I run my car through hell... - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

DJ A · 08-04-2015, 02:25 AM

So I've been hearing of the Z/28 guys running 15w50 in their cars because of track...what I am trying to get at here is should I run a higher weight oil (sorry if that's not how you put it, not really familiar with oil terms)? I daily driver my car and I am not easy on my car by any means. Any chance I get I drop gears and slam the pedal (I do it only when there's open road in front of me...I don't want to risk others' lives) I'm asking since I am so hard on my car all the time should I run higher weighted oil? I always let my car idle up to 160* coolant temp too before I start to drive it. And yes I know with my driving habits it will shorten the lifespan of the engine so this is why I am asking this question, to help my engine out as much as I can. Thank you in advance!

P.S. I am also planning to track my car (drag race) frequently until winter starts.

P.P.S. Mods is this is in the wrong section, I am sorry, please move to the right section. I couldn't find any sub/forum about oils in the engines department, plus it's 1:30AM

christianchevell · 08-04-2015, 07:54 AM

our engine and oiling system is specifically made to use 5w30 any other oil voids the warranty, and is too heavy and will most likely starve the top end, this is not dads old impala..... I use driven racing ls30, sounds like you should too. BTW z28s a different engine and they may be screwed down the road.

Norm Peterson · 08-04-2015, 08:00 AM

"Because of track" to a Z/28 owner (and most 1LE owners who don't just street drive their cars as well) means four or more sessions of being continuously above 4000 rpm in the same day, and being completely at WOT for maybe half of that total time. None of the driving you mentioned comes even close to that, else you'd have been posting from the county lockup.

At least find out what your cam manufacturer might recommend for what's basically street/strip driving (where I guess a lot of your street driving is more like your strip driving than Z/28 or 1LE track driving). More cam and stiffer springs might call for more than what an all-OE engine needs to get.

I doubt you really need more than 10W40 even in ~100° heat, and since your driving sure sounds like "severe service" to me I'd be following that oil change and general maintenance schedule.

Norm

WoodBoss · 08-04-2015, 08:57 AM

When your engine oil gets hotter it can thin but if you use a good oil like Amsoil 5w30 it holds up very well at high temps. Keep an eye on your oil pressure at high rpms. According to Bob the Oil Guy if you have 10lbs pressure per 1K rpm that is good. So @ 5 k rpm you should have about 50 psi. I do not think thicker oil is good for our cars but that is just my opinion. Don't go above the 5w-x, the 5w is for cold starting conditions and has nothing to do with the viscosity at higher temps.

maddoggyusa · 08-04-2015, 10:00 AM

maybe use SAE 80 just to be sure... nice and THICK!!!

The OEM's will tell you that the clearances on the newer engines is smaller and they need lighter weight oils during normal use. I think another reason is lighter oil gives you slightly higher gas mileage (and slightly more power). if you hard on it, I'd just change oil more regularly.

ToddB · 08-04-2015, 11:44 AM

If you run Olive Oil you can get roughly 25 more HP than with 5w 30.

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2SScamaro2010 · 08-04-2015, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToddB

If you run Olive Oil you can get roughly 25 more HP than with 5w 30.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The extra virgin kind or just regular olive oil?

ToddB · 08-04-2015, 11:54 AM

Extra Virgin of course.

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DJ A · 08-04-2015, 12:02 PM

Haha thanks guys, I think I'll just use olive oil then!

but in all seriousness I'll probably start using ls30 then. And yes I check all my gauges religiously while driving and change my oil every 3k so I don't think I have any problems there.

gajagfan · 08-04-2015, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToddB

If you run Olive Oil you can get roughly 25 more HP than with 5w 30.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That will piss off Popeye!

Soybeanrice · 08-04-2015, 07:41 PM

Please dont put 15w in your car. Especially for just doing pulls. At tracks, youre above 4k RPMS the entire time... I hit 320 at the very end of a 20 minute session using the standard 5w30 from whatever the dealer put in. I changed it as soon as I got home with mobil1 5w30 and will see what happens with future track use. I just know that when I changed it, it was suuuperblack.

TLDR; Your pulls arent enough to justify even 10w.

DJ A · 08-04-2015, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soybeanrice

Please dont put 15w in your car. Especially for just doing pulls. At tracks, youre above 4k RPMS the entire time... I hit 320 at the very end of a 20 minute session using the standard 5w30 from whatever the dealer put in. I changed it as soon as I got home with mobil1 5w30 and will see what happens with future track use. I just know that when I changed it, it was suuuperblack.

TLDR; Your pulls arent enough to justify even 10w.

No worries I won't put that in my car. I was just wondering if I should be putting something different in my car which someone recommended ls30 and I've looked I to it and it seems like the better choice.

Rock-It Man · 08-04-2015, 08:24 PM

Change it more often but do not depart from the recommended 5W-30.

tomlink · 08-05-2015, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock-It Man

Change it more often but do not depart from the recommended 5W-30.

+1

08-04-2015, 02:25 AM	#1
DJ A Drives: Cammed 2010 SS Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 390	I run my car through hell... So I've been hearing of the Z/28 guys running 15w50 in their cars because of track...what I am trying to get at here is should I run a higher weight oil (sorry if that's not how you put it, not really familiar with oil terms)? I daily driver my car and I am not easy on my car by any means. Any chance I get I drop gears and slam the pedal (I do it only when there's open road in front of me...I don't want to risk others' lives) I'm asking since I am so hard on my car all the time should I run higher weighted oil? I always let my car idle up to 160* coolant temp too before I start to drive it. And yes I know with my driving habits it will shorten the lifespan of the engine so this is why I am asking this question, to help my engine out as much as I can. Thank you in advance! P.S. I am also planning to track my car (drag race) frequently until winter starts. P.P.S. Mods is this is in the wrong section, I am sorry, please move to the right section. I couldn't find any sub/forum about oils in the engines department, plus it's 1:30AM __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS LS3 - 450rwhp and 425tq - TSP 231/236 Cam, Dynatech 1 7/8" LT Headers, Dynatech Cat Delete, CAI Intake, BMR 1.4" Drop Springs, Hurst Short Throw Shifter, Magnaflow Street Series Axle-Back w/X-pipe - Tuned by Ivan @ SouthwestSpeed

08-04-2015, 07:54 AM	#2
christianchevell old school chevy rodder Drives: 2013 2SS/RS Manual,DM exhaust,CRT Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,587 View My Garage	our engine and oiling system is specifically made to use 5w30 any other oil voids the warranty, and is too heavy and will most likely starve the top end, this is not dads old impala..... I use driven racing ls30, sounds like you should too. BTW z28s a different engine and they may be screwed down the road. __________________ 2021 Wild Cherry ZL1 A10, Sunroof, Data, Carbon, Nav, RotoFab Dry CAI, Elite x2, Borla ATK, Driveshaft shop

08-04-2015, 08:00 AM	#3
Norm Peterson corner barstool sitter Drives: 08 Mustang GT, 19 WRX Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Eastern Time Zone Posts: 6,990	"Because of track" to a Z/28 owner (and most 1LE owners who don't just street drive their cars as well) means four or more sessions of being continuously above 4000 rpm in the same day, and being completely at WOT for maybe half of that total time. None of the driving you mentioned comes even close to that, else you'd have been posting from the county lockup. At least find out what your cam manufacturer might recommend for what's basically street/strip driving (where I guess a lot of your street driving is more like your strip driving than Z/28 or 1LE track driving). More cam and stiffer springs might call for more than what an all-OE engine needs to get. I doubt you really need more than 10W40 even in ~100° heat, and since your driving sure sounds like "severe service" to me I'd be following that oil change and general maintenance schedule. Norm __________________ '08 GT coupe 5M (the occasional track toy) '19 WRX 6M (the family sedan . . . seriously)

08-04-2015, 08:57 AM	#4
WoodBoss "Old School" Drives: 2010 2SS L99 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Sherrills Ford, NC Posts: 1,295	When your engine oil gets hotter it can thin but if you use a good oil like Amsoil 5w30 it holds up very well at high temps. Keep an eye on your oil pressure at high rpms. According to Bob the Oil Guy if you have 10lbs pressure per 1K rpm that is good. So @ 5 k rpm you should have about 50 psi. I do not think thicker oil is good for our cars but that is just my opinion. Don't go above the 5w-x, the 5w is for cold starting conditions and has nothing to do with the viscosity at higher temps. Last edited by WoodBoss; 08-04-2015 at 09:33 AM.

08-04-2015, 12:02 PM	#9
DJ A Drives: Cammed 2010 SS Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 390	Haha thanks guys, I think I'll just use olive oil then! but in all seriousness I'll probably start using ls30 then. And yes I check all my gauges religiously while driving and change my oil every 3k so I don't think I have any problems there. __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS LS3 - 450rwhp and 425tq - TSP 231/236 Cam, Dynatech 1 7/8" LT Headers, Dynatech Cat Delete, CAI Intake, BMR 1.4" Drop Springs, Hurst Short Throw Shifter, Magnaflow Street Series Axle-Back w/X-pipe - Tuned by Ivan @ SouthwestSpeed

08-04-2015, 10:00 AM	#5
maddoggyusa Drives: 2013 Camaro Dusk 2SS/6 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,586	maybe use SAE 80 just to be sure... nice and THICK!!! The OEM's will tell you that the clearances on the newer engines is smaller and they need lighter weight oils during normal use. I think another reason is lighter oil gives you slightly higher gas mileage (and slightly more power). if you hard on it, I'd just change oil more regularly.

08-04-2015, 11:44 AM	#6
ToddB Drives: 2011 2SS Convertible Supercharged Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: WI Cert Welder Navy NSSN Posts: 1,157	If you run Olive Oil you can get roughly 25 more HP than with 5w 30. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08-04-2015, 11:54 AM	#8
ToddB Drives: 2011 2SS Convertible Supercharged Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: WI Cert Welder Navy NSSN Posts: 1,157	Extra Virgin of course. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08-04-2015, 07:41 PM	#11
Soybeanrice Drives: 2014 2SS/RS Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 793	Please dont put 15w in your car. Especially for just doing pulls. At tracks, youre above 4k RPMS the entire time... I hit 320 at the very end of a 20 minute session using the standard 5w30 from whatever the dealer put in. I changed it as soon as I got home with mobil1 5w30 and will see what happens with future track use. I just know that when I changed it, it was suuuperblack. TLDR; Your pulls arent enough to justify even 10w.

08-04-2015, 08:24 PM	#13
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,033 View My Garage	Change it more often but do not depart from the recommended 5W-30.