86 Buick Estate Wagon with the Olds 307 - best oil
- Thread starter JREwing
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JHZR2
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not a bad choice, might also want to look at delo or rotella 10w-30.
Originally Posted By: JREwing
What do you guys think? I'm leaning toward running Delo 15w40.
This is a 109,000 mile motor that I fear has skipped a few oil changes lately. I will run Auto RX regardless.
I ran Delo during an A-rx run, worked just fine..
Actually, any dino oil will work. Id just use something cheap with a decent filter. How about Supertech, or the Autozone special, 5qt jug of house brand oil/STP filter for $10??
What do you guys think? I'm leaning toward running Delo 15w40.
This is a 109,000 mile motor that I fear has skipped a few oil changes lately. I will run Auto RX regardless.
I ran Delo during an A-rx run, worked just fine..
Actually, any dino oil will work. Id just use something cheap with a decent filter. How about Supertech, or the Autozone special, 5qt jug of house brand oil/STP filter for $10??
Originally Posted By: bobfather99
Actually, any dino oil will work. Id just use something cheap with a decent filter. How about Supertech, or the Autozone special, 5qt jug of house brand oil/STP filter for $10??
I figured I needed the HD oil since the 307 is a old-school design. No?
Actually, any dino oil will work. Id just use something cheap with a decent filter. How about Supertech, or the Autozone special, 5qt jug of house brand oil/STP filter for $10??
I figured I needed the HD oil since the 307 is a old-school design. No?
You don't NEED HD oil since there are a huge number of old Small Block Chevy engines that have high miles, and used basic API oil the whole time.
That in mind, many people would like to put a higher quality of oil in the engine to help it last longer. I'm sure that is why the thread was started.
That in mind, many people would like to put a higher quality of oil in the engine to help it last longer. I'm sure that is why the thread was started.
JHZR2
Staff member
any old dino oil will work well, but the higher level of detergents/dispersants is nice especially for when starting out and doing an ARX run, IMO.
After that, Id likely be looking for deals on havoline or PYB.
JMH
After that, Id likely be looking for deals on havoline or PYB.
JMH
my dad owned 2 of these cars with same engine that used so much oil we had to wonder where it was all going. Never saw any smoke, but was burning up a qt every 300 miles. This is an Olds engine design if it has the add-oil cap on a vertical pipe in the front down into the timing chain cover. Would have been interesting if we had tried something like ARX back then.
HD isnt necessary, but will work just fine.
Id just use whatever dino oil you feel like using, and relax and let the A-rx do its thing...
Id just use whatever dino oil you feel like using, and relax and let the A-rx do its thing...
My grandfather had two mid 80's Caddys with 307's that had to have the camshaft replaced. I remember the dealership mechanic commenting that the oldsmobile 307's seemed to have a lot of problems with the camshaft lobes going flat. Based on that, an affordable HDEO of the proper viscosity might not be a bad idea.
Beginning in 1985, the Olds 307 got a roller cam. An '86 should most definitely have a roller cam. It still probably has a brass distributor drive gear. I had an '84 Cutlass with a flat tappet 307 (ran Valvoline 10W-30 the whole time I had it) and an '87 Buick Regal with a roller 307 (pulled the engine soon after I bought it, in favor of an Olds 403).
Bottom line: I vote for 10W-30 Rotella for your '86 307. Cheap...about $12/gallon from Wal-Mart. Get you a gallon of the 10W-30 Rotella, add a quart of the 15W-40 Rotella (since they don't carry it in the quart size) and use a PF-61 ACDelco oil filter. It'll likely run forever.
Bottom line: I vote for 10W-30 Rotella for your '86 307. Cheap...about $12/gallon from Wal-Mart. Get you a gallon of the 10W-30 Rotella, add a quart of the 15W-40 Rotella (since they don't carry it in the quart size) and use a PF-61 ACDelco oil filter. It'll likely run forever.
Had an 83 Cutlass Supreme 2dr I got from my mom at 103K. It was finally retired 18 years after it was built with 256K on it. I had maintained this car since new with Castrol GTX 10-40 and FRAM orange can filters. Never used a drop of oil-period-in 256K oil was never added and was always at the FULL mark when checked. The only probs were 2 intake manifold gaskets-valve covers were never off
Steve
Steve
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I've got an '88 Caprice coming to me here that I'll be using as a winter beater so I can park the Lincoln. It has the 307 in it.
Car only has 152,000Km on it.
Coincidentally, as per Steve's post, it has also had the intake manifold gaskets done, which seem to be a problem-point on these engines.
Car only has 152,000Km on it.
Coincidentally, as per Steve's post, it has also had the intake manifold gaskets done, which seem to be a problem-point on these engines.
"Bottom line: I vote for 10W-30 Rotella for your '86 307. Cheap...about $12/gallon from Wal-Mart. Get you a gallon of the 10W-30 Rotella, add a quart of the 15W-40 Rotella (since they don't carry it in the quart size) and use a PF-61 ACDelco oil filter. It'll likely run forever."
Great advice...I'd follow that!
Great advice...I'd follow that!
I have 1987 Caprice Wagon with the same engine and 193,000 miles. I use Pennzoil High Mileage 5w30. Seems to work fine and I can get a 5 qt jug at Wal-Mart. The car had 135,000 on it when I bought it but I believe it was serviced regularly but I have no idea with what oil. It uses no oil between changes either.
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