My car has 81,000 original miles, unrebuilt engine. I live in S. California, so cold temp isn't a factor. Is 20W50 a good choice for oil? It seems like 10W30, or 10W40 isn't necessary in regards to the low end. Any recommendations?
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Re: '66 350HP OIL WEIGHT CHOICE
Use 15W-40 API CI-4 heavy duty diesel engine oil - Chevron Delo, Shell Rotella, or Mobil Delvac. All three are widely availalbe and there is lots of discussion on this subject in the archives.
Duke -
Re: '66 350HP OIL WEIGHT CHOICE
Duke,
I checked in the archives before posting my question. Nothing came up under oil viscosity, or oil weight. Maybe I didn't go back far enough....Thanks...Comment
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Re: '66 350HP OIL WEIGHT CHOICE
Okay, read this recent thread on the Corvette Forum:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...560&forum_id=4
DukeComment
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VERY INTERESTING DUKE....THANKS... *NM*
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Re: '66 350HP OIL WEIGHT CHOICE
Duke,
Great information....what was the answer to the oil filter question?? Can we use the same oil filter as used with Mobile 1 synthetic??Comment
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Re: '66 350HP OIL WEIGHT CHOICE
Here's the deal on oil filters - based on some SAE papers I have read. On a typical running engine the minimum bearing clearance is about 20 microns, so if you have a "10 micron filter" (90 percent of 10 micron particles are trapped in a single pass), it's not likely that particles 20 microns or more will reach the bearings. Particles less than 20 microns will typically pass theough the bearings without creating any damage.
Over the years, filter media have improved, so I see no reason not to continue using the replaceable cartrige filter on vintage Corvettes since they use modern filter media that meet current OE and SAE requirements for automotive oil filters.
The research papers indicated that particle generation is primarily an engine break-in phenomenon. Once this is complete, very few particles are generated until the engine approaches end of life and the wear rate accelerates. This implies that changing the filter with every oil change may not be necessary, especially if the engine sees low mileage accumulation between oil changes. In the case of a vintage Corvette, you could just remove the cannister, empty it - to remove all the old oil - fill it with fresh oil (I do this because it takes less time for pressure to come up on startup because the pump does not have to fill the filter), and reinstall.
The above also implies that it would be a good idea to change the filter after the first few hundred miles on a new car, eventhough OEMs don't typically don't recommend this, but the factory fill oil is okay for the full recommended service inteval.
A couple of my cars have "upside down" filters, and in order to avoid spilling oil when they are removed I puncture the top of them which allows the oil to drain down. This precludes their reuse, so they have to be replaced, and given the cost and convenience of just installing a new spin on filter or cartridge I always change the filter as SOP - not necessarily because the filter needs replacement, but just of ensure that as much of the old oil as possible is removed.
DukeComment
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Re: '66 350HP OIL WEIGHT CHOICE
Duke - I found this oil filter study interesting too.....Craig
Oil Filter StudyComment
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Re: '66 350HP OIL WEIGHT CHOICE
The paper I am referring to is SAE 8818825 Correlating Lube Oil Filtration Efficiencies with Engine Wear by David R. Staley, GMC.
Is that the one you read?
DukeComment
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