Recommended synthetic for roller 355

[tayto]

Hey guys have a recently built roller 355 that was broken in on the dyno and made 400FWHP. Engine is in my 1988 Chev Caprice 9C1. Builder told me bearing clearances were between .0020"-.0025". Currently have Joe Gibbs HR2 10w30 in engine now, plan on running it for the first OCI then want to switch to synthetic. Also have an oil cooler which is not installed at the moment. Plan on hooking it up @ first oil change. Car is suppose to be a fair weather/semi-daily driver, so it may sit for months. But if I end up switching jobs I will no longer have a work van and the car may have to do daily driver duties. Temp where I live on the West coast of Canada varies from 10*F in winter to 100*F in the summer. Was thinking a 5w30 but not opposed to a 0w if cost is not terrible. Is there a need to go to a w40 weight it seemed to make good oil pressure on the dyno (straight 30) but builder said I may need to switch to a 40 weight in the summer. Rotella T6 maybe?

Also, when I install the oil cooler would it be wise to block off the bypass port in the oil filter adapter? I am running a Wix (NAPA Gold) brand filter. Current filter adapter has the bypass.

Any advice welcome!

 

[bullwinkle]

Seems like Mobil 1 0W40 would be hard to beat, or possibly T6 5W40.

 

[Clevy]

A 30 grade is perfect,especially with an oil cooler. The oil temps will be under control and oil film strength won't get compromised due to heat.
And being that your on the west coast you don't really need a 0w due to temps although if its a good deal I personally wouldn't say no.
I love those old caprices,and 400hp in one will be alot of fun. Do you plan on extending the oil change interval using a synthetic? These engines have been around for decades and will live a long life on conventional oil.
If you are going to stick with a 5000 mile/8000km interval I wouldn't even bother with synthetic,especially considering you won't experience extremely cold temps.
I'd run Pennzoil conventional for a 8000km interval or wait til Walmart puts either PP or Quaker state ultimate durability on sale and run it for a 15000km interval.
Since you've spent a big dollar on that engine I'd run a couple of used oil analysis' on the syn of your choice just to establish a proper oil change interval or just run Pennzoil conventional at 8000kms and not stress about it.
You can always score Pennzoil Platinum or Quaker state ultimate durability on sale for less than 25 bucks a jug so at those prices it's cheaper than using conventional a at full price. Wait for a sale then stock up. You get a better value and a longer interval which means less time maintaining.

 

[Donald]

Amsoil ZROD?

 

[JavierG]

tayto, sorry but no advice to offer you. But Welcome to BITOG!!

 

[tayto]

I was hoping to get 10,000km or more for OCI. The other reason for synthetic would be if the car sits for a long time. If I have understood it right conventional oil will loose its additives over time even without much milage on it. Where as synthetic does not. I don't want to park the car for the winter only to worry about what sort of condition the oil is next time I drive it.

Clevy, I grew up in Saskatoon, left when I was 18 but always went back for months at a time (lay offs etc) up until 2009. Moved out to Vancouver and have not been back for a few years. Planning on taking the Caprice out there this summer.

 

[artificialist]

This is a gasoline engine, so in the future, you should ask questions like this in:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=1&page=1

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: tayto
If I have understood it right conventional oil will loose its additives over time even without much milage on it. Where as synthetic does not.


That's not an issue. You certainly can use a synthetic, and you likely could extend your OCIs, but oil sitting is simply oil sitting. While your engine isn't stock, 10000 km OCIs were attainable on those engines in stock form with conventional, under the right circumstances, of course.

 

[tayto]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
This is a gasoline engine, so in the future, you should ask questions like this in:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=1&page=1
Yes I just noticed I posted it in the wrong section. I blame my blackberry!

In the original engine in my caprice I always changed the engine oil every 5,000KM. Perhaps I could have extended my OCI? Either way 15,000KM would be great. I have a buddy that had a similar OCI in his 2000ish Buick.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: tayto
I was hoping to get 10,000km or more for OCI. The other reason for synthetic would be if the car sits for a long time. If I have understood it right conventional oil will loose its additives over time even without much milage on it. Where as synthetic does not. I don't want to park the car for the winter only to worry about what sort of condition the oil is next time I drive it.

Clevy, I grew up in Saskatoon, left when I was 18 but always went back for months at a time (lay offs etc) up until 2009. Moved out to Vancouver and have not been back for a few years. Planning on taking the Caprice out there this summer.


Pm me when you are planning to come out. I'd like to see how my mustang fares vs a 400hp caprice. I might have to turn on the bottle. Hehehe.
K. So you'd like to extend the oil change interval so synthetic it is.
I'd like to make a blanket statement and say any syn will do 10000km/6000 mile oil change intervals but you are not running a stock engine.
You have a few options. You can use a syn such as PP/Quaker State Ultimate Durability/Mobil 1 and do a used oil analysis to determine a proper interval. It could be that you can go longer than 10000kms/6000 miles or it may determine that you are the oil chosen wont make it. A used oil analysis is the only way to be sure OR you can run an extended drain oil such as Mobil 1 Extended Performance or Amsoils SSO/AZO line and be confident those oils can go that mileage.
Have you considered perhaps German castrol 0w30 or Mobil 1 0w-40,perhaps a euro spec oil. They are far more stout than our classic syns we get here and NA and I'm pretty sure they can do your desired 10000km interval.
You have lots of options. Let us know which direction you choose to go.

 

[tayto]

I will start to price out oil and see what the cost difference is and availability. Definately leaning towards Pennzoil Platinum or Quaker State Ultimate Durability ater researching them. Will also do UOA and will see how my oil pressure is this summer with the W30. Thinking about running 2500-3000KM on the conventional oil that is in the engine now and then switching to synthetic.