68 Buick Electra oil recommendations please.

[dorcheat]

Originally Posted By: ChiTDI
Dorcheat -
That is accurate info from 1969.
Oils have significantly changed since then, so use the Bitog info for a much more informed choice.
Over forty years of technological advancement has radically altered the decision since that was printed.
Not condemning your input, please don't feel insulted, just saying there is a whole new world of info now to make a better decision.


I could not agree more. I just posted the oil recommendations for historical reasons having the 1969 Buick service manual on DVD.

For history buffs, Buick offered four engines for 1968.

Buick Big Block V8 with 400 and 430 cubic inches. The 400 came with the Gran Sports while the 430 came with the Electra 225, Wildcat, and Riviera. They are the same exact engine designs but the 430 had the bigger cylinder bores.

Buick Small Block V8 at 350 cubic inches. The 350 came with the LeSabre, Skylark, Sport Wagon, and a few Special Deluxes.

Chevrolet straight six at 250 cubic inches offered with most of the Special Deluxes.

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: dorcheat
The 350 came with the LeSabre, Skylark, Sport Wagon, and a few Special Deluxes.
Also in the Gran Sport 350...the car I have.

I *used* to use 20W-50 in mine until I joined here, then after much weighing of fact and opinion, I settled on Pennzoil High Mileage 10w30. Oil pressure is almost exactly the same as when I used 20W-50, but the engine feels like it spools up more quickly. I do have the Kenne Bell oil-pump kit Trav mentioned above and I get approx 25 lbs at hot idle.

 

[dorcheat]

Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Originally Posted By: dorcheat
The 350 came with the LeSabre, Skylark, Sport Wagon, and a few Special Deluxes.
Also in the Gran Sport 350...the car I have.


Yes, I forgot about that. To be complete, a few of the Skylarks also used the old Cheby straight six 250. Some of the Skylarks, LeSabres, and Special Deluxes also used three on a tree manual transmissions (Saginaw transmissions I think). I remember seeing a 1970 LeSabre as a kid with a tree three transmission and even as a kid, I thought it was very strange for a Buick!

 

[brave sir robin]

This car is not going to be a hot rod at all for me. I'm thinking about keeping it pretty cruiserish. Leaning heavily towards the 30 wt High Mileage oils especially since i already have 4qts of Mobil 1 5w30 High Mileage in my stash.


Dorcheat i sent you a pm. If you could help i would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: brave sir robin
Leaning heavily towards the 30 wt High Mileage oils especially since i already have 4qts of Mobil 1 5w30 High Mileage in my stash.


You need to lean away from that thin 5w30 because if you don't, you'll wipe the camshaft lobes out.
Especially with that water thin Mobil 1 5w30. Thin oil is NOT the best lubricant for ALL applications.

 

[dorcheat]

Originally Posted By: brave sir robin
This car is not going to be a hot rod at all for me. I'm thinking about keeping it pretty cruiserish. Leaning heavily towards the 30 wt High Mileage oils especially since i already have 4qts of Mobil 1 5w30 High Mileage in my stash.


Dorcheat i sent you a pm. If you could help i would greatly appreciate it.


Sir Robin,

Check your inbox for a couple of PM's.

 

[mechtech2]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: Tim H.

With good reason. Just because the car came from yesteryear does not mean it must have 20w-50 coursing through it's veins. Rotella hdeo 10w30 comes to mind for me on it.


My 1978 Cadillac Sedan DeVille with the 7.0L V8 ran the smoothest and got the best gas mileage
with Exxon Superflo 20W-50. The engine was so quiet with that oil, all you could hear is the fan
belts rolling over the pulleys. The car would also burn rubber for 20 ft if you got on it.


How did you suspend the laws of physics to get the best gas mileage with 20-50?? Compare it to a 60 or 70 weight?

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2

How did you suspend the laws of physics to get the best gas mileage with 20-50?? Compare it to a 60 or 70 weight?


Better lubrication = Better gas mileage.

People think that if they run thinner oil, they'll automatically get better
gas mileage. That's not true in all cases. It depends on the engine.

 

[Chris142]

Let me guess. An Aluminum timing cover that houses the oil pump. Since the oil pump is before the filter any dirt in the oil wears the Aluminum timing cover and opens up the oil pump gear clearance.

How did I do?

I remember these big Buicks with a flickering oil light at a red light.