[burd]

Just add a small bottle at the oil change. Then you know what you have in it.
$8 at the swaps.

[455rebel]

A problem I've had with 15w 40, not related to wear! Now this is with a amc engine not a Pontiac, but it still applies. Now this usually only happens in cooler weather, but it happens. Last week I was mailing bills and ran out of stamps, looked at time and post office closed in 10 min. I jumped in my car and aggressively drove to the post office. Leaving a stop sign I turned left hard after a roll through and my oil light came on. The oil was cold and thick and had lingered in top of engine , not draining down fast enough, and slid away from the oil pickup. Its happened more than once, on a cold engine. I usually always warm up before aggressive driving, and never a oil light on.

[92GTA]

I run Redline and use the weight they recommended given my clearances. For me, it's their 10W-40.

During the winter, my car doesn't move after fire-up until the temp gauge does!

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by 455rebel

A problem I've had with 15w 40, not related to wear! Now this is with a amc engine not a Pontiac, but it still applies. Now this usually only happens in cooler weather, but it happens. Last week I was mailing bills and ran out of stamps, looked at time and post office closed in 10 min. I jumped in my car and aggressively drove to the post office. Leaving a stop sign I turned left hard after a roll through and my oil light came on. The oil was cold and thick and had lingered in top of engine , not draining down fast enough, and slid away from the oil pickup. Its happened more than once, on a cold engine. I usually always warm up before aggressive driving, and never a oil light on.

I have purchased 15W40 High ZDDP oil for many years now and never had an issue with the oil in my 455 engine in the 64 GTO. Course I always put heat into the engine and it was never used as a dual transportation type vehicle like what you describe.

Personally I would say you have it figured out that the thicker oils need a proper warm-up prior to driving them.

I really like that 1350 ZDDP number for the solid lifter camshafts i have run over the many years. $8 for a can of additives each oil change???? I will stick with what I have that I know works for MY application.

Tom V.

[GOAT8U2]

VR-1 having high levels of Zinc and Phosphorus doesn't seem like a huge financial stress vs other oils. If you're not a roller cam then running with low zinc and phosphorus is risk I wouldn't be ok with (I only run rollers). Many complained about lobes in cars like ours with the crap 2000s oil due to emissions reductions in those 2 categories.

Engineers suggest the bearings need around a 10 in viscosity. This number is much easier to obtain when you're using....

An OIL COOLER.

Oil cooler with whatever oil or higher Z and Ph and no cooler seem like safer bets. I'm cooler and VR-1, not a big budget killer looking term and now only blows up from my right foot. LOL