Oil - Mineral, part or full synthetic?

[Andy]

I'm about to do an oil change on my Camaro as it hasn't had one in a while and I recently discovered a usable Fram filter for it.

Anyway, what's the opinions of the group on oil. It's well worn in and has a suspected valve stem seal leak. What would be best, Mineral, part synthetic or fully synthetic?

The garage over the way reckons mineral for the older engines.

From the research I've done, it would appear 5-30w is the grade to put in, unless I'm mistaken?

[F Body]

Quoting: Andy

The garage over the way reckons mineral for the older engines.

I'd go with mineral

Quoting: Andy

it would appear 5-30w is the grade to put in,

Correct

[Andy]

Bloody hell, trying to find anywhere that stocks it is hard work. Internet points toward John Wolfe Racing, selling Quart bottles of Penzoil.

Must keep looking!

[Roadkill]

I'd go with semi, to be honest.  Never had any issues.

[Motorama]

On the older cars in use Valvoline VR1 20W50 Mineral Racing oil, use a semi synth on the more modern stuff.

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Roadkill

I'd go with semi,

It's hard to find full-mineral now.

[Andy]

I was told mineral oil is best used on the older engines and the V8's to maintain the oil pressure and because of the leaky seal, will burn completely off and not give me so much grief in terms of clogging up the spark plugs.

I'm willing to be corrected though!

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Andy

because of the leaky seal

Is that valve stem seals ?

[FUBAR]

you'll probably find, depending on the mileage on the car that 5w30 as stated on the cap will get 'used up' by the engine quite rapidly, i've always used GTX Magnatec 10w40 that they sell in CostCo, i think thats semi synthetic

[Andy]

Quoting: Roadkill

Is that valve stem seals ?

Yep, I reckon at least ones gone. When the plugs were changed, it was noticeable one was pretty coked up and had oil down the threads. There is always a puff of blue smoke on start up too.

Quoting: FUBAR

you'll probably find, depending on the mileage on the car that 5w30 as stated on the cap will get 'used up' by the engine quite rapidly, i've always used GTX Magnatec 10w40 that they sell in CostCo, i think thats semi synthetic

Its coming up to 96k km, so around 70k miles - Can you have a look its thats Semi or if its not their Syntec (apparently theres a difference between the two)

I know I'm probably worrying over nothing, but I'd like to do this right first time, and put the best stuff that I should in.

[Roadkill]

You're probably worrying too much if it's valve seals.   They're worse when the engine is cold ie. Not running.  Once it's warm they'll expand a bit so the puff of smoke on start up will be a build up, rather than constant.

Remember that these motors have been basically the same since the fifties so pretty much anything within reason will be O.K.

I always ran semi in my 305 and put two bottles of "stop smoke" in, too, as my stem seals had gone too.  It made a noticeable difference.

[Jamieg285]

I use semi-synth from Halfords. Can't remember the weight, but it's the one in the bright purple bottles.

I think they do a all mineral oil 'for older vehicles', in a metal tin rather than the plastic bottles.

[Andy]

Quoting: Jamieg285

I use semi-synth from Halfords. Can't remember the weight, but it's the one in the bright purple bottles.

I think they do a all mineral oil 'for older vehicles', in a metal tin rather than the plastic bottles.

Yeah, saw they had a 'vintage' style can, but carried a fairly hefty premium. At my local halfords they had one bottle of mineral oil and it was only a litre and cost around a tenner!