Hey guys and gals, calling on your expertise again. I live in the North East and we are supposed to have a fairly harsh winter this year. The car is started about once a week, and driven if we catch a nice day without too much salt on the roads. Now my question is this, what viscosity oil should we use? The motor has only about 3000 miles on it, so it shouldnt be high milage, correct? What would be the best filter to use? Also, is that Royal Purple, or whatever its called, really what its cracked up to be? (meaning the horse power and tourqe gains) Thanks a lot,
Chris

For winter months in my regular cars, I use a thinner oil to improve on circulation. Naturally, the colder things get, the thicker they become. So, I use 10W-30 in the winter and 10W-40 in the summer time. However, if you have your car in a heated garage, any oil should work as it will be kept warm and at room temp. As for oil filters, any reputable name brand should work like Purolator, Fram, Wixx, AC Delco, Hastings, etc. Its more of a personal preference on that same with the brand of oil you use. I am kinda partial to Castrol GTX oil for my cars as I have used Quaker State oil and have had it burn off while the Castrol GTX never burned off.

Just my .02 cents.

Beings this subject has been touched on about a million times, you might want to try the search function in this, engine, and performance forum, and you will will get more information you can read in a year on Oil and Filters.


Rocky

I recommend a 10w30 oil for year around use, personally, I use Mobil 1 for my 86 Monte Carlo SS that sees mostly fair weather driving and is in the garage when not in use. Use Wix, Napa, or AC, I never have had an oil related failure in any vehicle that I have owned and have used the above filters all the time. Hope this helps.

Went to Pep Boys and got a Real One or something like that, looks exactly like the Purolator, and some Castrol GTX 10W-40. Got home and took the Chevelle out for a short drive. Coming home we were sitting at a stop light, and all of a sudden hear tires spinning and that sweet aroma in the air. Turn and look at the guy who was power braking and he tried to get us to do it, so we said "Ours isnt under warranty anymore" and he said "Neither is mine, i STOLE it!" True story, LMAO all the way home. :D
Chris

I love my K&N oil filter - it has a one inch nut on the bottom so it can be installed/removed with a normal socket (I hate strap wrenches), but they are pricey.

I agree with the 10-30, 5-30 should work too I think.
Something to consider: I have a magnetic oil pan heater that plugs into 110VAC. Stick it on the oil pan and plug it in for a bit, and you have easy flowing oil.

Chris,
Kep the same oil in it you use all year. I would like to comment on the following statement you made "The car is started about once a week, and driven if we catch a nice day " .... Unless you are going to drive the car 10 or 15 miles to get everything up to operating temperature, dont start it at all. The hardest thing on an engine is to start it and let it run for a while then shut it off. The oil does not get up to a high enough temperature to evaporate all of the moisture and fuel contamination from a cold start. Basically, if your are not going to drive it, dont start it.

BillK,

The only downfall that I see to not starting it occasionally is that oxidation will build up on the moving parts and possibly cause problems. Also, if you do not have a battery charger to keep the battery charged and conditioned, you will have to replace the battery every year if you keep the car storaged over the winter and dont charge the battery. Again, just my personal preference, but I try to at least start the motor and let it run for about 20 mins or so once a month just to keep everything lubricated. Plus it also keeps the seals from dry rotting. But again, its just my .02 cents.

BillK,
Usually when we start it we run it long enough to open the thermostat once or twice so that everything gets up to operating temperature. Also, I have a question for you. You are the origonal owner of your Heavy Chevy, correct? What was you reasoning for not ordering the SS version? Also, we have an SS with the inside adjustable sport mirror, do you know if there was a sport mirror for the passenger side? I have heard a few people mentioning them, and figured who better to ask than an origonal owner. :D
Chris