Oil

[webby274]

Hi guys. Just wanting to know what oil people are running in their 3.8L N/A ecotecs? Currently I’m running 15w40 full synthetic in my VY and I’ve tried a few other grades, and I’m noticing off a cold start it’s got a fair old rattle going and it seems to take about 5-10 seconds to build oil pressure. I service it between 5000 and 7500km and it travels around 40000km per year, so it doesn’t sit around. Just wanting some ideas on what oil people use and how I can go about reducing the rattling. Engine seems pretty healthy however I’m yet to put an oil pressure gauge on it

 

[vr304]

Lifter noise, probably better just to replace the lifters mate as that will be the source of your noise

 

[goony]

Higher km engine? Try a 20w50 mate, especially over summer.

 

[webby274]

The noise seems to have died down a bit, haven’t heard it for a few weeks now. Not sure on how many k’s the engine has, it’s been replaced at some point. Due for an oil change so I’ll try 20w50. Certainly sounds a lot like lifter noise, but trying to hold off doing those for as long as possible

 

[exec24]

i use Penrite HPR15 in my VY Sedan, have done so since i bought it back in 2006 with 28,000k's. It gets serviced every 5000k's, and has just done 165,000k's.

 

[MR.HG]

Hpr 30 all the way

 

[webby274]

Thanks guys. I’ll try those out over the next few services and see which one my car likes. Much appreciated

 

[vr304]

i use Penrite HPR15 in my VY Sedan, have done so since i bought it back in 2006 with 28,000k's. It gets serviced every 5000k's, and has just done 165,000k's.

Bit excessive for an Ecotec mate? They aren’t known to be a sludgy engine like the newer v6s

 

[exec24]

not that ive heard of....thought that was more the alloytec in VZ and VE

Penrite recommended that at the time, so went with it. oil pressure gauge has always read consistent pressure. the penrite website may recommend something different now but most ecotecs have done 250-300,000's or more.

ive just picked up a VY one tonne ute, with 180,000k's but dont have a service history so will be serving it with HPR-15 too, not actually sure whats been used in it but i'll drop all the oil's and coolant soon and give it a good service
.

 

[vr304]

not that ive heard of....thought that was more the alloytec in VZ and VE

Penrite recommended that at the time, so went with it. oil pressure gauge has always read consistent pressure. the penrite website may recommend something different now but most ecotecs have done 250-300,000's or more.

ive just picked up a VY one tonne ute, with 180,000k's but dont have a service history so will be serving it with HPR-15 too, not actually sure whats been used in it but i'll drop all the oil's and coolant soon and give it a good service
.

Fair enough no harm in doing more often than the scheduled services and Penrite is good stuff too have run it in my last 3 commys