My LS1 has been torn apart swapping camshafts' @ heads now a couple times. Everything inside always looked brand new as it should with only 20K miles. I ran M1 the first couple changes and swithced to Schaeffer Synthetic Blends for the past 15K miles. My UOA's on the motor have also been excellent. HTH
2006 C6 Z06 Corvette
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Patman
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Ditto that. The UOA I posted with German Castrol from my LS1 Corvette showed extremely low wear numbers. Most significantly, it is extremely low in lead. I saw only 1ppm of lead in a 5000 mile interval. Other cars I've switched to this oil show the same drastic reduction in lead wear numbers too.
The problem with this is that driving style will have a WAY bigger effect on engine life and condition than what type of oil you choose (provided manufacturer's recommendations are followed).
The UOA's for similar engines will provide a lot of useful info for choosing your oil.
I bought a couple of case of Castrol synthetic from the BMW dealer where I bought my wife's 740. I have heard a lot of back and forth about which Castrol is the desirable one. If someone would clarify this I would appreciate.
I live in a rural area, so 90% of my mileage is above 65 MPH, no trips less than 10 miles and most over 20 miles. I am 61 years old, but I grew up in the 50s so I like acceleration. I do not wind out a motor past redline and drive very conversatively until the motor reaches operating temperature. I don't jerk the drivetrain; burnouts are rare. Most of my "performance driving" is from 10 MPH up to 90 MPH.
Maintenance is a religion with me. I am bad to change the oil when I feel like it irrespective of the number of miles on the oil. I may change it at 1000, 2000, or 3000 but never past that even if I am using Delvac 1.
The price of the oil is immaterial to me. When you spend $70,000 for a car, it doesn't bother you to spend $10 a quart for oil if you feel like it is beneficial. Unfortunately, I develop personal attachments to my vehicles and always give them the best, if I know what the best is.
If the members of this board favor Castrol over Mobil 1, then I will go that way.
Has Castrol shown the best wear numbers of any synthetic?
I live in a rural area, so 90% of my mileage is above 65 MPH, no trips less than 10 miles and most over 20 miles. I am 61 years old, but I grew up in the 50s so I like acceleration. I do not wind out a motor past redline and drive very conversatively until the motor reaches operating temperature. I don't jerk the drivetrain; burnouts are rare. Most of my "performance driving" is from 10 MPH up to 90 MPH.
Maintenance is a religion with me. I am bad to change the oil when I feel like it irrespective of the number of miles on the oil. I may change it at 1000, 2000, or 3000 but never past that even if I am using Delvac 1.
The price of the oil is immaterial to me. When you spend $70,000 for a car, it doesn't bother you to spend $10 a quart for oil if you feel like it is beneficial. Unfortunately, I develop personal attachments to my vehicles and always give them the best, if I know what the best is.
If the members of this board favor Castrol over Mobil 1, then I will go that way.
Has Castrol shown the best wear numbers of any synthetic?
The Castrol that this board favors is the Syntec Ow-30 that is made in Germany (it says on the back of the bottle). This is what people refer to as GC or SLX. It's only available at AutoZone in the US or Walmart in Canada and does show excellent wear numbers, even out to 10k miles or more. If you can't get this, I'd say stick with Mobil 1, as the factory recommends.
Matt,
What is the difference in wear numbers? I would love to see the all the major oils ranked by wear. Does such a comparison exist.
By the way, if the Castrol is discriminably better, I can easily visit the Autozone.
What is the difference in wear numbers? I would love to see the all the major oils ranked by wear. Does such a comparison exist.
By the way, if the Castrol is discriminably better, I can easily visit the Autozone.
I'm not sure I would make a snap decision based on the results of this thread. Take some time to consider it, do some research, look at some used oil analysis (UOA's). If price is no object, I'm sure there are folks who will stand up for oils like Motul, Syngergyn and Neo. Also Amsoil seems to do well although I don't like their marketing practices.
The LS1 experts on here seem to think a thicker 30wt is good in this engine, the German Castrol is 12.1 cSt at 100C if I remember right which is nearly a 40wt. Regardless, if you use the Castrol make sure it's the 0w30 that says "Made in Germany" on the back. The stuff that is made here may be Group III and not real synthetic.
The LS1 experts on here seem to think a thicker 30wt is good in this engine, the German Castrol is 12.1 cSt at 100C if I remember right which is nearly a 40wt. Regardless, if you use the Castrol make sure it's the 0w30 that says "Made in Germany" on the back. The stuff that is made here may be Group III and not real synthetic.
Is Delvac 1 considered to be better than Mobile 1 in this usage?
I am in line for a 2006 C6 Z06 which will have @500 HP and a compression ratio of about 11:1.
I assume it will come with Mobile 1 (not sure what viscosity range). I am interested in the experiences of other Corvette owners. Particularly those who have used a synthetic and then had an opportunity to look at the effects after the motor has been broken down.
There are many oils that meet the engineering standards, but I would like to see a recommendation backed up by something other than mileage. If you want to preserve the functional capability of the engine in "like-new" condition as long as possible, visual inspections and measures of disassembled engines would probably provide the best information on the oil.
I know this is a new engine, but I think one can extrapolate from experience with other GM engines.
I assume it will come with Mobile 1 (not sure what viscosity range). I am interested in the experiences of other Corvette owners. Particularly those who have used a synthetic and then had an opportunity to look at the effects after the motor has been broken down.
There are many oils that meet the engineering standards, but I would like to see a recommendation backed up by something other than mileage. If you want to preserve the functional capability of the engine in "like-new" condition as long as possible, visual inspections and measures of disassembled engines would probably provide the best information on the oil.
I know this is a new engine, but I think one can extrapolate from experience with other GM engines.
GeorgiaCracker, You might try the search function under UOA or "Used Oil Analsis(sp)"! I would use keywords like LS1,LT1,LS6, Corvette, Camaro etc.... This will give you a lot of material to go over that will show definate trends in GM's high performance V8's. THe general consenus is that they like thick 30Wt oil up to thin 50wt oils.
M1 5W30,10W30 and 15W50 have all shown good results.
Schaffers 15W40 Blend has done well.
I belive their might also be a Delvac 1 5W40 and M1 0W40 in their as well.
The most recent shineing star in some of these engines is German Castrol 0W30 it is a thick 30Wt. It can be dificault to find and you have to actualy read the label as not all Castrol 0W30 is the German variety.
In a car like that I would consider UOA to be a requirement to actualy find the right oil for it. I do not think that a blanket guess is going to cut it! I suspect that a solid 40Wt. synthetic is going to win out.
M1 5W30,10W30 and 15W50 have all shown good results.
Schaffers 15W40 Blend has done well.
I belive their might also be a Delvac 1 5W40 and M1 0W40 in their as well.
The most recent shineing star in some of these engines is German Castrol 0W30 it is a thick 30Wt. It can be dificault to find and you have to actualy read the label as not all Castrol 0W30 is the German variety.
In a car like that I would consider UOA to be a requirement to actualy find the right oil for it. I do not think that a blanket guess is going to cut it! I suspect that a solid 40Wt. synthetic is going to win out.
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