Engine Oil in a Gen III V8???

[VuGeniii]

Hi Guys,

just after a bit of tech advice as to what type of engine oil i should use in my 5.7L V8 engine.

the previous owner i think used Mobil 1, and i just had a full service done with god knows what oil and now the lifters are loud - im guessing the grade is too thick/thin???

anywho, im keen to just flush it out and start again as i have added lifter reducing mix which worked well for about two weeks and now the noise is back.

i have heard mixed reviews about Penrite HPR15 and a Castrol oil, i just want one that is good for the engine and will assist with reducing the engine noise from the lifters.

Type and grades of oil would be appreciated

[GEN3RATD]

i use castrol magnatec 10-30w and it goes alright, my LS1 only has 70,000kms on it though

[DLFHUB666]

i use castrol magnatec 10-30w and it goes alright, my LS1 only has 70,000kms on it though

I use magnatec as well, no complaints, my ss has 116,000km.

[Grennan]

Depends how many k's youve got. A lot of people swear by castrol edge 10-60, however its quite expensive up to 80-90 bucks a bottle and youll need 2. I would also look at hpr10 which is a 10-50 they also have a 15-60 for the warmer months or for lets say around 200,000+ ks

[Drewie]

My VX SS when it was Holden dealer serviced for the first 6 or 7 years of its life ran on a 10x40 viscosity, since using the local workshop which happen to do heaps of LS1's it is running on 15w40 Castrol Magnatec, the 15w40 is a bulk delivery workshop grade not the normal 10w40 Magnatec you buy retail, so my VX SS has been on a 40 grade oil from new. It now has 72,000 km on the clock so still a baby.

[DLFHUB666]

Depends how many k's youve got. A lot of people swear by castrol edge 10-60, however its quite expensive up to 80-90 bucks a bottle and youll need 2. I would also look at hpr10 which is a 10-50 they also have a 15-60 for the warmer months or for lets say around 200,000+ ks

Why do you need 2 bottles??? dont they come in 5l bottle???

[Bombaman]

Depends how many k's youve got. A lot of people swear by castrol edge 10-60, however its quite expensive up to 80-90 bucks a bottle and youll need 2. I would also look at hpr10 which is a 10-50 they also have a 15-60 for the warmer months or for lets say around 200,000+ ks

10w60, you can get it for $50-$55 for a 5L bottle on SuperCheap and Repco 20% off days which are quite regular at the moment.

[Drewie]

Why do you need 2 bottles??? dont they come in 5l bottle???

Most of the respected LS1 workshops run 5 1/2 to 6 litres in the GEN III's.

[VuGeniii]

sorry i should have mentioned mine has high clicks on it 220km +

[DLFHUB666]

Most of the respected LS1 workshops run 5 1/2 to 6 litres in the GEN III's.

Really, if its only ment to hold 5l (that is what my manual says for a vx ss s1) then what is the point of over filling it wont the extra oil just get burnt off???

[Drewie]

Really, if its only ment to hold 5l (that is what my manual says for a vx ss s1) then what is the point of over filling it wont the extra oil just get burnt off???

I have a Holden Tech Bulletin some where on my PC, they revised the dipstick and tube some where in VT/VX production to increase the sump capacity by half a litre, it was something to do with oil surge when driven hard and the extra capacity overcame it, they also revised the oil pick up in the sump at some stage early in the GEN III's life. When my VX SS was fitted with the revised pistons back in 2003 on the invoice they have listed a new dipstick and dipstick tube and oil pick-up pipe. Holden have always put 5.5 litres in mine, and it never burns any off, it may drop maybe 2mm on the dipstick between services. The LS1 workshop I now use also charge me for 5.5 litre when they service it.

[DLFHUB666]

So it is only worth while putting 5.5l in if you have this special dip stick fitted ???, mine takes exactly 5l to the top of the dip stick so putting in any more in my eyes is just a waste.

[rb26dett]

So it is only worth while putting 5.5l in if you have this special dip stick fitted ???, mine takes exactly 5l to the top of the dip stick so putting in any more in my eyes is just a waste.

0.5 litres of oil, or a higher chance of oil surge. I personally run 6 in mine.

[Grennan]

Why do you need 2 bottles??? dont they come in 5l bottle???

Takes 5.5l - 6l with the filter and you cant buy 1 litre bottles of it.

10w60, you can get it for $50-$55 for a 5L bottle on SuperCheap and Repco 20% off days which are quite regular at the moment.

Yeah 60 bucks on a good day. Every other day, 80-90. However, if you can find a Supercheap Auto that doesnt rip 10-60 off the shelf as soon as the sale starts, BUY BIG.

[Grennan]

sorry i should have mentioned mine has high clicks on it 220km +

I would try a 10w first, you may need a 15 though.

[VuGeniii]

I would try a 10w first, you may need a 15 though.

Any brand in particular? would you sugesst a 10-50 or 10-60?

[DLFHUB666]

[QUOTE=Grennan;1895199]Takes 5.5l - 6l with the filter and you cant buy 1 litre bottles of it. QUOTE]

Well mine must be the only one that takes exactly 5l with the filter, I do an oil change every 5000km an i may lose a tiny bit between changes normally still on the full mark, Anyway i have never had a problem.
I looked at my recipts for service's i had done at tony island holden in townsville an they only ever charged for 5l, I had it done 3 times there.

[Drewie]

[QUOTE=DLFHUB666;1895765]

Takes 5.5l - 6l with the filter and you cant buy 1 litre bottles of it. QUOTE]

Well mine must be the only one that takes exactly 5l with the filter, I do an oil change every 5000km an i may lose a tiny bit between changes normally still on the full mark, Anyway i have never had a problem.
I looked at my recipts for service's i had done at tony island holden in townsville an they only ever charged for 5l, I had it done 3 times there.

Holden revised the oil capacity by half a litre some where during the VX LS1's production, they produced a revised dipstick which went with the increased capacity, when my 2001 VX SS Series 1 had the revised pistons fitted in 2003 they fitted a new dipstick and tube, so maybe your car has the original/older dipstick. I have the part number for the revised dipstick on the invoice for the revised pistons some where in my file. Think I have the Holden Bulletin some where showing from what engine number they changed it on the production line, the change point from memory was earlier on the manual cars, but then they changed it on the autos as well. I will have a dig around and see if I still have the Holden Bulletin, not sure if I kept it or not.

[VuGeniii]

Mobil 1 - 10w 50w was the flavour of choice - funatortunately the idot who last put the oil filter on appears to have cross threaded it on tightening and the bloody thing is seized on - have broken 2 oil filter wrenches, the puncture with screw driver and turn idea shot - have basically exhausted everything under the sun to get the filter off (im only left with the main base and thread - the rest has all strip off).

any ideas? the main thread is now exposed and has a hex head socket showing (i assume to take it out) unfortunately i dont have the hex head bit to try it.

[savage1987]

I read an interesting article on the prospect of putting a high volume / better baffled/gated sump on an LS1. It says the factory sumps are fantastic, ESPECIALLY once you fill them with an extra litre of oil above the 'full' mark on the dipstick. I know this was the case for the VX LS1, I'm not sure if they changed the sump after that or not but there you have it. Someone should find that link a lot of the track guys use that trick. Saves a thousand bucks on a sump

[m1lky]

I would buy the bit you need to remove it personally.

I can't picture exactly what you have left but would it be possible to nick it and tear the threaded bit of the filter open? Doesn't sound ideal though. I'm suprised the filter didn't come off before it broke.

IMO fill the oil to the full line on your dipstick. If you havent got the revised dipstick chances are you dont have the larger sump either

[VuGeniii]

dont think i have any other options