Keep My 2SS Going

[Chewy]

Originally Posted by franknbeans

Roal Purple is suppse to be the best of the best. . . I never used it. . I use Mobil 1. . .Change oil filter at 3k. . at a qt and change filter and oil at 6k.

I've heard nothing but good things about Royal Purple, a bunch of guys @ the auto hobby shop on base swear by it.

my car's tranny claims "Lifetime oil, do not change - buuuulll shiza! i've got other pics of the gray sludge from a guys tranny pan after 80k miles. i'd go by rule of thumb on that, not the manual

[Chrisrp454]

My 98 Z28 just hit 228,000 miles its my daily driver, about 80 miles a day.
At about 20,000 miles I put in Castrol SYNTEC. I have had no engine problems at all.
I go between 10-15k miles between changes.

Just my 2cents

[Speedy1975]

First off, Royal Purple is crap from the analysis I've seen.

If you want to read up on oil, and what is best, check out real life examples at www.bobistheoilguy.com and look at the forums. Those guys really know their stuff and have oil analysis reports to back up what they tell you.

I have a friend who works in automotive oil testing. He says to go 1K miles for every quart the engine holds. So if the oil capacity is 5 qts, then 5K miles for oil changes. Don't bother with synthetic unless you're going to do extended oil change intervals of 10K miles or more.

I use Castrol GTX and have good oil analysis reports from it with a 5,000 mile interval.

If you want to use synthetic, Penzoil Platinum gets great results on 10,000 mile intervals in most cars. Again just review the oil analysis reports at the link above, or better yet have a couple performed on your Camaro to determine IT's best interval. I recommend Black Stone Labs.

Standard transmission fluid changes are every 30K miles.

As for the interior, use good cleaning/conditioning products like those from www.griotsgarage.com and especially the leather cleaner/conditioner if you went that route. Also use a steam cleaner on the carpet once yearly.

[radz28]

Search Patman on LS1tech. He's done many oil analysis on his own car with about every oil out there. I don't think he changes his oil LESS than 10K, because he uses synthetic and just like was already posted, the oil doesn't break down, just gets contaminated by the combustion processes and water.

[Speedy1975]

Originally Posted by radz282003

Search Patman on LS1tech. He's done many oil analysis on his own car with about every oil out there. I don't think he changes his oil LESS than 10K, because he uses synthetic and just like was already posted, the oil doesn't break down, just gets contaminated by the combustion processes and water.

The oil does "change" some with use. I'm not sure if it's classified as breaking down or not, but that's what I'd consider it. Oil will change viscosity as it's used. For example a 10W40 becomes a 5W20 etc. Again, this is something oil analysis can show. The better oils will not break down, that is change viscosity, as much over time.

[dieseldave24v]

Originally Posted by CWIweldace

I have an uncle that retired after a lifetime of being an automatic transmission specialist. He always recommended fluid and filter change after 50K. As long as the clutch packs have not been burned and the shifting is normal, there is really no need to take any action. That's why there is a dipstick and no drain plug usually. Pull the dipstick occasionaly, which most oil change centers do for you, to see if the fluid is clean. Smell it to see if it smells burnt. If not and fluid level is normal you have nothing to worry about. If the fluid doesn't look or smell normal you could have any of several problems. IE: torque converter, clutch pack, planeteary gears, etc.

This where we agree to disagree........I have been inside countless trannys as well. Mostley 4L60E, 4L80E TH 350 and TH400 and the occasional powerglide....That said. If you do believe in changing tranny fluid it needs to be done regualary like the manufacture suggest. Here is the problem.....before I start let it be known that I fought myself for a while before starting this debate. If you disagree that is fine...Differnt strokes for differnt folks


Waiting to change the fluid extended periods of time causes a build up of particles in between the friction plates. By driving the car like this it puts small grooves in the friction plates....This is not really that bad of a thing. The particles will stay there and cause the plates to continue gripping. No big deal. However, by changing the fluid once these particlaes are in place it can wash them away from the detergants in the new fluid. Especially if you flush the tranny with a pump

I dont believe in changing tranny fluid. Most people do and thats fine. Lets put it in to perspective. Right now I have 163,000 miles on my 2000 dodge ram 2500 diesel. NEVER have I changed the tranny fluid. Never. I pulled bulldozers horse trailers across country. The truck has been through hell and back. Not to mention it came with 235 HP and 500 TQ and is now putting 328 750 to the wheels. Back to putting it in to perspective a transmission flush is ussually over 100 dollars, so lets sat you change it every 10K miles as recomended in this thread that would be 1600 dollars when a replacment tranny would cost me 1800. Doesnt make sense to me. Even if my tranny failed today 160K plus is not a bad run for a auto tranny.

Those of you that do your own maintenace. By droping the pan and changing the fluid and filter you have accomplished almost nothing. The TC hold more fluid than the pan does in most cases and with the pump not running "car off" there is no way to get the rest of it out. Now you are mixing old fluid with new.


Take this for what its worth and I am not trying to sell my views to anyone on here. If you change your fluid then good on you.

[Speedy1975]

Originally Posted by dieseldave24v

Waiting to change the fluid extended periods of time causes a build up of particles in between the friction plates. By driving the car like this it puts small grooves in the friction plates....This is not really that bad of a thing. The particles will stay there and cause the plates to continue gripping. No big deal. However, by changing the fluid once these particlaes are in place it can wash them away from the detergants in the new fluid. Especially if you flush the tranny with a pump

Those of you that do your own maintenace. By droping the pan and changing the fluid and filter you have accomplished almost nothing. The TC hold more fluid than the pan does in most cases and with the pump not running "car off" there is no way to get the rest of it out. Now you are mixing old fluid with new.

I have a shop do tranny flushes. You have to be careful that the right equipment is used. You don't want one that forces the fluid through the system. You want one that uses the cars pump to cycle the fluid. This is the best, most complete, and safest way to flush the system with new fluid.

[jimbo57]

Originally Posted by 99b4c

I run mobile 1 in all my vehicles and change it every 3-4K. I would change the trans fluid and filter at 10k and every 30-40k, rearend lube at 10k,every 50k after IMO.

i do the same. works for me

[SScattergunSS]

Originally Posted by dieseldave24v

This where we agree to disagree........I have been inside countless trannys as well. Mostley 4L60E, 4L80E TH 350 and TH400 and the occasional powerglide....That said. If you do believe in changing tranny fluid it needs to be done regualary like the manufacture suggest. Here is the problem.....before I start let it be known that I fought myself for a while before starting this debate. If you disagree that is fine...Differnt strokes for differnt folks


Waiting to change the fluid extended periods of time causes a build up of particles in between the friction plates. By driving the car like this it puts small grooves in the friction plates....This is not really that bad of a thing. The particles will stay there and cause the plates to continue gripping. No big deal. However, by changing the fluid once these particlaes are in place it can wash them away from the detergants in the new fluid. Especially if you flush the tranny with a pump

I dont believe in changing tranny fluid. Most people do and thats fine. Lets put it in to perspective. Right now I have 163,000 miles on my 2000 dodge ram 2500 diesel. NEVER have I changed the tranny fluid. Never. I pulled bulldozers horse trailers across country. The truck has been through hell and back. Not to mention it came with 235 HP and 500 TQ and is now putting 328 750 to the wheels. Back to putting it in to perspective a transmission flush is ussually over 100 dollars, so lets sat you change it every 10K miles as recomended in this thread that would be 1600 dollars when a replacment tranny would cost me 1800. Doesnt make sense to me. Even if my tranny failed today 160K plus is not a bad run for a auto tranny.

Those of you that do your own maintenace. By droping the pan and changing the fluid and filter you have accomplished almost nothing. The TC hold more fluid than the pan does in most cases and with the pump not running "car off" there is no way to get the rest of it out. Now you are mixing old fluid with new.


Take this for what its worth and I am not trying to sell my views to anyone on here. If you change your fluid then good on you.

I found your post very interesting, thanks for posting it.

[Sterling]

I say let your Camaro tell you when to change the oil. It tells you the % of your oil life left before you need to change it. It monitors how many times you start the car, the temperature of the oil and how long you drive the car between starts. Not everyone drives their car the same. Your Camaro will be the best judge of when it needs it's oil changed, and will probably save you some money if you pay attention to it.

[TFord]

Originally Posted by dieseldave24v

This where we agree to disagree........I have been inside countless trannys as well. Mostley 4L60E, 4L80E TH 350 and TH400 and the occasional powerglide....That said. If you do believe in changing tranny fluid it needs to be done regualary like the manufacture suggest. Here is the problem.....before I start let it be known that I fought myself for a while before starting this debate. If you disagree that is fine...Differnt strokes for differnt folks


Waiting to change the fluid extended periods of time causes a build up of particles in between the friction plates. By driving the car like this it puts small grooves in the friction plates....This is not really that bad of a thing. The particles will stay there and cause the plates to continue gripping. No big deal. However, by changing the fluid once these particlaes are in place it can wash them away from the detergants in the new fluid. Especially if you flush the tranny with a pump

I dont believe in changing tranny fluid. Most people do and thats fine. Lets put it in to perspective. Right now I have 163,000 miles on my 2000 dodge ram 2500 diesel. NEVER have I changed the tranny fluid. Never. I pulled bulldozers horse trailers across country. The truck has been through hell and back. Not to mention it came with 235 HP and 500 TQ and is now putting 328 750 to the wheels. Back to putting it in to perspective a transmission flush is ussually over 100 dollars, so lets sat you change it every 10K miles as recomended in this thread that would be 1600 dollars when a replacment tranny would cost me 1800. Doesnt make sense to me. Even if my tranny failed today 160K plus is not a bad run for a auto tranny.

Those of you that do your own maintenace. By droping the pan and changing the fluid and filter you have accomplished almost nothing. The TC hold more fluid than the pan does in most cases and with the pump not running "car off" there is no way to get the rest of it out. Now you are mixing old fluid with new.


Take this for what its worth and I am not trying to sell my views to anyone on here. If you change your fluid then good on you.

Ditto, My Old camaro had 180K+ miles on her when I traded her in, and Ive drove her cross country more than 4 times.

[LSxJunkie]

Originally Posted by Scott@Bjorn3D

I am going to be 46 if GM survives and get my 2SS. I plan on this being my last car. Meaning I want to keep it running 30 years.

With that said can any of you car buffs tell me the following:

1. Best Oil to use.
2. How often to change it
3. How often change transmission fluid. Going with Auto.

And last but not least what do you guys use to keep interior in good shape and how often?

Thanks

Scott

In my GTO, I used Amsoil in the motor and trans. Changed it every 3000 miles without fail. Trans was every 5, but that was a T56 seeing a LOT of racing. Used Torco in the diff.

Originally Posted by Supermans

What is a rear-end lube?

Diff fluid. It's an oil plus friction modifier.

Originally Posted by matt55

All synthetic are not full synthetic , do a little more digging and you see what Iam talking about .

I run Amsoil's fluids and like them very much .
If you what to run Mobil 1 get the "Extended Performance" oil .

And for the love of your car dont use R.P. rearend fluid , Ive seen independent test where it thins WAY out quickly .

+1 on the Amsoil.

[05Z33]

Hello everyone, this is my first post, and since the topic is which is the best oil I thought I would throw in this link. I came over here from the Z forums as I hope to be a future Camaro owner. I pulled this link from My350Z.com; which is very informative as to which oil is best for your motor. Obviously it is geared toward the VQ motor, but read through this thread and it can guide you in the right direction as to which Oil will be best for the LS3.

http://my350z.com/forum/engine-drive...ysis-info.html

[camaro5]

Originally Posted by Scott@Bjorn3D

I am going to be 46 if GM survives and get my 2SS. I plan on this being my last car. Meaning I want to keep it running 30 years.

With that said can any of you car buffs tell me the following:

1. Best Oil to use.
2. How often to change it
3. How often change transmission fluid. Going with Auto.

And last but not least what do you guys use to keep interior in good shape and how often?

Thanks

Scott

1. Mobil 1

2. 3-5000 miles

3. 50,000 miles for auto.

Armor all or similar every six months, Tough-Stuff to clean interior, and silicone spray or grease for all weatherstripping.