[Theo]

Hi Guys
Old topic I know........
What oil should be the best in our climate that does not get that cold? Should I go a little thicker perhaps?
If it says: Castrol 20W50 what does the 20 and 50 means exactly?

[Slicktop]

20 is the viscosity when cold for ease of cranking, 50 is the hot viscosity. Also, Castrol is an excellent dinosaur oil and L98s were designed to run on that type of oil. As far as weight, Castrol 10/40 would be a good choice in your climate unless your engine is burning oil, then the 20/50 might help.

[Theo]

Thanks again!

[Pappytinker]

The recommended lubricant for a 1990 Corvette 5.7L, (engine code 8) engine is 5W30 at all temps. If the temperature never goes below 0 F, 10W30 may be used. The recommended lubricant for a 1990 Corvette 5.7L, 32 valve (engine code J) engine is 10W30 at all temps. In a pinch, if other multi-vis oils are not available and the temperature is always above 39 degrees, straight 30 weight oil may be used in either engine.

[Slicktop]

Originally Posted by Pappytinker

The recommended lubricant for a 1990 Corvette 5.7L, (engine code 8) engine is 5W30 at all temps. If the temperature never goes below 0 F, 10W30 may be used. The recommended lubricant for a 1990 Corvette 5.7L, 32 valve (engine code J) engine is 10W30 at all temps. In a pinch, if other multi-vis oils are not available and the temperature is always above 39 degrees, straight 30 weight oil may be used in either engine.

That recommendation is for fuel consumption, not engine service life. As an engine ages and clearances open up a heavier weight oil is often warrented.

[Pappytinker]

Originally Posted by Slicktop

That recommendation is for fuel consumption, not engine service life. As an engine ages and clearances open up a heavier weight oil is often warrented.

Gee, nowhere in either his post or his profile does it say how many miles are on the car or whether it burns oil or leaks it or that the oil pressure runs low or anything to indicate that a heavier weight oil is "WARRANTED." Also, the gentleman is an offshore oilworker; how much might he drive the car? A lubricant's purpose is to keep the metal surfaces from touching each other and unless the engine is real sloppy 5W30 or 10W30 will work quite well.

[Slicktop]

Originally Posted by Pappytinker

Gee, nowhere in either his post or his profile does it say how many miles are on the car or whether it burns oil or leaks it or that the oil pressure runs low or anything to indicate that a heavier weight oil is "WARRANTED." Also, the gentleman is an offshore oilworker; how much might he drive the car? A lubricant's purpose is to keep the metal surfaces from touching each other and unless the engine is real sloppy 5W30 or 10W30 will work quite well.

Easy to see how you went thru 19 corvettes, the engines all wore out.

[Pappytinker]

Originally Posted by Slicktop

Easy to see how you went thru 19 corvettes, the engines all wore out.

Where in hell did you get an ******* remark like that. Although I have had many cars I have had only one Corvette. I keep my cars for a long time and every one of them have had more that 100,000 miles on them and two of them have had over 200,000 miles on them. NONE of them were traded or discarded because of engine problems or oil burning problems. My current DD which I purchased new has 124,000 miles and does not burn a drop of oil between changes.

That said, one of the most important capabilities of lubricating fluid is FLOW, both for lubrication and cooling. Use of a higher viscosity lubricating fluid than the one recommended for the vehicle can inhibit the flow and actually cause premature failures.

[Slicktop]

You had it in your profile a while back. I agree that you can go to heavy on oil weight but I also think that a 22 year old engine can benefit from a small bump up in oil weight. That is why I suggested 10/40 when 20/50 was mentioned by Theo. In the end it is up to the individual to decide what oil to use based on running conditions, engine condition, oil cosumption figures, etc......

[Pappytinker]

Originally Posted by Slicktop

You had it in your profile a while back. I agree that you can go to heavy on oil weight but I also think that a 22 year old engine can benefit from a small bump up in oil weight. That is why I suggested 10/40 when 20/50 was mentioned by Theo. In the end it is up to the individual to decide what oil to use based on running conditions, engine condition, oil cosumption figures, etc......

If you saw that in a profile you were looking in the WRONG one. Never was in any profile of mine.