Oil choice for mild 305 Chevy small block in a caprice

[53' Stude]

Helping friend fix up a 88’ Caprice with 305 Chevy small block. Just about rebuilt mainly stock. Dad donated bunch of time, tools and wisdom. Gonna have a Carter 2bbl carb on it; occasional driver vehicle.


Told friend I’d stick with a 10w30 off shelf oil or if he has money; try some HPL 10w30 PCMO. What would you folks suggest?

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Helping friend fix up a 88’ Caprice with 305 Chevy small block. Just about rebuilt mainly stock. Dad donated bunch of time, tools and wisdom. Gonna have a Carter 2bbl carb on it; occasional driver vehicle.


Told friend I’d stick with a 10w30 off shelf oil or if he has money; try some HPL 10w30 PCMO. What would you folks suggest?

Adam I had a 1979 Caprice with a 305 very likely the identical engine it ran 10W-30 in it for its complete life. When I traded it off it had 150,000 miles on it and require no top off between OCI.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

That'll run on anything

Pick out any 5w30 or 10w30 on sale at a good price.

 

[53' Stude]

Adam I had a 1979 Caprice with a 305 very likely the identical engine it ran 10W-30 in it for its complete life. When I traded it off it had 150,000 miles on it and require no top off between OCI.

Have quite a bit of rotella T Dino 10w30 and Traveller Sun 10w30. Even some Pennzoil hm 10w30.

 

[skippermatt]

Valvoline vr1 10w30. Redline 10w30 or 10w40. I’ve used redline 10w40 in every small block Chevy I’ve owned and it’s worked fine.

 

[nickaluch]

Valvoline white bottle 10/30

 

[Rogueman2016s]

10w30 will be fine.

 

[BrendanC]

Helping friend fix up a 88’ Caprice with 305 Chevy small block. Just about rebuilt mainly stock. Dad donated bunch of time, tools and wisdom. Gonna have a Carter 2bbl carb on it; occasional driver vehicle.


Told friend I’d stick with a 10w30 off shelf oil or if he has money; try some HPL 10w30 PCMO. What would you folks suggest?

being carb’d id be worried about fuel dilution. i’d stick to cheap 10w-30 or some 15w-40 and change often.

 

[addyguy]

Those engines lunch themselves - I’d want lots of viscosity and higher Zinc to protect - the HDEO 10W-30 would work, but for what I’m assuming is warm summer cruising, 15W-40 would be better.

 

[Slick3914]

Have quite a bit of rotella T Dino 10w30 and Traveller Sun 10w30. Even some Pennzoil hm 10w30.

The Rotella would be ideal.

 

[350Rocket]

If it's the original engine, 88 is a roller cam engine. I'd still run m1 0w40 in it if it was mine.
I had 332k miles on an 89 when it was retired due to rust. These are nearly indestructible engines.

 

[Bighorn2500]

Have quite a bit of rotella T Dino 10w30 and Traveller Sun 10w30. Even some Pennzoil hm 10w30.

I run what you have, those are more than sufficient.

 

[Malo83]

Switch off between 5w30 and 10w30 in my 83 305, 10w30 being the primary oil since new.

 

[wlk]

Have quite a bit of rotella T Dino 10w30 and Traveller Sun 10w30. Even some Pennzoil hm 10w30.

These are good choices, even 10w40 dino would be fine. I would find a quadrajet carb for it, loved mine on my 86 (84 maybe can't remember which) Caprice.

 

[Glenda W.]

I had good luck with Chevron Supreme 10w-30 in that vintage small block.

 

[72C10]

10W30 is what I run in my small block.

 

[subyski]

I've used HDEO 10w30/15w40 in these older style engines. Something like the latest Delo 400 XLE SB SAE 15W-40 is SN rated and has posted Phosphorus of 1100 ppm and Zinc of 1200 ppm.
Another more affordable alternative that is PCEO oriented I would be inclined to use is Valvoline VR1 10w30.
Of course, HPL, Amsoil, Redline would be great too.

 

[53' Stude]

I've used HDEO 10w30/15w40 in these older style engines. Something like the latest Delo 400 XLE SB SAE 15W-40 is SN rated and has posted Phosphorus of 1100 ppm and Zinc of 1200 ppm.
Another more affordable alternative that is PCEO oriented I would be inclined to use is Valvoline VR1 10w30.
Of course, HPL, Amsoil, Redline would be great too.

Well, bit ago today we put some Delo earlier than SM 400 SAE 40 in with a quart of HPL EC 30 cleaner in. Gonna drive it few weeks then drain that and lte 80’s AC DELCO filter filter off it. Dad gave him bout 5 of these filters. Then I’ll give him my last 6 gallons of T5 ROTELLA 10w30 thanks to Wal Marts clearance.