[17CamaroZL1]

I used to use conventional Valvoline for every oil change. It kept the internals on my high mileage engines nice and clean. Once I started getting into some nicer rides and using synthetic oils, I've pretty much bought whatever I found on sale. Mobil 1, Valvoline, Pennzoil, and Castrol mostly. Valvoline seems to be just as good as anything else I've used and maybe better than some.

[Th3Beast]

As FYI guys, I went to my local Napa to stock up on the Valvoline 5w40 MST and the guy that was helping me said that the sale is only likely through the end of the month. I bought all the "newer" bottles they had that which has the dexos2 logo on them. They had 4 qts of the same oil but must have been an older batch before Valvoline paid for the dexos2 licensing. My OCD wouldn't let me buy the ones without the logo lol. 14 qts purchased and will be stopping by a different store to stock up further.

[Tex]

I didn't notice anyone mention Royal Purple. It's on sale here for $25 for a 5quart jug and it say dexos1 5w-30. Wanted to buy 2 jugs but is this oil ok?

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by Th3Beast

As FYI guys, I went to my local Napa to stock up on the Valvoline 5w40 MST and the guy that was helping me said that the sale is only likely through the end of the month. I bought all the "newer" bottles they had that which has the dexos2 logo on them. They had 4 qts of the same oil but must have been an older batch before Valvoline paid for the dexos2 licensing. My OCD wouldn't let me buy the ones without the logo lol. 14 qts purchased and will be stopping by a different store to stock up further.

Originally Posted by Tex

I didn't notice anyone mention Royal Purple. It's on sale here for $25 for a 5quart jug and it say dexos1 5w-30. Wanted to buy 2 jugs but is this oil ok?

Dexos1 5W-30 is good! I didn't think Royal Purple got the certifications, but if so - it's all set!

[SoCal Racer]

Originally Posted by Th3Beast

As FYI guys, I went to my local Napa to stock up on the Valvoline 5w40 MST and the guy that was helping me said that the sale is only likely through the end of the month. I bought all the "newer" bottles they had that which has the dexos2 logo on them. They had 4 qts of the same oil but must have been an older batch before Valvoline paid for the dexos2 licensing. My OCD wouldn't let me buy the ones without the logo lol. 14 qts purchased and will be stopping by a different store to stock up further.

Thanks for the reminder. I saw this on the Napa website...grabbed 20 bottles, a Chase Elliott hat and sent away for two free pairs of Mechanix gloves. Great deal

Originally Posted by Mr. Wyndham

Dexos2 5W-40, OR 0W-40...are recommendations for track use only. This is due to the heat levels the engine experiences under a high-rev, high-load situation that occurs regularly during a track day.

For every other situation, use 5W-30. 5W-30 for gas engines in the US is only ever going to be Dexos1.


Dealers fill with 5W-30 Dexos1-rated oil. They buy it in bulk containers from GM. It used to be a synthetic blend, but we've heard recently that GM and ExxonMobile switched to a full-synthetic oil.



There is nothing about the Dexos2 rating that makes an oil inherently "better" for the LT4. It's simply that the engineers recommend a 0W-40, or 5W-40 to withstand the high temperatures experienced on the track...and these oil weights will only ever be "Dexos2".

If you live and drive in a region that experiences cold temperatures, I wouldn't use 5W-40 due to the flow characteristics (it's a slightly "thicker" oil). But if it's always warm - it won't matter.

Under normal, everyday driving situations using 5W-40 vs 5W-30 in a GM gas engine...oil pressure may be a hair higher, and fuel economy will drop slightly with 5W-40.

Regarding Valvoline, I've never used the brand before, either. But - in reality, they're all very similar...and if GM called it out specifically in the manual...and it's Dexos2 rated...that works for me.

By the way, I'm far from an oil expert.......

I drive my ZL1 to work just twice a week, ride the R1 the remaining days. So most of my ZL1 miles will be track driven. It is quite warm here in SoCal, especially with summer right around the corner. Hopefully the 5-40 will be okay everyday...atleast until winter comes back...if you can actually call a SoCal winter, winter season...nothing like the rest of the country for sure...

...not sure how I feel about the potential mileage loss with the 5-40, but I guess the ZL1 is not quite a Prius anyways...lol

Thanks again for the info

[MDWFO]

Just to add to the confusion, what oil filter are you going to use? The manual says AC Delco PF64, but the AC Delco website says that the LT4 with a vin 6 should use a PF48E.

[ForgedReality]

I would stick with the 64. The 48 uses an "ecore," which means it has a plastic internal piece amongst the filter media opposed to a perforated metal cylinder. It's supposed to be more environmentally friendly, so probably not anywhere near as good.

[trz174]

Valvoline 5W-40 MST Dexos 2 was on sale at Advance Auto today - 5 qts for $28.99. Only 10 qts in the store and the guy asked if I had a BMW.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by trz174

Valvoline 5W-40 MST Dexos 2 was on sale at Advance Auto today - 5 qts for $28.99. Only 10 qts in the store and the guy asked if I had a BMW.

Same EXACT thing happened to me when I went in there!

"BMW or Merc?"

Thanks for the heads up on the sale!

[SoCal Racer]

Originally Posted by trz174

Valvoline 5W-40 MST Dexos 2 was on sale at Advance Auto today - 5 qts for $28.99. Only 10 qts in the store and the guy asked if I had a BMW.

Too funny, thanks for the heads up on the sale

[trz174]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wyndham

Same EXACT thing happened to me when I went in there!

"BMW or Merc?"

Thanks for the heads up on the sale!

There is more... When I told the Counter Guy it was for a Camaro, he asked why I needed 10 quarts. I said that was what the car took and could he give me the same price for all 10 despite the Limit 5 per Customer sign. He said OK and rang up 10 at the lower price and gave me that look that says the customer doesn't have a clue. He then told me about a special program where you could go to the Camaro plant somewhere up north and build your own car and engine on the assembly line. I said that it was the Corvette and he said, nope - it's that special new ZL1 Camaro. I thanked him for the oil, walked out to my ZL1, and moved on with my life.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by trz174

There is more... When I told the Counter Guy it was for a Camaro, he asked why I needed 10 quarts. I said that was what the car took and could he give me the same price for all 10 despite the Limit 5 per Customer sign. He said OK and rang up 10 at the lower price and gave me that look that says the customer doesn't have a clue. He then told me about a special program where you could go to the Camaro plant somewhere up north and build your own car and engine on the assembly line. I said that it was the Corvette and he said, nope - it's that special new ZL1 Camaro. I thanked him for the oil, walked out to my ZL1, and moved on with my life.

..."experts"...

[Infern0]

Originally Posted by trz174

There is more... When I told the Counter Guy it was for a Camaro, he asked why I needed 10 quarts. I said that was what the car took and could he give me the same price for all 10 despite the Limit 5 per Customer sign. He said OK and rang up 10 at the lower price and gave me that look that says the customer doesn't have a clue. He then told me about a special program where you could go to the Camaro plant somewhere up north and build your own car and engine on the assembly line. I said that it was the Corvette and he said, nope - it's that special new ZL1 Camaro. I thanked him for the oil, walked out to my ZL1, and moved on with my life.

Maybe he was thinking of the COPO. I saw RR on Fast 'N Loud build his. Not sure if that's an ongoing opportunity or not.

[SoCal Racer]

Originally Posted by Infern0

Maybe he was thinking of the COPO. I saw RR on Fast 'N Loud build his. Not sure if that's an ongoing opportunity or not.

I remember that episode, it was cool seeing the COPO being made...

...on the other hand that Mega race episode was a let down, not even competitive.