Oil - change & usage

[woof]

Hiya

It's been about 5k since i had the Z06 serviced (oil and filters)
The low oil light came on last night - apparently 5k isn't unusual for hard usage. 50% life left in the oil

Should i do a oil filter change as well - or just top up ?

Also think they used Racing 79 oil - but think Mobil 1 is a better choice ?

[c4koh]

Hmmm. I've always found GM's oil life indicators on the conservative side anyway, so I would just top-up. If it's reporting 50% oil-life after 5K miles, this implies 10K between changes which isn't so conservative...

But with decent oil in the car - I use Mobil 1 myself - I doubt 10K is too bad, so I'd just top up.

I wouldn't change the filter, but out of preference and not being arsed... there's never any harm at all in changing one...

[woof]

Oil life isn't a big concern really - i was bit more worried about the oil consumption
but I guess using the ultra thin oil means you use more

In the 930 i stopped using Mobil 1 5/30 - it was going through liters of it - and went to Magnetec 15/40

[Dee Gee]

What year Z06 do you have?

Some of the 01s reported high oil useage.

[woof]

It's a 2001 - The dip stick level is hardly low though - only needed 1/2 liter to bring up to normal levels - so perhaps the sensor is a little conservative

[owenemyr]

One of the reasons that GM made a policy decision ( across its range) to recommend Mobil 1 5/30 is a sop to the environment and fuel efficiency and there are many technical reasons for suggesting that the use of 10/30w is preferred provided its synthetic, and it does not have to be mobil1.
There is quite a good review of this on many forums including "Idaho corvette page" etc.
Using a 10-30w synthetic gives a better lubrication/protection at high temps. (so the gurus say)

[woof]

owenemyr said:

One of the reasons that GM made a policy decision ( across its range) to recommend Mobil 1 5/30 is a sop to the environment and fuel efficiency and there are many technical reasons for suggesting that the use of 10/30w is preferred provided its synthetic, and it does not have to be mobil1.
There is quite a good review of this on many forums including "Idaho corvette page" etc.
Using a 10-30w synthetic gives a better lubrication/protection at high temps. (so the gurus say)

I would agee with you from what I know using different oils in the 930 - the Mobil 1 5/30, just got consumed by the engine at an alarming rate and it ran much warmer - the engine has 140,000 hard miles on it - Magnetech, ran cooler and actually stopped a couple of minor oil leaks

[mackie1]

I just swapped Mobil 1 for Royal Purple at the weekend and it seems to like it better (LS1). The RP is slightly thicker 10w40 as recommended by Monkfish.

[eurovettes]

if you need USA spec 10/30 Mob 1 - I keep it (quarts)

keith