OK to use Delo 400 LE in 87 Camaro

[zr900]

I have a 87 Camaro with a lightly modified 400 small block that I only drive in the summer. I only put about 1500 to 2500 miles on per year and was wondering if it would be a good choice to use Delo 400LE 15w40 in it for the summer use.

Edit.

The car also has a high volume oil pump, and oil pressure is about 45psi at idle and 60-70 while driving.

 

[daman]

The oil would be perfecly fine to use and would be great protection sure,BUT....IMO to heavy,with that oil pump it's not needed,go with a 10w30 or 10w40.

what kind of valve train,roller i presume?

 

[Steve S]

The oil will be filter ,let the oil warm up before WOT. 40s work great in your generation chev engine.

 

[dparm]

I think it would be fine. I'd let the oil warm up sufficiently before beating on the motor, as Steve said.

 

[Eddie]

I think I would run a 10w30 oil. A 15w40 will take much more time to reach upper end pieces.

 

[zr900]

I ended up using the Valvoline VR1 Syn 10w30 that I had bought when they had the $50 rebate.

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
I think I would run a 10w30 oil. A 15w40 will take much more time to reach upper end pieces.
Please give valid advise. The 15w40 will get up to the top will get up to the top eng faster than needed in the Mi. summers.

 

[A_Harman]

Originally Posted By: zr900
I ended up using the Valvoline VR1 Syn 10w30 that I had bought when they had the $50 rebate.


Good choice. More appropriate than the Delo in a performance-oriented gasoline engine.

 

[oggb]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
I think I would run a 10w30 oil. A 15w40 will take much more time to reach upper end pieces.


During the summer, try this:
Take the valve cover off of something that has 5w/10w oil in the sump.
Start the engine
Count (in seconds) how long before there is oil at the valvetrain
Change oil out to 15w or even 20w
Start engine
Count how long before there is oil at the valvetrain

There will be no appreciable difference.

Originally Posted By: Steve S
Originally Posted By: Eddie
I think I would run a 10w30 oil. A 15w40 will take much more time to reach upper end pieces.
Please give valid advise. The 15w40 will get up to the top will get up to the top eng faster than needed in the Mi. summers.


+1

 

[bullwinkle]

I wouldn't think there would be a big difference-I still put 20W50 in the old '94 350 TBI Suburban (now with around 213K on it), starts fine even in winter, it has worn bearings which cause low hot oil pressure (sub-20 PSI on the gauge).

 

[Robenstein]

If ya have a flat tappet cam, then the HDEO is the better way to go for camshaft/lifter longevity. I run 15w40 in my 86 SBC powered Monte Carlo all the time. Eventhough it specs 5w30 that year, the small block chevy was speced for a 40 weight oil for many years as well. Heck in my performance small blocks I always ran 20w50 in the summers before they killed the zinc levels.

 

[Gokhan]

Originally Posted By: zr900
and was wondering if it would be a good choice to use Delo 400LE 15w40 in it for the summer use.

Mobil Delvac 1300 Super 15w40 would be the excellent choice here, as its Group II+ basestocks are superior to Delo's Group II (?) ISOSYN basestocks and Delvac has the patented trinuclear-moly extreme-pressure, antiwear, antioxidant, and friction-modifier additive. Delvac is also extremely shear-resistant but Delo shears quite a bit.

For winter, Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 would be the excellent choice.

 

[Jim Allen]

IMO, any 15W40 is too thick and I'd make a stronger argument against if it was a daily driver. As it is, you won't make enough cold starts or winter starts to be an issue. If you are settled on 40 grade, the 5W40 is a better choice overall.

I disagree that Mobil's basestocks are significantly better than DELO (which my info shows as II+) and have not seen that the Chevron shears any more overall than Mobil. Shearing won't be an issue in a SBC anyway. Fuel dilution... more likely.