[Poll]: What viscosity oil are *you* using in your 308?

The 308 GT4 - I use 20-50 because that is the spec in the owners manual.

The Chevelle SS gets 10-40

The other 3 get Mobile 1, 5-30 synthetic

 

...well...last night I made the change to Kendal GT-1 20W-50. We'll see how she goes. The low oil pressure light wasn't on last night after a short cruise to get the oil up to temp, so that was a pleasant change.

 

308 GT4, 5w-50 Castrol Syntec

 

After extensive reading and perr AHaas recommendation, I went with 0W 40 Mobil1 for my 1986 Mondial 3.2

 

That was exactly my initial reasoning... I read, and read, and read the "Motor Oil 10_" series, and I decided that 0W-40 was perfect for me. The car leaked like a sieve with the less-thick-when-cool (notice I didn't say thinner!) Synthetic. After each run, I had a small puddle about the size of a dollar bill folded in half.

I went for a drive last night to get the new oil circulated, and 24 hours later, there is not a drop on my garage floor.

I know that AEHaas would say, "Get the leak fixed, don't change the oil!", and there is some merit to that thought. However...on an 80k-mile car that's had who-knows-what kind of oil (syn or dino, ?W-?0 viscosity, Brand?) over the last 26 years of its life, I realized it is a bit pretentious of me to believe that this lighter-weight, synthetic oil is the "only way" for my car - just because Ali uses 0W-20 in his 575M and Murcielago. Not even apples to oranges - apples to kickballs. Sure, they're both roundish and red, but that's about where the similarities end.

Additionally, I asked several mechanics in my area what weight and brand oil they would put in the car if I were to take it there for an oil change. Although their answers varied *slightly* from place to place, not one's answer was "0W-40", and not one was "Synthetic." Sooo....if I were paying someone to do my oil changes, and trusting their judgement, why would I use something other than what they recommend?

 

Well hes right. If you are leaking, get out your torque wrench and start double checking things. My 20 year old mondial doesnt leak motor oil at all. I find that a large amount of mechanics dont know or even care to understand the intricasies of oil and so thier recommendations are either generic or what some other guy in the shop recommends. Which is usually a 10w-X oil. If you were to go to hot rod and racing shops, you would probably see a lot more synthetics being used.... And this is why I change my own oil. And in my other late model vehicles now that the free dealer maintenance has run out...

If you owned a Triumph, the term is not leaking like a sieve. Its just marking its territory..

 

What were the results of the poll?

 

The Poll doesn't show the weight I use but this is what I use Redline 5w50
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I use valvoline syn power full synthetic 5-40 euro blend but it is really expensive @ 6-7 bucks a quart.

 

Recently, I got in bed with using Total quartz racing (formerly ELF) 10w-50 synthetic. More zinc etc. A bit pricey but I dig it, and it comes in a neato bottle!
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

$6 to $7 a quart is cheap compares to the Redline at $10+ a quart

 

I was using 20W-50 but with a total engine rebuild finishing soon, I guess I should consider a lower viscosity. Any comments on recommended viscosity versus miles on the motor?
Thanks
Art

 

I use valveoline 10/60 semi in my 308gt4 racer.

 

I use Castrol 5W-50 Syntec and no complaints. The OM recommends 10W-50 so I figure the syntec is pretty close, except a smidge better when cold.

 

It should show at the top of the page when viewing this thread... just in case:

As of today.... 20w-50 seems to be the favorite by little better than a 2:1 margin
View Poll Results: What weight oil are you using in your 308?
0W-40 9 8.91%
5W-40 7 6.93%
10W-40 17 16.83%
15W-40 4 3.96%
20W-50 39 38.61%
10W-30 4 3.96%
5W-30 3 2.97%
Other 18 17.82%

 

I use Castrol GTX 5W30 in my 328. I made the change because of the cold temps in the fall, winter and spring. At operating temp in the summer and at idle, I get 40 psi. At operating temps and running on the road, I get 85 psi. So, I know the engine is "tight" and I want more lubrication at the low temps, thus the 5W30 weight oil.

IMHO, lubricity is not the main issue facing our engines. Rather, it is internal corrosion and corrosion byproducts (causing bearing scoring) due to incomplete warm ups and short drives.

My 2 cents.

 

Penzoil synthetic 5-50 here closest i can find to the 10-50 called for

 

A good thread as a follow-up to this discussion is now in the technical section under "New Formulation For The Enzo". That one seals it for me. John, I'm with you on this one!
5W-50 with just the right amount of ZDDP.

Ciao,
George

 

Look at post #33 and #39

 

+1 on the Kendall. I have a lot of confidence in that brand. I can't find that weight except for a diesel configuration. What store has it? I heard there is another company marketing the Kendall GT-1.

BTW: On the track, I found oil temps to go crazy with the Kend GT-1, so I switched to the Agip SINT 2000 10W-40. But I prefer Kendall on the street. I think the additive package work well for street driving.

 

Always interesting to see what the factory says. Kind of matches what Brian said. Always important to know what oil weight is telling you. Dino oil 20W-50 is a 20W oil with viscosity enhancers to give a 50W when warm (for a while). Synthetic 20W-50 is a 50W oil that flows like a 20W when cold.

Taz
Terry Phillips
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Castrol Edge 10W60, '82 GTSi.
It's hot here and we USE the car, long sustained high speed drives (180km/h+) and track use included.

Don't take everything you read in long oil-specific threads as gospel. Putting very thin oil in an Enzo that only putters around town without any real load is not how most use their cars.

 

+1

Ciao,
George

 

My owner's manual called for a 10W50 Agip which in no longer available. I've been using Castrol full synthetic 10W50 in both my 82 308 GTSi and my 83 512 BB. I am well satisfied with the results. I do add a product called "power up" to the oil. I've used that product in all my classic cars. I have a 64 Jag. XKE Series 1 coupe that I've owned since new and have over 125,000 miles on the engine. I credit oil changes every 3000 miles, power up additive and a pre-oiler.

 

I have been using Mobil 1 15W-50 for several years and will stay with it. The 15W-50 has their highest levels of zinc and phosphorus, and Mobil recommends it for flat tappet applications.