Castrol Edge 25w50 in late model 6L's

[Francis knight0]

Has anyone here ran their late model SS 6L V8's or even the 5.7L on the heaver Castrol Edge 25w 50 oil?

Reason I'm asking (before you all say thats way to thick and SG rated) It's actually got SM level detergency just SG for its high zinc rating. Anyway, Ive heard a bit of talk about how people are using it in their SS's, almost from new!

Apparently there are less issues with Camshafts, heads and engine noise and oil use, ect.

I did a bit of reading around the net and also found there are a few people using it in the Ford Boss engines.

So Im firstly keen to hear from anyone doing, done this and or anyone with thoughts on what could happen????

Keep in mind a large amount of guy's are using 10w60's and thats heavier at running temp than the 25w50.

[RIDE:42]

I have been using it for around 4 years now

[Francis knight0]

Was there a reason you went for the old school type over the 10w60 synthetic?

[SS317]

I did try the 25w50 in my Ve for about 2 days, but there was so much start up noise that I took it out and put 10w60 in it.

[Francis knight0]

That was my worry also.

[SS317]

That was my worry also.

IMO if you want to run castrol go with 10w60, Im on royal purple now and I'm happy with it.

[gc83]

I use it in my SS with upgraded cam etc..
The thicker oil helps protect engine components from friction etc from cam upgrade and other mods.

Not sure if it will work well with a stock engine though

[seedyrom]

not sure if this is a concern for you, but the 10w60 is a fully synthetic, yet the 25w50 is made from dinosaur bones.

just sayin'

[Francis knight0]

I know I'll prob get shot down for this but I'm a bit old school. I like high quality mineral oil changed more often.

When I heard about guys running this in late model engines that's what got my attention.

It is very heavy for a new motor on a cold start up though.

[VNV8]

absolutely, very thick. unless its done over 200,000 k's i wouldnt try it.

[ratter]

Has anyone here ran their late model SS 6L V8's or even the 5.7L on the heaver Castrol Edge 25w 50 oil?

Reason I'm asking (before you all say thats way to thick and SG rated) It's actually got SM level detergency just SG for its high zinc rating. Anyway, Ive heard a bit of talk about how people are using it in their SS's, almost from new!

Apparently there are less issues with Camshafts, heads and engine noise and oil use, ect.

I did a bit of reading around the net and also found there are a few people using it in the Ford Boss engines.

So Im firstly keen to hear from anyone doing, done this and or anyone with thoughts on what could happen????

Keep in mind a large amount of guy's are using 10w60's and thats heavier at running temp than the 25w50.

From the ford forums


Hello all.

Just a quick question.

First up has anyone here ran their Boss motor on the heaver Castrol Edge 25w 50 oil?

Reason I'm asking (before you all say thats way to thick and SG rated) It's actually got SM level detergency just SG for its high zinc rating. Anyway, I heard a guy talking about how he has used it in his Boss, almost from new!

He apparently has a good engineering understanding and his reason was that there are less issues with Camshafts, heads and engine noise. He also said he never uses any oil.

I did a bit of reading around the net and also found there are a small group of LS engine guys doing the same and saying how even thought it's heavier than the engine spec calls for they have less oil use issues and so on.

So Im firstly keen to hear from anyone doing, done this and or anyone with thoughts on what could happen????

do you work for an oil company and just doing research as most your posts seem to relate to oils?

[Francis knight0]

Ha ha, no I don't at all. I do however have a XR8 and a SS. So I hang out on both sides of the fence

I am also a very keen oil enthusiast that has spent alot of years studying them and comparing results. I've collected infomation form parts manufacturing companies from all over the world, NASCAR teams, v8 supercar teams and right down to noting what the likes of a Kmart service centre have observed.

I have never at anyone time considered myself an expert, that's why if you have checked my posts I tend to cycle my research every year or so. As for me working for an oil company well have a look back you will see I've done the same research on spark plugs and so on.

I posted this because I noted a few guys here running that oil in their late model SS's and also heard of guys doing the same on their Boss motors.

I'm wondering how they got on as it's an unorthodox choice for both these engines.

Sorry if I have done anything wrong here or abroad that might of up set you.

[ratter]

Not upset at all and no need to apologize, just reading between the lines it looked like like as I mentioned, apologize for coming up with the wrong answer.
The best thing you should do is to check the oil manufacturers recommendation for which ever car you are doing and for which brand you want to use, different manufactureres may have different recommendations

[Wonky]

I'm wondering how they got on as it's an unorthodox choice for both these engines.

As pointed out to you in a similar recent thread, many of us on here got onto using 10w60 in our cars due to the recommendations of Steve from Mainlube - reduced wear. I and many others continue to use it.

[288vxgts300]

As pointed out to you in a similar recent thread, many of us on here got onto using 10w60 in our cars due to the recommendations of Steve from Mainlube - reduced wear. I and many others continue to use it.

I agree,

The 10w60 has been the best oil i have used so far, and i won,t be changed in a hurry,tried others only to have a noisy valve train,which were dumped immediately,once the 10w60 was used, instant quietness,that must be good.

[Francis knight0]

Well I agree with you both but it from a text book view or in comparison to the factory standard of full synthetic 5w40SM the 25w50SG mineral oil is as far from that as you could get. That's why I'd say it's unorthodox. Not implying it's wrong or bad but it's pretty far from factory spec if you know what I means.

[Pickles]

I ain't no oil expert, but my thoughts were that the castrol 25/50 mineral oil was ideal for the original Holden V8, but not suitable for the LS1 & later engines where a thinner oil (on start up anyway) was required.
Cheers, Pickles.

[Blown 454 AWD]

Better wait for Aaron's back to back dyno pulls with different engine oil viscosity?

Heads up showed NO down side to 10w60 with drag

Cheers

Steve

[Phillshz]

What about Castrol Magnatec 10w-40? It`s full syn, is pretty mid range in spec and at $25 for 5l when on special it makes paying $75-85 for 10w-60 questionable (IMO). Owners manual states 5w-30 to 20w-50 for a Gen 3.

Just my 2c Cheers Phill

[aratic]

What about Castrol Magnatec 10w-40? It`s full syn, is pretty mid range in spec and at $25 for 5l when on special it makes paying $75-85 for 10w-60 questionable (IMO). Owners manual states 5w-30 to 20w-50 for a Gen 3.

Just my 2c Cheers Phill

Semi syn isnt it?

[Phillshz]

Sorry your correct, 10w-40 is semi syn and 5w-30 is full syn.

Cheers Phill

[701let]

What about Castrol Magnatec 10w-40? It`s full syn, is pretty mid range in spec and at $25 for 5l when on special it makes paying $75-85 for 10w-60 questionable (IMO). Owners manual states 5w-30 to 20w-50 for a Gen 3.

Just my 2c Cheers Phill

I had a dealer accidentally put magnatec in my E1 LS2 and the car was noisy straight away especially on startup. I didn't change it back to Mobil 1 for two weeks ( when i realised what had happened) and in that time developed a terrible lifter noise. I just had to pull the heads off and replace the lifters and now it's back to normal. Spoke to a couple of engine builders and they have seen similar things happen apparently on vehicles running magnatec. I would never recommend anyone put that rubbish in their car. It's cheap for a reason..

[motorin on]

my Holden dealer put Havoline 10W30 Premium Plus in my LS1 the last 2 services 10,000k's/6 months,the engine is noisy on startup but once warm it is quiet
Be interesting to see what my new workshop recommends when they do the next service

[73.RSR]

I had a dealer accidentally put magnatec in my E1 LS2 and the car was noisy straight away especially on startup. I didn't change it back to Mobil 1 for two weeks ( when i realised what had happened) and in that time developed a terrible lifter noise. I just had to pull the heads off and replace the lifters and now it's back to normal. Spoke to a couple of engine builders and they have seen similar things happen apparently on vehicles running magnatec. I would never recommend anyone put that rubbish in their car. It's cheap for a reason..

Sounds like bullshit to me...........................

You had to pull the heads off because someone put magnatec in your E series 1 HSV by accident!
Please tell the names of engine builders you supposedly know who have had to do engine rebuilds due to running magnatec????

I run magnatec in my Typhoon which I drag, my Monaro which does track days and it does the exact opposite to what you claim.

[vxsslsx]

My car is coming up to its 145k service thought I'd buy some oil seeings super cheap is having 20% off today. What oil do people recommend its between nulon 10w-40 (comes in 6l), nulon 15w-50, penrite hpr 10w-50, castrol 10w-60. Valvoline synpower 15w-50..

[surfwagon]

My car is coming up to its 145k service thought I'd buy some oil seeings super cheap is having 20% off today. What oil do people recommend its between nulon 10w-40 (comes in 6l), nulon 15w-50, penrite hpr 10w-50, castrol 10w-60. Valvoline synpower 15w-50..

I've been running Nulon 10w/40 full synthetic for a few years now, no problems and no lifter noises, I'll keep using it.

[swingtan]

Why is it, that people read oil viscosities number and quote figures, but don't actually look at what those figures are?

So far, the very short summary from this thread is that 25W50 is not used and 10W60, because 25W50 is considered too thick, even though 10W60 has a bigger number.

Basically, this is correct, providing you understand the viscosity numbers.

25W50: this basically says, the oil will "flow" like a 25W base oil when cold but will protect the motor like a 50W base oil when hot.

10W60: as above, this oil flows like a 10W oil when cold but protects like a 60W oil when hot.

The viscosity figures for these oils is not an actual "thickness" rating, but a description of how the oil flows and how the oil protects. The oil does not physically get thicker in a "flow" sense, as the oil gets hot. Unless you get an understanding of how a mono-weight oil behaves with heat change, you can't really understand the figures of the multi-weight oils.

So putting it simply, a mono weight oil will flow like honey when cold, but give really good protection; when it's hot, it'll flow like water and give much less protection. The "thicker" the oil is at any temp, the better the protection it gives as thicker oil withstands shock better, keeps the bearing surface further apart and will remain in the bearing surface longer.

Multi-weight oils reduce the "change in viscosity" due to heat. They extend the cold protection rating as the oil heats up, giving the benefit of maintaining the same "hot" protection with a thinner "cold" flow. This is where the "cold W hot" viscosity rating comes from and allows the benefits of running a easy flowing, thin cold oil ( to quickly protect the engine on cold start ), but one that gives superior hot protection.

So, is 25W50 "too thick" ? It will depend on the the engine and more importantly, the climate. During summer months in areas where overnight lows are in the mid 20'C, it's probably fine, but during winter where the lows are -5'C, it's probably too thick for cold starts. The 10W60 on the other hand would be better suited for areas that have cold nights, but hot days. Oil choice is something you need to address by looking at how the engine is being used, the conditions in which the engine is running and how the oil will react in those conditions. If you do oil changes at least every 6 months, there's nothing wrong with changing the viscosity slightly to allow for any temperature changes for summer / winter.

Personally, I run 20W50 semi-synth (Martinracing), all year round, in Melbourne. I don't race the engine when the oil is cold though, I allow it time to warm up and even have an oil pressure alarm set up to warn if the pressure exceeds a set point. If I get a chance later, I'll show some log data of how the oil pressure drops at engine switch off, comparing cold and hot engines. It's interesting if you are into that sort of thing.

Simon.

[tacka007]

me personally i run cat deo 15w/40 in both my vehicles and never had a drama

[vxsslsx]

Ended up getting nulon 10w40. Cause it comes in 6l and now its getting colder for quick start up flow. I work arvo shift finish work at 3am, cold drive home

[motorin on]

my Holden dealer put Havoline 10W30 Premium Plus in my LS1 the last 2 services 10,000k's/6 months,the engine is noisy on startup but once warm it is quiet
Be interesting to see what my new workshop recommends when they do the next service
I was just down at the workshop and asked Danny about engine oil for the ls1,he says he has used Magnatec for years without any problems so I guess it will end up in mine.I asked him about Royal Purple as it has been mentioned here in theads and he only uses it in gearboxes
On another subject. I love his twin turbo Skylines with their 10 inch rims-have to be the ultimate toy

[CalaisBoy]

Great info Swingtan, would love to see your logged info on oil pressure data.

Thanks.