To Twisted99:

I didn't say it was a top grade crude oil, I said it wasn't that much better that a top grade petroleum based product. That may have been a little harsh but it's my opinion. But, this is also born out by 3 professional race engine builders I know and trust, Bruce Baker @ Express Engines, Keith Eickert @ Keith Eickert Enterises and Norm Teague @ Teague Marine. I certainly know it's a synthetic oil and not petroleum based.

Oils, in order of preference by all these engine builders:

Red Line
Synergin
Royal Purple
Mobil 1
Various top grade Petroleum based products like Valvoline and Castrol

As you can see, Mobil 1 rates above the Petroleum based products but below the top grade Synthetics. (Note: this is a subjective rating but based on what they see when they tear down motors)

I buy Dyson Synergin and Red Line in bulk for less than $6.00 per quart so it's not much more expensive to use than Mobil 1. Both are pure virgin stock and are specially formulated to work under the conditions that my race boat motor runs. (461 ci, 575 hp, 5800 rpm for up to an hour at a time!) They use this same technology to make oils for passenger car use and I trust their formulations, racing DOES improve the breed.

BTW, I run Mobil 1 in my '98 F-150 5.4L, Synergin in the Lightning and Race Boat and Red Line in my Buell.

Can you say "covering all my bases"?

BTW, Whatever oil you choose to use in your Lightnings make sure it has the correct additive package for a passenger vehicle. Many racing formulations ARE NOT intended to be used in production motors used on the street. Many of the race formulations from Red Line and the others are just that, race formulations. If it has the correct additives and meets the specifications spelled out in the owners manual then you're covered as far as warranty is concerned. Put in straight racing oil without the correct certifications and you're on your own.


------------------
Mark Whatman
mwhatman@worldnet.att.net

• 99.5 White Lightning (stock)
• 99 Buell S3 Thunderbolt (not stock!)
• 98 F-150 Lariat (Flowmaster)
• 96 26' Velocity Offshore Race Boat (far from stock!!!)

[This message has been edited by Mark W (edited 10-31-1999).]

 

The recall is very recent. I work parttime for a national parts house and the recall was posted just this week. We had to send back some of our oil. This recall only affected the 5W30 weight class. Just trying to give yous a heads up.

 

Another vehicle that specified Mobile 1 from the factory was the 1991 GMC Syclone and all years of the Typhoon. Even the owner's manual's for these high performance turbocharged V6's specified Mobile 1. It's all I ever ran in my Sy and in my 6 years of owernership I never had a problem.

I also run Mobile 1 in my '90 SHO. Switched over at about 30,000 miles. Have over 80,000 on her now and she runs perfect - except for the same minor oil useage situation described by Twisted99. This, however, is pretty normal for these hi-reving (7,000 rpm redline)3.0L DOHC V6's and mirrors its oil consumption characterists even before I switched to synthetic.

Other than the break-in question debated above, the only other caveat I have heard is to not switch to syn if you have much over 40,000 miles on your engine because it will flush out the buildup of oil deposits on your seals and cause oil seepage. I'm sure this situation is dependent on a number of factors (mileage, prior oil change intervals, vehicle useage, ect.) so it may not happen every time, but I know several people who have experienced it.

I've always used 60wt. non-syn in my air cooled Harley's (hot Florida climate) because that is what H-D recommends; however, I have noticed that Mobil 1 and others are now advertising motorcycle formulated synthetics so I may give 'em a try.

Have not yet switched over to syn on my '99 Lightning (2600 miles to date), but plan to do so before too much longer and will probably go with Red Line when I do. (When I switched to Red Line syn tranny lube in my SHO's 5-speed, it significantly reduced shifting effort.)


------------------
Mike Philpott
Orlando, FL
'99.5 Black Lightning
SVT #2190 - Build Date 6/9/99
6 CD Changer, Class 3 Hitch, A.R.E. LSII Lid, BedRug Liner, Invinca-Shield/3M Scotchcal protective film, Clear Lexan fog light covers, 16% Window Tint, LoJack, Val-1

 

Mike, when i switched to mobil 1 50wt on my valkyrie, everything smoothed out, shifting, idle, the whole "ride"

 

I've owned 13 Corvettes, the majority of them purchased new, and ever since the late 80's, the factory fill has been Mobil 1. As it is on the Viper, Porsche's, and other vehicles. I've never had any of my many LT1's use any amount of oil in between changes. The motors all broke in fine, loosened up at about 4000 miles the way most modern engines do just fine, and never had any problem with oil usage or leakage in any of them. Not one.

Mobil 1 did just recently reformulate to a pure synthetic base stock, and that was the primary difference between them and products like Amsoil, Redline, etc., the pure synthetic base, which Mobil 1 just went to this year.

Another point I'd like to make is that the automakers recommend 5W-30 oil weights primarily for maximum gas mileage, in order to help them meet their C.A.F.E. requirements each model year. I have worked with and spoken to numerous Ford powertrain engineers and GM powertrain engineers, who, to a man, said to use 10W-30 for best engine protection, that the 5W-30 recommendation is just for C.A.F.E. (Corporate Average Fuel Economy, which is a figure for fleet average mileage that the automakers must meet each year, as mandated by the Feds). Here in Virginia, we see temps over 100 in the summer, and easily 20 below and colder in the winter, and I use Mobil 1 10W-30 year-round.

Our bests to all,

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com

 

FYI: Check your local Wal-Mart for a closeout of 5 gallon containers of Mobil1 10W30. At least in my neighborhood they are selling 'em for $13.00. It is even the new tri-synthetic blend.

 

Does RedLine Oil even make an oil that would work for Lightnings? I'm using RedLine WaterWetter (w/25% anti-freeze) and I think it's great stuff.

Also, would switching to 10w-30 void my warranty (it sounds like it would increase engine life if anything)?

Mike

------------------
99.5 Black Lightning
PowerSurge Cone Filter
JBA Jet-Hot coated headers
Flowmaster muffler

 

I know on some cars the timing chain tensioner runs off oil pressure thats why they recomend 5-30w oil. I dont know about the Lightning. Sal might.

------------------
RED 99 LIGHTNING
FLOWMASTER MUFFLER


[This message has been edited by SCOTTODOG (edited 11-02-1999).]

 

Here's a link to the Red Line street oil page.

http://www.redlineoil.com/engoil.htm


------------------
Mark Whatman
mwhatman@worldnet.att.net

• 99.5 White Lightning (stock)
• 99 Buell S3 Thunderbolt (not stock!)
• 98 F-150 Lariat (Flowmaster)
• 96 26' Velocity Offshore Race Boat (far from stock!!!)

 

Thanks for that link to the RedLine Oil page! I was wondering if the truck is not used on a daily basis and is raced about twice a month, (it never gets too cold here) would it be better to go with the 10w-40 over the 10w-30?

Mike

------------------
99.5 Black Lightning
PowerSurge Cone Filter
JBA Jet-Hot coated headers
Flowmaster muffler

 

Just got a message back from Dave @ Redline Oil and he recommends RedLine 5w 30 for the Lightnings. He says it has the same viscosity as 10w 30 at operating conditions and has the best all around viscosity.

Mike

------------------
99.5 Black Lightning
PowerSurge Cone Filter
JBA Jet-Hot coated headers
Flowmaster muffler

 

A friend on the C5 Registry Net sent this to the net earlier today.....

Kevin, a small amount of Mobil 1 5W30 motor oil was reclaimed due
>to a production issue that has since been resolved. The product
>poses no threat to vehicle performance and "like all Mobil motor oils"
>is fully guaranteed within manufacturers' recommended oil drain
>guidelines as noted in each vehicle's owner's manual. While this
>action was not necessary, Mobil has always been committed to
>providing only the highest quality product possible.
>
>Thank you for contacting us.
>
>
>Amy Sarosdy
>Mobil Oil Corporation
>Fairfax, VA

When I called a few places here in Savannah earlier this week, none claimed to know anything about this...oh well......later

------------------
TybeeC5
99 Red Lightning #1134
95 Blk Lightning #0737
99 Red C5
87 Red C4
tpetrea@worldnet.att.net