Help out a YANK !!

[dirty howie]

Hi Corvette brothers. I own a 2008 C6Z06 in California, USA. I am trying to get some basic information that is hard to find on the internet.

Here in US the recommended oil for our C6 Corvettes is Mobil1 5w30. I am told and see in some Mobil1 advertizements that Mobil 1 0w40 is recommended in all Euro Corvettes. Adding to the confusion I see there is Mobil1 EPS and New Life versions of the 0w40. In addition it is unclear wether you use Dexos1 or Dexos2 guidlines.

In short I was hoping that one of you could open up your owners manual, find where it recommends Mobil1 0w40 and copy, then post it up viewing.

This would be a huge help.

Here is a link to a current thread I started on CorvetteForum in the States:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-z06-discussion/...

DH

[Tom74]

Love to help, however mine is an ME import so the manual states 5w30. From memory I use Castrol Edge rather than Mobil 1 though.

I'm sure someone with a UK spec car can put your mind at ease.

[Vet Guru]

dirty howie said:

Hi Corvette brothers. I own a 2008 C6Z06 in California, USA. I am trying to get some basic information that is hard to find on the internet.

Here in US the recommended oil for our C6 Corvettes is Mobil1 5w30. I am told and see in some Mobil1 advertizements that Mobil 1 0w40 is recommended in all Euro Corvettes. Adding to the confusion I see there is Mobil1 EPS and New Life versions of the 0w40. In addition it is unclear wether you use Dexos1 or Dexos2 guidlines.

In short I was hoping that one of you could open up your owners manual, find where it recommends Mobil1 0w40 and copy, then post it up viewing.

This would be a huge help.

Here is a link to a current thread I started on CorvetteForum in the States:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-z06-discussion/...

DH

Always an odd one with Mobil one, The Euro cars use to have a label on the drivers door which said use Mobil one 0w 40, But US cars had 5w 30, I always use to put the American mobil one into the car but I am sure they are both fine to use. And now brake fluid is Dot 4 and 5 too!! Dexos I think is GM's new oil but again not seen much in the UK.

[dirty howie]

Thanks Tom74 and Vet Guru. I hope some of you other chaps will check out your EURO owners manuals for me.

THANKS

DH

[niall1717]

Try some AMSoil 5W30 - better than Mobil 1.

[Tadek]

ExxonMobil do not do a 5W-30 oil in the UK, or Europe that I know of, hence the confusion in the market. Therefore, they recommend the next best which is 0W-40 which in my opinion is to fine a grade.
I have a Z06 and I only use the USA spec which is Mobil 5W-30. Every year when I go out to the States I purchase quarter litre packs and bring them back, so much cheaper by comparison to what we are charged here and it's the right grade,as recommended by Corvette.

(Retired employee of ExxonMobil)

[anonymous-user]

niall1717 said:

Try some AMSoil 5W30 - better than Mobil 1.

Says who? I reckon that's a myth put about by the sellers of Amsoil.

In reality any of the Mobil 1 fully synthetics are so good (especially if you carry out regular changes) that you don't need to spend many seconds fretting about the precise grade. Both 5w-30 and 0w-40 are fine in USA or Europe IMO. All the 30 weight does is allow a tiny hint of extra fuel economy.

Mobil 1 - it's expensive but it works. Castrol Edge seems pretty smart stuff too.

[dirty howie]

Tadek said:

ExxonMobil do not do a 5W-30 oil in the UK, or Europe that I know of, hence the confusion in the market. Therefore, they recommend the next best which is 0W-40 which in my opinion is to fine a grade.
I have a Z06 and I only use the USA spec which is Mobil 5W-30. Every year when I go out to the States I purchase quarter litre packs and bring them back, so much cheaper by comparison to what we are charged here and it's the right grade,as recommended by Corvette.

(Retired employee of ExxonMobil)

What do you mean "is to fine a grade"? Do you mean too thin ??

My car sees the race track every month so the oil temps are above 250* Thats why I wanted a 40w which all track guys think is a minimum (some think 50w is necessary). And I believe the current opinion is that a 0w gives you the best cold start engine protection.

But I am certainly willing to be educated by an ex - ExxonMobil employee !!

DH

[Tadek]

dirty howie said:

What do you mean "is to fine a grade"? Do you mean too thin ??

My car sees the race track every month so the oil temps are above 250* Thats why I wanted a 40w which all track guys think is a minimum (some think 50w is necessary). And I believe the current opinion is that a 0w gives you the best cold start engine protection.

But I am certainly willing to be educated by an ex - ExxonMobil employee !!

DH

Correct, it is a thinner oil grade. It's not the second figure that matters as that refers to temperature.
'0' is the finest grade of oil available and it does help reduce engine wear due to it's ability to rapidly coat the moving parts, very beneficial for cold starting. 5 indicates a thicker grade and so on. If you go back to the older classic cars ie Jaguar XK150,(one of the cars I forever regret selling) you would only use something like a 20 grade oil and if you tried using a '0' grade in one of those cars you will soon find it leaking out of the block.
For example, in my Lamborghini Countach I only use Mobil 1, 15W-50.
With regards to your C6, as it's a very modern engine I see no reason why you should not use Mobil 1, 0W-40 and as it is a fully synthetic premium oil, you will be paying a premium price
Hope this helps?

[anonymous-user]

I can't claim to know much about this stuff but "oil grade" in terms of viscosity is only one part of the picture - and there is a huge overlap between the oil grades commonly on sale. Some people attach more importance to the ACEA, API or manufacturer standards and even then much of the detail seems to be about economy and emissions rather than lubrication. So far as I'm concerned if GM recommend Mobil 1 that's good enough for me.

If a Corvette is driven hard enough to push the engine oil to its limits I can't help thinking the clutch, gearbox, rest of driveline, tyres and brakes are all taking a beating and not just the engine. Modern engines look pretty indestructible. Interestingly Mercedes AMG engines operate at reduced power if oil temperature exceeds a pre-set limit.

[z06tim]

[quote=Tadek]ExxonMobil do not do a 5W-30 oil in the UK... quote]

I believe they do.

I some-times use this fully synthetic 5W-30 oil in my C5Z:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

I actually think it is probably better than the correct 5W-30 grade from the US, as they tend to change oil more frequently accross the pond, so this stuff is perhaps designed for the longer service schedules typically observed over here.

However, It is pretty easy to get the correct stuff over here as a chap called Keith from eurovettes.com always keeps some in stock.

[Tadek]

You are right, EM did produce a 5W-30 grade specifically for the VW group. This was done to cater for their new diesel engines, but can be used for petrol cars also.
According to ExxonMobil, Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 is of the following quality level:
API CF
Volkswagen (Gasoline) 502 00 / 503 00 / 503 01
Volkswagen (Diesel) 505 00 / 505 01 / 506 00 / 506 01
All VW engines with the exception of Unit-Injector / Pump-Duse TDI without LongLife Service and without DPF between 1999-2003 and R5/V10-TDi before model year 2006
ACEA C2, C3
API (Meets Engine Test Requirements) SM / SN
JASO DL-1

Not quite the same as that recommended by Chevrolet to be used in Corvette

[Bowler]

Tadek said:

Not quite the same as that recommended by Chevrolet to be used in Corvette

In waht respects please?

I've currently got 6.5L of ESP 5W-30 washing around my LS1

[dirty howie]

Tadek said:

dirty howie said:

What do you mean "is to fine a grade"? Do you mean too thin ??

My car sees the race track every month so the oil temps are above 250* Thats why I wanted a 40w which all track guys think is a minimum (some think 50w is necessary). And I believe the current opinion is that a 0w gives you the best cold start engine protection.

But I am certainly willing to be educated by an ex - ExxonMobil employee !!

DH

Correct, it is a thinner oil grade. It's not the second figure that matters as that refers to temperature.
'0' is the finest grade of oil available and it does help reduce engine wear due to it's ability to rapidly coat the moving parts, very beneficial for cold starting. 5 indicates a thicker grade and so on. If you go back to the older classic cars ie Jaguar XK150,(one of the cars I forever regret selling) you would only use something like a 20 grade oil and if you tried using a '0' grade in one of those cars you will soon find it leaking out of the block.
For example, in my Lamborghini Countach I only use Mobil 1, 15W-50.
With regards to your C6, as it's a very modern engine I see no reason why you should not use Mobil 1, 0W-40 and as it is a fully synthetic premium oil, you will be paying a premium price
Hope this helps?

I'm glad to hear that you feel the Mobil1 0w40 is okay for my application. I understand the second number is for temperature related viscosity. I want the 40w because I do track my car up to 250-260* oil temps. I am just getting a little concerned that the 0w may be too thin and that 5w flows better than necessary during my cold starts. The coldest my car is ever going to see is 30*F, more like low 40's. If its impossible for the 0w can be too thin then I will have piece of mind.

DH

[Corsette]

The Amsoil is much better than the Mobil - just from inspection. The Mobil is cloudy, the Amsoil is clear and runs more like water.
The Amsoil signature 0-30 is out of stock in the UK - they have a new product (ZSO I think) awaiting delivery. Just changed mine with Mobile 0-40

[Gixer]

Costco now stock castrol edge 5w-30 fully synthetic as well as the ow-40 mobil 1. I'm going to use the castrol next change. Can't be anything wrong with their oil. My Mazda has run on the semi synthetic castrol from new and currently has 277,657 miles on the clock without so much as a rattle or any oil burn between changes.

[GW65]

I've attached some images below, but in a nutshell it's as clear as mud The manual says that "5W30 is best for your vehicle"...then goes on to show a whole load of other OK grades where 0W40 is conspicuous by its absence...and also says the oil must meet GM4718M. However, the sticker in the driver's door frame states that "Corvette recommends Mobil 1 0W40", which of course isn't GM4718M... In other words, it really doesn't matter that much as long as it's synthetic oil somewhere around 0W40...

Edited by GW65 on Friday 27th January 08:46

[anonymous-user]

The C5 owner's manual helpfully adds "Do not use SAE 20w-50"!

Ah, those were the days...

[BlackZeD]

I used Royal Purple in my C5 Z06
and when the C6 Z06 is due it's getting the same stuff.

http://www.royalpurple.com/motor-oil-sn-sae.html

http://www.royalpurple.com/faqs-motor-oil.html

Dave.

[Tadek]

Hopefully, we have now sorted this little problem.
Anyone for an Optima Red Top battery, brand new still in original packaging?