Oil recommendation for Chevy LS7 454 crate engine?

[SteveSRT8]

Been running these since I was a kid in high school. I currently have a blown 572 in a boat.

The clearances on that thing from the factory are all over the place. 40w oil is a must if you get on it. As stated above let it get warm and then have fun.

We use Amsoil Dominator during the season and then put the boat up in winter with Z-Rod. First class protection with great resistance to fuel dilution (850 cfm, baby!)...

 

[OneEyeJack]

From GM Performance department published instructions.

It's possible that one could consider them a reliable source of information about their engines.

Start-up and Break-in Procedures

1. After installing the engine, ensure the crankcase has been filled with 5W30 motor oil (non-synthetic) to the recommended oil fill level on the dipstick. Also check and fill as required any other necessary fluids such as coolant, power steering fluid, etc.

After more steps

10. Change the oil and filter. Replace with 5W30 motor oil (non synthetic) and a PF1218 AC Delco oil filter. Inspect the oil and the oil filter for any foreign particles to ensure that the engine is functioning properly.

And a few more...

13. Do not use synthetic oil for break-in. It would be suitable to use synthetic motor oil after the second recommended oil change and
mileage accumulation. In colder regions, a lower viscosity oil may be required for better flow characteristics.


....a lower viscosity oil? What, and no recommendation for 0w-40, 15w40, 5w-50 or 20w-50 in warmer weather? Imagine that.

 

[340_Magnum]

I think my friend is going to use Brad Penn Penn Grade 1 20w-50 since this engine will only be run in the summer months plus these 1970 spec engines have a big solid cam. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[A_Harman]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: Cujet


But, note, I don't think the 454 big block is an LS7. As the LS7 is a small block, 427 cubic inch, modern engine.


Its both. The LS7 was a 454 back in the day, now its a Gen IV smallblock. Chevrolet re-uses "L" designations a lot. For example the LT1 was the rare and amazing 302 CID Chevy Smallblock in the original Camaro Z/28 in the late 60s. Then it was the "Gen II" high performance 350 in the early 90s used in all sorts of things from Buick Roadmasters and Chevy Caprices to Camaros to Corvettes.



I hate to get all nerdy about it, but the original LT1 was a 350 used in Camaro's, Corvette's, and the occasional Nova from '70-'72. The 302 in the original Z/28 from '67-'69 didn't actually have an "L" designation. (At least, that I have been able to find.)

 

[440Magnum]

Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: Cujet


But, note, I don't think the 454 big block is an LS7. As the LS7 is a small block, 427 cubic inch, modern engine.


Its both. The LS7 was a 454 back in the day, now its a Gen IV smallblock. Chevrolet re-uses "L" designations a lot. For example the LT1 was the rare and amazing 302 CID Chevy Smallblock in the original Camaro Z/28 in the late 60s. Then it was the "Gen II" high performance 350 in the early 90s used in all sorts of things from Buick Roadmasters and Chevy Caprices to Camaros to Corvettes.



I hate to get all nerdy about it, but the original LT1 was a 350 used in Camaro's, Corvette's, and the occasional Nova from '70-'72. The 302 in the original Z/28 from '67-'69 didn't actually have an "L" designation. (At least, that I have been able to find.)


I may have mis-remembered. The LT1 designation was used for the 350 CID engine that was moved into the Z/28 for '69. I had thought it was previously used for the "5 liter" SCCA Trans-Am homologation engine (302). I always found that engine interesting since it used the short stroke crank from the 283 and had a better rod-ratio than any Chevy v8 other than the 283 itself. It also had the exact same cylinder dimensions (4" bore and 3" stroke) as the Ford 302.

LT1 is also back a THIRD time as a Gen-V engine. I give up, I don't drive Chevies anyway!

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
From GM Performance department published instructions.

It's possible that one could consider them a reliable source of information about their engines.

Start-up and Break-in Procedures

1. After installing the engine, ensure the crankcase has been filled with 5W30 motor oil (non-synthetic) to the recommended oil fill level on the dipstick. Also check and fill as required any other necessary fluids such as coolant, power steering fluid, etc.

After more steps

10. Change the oil and filter. Replace with 5W30 motor oil (non synthetic) and a PF1218 AC Delco oil filter. Inspect the oil and the oil filter for any foreign particles to ensure that the engine is functioning properly.

And a few more...

13. Do not use synthetic oil for break-in. It would be suitable to use synthetic motor oil after the second recommended oil change and
mileage accumulation. In colder regions, a lower viscosity oil may be required for better flow characteristics.


....a lower viscosity oil? What, and no recommendation for 0w-40, 15w40, 5w-50 or 20w-50 in warmer weather? Imagine that.




Ya. They lost any credibility when they wrote don't use synthetic oil for break in,yet they ship the corvette,camaro,and pretty much every vehicle they build with synthetic oil right from the factory.
Are they saying synthetic is ok for a 100000 dollar corvette but nothing else or will synthetic affect break in negatively in the vette,and if so why would they use it.

Saying one thing yet doing another.
Typical oem.
There once was a day where it's possible that break in was negatively affected by using a synthetic oil however today that's utter nonsense.

 

[Garak]

The only time I worry about synthetic and break in is if it's a rebuild, not a new engine. I would assume that GM is selling new engines here, and not scouring junkyards as sources of blocks for their starting point.