LS3 engine oil recommendations

[Cohen]

Has anyone tried Penrite HPR5 5w 40 in their LS3. I'm due for a change with 110000km on the clock and looking at trying the Penrite HPR 5 5w 40 to see if it will quiet the lifters on cold start-up.

Does anyone have any experience with this oil or recommendations?

Thanks Heaps.

 

[losh1971]

If you have noisy lifters I'd be looking at getting them replaced before you wipe a cam lobe.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Stick with 5w30. You can't solve lifter issue with different grade oil

 

[Immortality]

Try running a bottle of Nulon Lifter Free.

 

[Cohen]

thanks for the responses everyone, lifters aside.

I thought the HPR-5 would be a better option over the ENVIRO+ GF-S for overall engine protection considering the added zinc and that.

 

[losh1971]

thanks for the responses everyone, lifters aside.

I thought the HPR-5 would be a better option over the ENVIRO+ GF-S for overall engine protection considering the added zinc and that.

If you're looking for better protection consider Penrite 10 Tenths that's their premium product for these engines, especially at high revs.

 

[Immortality]

I see no harm going to a slightly thicker oil. GM is renowned for being spot on clearances in their engines.....




(does this need a /sarcasm warning re: LS engine clearances?)

 

[Skylarking]

thanks for the responses everyone, lifters aside.

I thought the HPR-5 would be a better option over the ENVIRO+ GF-S for overall engine protection considering the added zinc and that.

ZDDP/ZDTP (zinc) in oil can kill catalytic converters over time which is why modern oils don’t have the same levels (or any?) zinc in them…

There are zinc replacement additives that are supposed to be as effective but I don’t know the chemistry of such and whether they are or are not better/worse than zinc.

So if you use oils with added ZDDP/ZDTP, such could cost you a bomb to fix the check engine lamp cause you may end with upgrading to a 100 Cell cat with bigger exhaust and a tune

 

[Immortality]

Those Penrite oils with ZDDP are at levels that shouldn't **** the CAT.

I've been running those oils for a long time and have not noticed any issues on our car with reduced performance that a blocked CAT would exibit. Interestingly it also quietened my sometimes noisy lifters when getting close to the next oil change. I know it's a V6 motor but they are the exact same lifters as the LS motors.

 

[J_D 2.0]

Try running a bottle of Nulon Lifter Free.

Can’t hurt. I put a bottle through my SSV a couple of services ago just as a precautionary measure.

One thing to check is the oil cooler port cover on the side of the engine (passenger side at the back) for oil leaks. If it’s got a leak then the oil drains out from the top end and the lifters clatter on startup.

My lifters were rattling for a couple of seconds on startup which stopped for the most part after I fixed the oil leak from the oil cooler port. It does still do it if the car has been sitting for a few days but that’s probably to be expected.