LT1 0W-40 vs 5W-30

Wrecks24 · 01-28-2021, 10:16 AM

Rather than filter through the thousands of posts related to oil, I figured I'd just ask. I spoke with the dealer the other day and he said that they use the 5W-30 Mobil 1 full synthetic, which I bought a case. However, why does the dang oil cap say 0W-40 if the dealer says 5W-30? Its a 2021 LT1 that I do not use as a daily, nor do I race (sort of). Does it matter which oil I use? I doubt I'll even tell the difference, but I prefer the best. TIA!

Invertalon · 01-28-2021, 10:29 AM

Use the 5w30 if not tracking, simple as that.

Billabongi · 01-28-2021, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrecks24

Rather than filter through the thousands of posts related to oil, I figured I'd just ask. I spoke with the dealer the other day and he said that they use the 5W-30 Mobil 1 full synthetic, which I bought a case. However, why does the dang oil cap say 0W-40 if the dealer says 5W-30? Its a 2021 LT1 that I do not use as a daily, nor do I race (sort of). Does it matter which oil I use? I doubt I'll even tell the difference, but I prefer the best. TIA!

You really should search you'll learn far more that way. 0W-40 is the recommended oil in the newer Camaro LT1's. Its an oil that can be used for both daily and track driving without a need to swap oils.

You're dealer is just lazy and doesn't know that they changed the standard on the LT1's.

6spdhyperblue · 01-28-2021, 10:34 AM

Short answer, either is fine if you’re not tracking on a road course.

I’d prefer the 0w40 but it’s more expensive too

Mike Aruba · 01-28-2021, 10:50 AM

I read a ton of threads on this when I first got my car. I'm running 0W40 from Castrol because I found a pretty decent deal for it on Amazon at the time.

gtfoxy · 01-28-2021, 11:10 AM

They may not even have the 0/40 on hand.

The owners manual says 5/30 Dexos 2(?) is adequate.

Actually tracking you should be running the 50 weight anyway.

ninetres · 01-28-2021, 11:22 AM

I’d find a new dealer. If they don’t even know the correct g*d damn recommended oil for an engine what else don’t they know?

LT4Greg · 01-28-2021, 11:23 AM

Wrecks24, I would use the oil that is recommended for your LT1! Simple as that.��

ctrlz · 01-28-2021, 11:35 AM

Post #17 in the thread cited below actually has some technical details on this oil, and why GM switched.
Looking at the 3 reasons cited:
1) cold start wear reduction in extreme temperatures. It doesn't say how much better this is than 5w-30 or exactly what temp is "extreme." No question a 0w oil is thinner than 5w in the cold.
2) reduced oil aeration in hard driving.
3) No need to switch to a track-specific oil.

My take: # 2 and 3 don't really apply to me. #1... My car sits in a garage which never gets below 40. Parked at work, maybe it gets into the high 20's rarely.
I'll stick with the cheaper 5w-30 until the price drops on the ESP 0w-40

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1597259849

Choda · 01-28-2021, 12:57 PM

I use 5w-30 because its only my summer car and the turbo beats up the oil a bit more than reg NA engines.

L78toLT1 · 01-28-2021, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billabongi

You really should search you'll learn far more that way. 0W-40 is the recommended oil in the newer Camaro LT1's. Its an oil that can be used for both daily and track driving without a need to swap oils.

You're dealer is just lazy and doesn't know that they changed the standard on the LT1's.

I'd wager the dealer knows the recommended oil has changed and I can guarantee that he knows the damn 0-40 is twice as expensive. 5-30 is still acceptable per GM so that's what he uses. Can't say I wouldn't do the same in his position.

indy82z · 01-28-2021, 03:53 PM

I use 0w40 because it is the new recommended oil. Yes it is more expensive, but why buy such as expensive car as this if you are going to cheap out on oil. If 5w30 was better, GM would not have switched.

VR Baron · 01-28-2021, 05:10 PM

The manual says 5-30 for street is fine. 0-40 if tracking car and you dont have to change for the street. Easy Peezy.

As to 0-40 Mobil 1 esp dexos2, I just bought 12 quarts for $100
On Amazon.That was like $45 off . That like $8,30 a qt.

FarmerFran · 01-28-2021, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VR Baron

The manual says 5-30 for street is fine. 0-40 if tracking car and you dont have to change for the street. Easy Peezy.

As to 0-40 Mobil 1 esp dexos2, I just bought 12 quarts for $100
On Amazon.That was like $45 off . That like $8,30 a qt.

I thought that was not "real oil"

01-28-2021, 10:34 AM	#4
6spdhyperblue Drives: 6th gen Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: US Posts: 3,675	Short answer, either is fine if you’re not tracking on a road course. I’d prefer the 0w40 but it’s more expensive too __________________ ‘22 2SS 1LE M6 Summit White - RF, Flexfuel, LT2 intake, 95mm tb, ATI udp, VT ramair, full 28” dragpack - 11.68@122 ‘16 1SS M6 LT2 intake + boltons on DR 11.0@126+ (Sold)

01-28-2021, 11:23 AM	#8
LT4Greg Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 Coupe Join Date: May 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,813	Wrecks24, I would use the oil that is recommended for your LT1! Simple as that.�� __________________ ZL1 Coupe, PDR, Exposed carbon fiber hood insert, My Link with Nav, M6 6 speed and Silver Ice Metallic. Mods done: ceramic window tint, GM Accessories Camaro floor mats and Roto-Fab CAI.

01-28-2021, 12:57 PM	#10
Choda Drives: Turbo 6.2 Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Buffalo Posts: 702	I use 5w-30 because its only my summer car and the turbo beats up the oil a bit more than reg NA engines. __________________ 2016 Turbo Camaro SS - 800hp/900tq 9.7@146 2018 LTZ Z71 Redline Silverado - 381hp/420tq 13.8@100

01-28-2021, 03:53 PM	#12
indy82z Drives: 2018 Camaro SS HW Edition, 2020 LT1 Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 109	I use 0w40 because it is the new recommended oil. Yes it is more expensive, but why buy such as expensive car as this if you are going to cheap out on oil. If 5w30 was better, GM would not have switched. __________________ 1987 Camaro IROC-Z 6.0 LS 4L80 1988 Camaro IROC-Z TPI 5-Speed 1992 Camaro B4C 5.7 TPI 2018 Camaro SS Hot Wheels Edition #838

01-28-2021, 10:16 AM	#1
Wrecks24 Drives: Camaro LT1 Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Tennessee Posts: 144	LT1 0W-40 vs 5W-30 Rather than filter through the thousands of posts related to oil, I figured I'd just ask. I spoke with the dealer the other day and he said that they use the 5W-30 Mobil 1 full synthetic, which I bought a case. However, why does the dang oil cap say 0W-40 if the dealer says 5W-30? Its a 2021 LT1 that I do not use as a daily, nor do I race (sort of). Does it matter which oil I use? I doubt I'll even tell the difference, but I prefer the best. TIA! __________________ 2021 Red Hot LT1

01-28-2021, 10:29 AM	#2
Invertalon Drives: 2021 2SS Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Cleveland Posts: 299	Use the 5w30 if not tracking, simple as that.

01-28-2021, 10:50 AM	#5
Mike Aruba Drives: 2016 2SS Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Florida Man Posts: 86	I read a ton of threads on this when I first got my car. I'm running 0W40 from Castrol because I found a pretty decent deal for it on Amazon at the time.

01-28-2021, 11:10 AM	#6
gtfoxy Account Suspended Drives: '21 Wild Cherry ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: WI Posts: 2,082	They may not even have the 0/40 on hand. The owners manual says 5/30 Dexos 2(?) is adequate. Actually tracking you should be running the 50 weight anyway.

01-28-2021, 11:22 AM	#7
ninetres Drives: Crush ZLE M6 \| 2000 Corvette FRC Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cencal Posts: 1,659	I’d find a new dealer. If they don’t even know the correct g*d damn recommended oil for an engine what else don’t they know?

01-28-2021, 11:35 AM	#9
ctrlz Drives: 2017 2SS, 50th pkg, M6, MRC, NPP Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ocean City, NJ Posts: 3,177	Post #17 in the thread cited below actually has some technical details on this oil, and why GM switched. Looking at the 3 reasons cited: 1) cold start wear reduction in extreme temperatures. It doesn't say how much better this is than 5w-30 or exactly what temp is "extreme." No question a 0w oil is thinner than 5w in the cold. 2) reduced oil aeration in hard driving. 3) No need to switch to a track-specific oil. My take: # 2 and 3 don't really apply to me. #1... My car sits in a garage which never gets below 40. Parked at work, maybe it gets into the high 20's rarely. I'll stick with the cheaper 5w-30 until the price drops on the ESP 0w-40 https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1597259849

01-28-2021, 05:10 PM	#13
VR Baron SoCal Camaro5 Race Team Drives: 2021 Shadow Grey Camaro 2SS 1LE Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SO CAL Posts: 14,288	The manual says 5-30 for street is fine. 0-40 if tracking car and you dont have to change for the street. Easy Peezy. As to 0-40 Mobil 1 esp dexos2, I just bought 12 quarts for $100 On Amazon.That was like $45 off . That like $8,30 a qt.

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