oil change on a V8 Chevy

[P9UNK]

hello everyone... I have a really basic question on my 94 5.7 V8 Chevy Caprice Classic Wagon and what better place to ask.
Having owned the car in the USA I have now got her in Hungary. In the US I used to change the oil 2 or 3 times a year as directed by the mechanic who ran the Chevy garage, and here is my first question. How often does the car need an oil change if it runs on a synthetic oil or should it be run on a US type of oil?? What oil should I use-would someone recommend? In the USA the mechanic used a vacuum pump to remove the oil and to replace it...but I am guessing you can do it DIY style. Sorry these questions are so basic but while abroad I am probably better off trying to do basic work...I had retired from skinned knuckles when I said farewell to my old Marina but I am going to have just one more go, hoipefully!

[balls-out]

americans always seem to have a fettish about excessive oil changes. I would say 6k miles or annually was on the cautious side for a motor like this with synthetic oil.

There's a bolt in the bottom of the sump to let the oil out - I suggest you buy yourself a workshp manaual.

[powerstroke]

balls-out said:

americans always seem to have a fettish about excessive oil changes. I would say 6k miles or annually was on the cautious side for a motor like this with synthetic oil.

There's a bolt in the bottom of the sump to let the oil out - I suggest you buy yourself a workshp manaual.

yes 6k would be fine, even with mineral oil.. however we brits have a fettish for leaving oil in untill its totaly broken down , contaninated with acids and carbon so valve stem oil seals go hard oil ways to turbos and cam chain tensioners block!! some thing to do with our faith in main dealers for a expensive yealy tire kick... and the
lease companys are happy with ever stretched servive intevals as it costs less
and they dont give a stuff what happens after about 3 years, those americans they got it right regular lube job for a few buck while you get breakfast and the odd tire rotation and check the brake rotors buddy .. and its good for starship mileage my cousins camry has about 450 k on it think it had a water pump and a starter same engine and trans???

Edited by powerstroke on Tuesday 8th February 17:33

[balls-out]

powerstroke said:

balls-out said:

americans always seem to have a fettish about excessive oil changes. I would say 6k miles or annually was on the cautious side for a motor like this with synthetic oil.

There's a bolt in the bottom of the sump to let the oil out - I suggest you buy yourself a workshp manaual.

yes 6k would be fine, even with mineral oil.. however we brits have a fettish for leaving oil in untill its totaly broken down , contaninated with acids and carbon so valve stem oil seals go hard oil ways to turbos and cam chain tensioners block!! some thing to do with our faith in main dealers for a expensive yealy tire kick... and the
lease companys are happy with ever stretched servive intevals as it costs less
and they dont give a stuff what happens after about 3 years, those americans they got it right regular lube job for a few buck while you get breakfast and the odd tire rotation and check the brake rotors buddy .. and its good for starship mileage my cousins camry has about 450 k on it think it had a water pump and a starter same engine and trans???

Edited by powerstroke on Tuesday 8th February 17:33

So we agree ?

[powerstroke]

balls-out said:

So we agree ?

sure do

[P9UNK]

thanks everyone for that advice. Totally agree about the inter-galactic miles the old US cars do. When visiting the local car dealers in North Carolina it wouldn't be unusual to see cars with over 300 k on the clock, and also to see cars with totally collapsed seats due in part to exremely high miles.
It's been a while since I got my hands dirty under the old Marina and this block is a bit bigger but will get the spanners out! Thanks again.

[dblack1]

powerstroke said:

yes 6k would be fine, even with mineral oil..

I wouldn't wait 6k miles, esp with non synthetic. non synthetic oil oxidizes (breaks down) easier than synthetic and becomes thinner and looses some of its lubricating properties. Most americans will tell you that you need to change it every 3k miles, but I think it should be changed at about 5k miles (or annually whichever comes first). The LT1 (or any first/second gen sbc) was not designed to go a long time without an oil change. So even if your running synthetic, the filter should still be changed at least every 5k miles. However, I doubt anything drastically bad would occur from changing at 6k miles instead of 5k.

[powerstroke]

dblack1 said:

I wouldn't wait 6k miles, esp with non synthetic. non synthetic oil oxidizes (breaks down) easier than synthetic and becomes thinner and looses some of its lubricating properties. Most americans will tell you that you need to change it every 3k miles, but I think it should be changed at about 5k miles (or annually whichever comes first). The LT1 (or any first/second gen sbc) was not designed to go a long time without an oil change. So even if your running synthetic, the filter should still be changed at least every 5k miles. However, I doubt anything drastically bad would occur from changing at 6k miles instead of 5k.

I always over service my cars and trucks now servive intavals are 12k upwards, if its FI and not carb then oil should last longer and not get diluted with unburnt fuel however if you're running a lumpy cam and on a carb then the oil needs changing much sooner and syn oil is a waste of money as it cannot fight dilution its main bennifit is staying in grade
over a longer period even when exposed to a lot of heat like in a turbo.
oil filters, they need changing with the oil to get rid of the oil they contain and to avoid the paper breaking up due to age. the chance of them getting blocked is slim even at 20k miles so I stand by 6k or yealy as being more than enough on a normal standard car..

Edited by powerstroke on Wednesday 16th February 08:47