Oil Change C5

I have a 2001 vette and it is time for the oil change. Getting ready to put her away. I only put a bout 3,000 miles on her this year and she is very rarely beaten on. Is it necessary to use synthetic oil and if so does it have to be mobil. Is the mobil oil filter necessary or can I just use a cheap one


Thanks

[Rob]

Greg,

I would highly recommend that you do change the oil prior to putting the car in storage. For more information on proper storage methods, please see our article here: Long Term/Winter Corvette Storage.

As for the type of oil and filter you should use, unless the engine is modified and you intend on racing it, I highly suggest you follow the recommendations made in your owner's manual.

All C5s already come with synthetic motor oil so what brand you choose is basically up to you.

As for the oil filter, personally, I feel that oil filtration is very important and I would rather spend extra money on a high quality filter rather than taking the cheap way out and purchasing a low quality filter. That is my own personal opinion.

Hope this helps.

I agree. Time to change the oil before you store the car for the winter.

Don't use anything but FULL SYNTHETIC, NO BLENDS in the car. I always use Mobil 1; that's what GM recommends and you can get a 5-quart jug of it at WalMart for $17-18.

As Rob said...DON'T SKIMP ON THE FILTER. The cheapest filter I use, or would recommend, is the standard GM PF44 filter ($3-4). Personally, I prefer the UPF44 - premium grade GM filter ($9-10). You can also use K&N Gold, Mobil 1 or Donaldson premium filters, but they are more expensive. Do not use Fram, Penzoil, Penske, etc. - the "cheap" brands.

Also, do not add any kind of oil treatment (STP, Prolong, Slick 50, etc.). You don't need it and it will tend to "gunk" things up on the inside.

One final thing, when you change the oil check to see if the drain plug is magnetic. Some 01's, and all earlier models, came from the factory without magnetic plugs. If yours isn't magnetic, get one; about $2.00 at your dealer.

What he said!

[Dad]

The magnetic drain plug was numbered 24100042 it is now number 88891787. Price can very by the dealer, GM list $2.73, GM wholesale $2.05, discounted price $1.56. My '98 Corvette didn't have one, my '02 Astro did, I think all the newer Corvettes do but I don't know when they changed. Get it and look for needle bearings (rockers) every time you change your oil.

You have a 40000 car, why would you want to use a cheap filter and cheap oil? Use Mobil 1, Red Line Oil, Or Amsoil and you won't go wrong.

[Villain]

Just to help drive the point home, full synth oil and a good filter is cheap insurance against engine trouble.
My dad always told me "Good stuff and cheap and cheap stuff ain't good." You can use that anytime you like. You just have to live by it.
Now if you can get some good stuff with a "hook-up", do yo' thang.

[C_Dogg]

In my opinion you can't beat AMSOIL. It is a pure synthetic that will out perform other lubes at high temps. It is priced about the same as Mobil 1. As for filters, the normal filter is a 10 micron. If you get the AMSOIL filter, it is a 5 micron. Not cheap, but double the protection! The mag plug is a good idea also. You only get what you pay for!

What C Dogg said!!!!!

Some of best engineers in the world work at General Motors, and one or two of those guys may have helped design your engine. If they say use 5W-30 Mobile 1 synthetic and an AC filter, then, by God, that's what you should do. Sure, GM gets Mobil for free and makes money on each AC filter, but that's what the engine was designed for!

You can't go wrong following the manufacturer's instructions.

Michael