Oil, Oil, and more Oil! - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

B-_-RAD · 01-30-2014, 12:09 AM

For those of you that have done a cam swap, what oil are you using, and why? I've heard many people say M1 is fine but I am thinking of switching over to vr1. For those who are using vr1 are you using the conventional (silver bottle) or synthetic (black bottle)?

mdub76 · 01-30-2014, 05:00 AM

Use Royal Purple HPS 10w30. What the shop recommends for the zinc

The Blue Ox · 01-30-2014, 05:29 AM

VR1 Synthetic! I have been using Valvoline for a long time!
I first started using Valvoline back in the late 70's after an older fellow told me a story about Valvoline! He raced VW rails( I had a pretty fast one) and ran Castrol. Castrol is supposedly made for air cooled engines. He took his car out on the track and shortly after, his red oil light lit up! He brought the car in, dumped the Castrol out and replaced it with Valvoline! He got back out on the track and the light never came on again!! ..... That's what sold me, on Valvoline!!

IMO, Valvoline, keeps the engine cleaner on the inside, than a lot of other oils!!

mikeyg36 · 01-30-2014, 05:40 AM

Do not use M1with a cam swap. Look for an oil that has a good amount of zinc.

jgray1978 · 01-30-2014, 06:53 AM

I've heard too that M1 is a no-go. I've used M1 Gold in my Caddy and conversion van for years. I have yet to change the oil in the Camaro but will too be visiting your subject matter soon.

bkscott · 01-30-2014, 07:16 AM

Mobil 1 15w50 per my Builder. Due to the Zinc.

Bo White · 01-30-2014, 07:23 AM

The main reason Mobil is heard about on this subject is its the most commonly used oil by far. Not saying that there's nothing else to it but just on the mathematical odds of it. I use it now but I'm stock internal. Will I change when I do my cam swap? Probably not but will run a zinc additive if I do stick with Mobil.

B-_-RAD · 01-30-2014, 08:59 AM

The zinc additive is too expensive, it was like $13-$17 a bottle and only does 4-6 qts. There is so much conflicting info, I think im just going to go with vr1. I'm doing the night fury cam and they said its fine to use m1 though

BooSSted · 01-30-2014, 09:33 AM

I've read with the properties of today's oils, a "additive" may not bond / mix with your current oil defeating the process of using or adding zinc (ZDDP) content. Which oil contains the highest levels of ZDDP, I've heard good things on the Mobil 1. There is a good report on this site crushing some of the popular like the Royal Purple finishing last...

bkscott · 01-30-2014, 09:37 AM

Mobil 1 15w50 has a Hi zinc content.

B-_-RAD · 01-30-2014, 10:18 AM

50wt is way to thick for a daily driver imo.

bkscott · 01-30-2014, 01:42 PM

I guess it depends on where you live.

B-_-RAD · 01-30-2014, 04:38 PM

^ Yes it does. Too cold here unfortunately.

According to comp the cam should be broken in with break in oil and treated like a flat tappet cam on the first start. Has anyone on here actually used break in oil with a new cam?

Bo White · 01-30-2014, 05:56 PM

First I've heard of breaking in a roller cam.

01-30-2014, 12:09 AM	#1
B-_-RAD Banned Drives: ... Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: ... Posts: 398	Oil, Oil, and more Oil! For those of you that have done a cam swap, what oil are you using, and why? I've heard many people say M1 is fine but I am thinking of switching over to vr1. For those who are using vr1 are you using the conventional (silver bottle) or synthetic (black bottle)?

01-30-2014, 07:16 AM	#6
bkscott Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Grand Prairie, Texas Posts: 1,608 View My Garage	Mobil 1 15w50 per my Builder. Due to the Zinc. __________________ 94 Firebird Formula (Drowned 08/30/05) 2010 IBM 2SS/RS 6M Arrived 3/25/10. ADM CAI, Borla Type S Cat Back, VMAX Ported TB, LG Short Throw Shifter, 1LE Shocks, Hotchkis Sway Bars, Whiteline Cradle Bushing Inserts, Custom Powdercoated ZL1's ,Michelin Pilot Supersports, Stainless Power Headers, Solo J Pipes, AAC LED Sidemarkers, ZL1 Rockers, SLP Splitter, ADM Stage II Cam,ZL1 Diffuser,Vitesse Throttle Controller.

01-30-2014, 07:23 AM	#7
Bo White Drives: 2015 Summit White 2SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Vance Alabama Posts: 8,019	The main reason Mobil is heard about on this subject is its the most commonly used oil by far. Not saying that there's nothing else to it but just on the mathematical odds of it. I use it now but I'm stock internal. Will I change when I do my cam swap? Probably not but will run a zinc additive if I do stick with Mobil. __________________ Retired wanna be cylinder head porter 2015 2SS 1LE Clutch reservoir, Vararam DRX, ported TB, TSP 2" headers, MGW shifter Totalled: 2010 1SS Wilkes Performance/Eagle 416 shortblock, TSP custom valvetrain, PRC 260 heads, Edelbrock Pro Flo 102, th400 swap, 8" PTC 5500 stall= 535/435 at the wheels tuned Gen 3 Performance and Dyno 10.97 @ 124 full weight in 3100 DA CamaroFest X

01-30-2014, 09:37 AM	#10
bkscott Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Grand Prairie, Texas Posts: 1,608 View My Garage	Mobil 1 15w50 has a Hi zinc content. __________________ 94 Firebird Formula (Drowned 08/30/05) 2010 IBM 2SS/RS 6M Arrived 3/25/10. ADM CAI, Borla Type S Cat Back, VMAX Ported TB, LG Short Throw Shifter, 1LE Shocks, Hotchkis Sway Bars, Whiteline Cradle Bushing Inserts, Custom Powdercoated ZL1's ,Michelin Pilot Supersports, Stainless Power Headers, Solo J Pipes, AAC LED Sidemarkers, ZL1 Rockers, SLP Splitter, ADM Stage II Cam,ZL1 Diffuser,Vitesse Throttle Controller.

01-30-2014, 01:42 PM	#12
bkscott Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Grand Prairie, Texas Posts: 1,608 View My Garage	I guess it depends on where you live. __________________ 94 Firebird Formula (Drowned 08/30/05) 2010 IBM 2SS/RS 6M Arrived 3/25/10. ADM CAI, Borla Type S Cat Back, VMAX Ported TB, LG Short Throw Shifter, 1LE Shocks, Hotchkis Sway Bars, Whiteline Cradle Bushing Inserts, Custom Powdercoated ZL1's ,Michelin Pilot Supersports, Stainless Power Headers, Solo J Pipes, AAC LED Sidemarkers, ZL1 Rockers, SLP Splitter, ADM Stage II Cam,ZL1 Diffuser,Vitesse Throttle Controller.

01-30-2014, 05:00 AM	#2
mdub76 Drives: 2010 2ss/RS IOM GFX M6 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: virginia Posts: 150 View My Garage	Use Royal Purple HPS 10w30. What the shop recommends for the zinc

01-30-2014, 05:29 AM	#3
The Blue Ox Drives: 2010 SS L99 Inferno Orange Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Texas Coast Posts: 1,167	VR1 Synthetic! I have been using Valvoline for a long time! I first started using Valvoline back in the late 70's after an older fellow told me a story about Valvoline! He raced VW rails( I had a pretty fast one) and ran Castrol. Castrol is supposedly made for air cooled engines. He took his car out on the track and shortly after, his red oil light lit up! He brought the car in, dumped the Castrol out and replaced it with Valvoline! He got back out on the track and the light never came on again!! ..... That's what sold me, on Valvoline!! IMO, Valvoline, keeps the engine cleaner on the inside, than a lot of other oils!!

01-30-2014, 05:40 AM	#4
mikeyg36 Drives: 2015 Z/28 #533 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: NY Posts: 6,731	Do not use M1with a cam swap. Look for an oil that has a good amount of zinc.

01-30-2014, 06:53 AM	#5
jgray1978 Drives: '12 2SS/RS 45th vert, '14 2SS/RS Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Claremore, Oklahoma Posts: 840 View My Garage	I've heard too that M1 is a no-go. I've used M1 Gold in my Caddy and conversion van for years. I have yet to change the oil in the Camaro but will too be visiting your subject matter soon.

01-30-2014, 08:59 AM	#8
B-_-RAD Banned Drives: ... Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: ... Posts: 398	The zinc additive is too expensive, it was like $13-$17 a bottle and only does 4-6 qts. There is so much conflicting info, I think im just going to go with vr1. I'm doing the night fury cam and they said its fine to use m1 though

01-30-2014, 09:33 AM	#9
BooSSted Drives: 2017 Z06 / 2012 CTS Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: NY Posts: 731	I've read with the properties of today's oils, a "additive" may not bond / mix with your current oil defeating the process of using or adding zinc (ZDDP) content. Which oil contains the highest levels of ZDDP, I've heard good things on the Mobil 1. There is a good report on this site crushing some of the popular like the Royal Purple finishing last...

01-30-2014, 10:18 AM	#11
B-_-RAD Banned Drives: ... Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: ... Posts: 398	50wt is way to thick for a daily driver imo.

01-30-2014, 04:38 PM	#13
B-_-RAD Banned Drives: ... Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: ... Posts: 398	^ Yes it does. Too cold here unfortunately. According to comp the cam should be broken in with break in oil and treated like a flat tappet cam on the first start. Has anyone on here actually used break in oil with a new cam?

01-30-2014, 05:56 PM	#14
Bo White Drives: 2015 Summit White 2SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Vance Alabama Posts: 8,019	First I've heard of breaking in a roller cam. __________________ Retired wanna be cylinder head porter 2015 2SS 1LE Clutch reservoir, Vararam DRX, ported TB, TSP 2" headers, MGW shifter Totalled: 2010 1SS Wilkes Performance/Eagle 416 shortblock, TSP custom valvetrain, PRC 260 heads, Edelbrock Pro Flo 102, th400 swap, 8" PTC 5500 stall= 535/435 at the wheels tuned Gen 3 Performance and Dyno 10.97 @ 124 full weight in 3100 DA CamaroFest X