what do you guys run for engine oil?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Car: 1982 chevy camaro
Engine: 305cfi
Transmission: 700r4
what do you guys run for engine oil?
what weight does everyone here run in there third gens.? i recently aquired mine and before i get it on the road one of the few things i want to do is change the oil. my Haynes manual says regular 30w. this seems real thick to me?
TGO Supporter
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 338
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From: Maine
Car: 89 Formula 350 WS6
Engine: 383 miniram
Transmission: 700R4
lol. i find this thread amusing. i think youll find a hundred different types of oil being used. i think whats more important is how often you change it.
Supreme Member
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,187
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From: E.B.F. TN
Car: Tree Huggers
Engine: Do Not
Transmission: Appreciate Me.
No offense but...
Maybe something along the lines of 'Best Oil' or 'Oil preference' or some such. Should give you hours of reading.
Maybe something along the lines of 'Best Oil' or 'Oil preference' or some such. Should give you hours of reading.
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TGO Supporter
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,803
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From: Grand Rapids, MI
Car: Z28
Engine: Sb2.2 406
Transmission: Jerico 4 speed
Axle/Gears: Ford 9" 3.60
What Devil said. The search is your friend.
<A HREF="https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/search.php?s="> I like this oil</A>
<A HREF="https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/search.php?s="> I like this oil</A>
Supreme Member
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From: Waterloo, Iowa
Car: 86 firebird with 98 firebird interi
Engine: pump gas 427sbc Dart Lil M 13.5:1
Transmission: Oldani TH400 w/ BTE 9" convertor
Axle/Gears: 31 spline Moser/full spool/4.11Rich
All our race motors get broke in using Valvoline straight 30W, first batch initial break in, 1 more fill up to help seat the rings, then switch over to Mobil 1 5W-30 full synthetic
I like synthetics and I've had good luck with them. Now, agreeing with the comment about the search feature, there are a lot of members (checks drawer for clean nomex underwear) that are running Wal-Mart brand synthetic (and filter, btw).
If what has been posted is correct, Wal-Mart brand synthetic is actually Valvoline. Wal-Mart brand oil filters, if the posters are correct, is made by Champion Labs, the same company that makes the Mobil 1 filter, although it is not the same construction as the Mobil 1 filter.
(Dusts off flame suit).
If what has been posted is correct, Wal-Mart brand synthetic is actually Valvoline. Wal-Mart brand oil filters, if the posters are correct, is made by Champion Labs, the same company that makes the Mobil 1 filter, although it is not the same construction as the Mobil 1 filter.
(Dusts off flame suit).
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 814
Likes: 2
From: San Jose, CA, USA
Car: 88 IROC-Z - original owner!
Engine: LB9 with K&Ns, MSD, Foil, Taylor
Transmission: WC T-5
Axle/Gears: BW 9-bolt, 3.45 posi
Originally posted by Parrydise7
I like synthetics and I've had good luck with them. Now, agreeing with the comment about the search feature, there are a lot of members (checks drawer for clean nomex underwear) that are running Wal-Mart brand synthetic (and filter, btw).
If what has been posted is correct, Wal-Mart brand synthetic is actually Valvoline. Wal-Mart brand oil filters, if the posters are correct, is made by Champion Labs, the same company that makes the Mobil 1 filter, although it is not the same construction as the Mobil 1 filter.
(Dusts off flame suit).
I like synthetics and I've had good luck with them. Now, agreeing with the comment about the search feature, there are a lot of members (checks drawer for clean nomex underwear) that are running Wal-Mart brand synthetic (and filter, btw).
If what has been posted is correct, Wal-Mart brand synthetic is actually Valvoline. Wal-Mart brand oil filters, if the posters are correct, is made by Champion Labs, the same company that makes the Mobil 1 filter, although it is not the same construction as the Mobil 1 filter.
(Dusts off flame suit).
Plenty of info on the BITOG forum on this.
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,948
Likes: 369
From: Las Vegas
Car: 1987 Formula (original owner)
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt/3.45
I've always run 20W-50 year 'round, and I've been using Valvoline MaxLife since it's come out. Depending on where you live, you might not want that weight, but I'd bet your 24 year old engine would appreciate MaxLife in either 10W-30 or 10W-40.
Supreme Member

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,136
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From: Costal Alabama
Car: 1989 Iroc-Z
Engine: 350, ZZ4 equivalent
Transmission: Pro-Built Road Race 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Dana 44
My brother works in the oil business, he talked to the guy at Mobil who invented Mobil 1. He recommends M1 15-50 for the summer and 0w-40 for the winter for a gen 1 iron SBC.
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From: Elgin, IL
Car: 1997 Corvette
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 2.73 IRS
Mobil Drive Clean 10W-30 with an AC-Delco PF454S filter. The best out there? No, not by a long shot I'm sure, but I was short on cash and needed cash to finish the rest of my tune-up as well, so its what I bought. Total cost of oil change? $10.44 and tax
Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 333
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From: chicago il
Car: 1987 transam
Engine: 383 /w superram
Transmission: 700r4 /w 2800rpm stall
my engine isnt stock but i run 20w50 in my 383... this is with a high pressure/volume oil pump to move that sludge along 
once its broken in tho i'm going with the heaviest synthetic
ow40 ... thats real thin i would never use that

once its broken in tho i'm going with the heaviest synthetic
ow40 ... thats real thin i would never use that
Last edited by level; Jun 29, 2004 at 02:05 AM.
Supreme Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,238
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, Alberta, Republic of Western Canada
Car: 1986 Sport Coupé
Engine: 305-4v
Transmission: 700R4 and TransGo2
It was interesting to hear what some of the NASCAR crew chiefs say about oil. I believe it was one of the Earnheart or Rousch crew who said they have tried all sorts of weights but finally settled on 0w30 synthetic. He said that every synthetic weight they tried came up with the same results--no discernable wear after a 500 mile race. Pretty conclusive in that regard.
But I agree that if you change your oil every 3000 miles it doesn't really matter what modern motor oil you use. It will be fine
But I agree that if you change your oil every 3000 miles it doesn't really matter what modern motor oil you use. It will be fine
Supreme Member

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 9,550
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From: Charleston, SC
Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
Transmission: 2002 LS1 M6
L03 usually drinks havoline or whatever else is cheap... as thick as they sell it (it burns oil)
the 400 gets mobile 1 and the oil is changed once every 2 months (roughly 1500-2500miles)
the 400 gets mobile 1 and the oil is changed once every 2 months (roughly 1500-2500miles)
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