engine going to be "all gunked" up. Is there any additive or something to put through the oil to clean it out or anything else I could do. Is mineral oil the best to use?

Thanks,

 

I deffinately would use the mineral oil and stray from the synthetics in this situation.

 

It should be fine as long as there is no water, etc. in the oil. If it looks like fresh oil on the dipstick I wouldn't be worried about having done any damage to the engine provided you didn't rev it up real high within a few seconds just as it started (before oil got circulated everywhere). You should be fine - relax, and enjoy your car!!!!

Have a Great Day!!!


- Vern

 

20W50 is a bit too thick. A 10W30 or 10W40 would be better.

To clean it out, put in one quart of synthetic and use mineral for the rest of the fill. Change it out along with the filter in 3 months or 3000 miles, whichever comes first. Use 2 quarts of synthetic this time, the rest mineral. Change oil & filter again in 3 months or 3000 miles. Now 3 quarts synthetic, etc., until the full change is synthetic.

Some people like to put in ATF a few weeks before the oil change. This also works, but the ATF isn't intended as an engine oil.

In general, synthetics are better for the engine in all ways, including infrequent use situations. The only down-side to synthetics is the price per quart. And, not all synthetics are created equal. Certainly avoid the large viscosity spread types like 5W50. Some European manufacturers are calling for 5W40 these days, the only ones I'd trust with that spread are AMSOIL and Mobil 1. Some people have experienced oil leaks and oil consumption with Mobil 1 in the past, their recent formulas seem to address that a little better.

 

Thanks for getting back to me guys. I will stick with the mineral oil as I guess that's the best for that age of an engine. There is no water or anything in the oil and I don't rev the car for a minute or two after starting. What about ATF ? Does that need to be changed every few months if the car has been idle.

Thanks