Oil for C6 Corvette Z06 with LSX engine

[TFR]

Hi all,

A while back, I bought a 2008 Corvette Z06. The car has an 7.2L LSX engine (iron block, instead of the original 7.0 aluminium LS7) and makes close to 600 hp (unsure if that is at the wheels or the engine, but I suspect at the engine). This is a dry sump (original GM system) engine as well.

From the previous owner, I received some Valvoline VR1 5W50 that is -assumingly- currently in the engine. I did some research in the past, and this oil seems a bit too thick and I am questioning if it is the right choice for my driving.

In my mind, I will take the car to trackdays and it will be used and abused, but realistically, it's just a street car that doesn't even get used all that hard (it's too fast to drive anywhere near the limit on the street). On ls1tech, a seemingly very knowledgeable guy recommended 0w40 or 5w40 that meets ACEA A3/B4 or Porsche A40. GM's recommended oil (for the original engine) is 5w30, the oil standard they retroactively recommend is apparently "dexol2".

I am in central Europe, temperature varies from -15 to +35. The car doesn't get driven much, but I did buy a set of uhp winter tyres for it, so it might get used in that range of temperatures. I'll probably end up doing between 5000 and 10 000 km, leaning more to the 5k. Of those km's, a lot will be boring highway on cruise control at 130 kph.

Looking on oeldepot24.de (bought oil there in the past, prices seem good, but otherwise no affiliation/preference), one of the cheaper options that seems to hit the marks (acea a3/b4, Porsche a40) is "Rheinol Primus 5w40": https://oeldepot24.de/Swd-Rheinol-Primus-HDC-5W-40-5-Liter
Another cheap oil, but of a well known brand, is this Mobil 1 ESP 0w40. It gets the Porsche a40 standard, but is a acea c2/c3 oil: https://oeldepot24.de/Mobil-1-ESP-x4-0W-40-1-Liter
Next up are TotalEnergies Quarts 9000 (or 9000 Energy) 5w40
Further up are multiple variants of Meguin: high condition 5w40: https://oeldepot24.de/Meguin-3198-megol-Motorenoel-High-Condition-5W-40-5-Liter
New generation 5w30: https://oeldepot24.de/Meguin-6513-megol-Motorenoel-New-Generation-SAE-5W-30-5-Liter
Efficiency 5w30
And last but not least Low Emmision 5w40: https://oeldepot24.de/Meguin-6574-megol-Motorenoel-Low-Emission-SAE-5W-40-5-Liter
(that seems to be hitting all the mentioned standards).

And that's just scraping the top of the ice berg. So in short => I have no idea what to buy, or what to look for.
I am not necessarily trying to go low budget, but I don't like spending more than needed/without tangible benefit. Oil on forums often seems to be more religion than reason, so I am hoping to find a more down to earth answer here.

 

[JavierH19]

You can use that without issue and it's definitely better than the standard pcmo 5w-30. 5w-50 isn't thick either, it quickly shears down. You can also use 15w-40 and there are really good options over in Europe not sold here like mobil mx esp or mobil xhp 15w-40. Has more hths, zddp, and phos. But any euro rated 0/5w-30/40 is still better than the minimum required pcmo 5w-30. I run whatever 15w-40 in my older gm trucks and 5w-40 in my 2021. Won't bother with 0w-20. The older engines are also dead silent at hot idle in the hot summers after running for several hours when before I'd hear valvetrain noise with 5w-30.

 

[wpod]

Why would the oil seem too thick? use the oil.

 

[LeoStrop]

The recommendation of 0W40 or 5W40 is correct and you will find many flavours available (Total, Motul, Mobil, Liqui Moly), just make sure it's A3/B4, and the Porsche A40 is a bonus.

 

[TFR]

Why would the oil seem too thick? use the oil.

Based on some earlier research, they seem to recommend 15w50 for hard track use. I remember going to 50 (or even 60) for my old Subaru as well.

I also vaguely remember that the bigger the difference between the cold and hot viscosity, the more "stuff" they have to do to make it work, which has its own problems. But that's from memory, I really don't know for sure, hence the question.

On a sidenote: it does take quite long for the car gets the oil warm. I remember doing some test drives when it was cold-ish (~5°C) and just taking it easy most of the time, the oil only got to low 70-ies °C according to the onboard computer. That was after an hour just driving around a bit.

EDIT: typo

 

[GRUMPYDUDE2]

0-40 and A40 gets my vote.

 

[kschachn]

As for not knowing what to buy, why not start with the owner’s manual recommendation? What does that say?

Post some pictures of this beast.

 

[atikovi]

Can't go wrong with Mobil 1 5W50.

 

[kschachn]

On a sidenote: it does take quite long for the car gets the oil warm. I remember doing some test drives when it was cold-ish (~5°C) and just taking it easy most of the time, the oil only got to low 70-ies °C according to the onboard computer. That was after an our just driving around a bit.

If that’s a worry then use a thicker oil. It will help the engine to warm up faster.

 

[ls1mike]

As for not knowing what to buy, why not start with the owner’s manual recommendation? What does that say?

Post some pictures of this beast.

That won't help him, this is a LSX. Not the stock engine.

5W-40 or 0W/ W-50 when you track it.

 

[Kalle.J]

Hi all,

A while back, I bought a 2008 Corvette Z06. The car has an 7.2L LSX engine (iron block, instead of the original 7.0 aluminium LS7) and makes close to 600 hp (unsure if that is at the wheels or the engine, but I suspect at the engine). This is a dry sump (original GM system) engine as well.

From the previous owner, I received some Valvoline VR1 5W50 that is -assumingly- currently in the engine. I did some research in the past, and this oil seems a bit too thick and I am questioning if it is the right choice for my driving.

In my mind, I will take the car to trackdays and it will be used and abused, but realistically, it's just a street car that doesn't even get used all that hard (it's too fast to drive anywhere near the limit on the street). On ls1tech, a seemingly very knowledgeable guy recommended 0w40 or 5w40 that meets ACEA A3/B4 or Porsche A40. GM's recommended oil (for the original engine) is 5w30, the oil standard they retroactively recommend is apparently "dexol2".

I am in central Europe, temperature varies from -15 to +35. The car doesn't get driven much, but I did buy a set of uhp winter tyres for it, so it might get used in that range of temperatures. I'll probably end up doing between 5000 and 10 000 km, leaning more to the 5k. Of those km's, a lot will be boring highway on cruise control at 130 kph.

Looking on oeldepot24.de (bought oil there in the past, prices seem good, but otherwise no affiliation/preference), one of the cheaper options that seems to hit the marks (acea a3/b4, Porsche a40) is "Rheinol Primus 5w40": https://oeldepot24.de/Swd-Rheinol-Primus-HDC-5W-40-5-Liter
Another cheap oil, but of a well known brand, is this Mobil 1 ESP 0w40. It gets the Porsche a40 standard, but is a acea c2/c3 oil: https://oeldepot24.de/Mobil-1-ESP-x4-0W-40-1-Liter
Next up are TotalEnergies Quarts 9000 (or 9000 Energy) 5w40
Further up are multiple variants of Meguin: high condition 5w40: https://oeldepot24.de/Meguin-3198-megol-Motorenoel-High-Condition-5W-40-5-Liter
New generation 5w30: https://oeldepot24.de/Meguin-6513-megol-Motorenoel-New-Generation-SAE-5W-30-5-Liter
Efficiency 5w30
And last but not least Low Emmision 5w40: https://oeldepot24.de/Meguin-6574-megol-Motorenoel-Low-Emission-SAE-5W-40-5-Liter
(that seems to be hitting all the mentioned standards).

And that's just scraping the top of the ice berg. So in short => I have no idea what to buy, or what to look for.
I am not necessarily trying to go low budget, but I don't like spending more than needed/without tangible benefit. Oil on forums often seems to be more religion than reason, so I am hoping to find a more down to earth answer here.

You just missed ato24.de summer sale.

Still decent price here.

Total 5W40

Total 5W40

www.motoroel100.de

Mobil 5W40

Mobil 5W40

www.motoroel100.de

 

[TFR]

As for not knowing what to buy, why not start with the owner’s manual recommendation? What does that say?

Post some pictures of this beast.

5W30, GM4718M, but as mentioned by ls1make, it's not the stock engine (iron vs alu block, higher capacity, more power, different internals/heads/valves, pretty much everything, although the architecture is still the same.)

I actually haven't made any proper pictures of the car yet, but here's one from a few months ago:

Can't go wrong with Mobil 1 5W50.

50 weight, even with my -generally- easy driving?

That won't help him, this is a LSX. Not the stock engine.

5W-40 or 0W/ W-50 when you track it.

Thanks

You just missed ato24.de summer sale.

Still decent price here.

Total 5W40

Total 5W40

www.motoroel100.de

Mobil 5W40

Mobil 5W40

www.motoroel100.de

Will have a look there as well! Again, not really married to a certain brand/store, so thank you for this!

 

[burbguy82]

Of course the LSX is not the factory engine, but I am sure GM Performance has literature on it.

I would say it would depend on how you use it.

 

[kschachn]

5W30, GM4718M, but as mentioned by ls1make, it's not the stock engine (iron vs alu block, higher capacity, more power, different internals/heads/valves, pretty much everything, although the architecture is still the same.)

I actually haven't made any proper pictures of the car yet, but here's one from a few months ago: View attachment 230472

50 weight, even with my -generally- easy driving?

Thanks

Will have a look there as well! Again, not really married to a certain brand/store, so thank you for this!

Sorry I missed that. Agree on the 40-grade or higher and especially anything with Porsche A40 approval such as Mobil 1 0W-40. But there are surely lots of A40 oils available there.

 

[Kalle.J]

50 weight, even with my -generally- easy driving?

Nice car, save the 5W50 you got for the trackday.
Seems to be the most efficient way use what you have and buy lower priced Porsche A40 for road use.
Otherwise you could "upgrade" to Mobil 1 or Shell helix ultra with better base stock.

 

[twX]

Even a euro xW-30 or xW-40 will have an HTHS that's quite a bit higher than the recommended API 5W-30, and should be appropriate even for track use. Once you hit the track, if you're seeing oil temperatures much higher than 130°C, you might consider going thicker, but it would be better to upgrade the oil cooler instead.

I'd consider MB 229.52 to be the best standard for oils in these grades, so of the oils you listed, the Mobil 1 ESP 0W-40 (or 5W-30) would be my choice. The Meguin 6513 meets MB 229.51, which is almost as good.

Some of the others you listed only meet the older 229.3 or 229.31 standards, which are less stringent, especially in terms of shear stability and oxidation, which are relevant to track use.

 

[GMBoy]

I am curious as to why the engine was swapped from an aluminum 7.0L with 505hp stock to a heavier iron block 7.2 with 600 or so horsepower? You can get an extra 100 hp out of the stock motor very easy to match that 600 and w/o the weight penalty and handling loss of that iron block. Now if it is 600 AT the wheels then wow you have a beast there.

But to answer your question - keep using the VR1 (use SYN formula if you can get it) or go with Mobil 1 15w/50 or similar

 

[TFR]

Even a euro xW-30 or xW-40 will have an HTHS that's quite a bit higher than the recommended API 5W-30, and should be appropriate even for track use. Once you hit the track, if you're seeing oil temperatures much higher than 130°C, you might consider going thicker, but it would be better to upgrade the oil cooler instead.

I'd consider MB 229.52 to be the best standard for oils in these grades, so of the oils you listed, the Mobil 1 ESP 0W-40 (or 5W-30) would be my choice. The Meguin 6513 meets MB 229.51, which is almost as good.

Some of the others you listed only meet the older 229.3 or 229.31 standards, which are less stringent, especially in terms of shear stability and oxidation, which are relevant to track use.

I was just looking into the Mercedes standards, as I noticed that Mobil 1 oil didn't have 229.5, but it did have 229.51 and 229.52. I've been seeing 229.5 recommended here quite a few times.
Upon looking a bit closer, I noticed that the Mobil 1 oil's price/liter was quoted wrong, I was already thinking I had found the deal of a lifetime

Of course the LSX is not the factory engine, but I am sure GM Performance has literature on it.

I would say it would depend on how you use it.

It's hard to say, these engines are sold as bare blocks, and go in builds from 400 to 2000 hp, if not more. The consensus seems to be that a w40 should be a good middle ground, but I wasn't sure if the forged internals, more/less clearance (I have no clue) because it's not a factory built motor might warrant the 50 weight.

Sorry I missed that. Agree on the 40-grade or higher and especially anything with Porsche A40 approval such as Mobil 1 0W-40. But there are surely lots of A40 oils available there.

So it's pretty safe to assume once it has certain approvals (like the Porsche A40), it basically doesn't matter that much and you can't go really wrong?

Nice car, save the 5W50 you got for the trackday.
Seems to be the most efficient way use what you have and buy lower priced Porsche A40 for road use.
Otherwise you could "upgrade" to Mobil 1 or Shell helix ultra with better base stock.

The Shell one seems to be pretty well priced too, I remember buying it the past for those reasons (well known brand, lots of certs, decent price) too.

 

[TFR]

I am curious as to why the engine was swapped from an aluminum 7.0L with 505hp stock to a heavier iron block 7.2 with 600 or so horsepower? You can get an extra 100 hp out of the stock motor very easy to match that 600 and w/o the weight penalty and handling loss of that iron block. No if it is 600 AT the wheels then wow you have a beast there.

But to answer your question - keep using the VR1 (use SYN formula if you can get it) or go with Mobil 1 15w/50 or similar

Car was imported with a broken engine (relatively common on the ls7, they have a few known issues). The original owner wanted the piece of mind of an LSX and had vague plans to add boost in the future.

It is not the way I would have gone if I was in his place, but the car was priced well, had some other interesting parts and knowing the LS7 issues were fixed was a big plus too. If it was me, I would have sleeved an alu 5.3 and build it to ls7 specs. It's still in my mind, but here in Europe it's a lot of money (even more so due to shipping/import taxes), and seeing how I drive the car, it would probably be a waste of money.

 

[twX]

I was just looking into the Mercedes standards, as I noticed that Mobil 1 oil didn't have 229.5, but it did have 229.51 and 229.52. I've been seeing 229.5 recommended here quite a few times.

MB 229.5 is very similar but is a high-SAPS standard, with a higher TBN requirement and phosphorus limit. MB 229.52 has more stringent requirements for engine tests in terms of oxidation, sludge, piston deposits, and fuel economy.

I'd tend to prefer MB 229.52, since performance in engine tests is more important than having more additives on the spec sheet.

As for the Porsche standards, C30 or C40 are better standards to look for than the older A40 standard, but it's hard to say whether they are any better than the modern MB standards.