Let's talk about servicing our Camaros

[camaro5]

NOTHING, will preserve your investment better than regular oil changes.

[fastball]

What are the viscosity ratings for AMSOIL/Royal Purple? It sounds like it's rather thick, but people seem to swear by them in all sorts of engine applications (BMWs, Honda DOHC VTEC, GM LSx series, you name it).

I'm partial to Mobil 1, 5w-30 (unless GM starts to use 5w-20 like some manufacturers are doing).

I will always change my own oil, even under warranty. I can take my time, and after filling it I always take it for an easy drive around the block for all the oil to circulate, and then check the level again and add if needed - I doubt any Chevy dealer is going to go through that trouble.

Under warranty if anything goes wrong I will obviously take it to the dealer, but after that I will do all of my own maintenance and repairs within reason. Things I can't do myself (tires) I take to someone who can do it right (i.e. understands how to mount/remove tires with TPS sensors) without charging an arm and a leg (dealers are typically the most expensive when it comes to this stuff).

[camaro5]

Royal Purple certainly has a full-fledged "cult following".

However, I don't think you can go wrong with Mobil 1. It's also what GM fills it with at the factory (LS3 for sure), and it's what they recommend for the life of the vehicle.

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by zforce

First, I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and suggestions on oil and change intervals (even though it was not my thread, I sure learned plenty).

Second, I like to say that I plan on changing the oil on my 2010 Camaro twice a year (spring and again in the fall) since for starters, doing your own oil change gives you the opportunity to give the car a look over and hopefully spot things that need to be taken care of before they become a problem. It's also an opportunity to know your car, inside out.

For me, the two most important things in knowing your car's condition are an oil change, and washing the car. When I slide under the car I get the chance to look over the breaks, steering mechanism and frame. When I had wash my car I insect the entire body for dings, scratches and chips.

Call it what you will, to me a car is more than just a machine to get me from point a to point b. Changing the oil and washing the car gives me the opportunity to know what is going on with the car and the condition it is in. So for that reason I will do my own oil changes and as oil is concerned, I guess I’ll be using synthetic oil, as many of your posts have good things to say.

Again thanks.

the new camaro will be coming from the factory with synthetic oil, so just stick with whatever it comes with (more than likely M1 5w-30)

Originally Posted by fastball

What are the viscosity ratings for AMSOIL/Royal Purple? It sounds like it's rather thick, but people seem to swear by them in all sorts of engine applications (BMWs, Honda DOHC VTEC, GM LSx series, you name it).

I'm partial to Mobil 1, 5w-30 (unless GM starts to use 5w-20 like some manufacturers are doing).

I will always change my own oil, even under warranty. I can take my time, and after filling it I always take it for an easy drive around the block for all the oil to circulate, and then check the level again and add if needed - I doubt any Chevy dealer is going to go through that trouble.

viscosity ratings for amsoil/rp are the same as m1, or any other oil company,

you can get them in whatever weight you want... 5-30, 0-30, 10-30, 5-40, 10-40, 10-50, 20-50, etc.

its not just one specific weight.

Originally Posted by camaro5

Royal Purple certainly has a full-fledged "cult following".

However, I don't think you can go wrong with Mobil 1. It's also what GM fills it with at the factory (LS3 for sure), and it's what they recommend for the life of the vehicle.

M1 is a good oil. they also have some damn good filters to boot. and they are reasonably priced as well.

[2001ragtop]

Originally Posted by PsyDoc

Honestly, most dealers (not all) pay their "oil guys" next to nothing for doing an oil change and the faster they do it, the more they make. They rush the job and are not exactly careful when moving the cars. In my experience, they do not seem to care about the cars the way many of us do. The dings that have been put in many of my cars have come from a dealer employee. The dealer has always denied it and that walk around sheet they filled out did not amount to damn thing. The oil stains on my carpet, door panel, fender/front fascia/hood, steering wheel, seat, and anywhere else the guy chose to touch took me longer to clean up than doing the oil change myself...which I do. I've brought such "inattentiveness" up in the past and asked that it be cleaned off. I've gotten responses, such as "Your kidding, right?" I see the dealer only when necessary.

As inconvenient as it is, I agree with you completely. I always do my oil change myself. I don't want to see a guy with oil pouring down his arm go sit in my car, which I have seen. I have found oil on the door panel, steering wheel and shifter. Also if they strip your drain plug, pour in the wrong weight of oil, anything. you can only blame yourself because you agreed to let someone else do it. Adios

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by TRIXXTERR

TRUE.. Although FORD is the only one I KNOW to have Done This..FORD REQUIRES 5-20. I Had A Customer Put 10-30 In his 08 f-150 and then went to the local dealer with a ticking noise, They checked it out and TESTED his oil, Found It Wasnt The proper 5-20 oil. AND VOIDED his powertrain warranty On the Spot, Maybe this dealer was being an ASS about things but, Dont say they cant do it.. I Know it has been done.

They can't legally void his whole powertrain warranty; all they can do is deny the claim for the ticking noise -- legally, anyway. When they pull something like that, the legal battle to force them to comply could be costly so they've effectively gotten away with it unless you can find free legal representation (which may be possible from a consumer watchdog group or by getting some publicity as a consumer being abused by a big company).

That said, why the heck would someone put 10w30 in an engine designed for 5w20? I would think that it's obvious to most people that the engine may not be capable of moving the thicker oil fast enough...but I'm no engine engineer, so I can't say that I'm SURE of that idea. I just know that they have a lot to lose by specifying less than the perfect oil weight; a reputation for early engine failure will destroy sales quickly, so what the manual specifies is almost certainly the right weight.

Originally Posted by camaro5

NOTHING, will preserve your investment better than regular oil changes.

That depends on how you use it. I'd say following the service schedule as a whole is far more important than having perfect oil change habits. Oh, and a car isn't an investment.

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by theholycow

Oh, and a car isn't an investment.

as much of an investment as a relationship/marriage.... if not more.

[camaro5]

Originally Posted by theholycow

They can't legally void his whole powertrain warranty; all they can do is deny the claim for the ticking noise -- legally, anyway. When they pull something like that, the legal battle to force them to comply could be costly so they've effectively gotten away with it unless you can find free legal representation (which may be possible from a consumer watchdog group or by getting some publicity as a consumer being abused by a big company).

That said, why the heck would someone put 10w30 in an engine designed for 5w20? I would think that it's obvious to most people that the engine may not be capable of moving the thicker oil fast enough...but I'm no engine engineer, so I can't say that I'm SURE of that idea. I just know that they have a lot to lose by specifying less than the perfect oil weight; a reputation for early engine failure will destroy sales quickly, so what the manual specifies is almost certainly the right weight.



That depends on how you use it. I'd say following the service schedule as a whole is far more important than having perfect oil change habits. Oh, and a car isn't an investment.

You're right, I was trying to be nice... It's a MONEY PIT. A hole in the pavement. Kiss your money good-bye.

GM won't even lease anything anymore because the resale values are dropping SO FAST, that they are not willing to lose BILLIONS more on undervalued residual values. Ahh, that's better.

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by CamaroSpike23

as much of an investment as a relationship/marriage.... if not more.

Way to set the bar low.

[TRIXXTERR]

Originally Posted by theholycow

That said, why the heck would someone put 10w30 in an engine designed for 5w20? I would think that it's obvious to most people that the engine may not be capable of moving the thicker oil fast enough...but I'm no engine engineer, so I can't say that I'm SURE of that idea. I just know that they have a lot to lose by specifying less than the perfect oil weight; a reputation for early engine failure will destroy sales quickly, so what the manual specifies is almost certainly the right weight.

Well the answer to that is simple MOST people Who Are NOT car enthusiests either dont . A) CARE. B) KNOW. Or C) are just to STUPID to look.

Most The Ones I Deal With Are a combination of A) and B).


And Then there are the ones who have
""just always done it that way, and its never hurt it before..""

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by theholycow

Way to set the bar low.

well, look at how much time and money we put into our cars, and look at how much time and money goes into a lasting relationship...

I paid more for the rock on her hand than I have put into all of my cars over the years.

[ctk1]

" Tirty Dolla, Tirty Dolla Oil Change...It luv u long time!"

"Question is, when you turn on your car, does it return the favor?"

[Black5thgen]

I just found out that I get free oil changes for life from the dealer. Since the SS takes 7 some odd quarts of very pricey mobile 1, I'll be taking it to the dealer.

[rolnslo]

Originally Posted by Black5thgen

I just found out that I get free oil changes for life from the dealer. Since the SS takes 7 some odd quarts of very pricey mobile 1, I'll be taking it to the dealer.

Check the fine print on that offer...Our local Ford dealer has the same type of offer but it is only valid for non-synthetic oil changes and does not apply to engines that use synthetic oil and/or diesel engines.