I was told since I live in south florida that I should use 20W 50 motor oil in my 1992 camaro rs 3.1l to fill gaps and insure a good oil pressure. I have been using 10W 30 but my car runs cold unless I am stopping and going. Even then it never comes close to getting very hot. Is this a proper choice to use 20W 50?

 

I ran 20w 50 in my truck that i had it had 275k on i ran 20/50 for a little bite but i felt that it was way to thick so i drained for 10/30 and added some lucas oil to it.Had good oil pressure it needed valve guide seals,rear main seal so thats why i used lucas.It did help.350k damn how many trannys have you gone threw?

 

This is almost unbrlievable and mechanic friends say amazing, but the onlt thing done to my tranny has been seals and regular filter and fluid change. The engine's only major overhaul was rings and gaskets. Though it must surely be on the brink with over 350,000 mi..

 

the 3.1s run forever even without maintenance

 

First keep track of your oil consumption, are you using any? If not then don't worry about what people say, they are not the ones driving your car or checking the oil.
Is the motor running cool, what the temp going down the road? Should be near 190-200*.

 

I told a mechanic I had a 7000r4 tranny with my 92 rs 3.1L automatic 5speed overdrive and said no way. That tranny is way to big and made for high-horsepower or trucks. What exactly did they put in this 25 anniversary series and how could it have held up for so long?

 

The mechanic clearly does not know what he is talking about. You do indeed have a 700R4.

 

The TH700R-4 is a 4-speed. 4th happens to be overdrive. While they did put it in light trucks, it isn't an especially "heavy duty" transmission, and the V6 version was about as weak as they got.

20W-50 is a poor idea. It won't "fill gaps and insure a good oil pressure". It will require more fuel to run, all other things being equal.

If the engine runs cold except in stop & go, you either have a defective thermostat, or a defective temp gauge.

 

Now doubt I have 5 gears with my tranny. Yes I have removed the thermostat because after changing it the fan would still not engage. It now is constantly engaged and nedds about 2 mi. before coming to a very good running temp at 180 or so. It will stall for awhile after first starting it. After that it runs smooth with accleration. Never has it ever been since getting hot. Keep it like it is or make a change?

 

I clearly believe in your advise because that 10w 40 is what I have used up to this point and given very little problems. I have hardly no oil consumption but change it regurarly. It runs cool and gets over 260 at constant stop and go. If it has worked this well so far I would be a fool to experiment. THANK YOU!

 

If it runs that high in stop & go traffic you have a cooling issue, does the rad fan work? Is the coolant full & clean?

 

If your running hot at stop and go traffic and if your fan is working and you have a new thermostat, make sure your fan shroud is intake and not damaged, this could cause that problem.

 

hey guys i have a 92 rs 3,1 its been convr to carb and has 130k on the clock what type oil should i use been using 10-40???