Oil for an 01 Trans AM

[mac62989]

I'm looking for some suggestions on oil. I drive a 2001 Pontiac Trans Am LS1 with 79xxx miles on it. The manual calls for 5w30 and just mentions API. I also live down in Southern CT. I drive the car on short trips mostly city driving when it's sunny out. I put anywhere from 2500-3000 miles a year on it. I change the oil once a year and it burns some oil, I check every few hundred miles and its never leaked. I've been using 10w30 synthetic pretty much any brand that they have a deal on. I don’t know what kind of oil was used before I got the car 5 years ago with 66,000 miles. I would like to walk into a local parts store and grab some oil but I have no problem ordering online. I've been looking into Valvoline VR1 10w30 conventional and Castrol Edge 0w-40 synthetic. I already have a Nappa Platinum filter just needing to pull the trigger on an oil. All suggestions are greatly appreciated!

-Matt

 

[Joe_Power]

Lol

 

[Recalculating]

Pennzoil conventional. Using a synthetic oil for such short mileage is really a waste.

Use that quality filter for 2 OCI.

 

[901Memphis]

First off changing the oil every year is a little too frequently for a synthetic, I would just use a conventional or blended 5w30 like Pennzoil gold.

As far as your filter choice goes I suggest you exchange the Napa Platinum for the Napa Gold. The Platinum only has an efficiency of 50% @20 microns while the gold is 95%, the Platinum is not their top tier filter, the gold is.

If you want a real quality synthetic filter I suggest Fram Ultras which are 99%+ efficient at 20 microns but they are a waste unless you leave them on close to their 15,000 mile high capacity.

Fram Tough Guards are perfectly suited for your intervals since they are 99% efficient and rated for up to 7500 miles.

 

[SLATRON]

Any oil from walmart in 5/10w-30.
Super Tech if want to save $.
High mileage if consumes oil.
Synthetic if want "best".
I'd use a tough gaurd for 2 oci, rated for 10k miles.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Nice car! I know folks who have had great success with Castrol Syntec 0w30 in their LS1 motors. I have a 99 Firebird but it has the 3800. I use high mileage oils in it, typically, since the seals were leaky when I bought it. Let's see some pics!

 

[mac62989]

I had a 3.8 Camaro actually. Synthetic was always recommended so I used it. The GC and Valvoline are highly recommended over on LS1tech, I just wanted to get a different take. Along with everyone loving the Nappa Platinum filter being the WIX XP over the regular WIX. I always figured a yearly oil change was best for me even with synthetic because of the little miles I put on it a year along with short drives under 20 miles at a time. Im here to get schooled really.

WS6

3.8 Camaro

 

[HTSS_TR]

Nice car you have.

If you like to change oil once a year then any name brand conventional oil 5-10W30 couple with Fram Tought Guard will be perfect for your driving condition. No need to spend extra for synthetic oil and Napa Platinum oil filter.

But if you like synthetic oil and top of the line oil filter for your beautiful Camaro then Mobil 1 0W40 with Fram Ultra will be better.

Mobil 1 0W40 in 5-qt jug is $25-26 at Walmart and Fram Ultra filter is about $9-10, so the cost of oil and filter is about $35(plus tax) for 1 year if your Camaro needs 5 quarts.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: mac62989
Valvoline VR1 10w30 conventional


That'd be a great choice.

 

[xtell]

I've got a 99 Trans Am. I started out with Mobil 1, then switched to Pennzoil Platinum and now have Quaker State Ultimate Durability. Each oil brand change after Mobil 1 quieted down the engine more than the previous brand of oil. I have always used Wix, AC Delco or Purolator filters (over sized). The LS-1 engine was designed to run on 5w30 so that is what I have always run.

Nuff said,

xtell

 

[jorton]

Well it doesn't sound like it burns too much oil. You didn't mention fouled spark plugs. Have you replaced the pcv and hose with AC? Also, oil could be burning on your short trips because it's too thick most of the time.

 

[MrQuackers]

You win any of Aunt Bee's pickles yet driving that sweet car around town?

 

[Clevy]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I had a firebird. 6 speed tremec,screaming small block.
I sold it when I became apparent that I cannot own nice things so I sold it before I destroyed it.
It was hot until the roads got twisty. Straight lines were one way trips to heart pump land. Where time slows and if you think about making that corner it's already too late to turn.
Surprisingly my charger feels faster in a straight line and it definitely corners better.
Sad man. My 4 door family sedan outperforms the domestic auto builders higher rated sports car.
Mercedes did it

 

[Boss302fan]

I would use Pennzoil Conventional 5w30 and a decent filter.

 

[A_Harman]

Change oil according to the OLM. Don't worry about doing an annual oil change if you're only doing 3000 miles per year.

 

[A_Harman]

Originally Posted By: Clevy

Surprisingly my charger feels faster in a straight line and it definitely corners better.


Than a 4th-Gen F-body?
That'll be the day.

 

[mac62989]

Originally Posted By: jorton
Well it doesn't sound like it burns too much oil. You didn't mention fouled spark plugs. Have you replaced the pcv and hose with AC? Also, oil could be burning on your short trips because it's too thick most of the time.


Plugs and wires were changed 3 years ago.I add about a quart and a half between the yearly oil change so maybe 1/2 quart every 1000 miles.

 

[mac62989]

Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Change oil according to the OLM. Don't worry about doing an annual oil change if you're only doing 3000 miles per year.


I never thought the OLM was that reliable

 

[A_Harman]

Originally Posted By: mac62989
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Change oil according to the OLM. Don't worry about doing an annual oil change if you're only doing 3000 miles per year.


I never thought the OLM was that reliable


I always trusted mine up to about 150K miles, when I started doing oil analyses. Then I found that the oil still has a lot of life left even after the OLM calls for an oil change. I have always run synthetics in mine, though.

 

[mac62989]

Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Originally Posted By: mac62989
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Change oil according to the OLM. Don't worry about doing an annual oil change if you're only doing 3000 miles per year.


I never thought the OLM was that reliable


I always trusted mine up to about 150K miles, when I started doing oil analyses. Then I found that the oil still has a lot of life left even after the OLM calls for an oil change. I have always run synthetics in mine, though.


The guy who I bought mine from ran Mobil 1 synthetic but he barely drove it in the four years he owned it. I would be surprised if he changed the oil more than twice. I continued using synthetic but I dont know what was in it the first 5 years. What kind of oil do you run?