[Invertalon]

Originally Posted by MakCamaro

I plan to keep the oil cap and keep using the 5W30 oil recommended on it

Living on the edge!!

[LT4Greg]

Originally Posted by Invertalon

Living on the edge!!

Why would you say that? He is using the oil recommended by GM for that year!

[Msquared]

Originally Posted by Invertalon

Higher viscosity?

The 0W40 ESP has a 40C viscosity of 73 cSt and a 100C viscosity of 13.2 cSt.

M1 5W30 at 40C is 64 cSt and 11.1 cSt at 100C.

5w30 is THINNER at 40C. So your point is actually in favor of the 5W30 at those temperatures. The 0w40 has more viscosity at the hot end, though, as expected.

First thing first: 0w-40 ESP has a kinematic viscosity of 69 mm2/s at 40C, not 73.

Second: you're comparing regular M1 to their ESP version, which is definitely not recommended for any 6th-gen Camaro because it's not Dexos rated.

Third thing: the 40C viscosity measurement for the 5w-30 ESP is 72.8. It's not a lot thicker at typical startup temps, but it does take more time to flow to critical parts. It's also a little bit lower viscosity at 100C (12.1 vs 12.9). These are obviously not big differences, but then 5w-30 ESP doesn't cost less than 0w-40 ESP, so again, why not use what the manual actually calls for? If you have an earlier car and your manual specifies 5w-30 Dexos II, by all means use that. I know that for at least 20-21 that is not the case.

The 0W vs 5W rating is a moot point for most people. 0w will have a lower pour point (something like -50C?) and unless your driving in a place that reaches negative temps often, won't make much difference at all.

It's only moot if your oil never cools off to 104F or lower.

[MakCamaro]

Originally Posted by LT4Greg

Why would you say that? He is using the oil recommended by GM for that year!

Because he knows better

[FarmerFran]

Originally Posted by LT4Greg

My ZL1 oil cap has the same 5w30 on it and I am not switching to 0w40 either. Don’t think mine will blow up Farmer Fran!

Dude, That cap is not the correct cap! We need a gofundme for Greg to get the correct cap!


But seriously, to everyone, what is different about this engine vs say a LS1 or LS2 in terms of oil?

[95 imp]

"Most engine wear occurs in the first couple minutes after a cold start. Rich fuel mixtures wash lubrication from the cylinder walls. Thick oil doesn’t spray onto moving parts as easily, so using a winter grade oil will help reduce engine wear."

https://mechanics.stackexchange.com/...engine%20wear.


If it gets the oil to the surfaces 14% quicker, you have less wear.
If the oil is being filtered, instead of bypassed, you have less wear.
If you drive your car hard, there is less wear.

And, maybe, 0W-40 was still being tested in these engines in 16-18 and they concluded that it is a better choice than 5W-30, but the 5-30 isn't going to "break the bank" under "mild" driving.

[LT4Greg]

Originally Posted by FarmerFran

Dude, That cap is not the correct cap! We need a gofundme for Greg to get the correct cap!


But seriously, to everyone, what is different about this engine vs say a LS1 or LS2 in terms of oil?

That’s the oil cap that came on my ZL1 when it was built. Thank you but I don’t need anyone to pay for a part for me that is the wrong one!

[6spdhyperblue]

Originally Posted by Msquared

First thing first: 0w-40 ESP has a kinematic viscosity of 69 mm2/s at 40C, not 73.

Second: you're comparing regular M1 to their ESP version, which is definitely not recommended for any 6th-gen Camaro because it's not Dexos rated.

Third thing: the 40C viscosity measurement for the 5w-30 ESP is 72.8. It's not a lot thicker at typical startup temps, but it does take more time to flow to critical parts. It's also a little bit lower viscosity at 100C (12.1 vs 12.9). These are obviously not big differences, but then 5w-30 ESP doesn't cost less than 0w-40 ESP, so again, why not use what the manual actually calls for? If you have an earlier car and your manual specifies 5w-30 Dexos II, by all means use that. I know that for at least 20-21 that is not the case.


It's only moot if your oil never cools off to 104F or lower.

Earlier camaros, or any genv/ecotec3/LTx were specd for dexos 1 gen 2 not dexos 2.

Now for my thoughts. I believe in 2017 the US mandated ultra low sulfur gasoline. dexos 2 works with low sulfur as it doesn’t have or need the additive pack(that also kills cats) to handle high amounts of sulfur. dexos 1 does have the pack to deal with high sulfur. Hence why dexos 2 is now used in light duty diesels since diesel went ulsd and a year after gasoline went low sulfur they spec dexos 2 for LTx...coincidence?. Jmho tho

[FarmerFran]

I get that things get better, they almost always do and almost always will,

That said,

I ran 5w-30 in my 2004 LS1 GTO for Hundreds (well over 300) of 1/4 mile passes in the high 11s. Along with 1000s of DD driven miles and a bunch of 150+ MPH runs.

An engine inspection showed no significant ware. SO unless this engine is that much different to oil I am betting 5w-30 is just fine.

[ninetres]

Quick oil change question—I forget since my last ZL1.....is the drain bolt magnetic? And are there one or two of them? Thanks!

[Invertalon]

Originally Posted by Msquared

First thing first: 0w-40 ESP has a kinematic viscosity of 69 mm2/s at 40C, not 73.

Second: you're comparing regular M1 to their ESP version, which is definitely not recommended for any 6th-gen Camaro because it's not Dexos rated.

Third thing: the 40C viscosity measurement for the 5w-30 ESP is 72.8. It's not a lot thicker at typical startup temps, but it does take more time to flow to critical parts. It's also a little bit lower viscosity at 100C (12.1 vs 12.9). These are obviously not big differences, but then 5w-30 ESP doesn't cost less than 0w-40 ESP, so again, why not use what the manual actually calls for? If you have an earlier car and your manual specifies 5w-30 Dexos II, by all means use that. I know that for at least 20-21 that is not the case.


It's only moot if your oil never cools off to 104F or lower.

Appears they have two data sheets floating around for M1 0W40 ESP... Perhaps it was updated or something along the way, but both data sheets note a Dexos 2 certification (although only one lists the license #). Weird.

This one has it at 73 cSt at 40C:

https://www.mobil.co.uk/en-gb/product/mobil-1-esp-0w-40

While this one has it at 69 cSt:

https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/...formula-0w-40/

Either way, the M1 5W30 is still thinner at 40C (64 cSt). And the "regular" 5W30 is indeed, Dexos rated... Dexos 1 Gen 2. I am not talking about the ESP in the 5W30 grade.

Anyway... At the end of the day, the 5W30 Dexos 1, Gen 2 was required in this engine, as people have noted already, for many years. They just recently decided to switch over, so it's not like engine go boom. Use what makes you feel all gitty at night, your engine likely could care less.

[Jsreo]

Cap option, seems reasonably priced

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...pd_rd_wg=lF1vD

[Msquared]

Originally Posted by Invertalon

Appears they have two data sheets floating around for M1 0W40 ESP... Perhaps it was updated or something along the way, but both data sheets note a Dexos 2 certification (although only one lists the license #). Weird.

This one has it at 73 cSt at 40C:

https://www.mobil.co.uk/en-gb/product/mobil-1-esp-0w-40

While this one has it at 69 cSt:

https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/...formula-0w-40/

I'd go by the one for US, which is the second one that specifies 69 mm2/s.

And the "regular" 5W30 is indeed, Dexos rated... Dexos 1 Gen 2.

I stand corrected on this point. However, since the OP was asking about oil for his 2021 LT1, then he is specified to use a Dexos II 0w-40 oil, which means Mobil 1 ESP (maybe there's another option out there in that grade and certification - I'm not sure). And among M1 ESP grades, the 0w-40 will protect a little better at startup and during hard use.

Originally Posted by FarmerFran

But seriously, to everyone, what is different about this engine vs say a LS1 or LS2 in terms of oil?

Not sure if you meant that rhetorically, but in case you're really asking: As you know, there are hundreds if not thousands of differences between the engines. However, my guess is that the big deals are:

1. LT1s have direct injection which generally tends to wash residual oil off the cylinder walls and dilute the oil more than port injection. The Dexos II rating has the most stringent anti-wear requirements of any industry rating in history. Also, as 95 imp wrote, the faster you get oil to those parts at cold startup, the less cold-start wear you will get.
2. The emissions equipment is newer and more effective but probably made to take advantage of lower-sulfur gasoline now mandated in the US. Ergo, the Dexos II spec gives you a better chance of never having to replace the cats in the future.

[Petrol Head]

I have a 2019 and the manual recommends 0-40. My dealer used 0-40 on my free oil change.

Your dealer should too. 5-30 is for use as an alternative if 0-40 isn’t available. That’s engineering talk for “don’t be a cheapskate and just use 0-40 you fool”