Weak oil systems have always been a Buick problem. Anyone that knows older Buicks knows this. Fortunately, the aftermarket has the parts to correct it.
Oil recommendations for 1987 Buick Grand National
- Thread starter spiderbypass
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The T Types are just GNs with different paint and chrome.
Quote:
I'd never run a non-synthetic in a turbo engine, especially one that is worth some money. When you are dealing with valuable cars like a GN or GNX, the extra cost of a higher quality synthetic oil is negligible when you look at the big picture. If you have to count your pennies when doing maintenance on vehicle, you can't afford to own that vehicle.
Why do you not believe Terry's recommendation? What qualifications do you bring to the table? FYI, Terry has in the neighborhood of 30 years in the oil analysis business.
I'm not going to argue with you or anything, but I just happen to have TONS of experience with Buick 3.8 Turbo engines, but I'm not going to bore you with all that. Point being, anyone that knows anything about turbo engines in general knows you only run synthetic oil in them. To each their own though.Quote:
Quote:
I'd never run a non-synthetic in a turbo engine, especially one that is worth some money. When you are dealing with valuable cars like a GN or GNX, the extra cost of a higher quality synthetic oil is negligible when you look at the big picture. If you have to count your pennies when doing maintenance on vehicle, you can't afford to own that vehicle.
Why do you not believe Terry's recommendation? What qualifications do you bring to the table? FYI, Terry has in the neighborhood of 30 years in the oil analysis business.Just having the word synthetic on the bottle isn't the end all nor should it be a bare minimum or starting point.
Yes they do. I use it in my Jeep 4.0. It is NOT synthetic-it's conventional diesel oil. I can easily find it at the local Menards (home improvement store) in gallon jugs.
Please expand on what you mean by TONS of experience.
*shrug*
FWIW, I'm currently running Gold GC 0W-30 in my 87 GN. I don't race it or even put many miles on it in a year, so I change oil by time rather than mileage. Prior to that, I was running Mobil 1 10W-30 "Green Cap". In both cases, I use the larger PF-52 filter.
BTW, I was one of the original moderators on gnttype.org. My GN is the one at the bottom of the www.gnttype.org page, on the right.
Rich
FWIW, I'm currently running Gold GC 0W-30 in my 87 GN. I don't race it or even put many miles on it in a year, so I change oil by time rather than mileage. Prior to that, I was running Mobil 1 10W-30 "Green Cap". In both cases, I use the larger PF-52 filter.
BTW, I was one of the original moderators on gnttype.org. My GN is the one at the bottom of the www.gnttype.org page, on the right.
Rich
The engine doesn't need or require synthetic oil. There was syn oil in 1987 and G.M. did not recommend it. To be honest the engine is not super expensive as far as motors go.Quote:
I'd never run a non-synthetic in a turbo engine, especially one that is worth some money. When you are dealing with valuable cars like a GN or GNX, the extra cost of a higher quality synthetic oil is negligible when you look at the big picture. If you have to count your pennies when doing maintenance on vehicle, you can't afford to own that vehicle.
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I always ran synth 20W50 in my `87 Olds Trofeo which had the normally aspirated 3800 V6. Sold it at 250K miles with no oil usage or leakage.
Since you insist on knowing, I'll brag a little. My dad had a 86 GN that he bought new back in the early 90s that I wrenched on. Long story short, that car went from a mid/high 13 second stocker to a high 9 second car-only only 1 turbo and with a 2004R trans and with the stock 10bolt rearend. It made a couple of magazine spreads at some of the the Mustang VS GN drags that were all the rage back then. I did all the work on it except for the computer tuning. I never had a engine, turbo or bearing failure and that engine only saw Mobil 1 15w50 and AC Delco filters. Lab testing oil down to the molecular level is fine and all that if that is what you like to do, but I prefer to go with what works in the real world in actual conditions because that is what ultimately matters most.
Nobody that I knew ran conventional oil in them. As far as them not being expensive, they are. The GN/T Type, especially GNX, isn't worth as much without it's original numbers matching engine. The value of the car is directly related to the engine (and drivetrain) in most all cases. And to build one up requires some dough. Once you leave the "bolt on" stage, it's all high dollar stuff from that point on. It's nothing to put 10K into the long block alone. Ever build a Buick? If not, then you have no clue.Quote:
The engine doesn't need or require synthetic oil. There was syn oil in 1987 and G.M. did not recommend it. To be honest the engine is not super expensive as far as motors go.Quote:
I'd never run a non-synthetic in a turbo engine, especially one that is worth some money. When you are dealing with valuable cars like a GN or GNX, the extra cost of a higher quality synthetic oil is negligible when you look at the big picture. If you have to count your pennies when doing maintenance on vehicle, you can't afford to own that vehicle.
Finally.........someone that understands.Quote:
*shrug*
FWIW, I'm currently running Gold GC 0W-30 in my 87 GN. I don't race it or even put many miles on it in a year, so I change oil by time rather than mileage. Prior to that, I was running Mobil 1 10W-30 "Green Cap". In both cases, I use the larger PF-52 filter.
BTW, I was one of the original moderators on gnttype.org. My GN is the one at the bottom of the www.gnttype.org page, on the right.
Rich
Quote:
Finally.........someone that understands.Quote:
*shrug*
FWIW, I'm currently running Gold GC 0W-30 in my 87 GN. I don't race it or even put many miles on it in a year, so I change oil by time rather than mileage. Prior to that, I was running Mobil 1 10W-30 "Green Cap". In both cases, I use the larger PF-52 filter.
BTW, I was one of the original moderators on gnttype.org. My GN is the one at the bottom of the www.gnttype.org page, on the right.
Rich
You mean agree.
Had an 87 GN- aded a Kenne Belle chip and ram air (under the bumper) cold air kit. It woke it up a lot- boost? ran it off the end of the LED gauge into the red-who knows. My 95 Corvette 6MT is quicker though-by a lot.
EVER TRY AND STOP A GN IN A HURRY?
Almost impossible with braking system they designed-nitrogen pressurized master cylinder if I remember correctly-couldn't even lock the brakes on a pnaic stop
EVER TRY AND STOP A GN IN A HURRY?
Almost impossible with braking system they designed-nitrogen pressurized master cylinder if I remember correctly-couldn't even lock the brakes on a pnaic stop
All motors cost lots to hot rod .Still the engines don't cost much. Build a porche up or a stock Ferrari, then we can talk prices.I do have a clue.Quote:
Nobody that I knew ran conventional oil in them. As far as them not being expensive, they are. The GN/T Type, especially GNX, isn't worth as much without it's original numbers matching engine. The value of the car is directly related to the engine (and drivetrain) in most all cases. And to build one up requires some dough. Once you leave the "bolt on" stage, it's all high dollar stuff from that point on. It's nothing to put 10K into the long block alone. Ever build a Buick? If not, then you have no clue.Quote:
The engine doesn't need or require synthetic oil. There was syn oil in 1987 and G.M. did not recommend it. To be honest the engine is not super expensive as far as motors go.Quote:
I'd never run a non-synthetic in a turbo engine, especially one that is worth some money. When you are dealing with valuable cars like a GN or GNX, the extra cost of a higher quality synthetic oil is negligible when you look at the big picture. If you have to count your pennies when doing maintenance on vehicle, you can't afford to own that vehicle.
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