Where do I put in the motor oil?
12-18-2018, 03:55 AM
#1
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Car: 86 Camaro Sports Coupe
Engine: 383 Stoker
Transmission: 700R4 transmission
Where do I put in the motor oil?
Hi all. This is a dumb question... But i cant figure out where to put the new motor oil? I will be draining the old oil and replacing it and the oil filter. I watched some videos on youtube but from what ive seen, people put a funnel in their driver side pcv valve hole thing? I have a breather in mine that i just recently put in there. Mine pcv hole is also closer to the nose of the car than people on youtube... theirs is closer to the windshield. as for my passenger side, I still only have one hole there which i have attached as my pvc. Any help is greatly appreciated!
Also, the previous owner said he had out Castrol full synthetic 10 40 (4qt x1q) with 1qt of Lucas oil stabilizer. Does that sound right??
Also, the previous owner said he had out Castrol full synthetic 10 40 (4qt x1q) with 1qt of Lucas oil stabilizer. Does that sound right??
12-18-2018, 05:47 AM
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Car: 1989 TPI Formula, 1984 MCSS
Re: Where do I put in the motor oil?
There ~should~ be a hole in each valve cover. One small for PCV and one large with an oil fill cap. Doesn’t matter if it’s at the front of rear of valve cover.
Worse case, pull out the breather/PCV and use a small funnel there. As long as it goes inside the valve cover, it’ll end up in the oil pan.
What ever the PO used is fairly irrelevant.
I like a 10-30 synthetic and have no reason to advise against LUCAS.
Worse case, pull out the breather/PCV and use a small funnel there. As long as it goes inside the valve cover, it’ll end up in the oil pan.
What ever the PO used is fairly irrelevant.
I like a 10-30 synthetic and have no reason to advise against LUCAS.
12-18-2018, 08:49 AM
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Car: 89 GTA ASC Conv., Prev: 89 GTA 6.3L
Engine: 5.7L L98 TPI
Transmission: 700r4 Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.27:1 w/ JG1 Options:B2L, N10, U1A
Re: Where do I put in the motor oil?
Post pics of the engine for specific help.
12-18-2018, 10:31 AM
#4
Re: Where do I put in the motor oil?
Different engines have different valve covers based on what their specific needs are. Some have breathers, vents, PCV valves, or even just plain ole oil caps! As BadHabit mentioned, any of those holes in the valve covers will get the oil to the top of the head, and then it'll drain down into the motor.
12-18-2018, 06:46 PM
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Re: Where do I put in the motor oil?
Stock, the oil fill hole is on the driver's side valve cover, toward the rear. No guarantee that that's where it still is. Valve covers (stock ones anyway) have a definite "intake" and "exhaust" side though; the fill should be either rear DS or front PS if they're installed correctly.
That kind of oil is OK. Not my personal choice, but if you ask, you'll get about a million different answers about what's "best", most of which are just prejudice and have no basis in fact. Frankly, ANY decent quality NEW oil is better than old dirty stuff, IMO. The exact brand isn't all that important. 10W-40 is a not unreasonable choice but probably a bit on the thick side for winter although being synthetic helps (more tightly controlled viscosity). I'd use 10W-30 if it was mine.
That kind of oil is OK. Not my personal choice, but if you ask, you'll get about a million different answers about what's "best", most of which are just prejudice and have no basis in fact. Frankly, ANY decent quality NEW oil is better than old dirty stuff, IMO. The exact brand isn't all that important. 10W-40 is a not unreasonable choice but probably a bit on the thick side for winter although being synthetic helps (more tightly controlled viscosity). I'd use 10W-30 if it was mine.
12-23-2018, 08:03 PM
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Car: 96 Impala 84 berlinetta
Engine: LT1
Transmission: 4speed auto
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Re: Where do I put in the motor oil?
so your engine does not have the OEM valve covers ? if so then the covers with the crankcase vent hole or the PCV you can put the oil in those bore holes. you should have PCV hole on one side and on the other a vent intake hole with a filter on it,, this keeps the crankcase vapors to reduce sludge etc...
on the type of oil viscosity . back in 1984 we used 10-40wt .. but not sure exactly what year GM changed the oil viscosity to 10-30wt.. 1986-7 ish.. I still use the 10-30wt in my 1984 5L OEM H engine ..
since the oil now made today has low zinc in it I would use some zinc additive
..https://lucasoil.com/products/engine...e-tb-zinc-plus
I use this in my boat engine .. runs at high RPM and has flat tappets I only put in 4OZ ... with 5qts.. engine runs great very quiet..
on your camaro engine 2OZ should be good .. since you do not have flat tappets.. zinc does keep the wear very low .if you do not have any cat converters no problems if you use more than 2OZ.cost for 16OZ is 20 bucks
on the type of oil viscosity . back in 1984 we used 10-40wt .. but not sure exactly what year GM changed the oil viscosity to 10-30wt.. 1986-7 ish.. I still use the 10-30wt in my 1984 5L OEM H engine ..
since the oil now made today has low zinc in it I would use some zinc additive
..https://lucasoil.com/products/engine...e-tb-zinc-plus
I use this in my boat engine .. runs at high RPM and has flat tappets I only put in 4OZ ... with 5qts.. engine runs great very quiet..
on your camaro engine 2OZ should be good .. since you do not have flat tappets.. zinc does keep the wear very low .if you do not have any cat converters no problems if you use more than 2OZ.cost for 16OZ is 20 bucks
Last edited by jcat; 12-24-2018 at 01:03 PM.
12-23-2018, 08:26 PM
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Car: 86 Camaro Sports Coupe
Engine: 383 Stoker
Transmission: 700R4 transmission
Re: Where do I put in the motor oil?
so your engine does not have the OEM valve covers ? if so then the covers with the crankcase vent hole or the PCV you can put the oil in those bore holes. you should have PCV hole on one side and on the other a vent intake hole with a filter on it,, this keeps the crankcase vapors to reduce sludge etc...
on the type of oil viscosity . back in 1984 we used 10-40wt .. but not sure exactly what year GM changed the oil viscosity to 10-30wt.. 1986-7 ish.. I still use the 10-30wt in my 1984 5L OEM H engine ..
since the oil now made today has low zinc in it I would use some zinc additive ..
I use this in my boat engine .. runs at high RPM and has flat tappets I only put in 4OZ ... with 5qts.. engine runs great very quiet..
on your camaro engine 2OZ should be good .. since you do not have flat tappets.. zinc does keep the wear very low .if you do not have any cat converters no problems if you use more than 2OZ.cost for 16OZ is 20 bucks
on the type of oil viscosity . back in 1984 we used 10-40wt .. but not sure exactly what year GM changed the oil viscosity to 10-30wt.. 1986-7 ish.. I still use the 10-30wt in my 1984 5L OEM H engine ..
since the oil now made today has low zinc in it I would use some zinc additive ..
I use this in my boat engine .. runs at high RPM and has flat tappets I only put in 4OZ ... with 5qts.. engine runs great very quiet..
on your camaro engine 2OZ should be good .. since you do not have flat tappets.. zinc does keep the wear very low .if you do not have any cat converters no problems if you use more than 2OZ.cost for 16OZ is 20 bucks
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12-23-2018, 08:32 PM
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Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
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Re: Where do I put in the motor oil?
If you don't have an oil fill cap on the valve cover, you need to do what I do. I have fabricated valve covers. To put oil into the engine, I need to remove one of the valve covers. It's a downside to having custom valve covers but I'm also not adding oil n a regular basis.
Your breath cap/filter should have a hole large enough in the valve cover to put oil in even if you need to use a small funnel. Doesn't matter what side of the engine the oil goes into. It will all drain into the pan.
Your breath cap/filter should have a hole large enough in the valve cover to put oil in even if you need to use a small funnel. Doesn't matter what side of the engine the oil goes into. It will all drain into the pan.
12-23-2018, 08:47 PM
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Car: 84 TA orig. 305 LG4 "H" E4ME
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Re: Where do I put in the motor oil?
Post a picture or 2, please. It will make this MUCH easier.
12-23-2018, 10:15 PM
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Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: L03
Transmission: 700R4
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Re: Where do I put in the motor oil?
My valve covers have horizontal chrome lines and says "edelbrock". The only holes on them are one on the driver side closest to the nose of the car. Then the passenger side has one towards the windshield of the car. Also.. I have my passenger side attached to my pcv. My driver side has an edelbrock breather thing on it. Is that right?
Maybe with a rectangular breather like this?
If so, you should be able to pull that breather out, and fill through that hole.
12-23-2018, 11:31 PM
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Car: 86 Camaro Sports Coupe
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12-24-2018, 12:40 AM
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Car: 82 Pontiac Trans Am
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Re: Where do I put in the motor oil?
That would be your oil cap. When you want to add oil, just remove it. Put the funnel in the hole where the cap goes, pour your oil in, put the cap back on. I had the same valve covers on my old engine.
12-24-2018, 06:43 AM
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Car: 86 Camaro Sports Coupe
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Re: Where do I put in the motor oil?
Thank you so so much! This cleared up so much confusion! I'm confident I can do an oil change! Thanks again!
12-24-2018, 07:58 AM
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Car: 1985 Z28 & 1997 Z28 SS SLP
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Re: Where do I put in the motor oil?
not sure if anyone already said this, but i like to put down a few rags around in case I drip oil, also, watch your funnel, as sometimes it will not flow fast/over fill, especially if you're using a 5 quart....i know.....I made a mess once/long time ago.....LOL
12-24-2018, 12:56 PM
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Car: 96 Impala 84 berlinetta
Engine: LT1
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Re: Where do I put in the motor oil?
My valve covers have horizontal chrome lines and says "edelbrock". The only holes on them are one on the driver side closest to the nose of the car. Then the passenger side has one towards the windshield of the car. Also.. I have my passenger side attached to my pcv. My driver side has an edelbrock breather thing on it. Is that right?
it is proper that you have a PCV on one cover and the breather on the other cover .. put oil in the engine on any cover .. it will drain in the engine oil pan down thru the head drain holes ..<br /><br />this lucas additive does work https://lucasoil.com/products/engine...e-tb-zinc-plus 2 to 4 OZ ..
Last edited by jcat; 12-24-2018 at 01:06 PM.
12-24-2018, 01:10 PM
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Car: 86 Camaro Sports Coupe
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Re: Where do I put in the motor oil?
12-24-2018, 09:06 PM
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Car: 84 TA orig. 305 LG4 "H" E4ME
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Re: Where do I put in the motor oil?
She managed to get 4 out of 5 quarts down the dipstick tube using a piece of notebook paper rolled into a funnel.
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