5W-30 synthetic for Gen 1 SBC with roller cam

[Randy_R]

I changed from flat tappet cam to hydraulic roller 6 years ago and have used up my stash of high ZDDP 10W-30 Brad Penn. I would like to run 5W-30 synthetic, something I can get at Walmart, Farm & Fleet or any auto parts store. On the interstates, my tachometer shows 3500-4000 RPM. I don’t have overdrive and I’ll just keep MPH to myself. It’s a Chevy 355. It’s a lot of fun. I’ve seen that blog, you know which one, and I have seen lots of numbers. I’m open to major brands only, Mobil 1, Valvoline, Pennzoil, Castrol maybe. Am I to believe Quaker State is that good? I’m interested in hearing what anyone with similar setup is using.

 

[JavierH19]

All of those brands will do great. Since it's a hydraulic roller It can be anything, from supertech syn blend 5w-30 to Pennzoil platnium euro L 5w-30 which is one of the best off the shelf 5w-30's though you can run anything you want in that engine. From 0w-30 to 20w-50 if you so choose though a 50 grade is excessive most of the time. I'm using 15w-40 in my older 6.0 and 5.3 and 5w-40 in my new 6.2. As far as brands I use any of them since I only care about approvals.

 

[cheesepuffs2]

Vanilla Mobil 1 and be done with it.

 

[AdmiralYoda]

I'd be happy with whatever full synthetic is on sale at Walmart, but I'd probably stick with Mobile 1 Extended Performance for the fun of it. Even their house brand SuperTech would be just fine.

 

[Number_35]

Is a 355 a 350 bored 0.030" over?

 

[RazorsEdge]

Is a 355 a 350 bored 0.030" over?

Yes

 

[wpod]

!0W - what ever oil you chose. unless you need the 5W for starting temps.

 

[skippermatt]

Mobil 1 fs 0w40.

 

[MolaKule]

I changed from flat tappet cam to hydraulic roller 6 years ago and have used up my stash of high ZDDP 10W-30 Brad Penn. I would like to run 5W-30 synthetic, something I can get at Walmart, Farm & Fleet or any auto parts store. On the interstates, my tachometer shows 3500-4000 RPM. I don’t have overdrive and I’ll just keep MPH to myself. It’s a Chevy 355. It’s a lot of fun. I’ve seen that blog, you know which one, and I have seen lots of numbers. I’m open to major brands only, Mobil 1, Valvoline, Pennzoil, Castrol maybe. Am I to believe Quaker State is that good? I’m interested in hearing what anyone with similar setup is using.

I made the same mods to my 1987 Suburban 350. I used the Pennzoil 10W30 that was available at the time and never had any engine problems.

I also had dual headers and cats and full flow mufflers on it. It sounded really sweet at 75+ pulling a ton of firewood.

 

[OVERKILL]

I'd just run M1 FS 0W-40 given your criteria.

 

[350Rocket]

M1 0w40 is what I'd run. I ran it in my high mileage 305 and it was still a flat tappet cam....I did run 5w30 or 0w30 sometimes during cold winter times but that engine only saw 4k rpm occasionally for a second right before shifting, as it had overdrive plus highway gears and only 150hp. With a higher HP variant running higher rpm I'd want the 0w40 FS or something better, but that's probably the best thing you can find on the shelf at Walmart.

 

[Number_35]

Yes

I cheated - calculated the displacement with bores of 4.010, 4.020, and 4.030".

Figured it had be bore, because the next step up in stroke is a big one (3.48" to 3.75").

 

[DerFahrer]

We ran a 383 stroker on dirt with push rod guide plates, and Comp Cams roller tip rocker arms, and showed minimal wear at 4500 to 6200 rpm with Mobil 1 15w 50. But our timing chain and gears looked terrible. The following year we used Delvac 1 15w 40 with the same setup and it looked great on the timing gear. Anecdotal? Yes. But just my experience.

 

[facility1]

Valvoline EP,5w-30 would be a good choice, its available at wall mart at a reasonable price,lots of moly and zinc compounds.or Pennzoil ultra is also a great choice. Quaker state ultra is worth a consideration. really most any modern 5w-30 sp,gf-6a certified oil would be fine,just do oci when needed. and good filter is important.

 

[Randy_R]

Valvoline EP,5w-30 would be a good choice, its available at wall mart at a reasonable price,lots of moly and zinc compounds.or Pennzoil ultra is also a great choice. Quaker state ultra is worth a consideration. really most any modern 5w-30 sp,gf-6a certified oil would be fine,just do oci when needed. and good filter is important.

I was thinking along those lines, Valvoline EP and Pennzoil Ultra, maybe 10W-30. Walmart has all of this at better prices. I rarely start it below 45 degrees which means I don’t start it December-February. This forum gives me plenty of ideas. I’ve thought about 0W-40, 5W-40 but I’ve done OK with 10W-30 mostly. Thanks everybody for your input.