Statesman 3.8 V-6 (ecotec with supercharger)

Status
Not open for further replies.
Shannow

Shannow

Joined
Dec 12, 2002
Messages
43,965
Location
'Stralia
Looking at first service on my new get to work car.

It's a Statesman, with the ecotec 3.8 V-6, 1997 vintage, with factory blower.

Manual calls for 20W-50 (or 15w40 if in snow).

Shell recommend 15W-50 synth, or 20W-50 regular.
Castrol recommend 10W-40 magnatec (in everyrhing), or edge 5w30.
Penrite HPR10 - 10W-50
Mobil 5w30 (3 types, synth through dino), or M1 0W-40
 
Not really, increased cylinder pressure, but no hot shafts/bearings whipping the oil up and baking it.
 
Is that a GM 3800, like the one in my Regal but RWD?
That would be awesome.

At anyrate. I just use Mobil 1 10W-30 in my 1998 Supercharged 3.8.
20W-50 is what they recommend where you are at? Wow! what a difference.
 
According to Wikipedia (FWIW), the Ecotec V6 is the USDM L36 or L67.

The L36 in my Buick runs fine on 5w30. Folks in the South run 15w40 year round without issue.

This engine could have cod liver oil in the crank and run fine.
 
Originally Posted By: sciphi
This engine could have cod liver oil in the crank and run fine.

No truer words have been spoken.
 
Originally Posted By: ls1mike
Is that a GM 3800, like the one in my Regal but RWD?
That would be awesome.


Some pics and details in this thread.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/new-chevy-caprice-cop-car.139882/

Supercharged V-6, 4L60 tranny, independent rear end with LSD (shotpeened internals on the supercharged 6).

rated at 30MPG highway, and 16 and a bit seconds in the quarter. Pulley change has some guys in the 14s.
 
Nice car! I've seen them in my visits to NZ.

I know you guys like thick oil there, but 50 weight seems a bit too thick. I am currently running a homebrew 12.5 cSt 10W-30 in my supercharged Buick. It's noticeably sluggish in comparison to the usual 10.5 cSt 5w30. Here, GM specifies energy conserving 5w30 (or 10W-30 for GF-2 and prior).

By the way, we don't call those engines Ecotec in North America. Here it's called a "3800," or sometimes a "Buick V6."
 
Originally Posted By: Shannow
Originally Posted By: ls1mike
Is that a GM 3800, like the one in my Regal but RWD?
That would be awesome.


Some pics and details in this thread.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/new-chevy-caprice-cop-car.139882/

Supercharged V-6, 4L60 tranny, independent rear end with LSD (shotpeened internals on the supercharged 6).

rated at 30MPG highway, and 16 and a bit seconds in the quarter. Pulley change has some guys in the 14s.

4l60 would be nice. My Buick ran 14.90 bone stock. I wonder if your car is just heavier.
 
It's got Repco (Penrite sourced) 15w40 SM/CI-4 in it this week.

Was way over full, and last service was 20 months ago...less than 2,000 miles ago.

And I'd bought a stack of Repco 15w40 rather than using Mobil 2 in the E-30.

Will give it some real quick OCIs then see where I end up.
 
Originally Posted By: Shannow
Originally Posted By: ls1mike
Is that a GM 3800, like the one in my Regal but RWD?
That would be awesome.


Some pics and details in this thread.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/new-chevy-caprice-cop-car.139882/

Supercharged V-6, 4L60 tranny, independent rear end with LSD (shotpeened internals on the supercharged 6).

rated at 30MPG highway, and 16 and a bit seconds in the quarter. Pulley change has some guys in the 14s.


Yes they have teflon coating on the side skirts and thicker conrods. Heads are the same except for different location of the spark plug holes. Cams and rocker gear are the same as standard. Some Yella Terra 1.95 rollers will be nice on that. Also the smaller pulleys increase the boost nicely withough tune requirements. I use either Delo 400 or Delvac MX 15w40 on mine with 250,000+k's. No more leaks after an Auto-RX run 30 thousand ago. My oil choice is based on the use of LP Gas mainly. But anything from a 10w40 to 20w50 will be fine. Keep coolant up to scratch as they do suffer from the dreaded intake manifold leak as well. I have changed mine on a ecotec and my brother inlaws on the super 6 as well.

I used the Repco oil Diesel when it was still rebottled Delvac. Yes now they have gone to Penrite which is still good. Even the ROSL red 20w50 SL/CF oil is good stuff.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Stu_Rock
Nice car! I've seen them in my visits to NZ.

I know you guys like thick oil there, but 50 weight seems a bit too thick. I am currently running a homebrew 12.5 cSt 10W-30 in my supercharged Buick. It's noticeably sluggish in comparison to the usual 10.5 cSt 5w30. Here, GM specifies energy conserving 5w30 (or 10W-30 for GF-2 and prior).

By the way, we don't call those engines Ecotec in North America. Here it's called a "3800," or sometimes a "Buick V6."


I know what your saying, but for some reason i have noticed in these Holden engines, anything less than a #w40 it burns it. 5w40 is the minimum in my opinion. I had fantastic results with Shell Helix Ultra 5w40 and so have a few others with Super 6's.
 
That's a pretty thin oil recommendation from Penrite - I'm sure they meant the 25-70.I just used to use a Pennzoil 15-40 HDEO in all Commodore V6's.The Supercharger V6 really goes well,in a Statesman you have no idea it's not a V8 until you open the bonnet.

I drove a VN ute yesterday,and asked the owner who really knows his Commodores why the VN's just seem to go better....and he says they toned down the later ones to make them easier to drive.Coming into the drive at work today in a VN HSV as a Cop walked past the drive - had to beat a truck and spun up the tyres and a bit crossed up.I was laughing and he just gave a smile...the young guy at work would have got a ticket.Age has some perks.
 
Originally Posted By: vxcalais
Originally Posted By: Stu_Rock
Here, GM specifies energy conserving 5w30 (or 10W-30 for GF-2 and prior).

I know what your saying, but for some reason i have noticed in these Holden engines, anything less than a #w40 it burns it.

Odd. I don't hear of that being a problem here on our thin 30 weights. Do you have any idea why the consumption is higher in the Holden application?
 
I haven't had any issues with 5w30 for these 2.5 years of using it. I used 10w30 prior to that in my SC 3800. The owners manual says specifically not to use 20w50 or any other viscosity in the Regal.
 
Leaning towards a few quickies with my stash of 15w40, then probably D-1...or Delo 400 depending on where I set my mark.
 
Originally Posted By: Stu_Rock
Odd. I don't hear of that being a problem here on our thin 30 weights. Do you have any idea why the consumption is higher in the Holden application?


Problem was that Australians never considered an engine in a new vehicle could consume a sump full of oil inside a service interval. 1 litre per 5,000km is usually the point where Aussies start thinking of drastic works.

Holden responded with longer dispsticks and bigger sumps.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
Penrite HPR5 v Penrite Premium 0 for Porsche Australia
Replies
13
Views
267
SR5
Cujet
Highest HTHS oils available, taking into account shear stability
2
Replies
36
Views
5K
donnyj08
O
Oil for classic car - Canada
2 3
Replies
44
Views
4K
FastLane
F
Recommended oil - built Mazdaspeed 6 MZR
Replies
15
Views
2K
MVAR
M
Help me choose a racing oil
2
Replies
27
Views
4K
TobyU
Back
Top Bottom