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15w40 in a Chevy 454?

C

ChrisinMO

Member
I've got an older truck with an early 80s 454 engine
in it. Would it be worthwhile to use 15w40 oil in it
at the next oil change? Would there be any issues
using a heavier oil, especially in cold weather?

Thanks for your opinions.

Christopher
 
(quoted from post at 15:40:42 02/11/12) I've got an older truck with an early 80s 454 engine
in it. Would it be worthwhile to use 15w40 oil in it
at the next oil change? Would there be any issues
using a heavier oil, especially in cold weather?

Thanks for your opinions.

Christopher
Click to expand...

Just my opinion, but I doubt if that 454 will notice the difference in cold weather starting.
 
(quoted from post at 23:40:42 02/11/12) I've got an older truck with an early 80s 454 engine
in it. Would it be worthwhile to use 15w40 oil in it
at the next oil change? Would there be any issues
using a heavier oil, especially in cold weather?

I run 15-40 in my 7.3 and my Farmall M. Farmall H, and my TO30. I can start any of the tractors in the winter without pluging them in, but the 7.3 I plug in. You old 454 will be just fine with it.

Bob
Click to expand...
 
Besides all my trucks and tractor diesels - I've got Shell Rotella 15W-40 in my Kia Sportage, Geo Tracker and my Dodge Grand Caravan. All have over 200K miles and I've had no problems. I might if I had to start one at 20 below F - but I don't.
 
I was a heavy oil (your mentioned oil included) user all my life till I bought a '05 and a '07 Dodge, and then a '11 Chev. All said that the engines and oil pumps were designed to run the thin oils so you old "pfarts" time to change your ways.

So I did (5w-30 5w-20 and 0w-30), but I still run 15w-40 in my tractors and in my new Cummins powered tractor, I asked them if it would run on Full Syn and the Cummins factory rep said that my engine would LOVE to have Rotella T 15w-40 full syn in it. So it has been.

Mark
 
When I was in High school I had, and still have it,A 1973 GMC custom deluxe w/ a 350ci for some crazy reason I put 20-50 weight in for awhile. Nothing ever happened to it. That was one of the best engines I ever seen, it would start on a touch of the key, a quarter turn on the starter!
 
Ideal viscosity depends on main/rod bearing clearance, bearing loads, rpms, oil pressure and oil additive package.
What does the owner's manual spec the oil requirements?
 
They will start harder in cold winter weather, oil pressure will come up a little slower and the already poor mpg will get a tiny bit worse.

Those engines were designed for 5w-30 or 10W-30 conventional oil.
My experience with 15-40 in winter is that it flows little easier than #30, ( my oil dealer's book proves that the cold flow of the two is near identical), so keep the RPM's low until the oil warms a bit.
 
I've used Kendall 15-40 diesel engine fleet oil
in every engine I've owned for years with no problems including
a GMC dually with a 454 the hard starting theory is a bunch of BS.
 
it will be fine, i have a '80 model chevy k-30 with a 454, been on rotella 15-40 its whole life, still runs like new
 
(quoted from post at 18:59:25 02/11/12) I was a heavy oil (your mentioned oil included) user all my life till I bought a '05 and a '07 Dodge, and then a '11 Chev. All said that the engines and oil pumps were designed to run the thin oils so you old "pfarts" time to change your ways.

So I did (5w-30 5w-20 and 0w-30), but I still run 15w-40 in my tractors and in my new Cummins powered tractor, I asked them if it would run on Full Syn and the Cummins factory rep said that my engine would LOVE to have Rotella T 15w-40 full syn in it. So it has been.

Mark
Click to expand...
Are you using Rotella T6 5w-40? I have never seen Rotella 15w-40 synthetic
 
That engine was built long before 5W-30 came out. I use nothing but 10-40 in anything. Would be almost impossible to find 15-40
 
(quoted from post at 09:08:04 02/12/12) That engine was built long before 5W-30 came out. I use nothing but 10-40 in anything. Would be almost impossible to find 15-40
Click to expand...

Why is it almost impossible to find 15W-40? One of the most popular oils out there.
 
(quoted from post at 09:08:04 02/12/12) That engine was built long before 5W-30 came out. I use nothing but 10-40 in anything. Would be almost impossible to find 15-40
Click to expand...

Just head on down to your local farm and ranch store. Not only will you find Shell Rotella 15w-40, but you will also find one or two other brands.
 
My 92 model with 454 recommends 5W-30 or 10W30 depending on temp.

15-40 is now the most common heavy truck diesel and tractor diesel oil.
 
i use it in all tractors graintrucks pickup,car etc for years. in the rural mail carrier i had to drop back to 10w30 was only time I changed oil now thou everything is on 10w30 must been fad s 15w40 nt in area much anymore. you run a rural mail route and you will find out what vehicles are really like. so far in this carriers experience chevy have been the most money pits.least money pits have been the dodge products. 300,000.00 on most them all with 10w30 oils.
 
Put some 15/40 in my f150 in dec 2010 saw erratic oil pressure and engine noise on cold mornings.Changed to 10/30 dec 2011 .Full steady pressure and little noise now.15/40 and 30 have the same cold pour point.The truck has 195,000,doesnt like 15/40.
 
I have heard that the 454 has a "natural" tendency to burn off about a quart of oil every 3000 miles even if nothing is wrong. Same as the later 8.1L (496).

Mobil 1 full synthetic 10W30 is supposed to cure that.

When I bought my 8.1L truck, it was burning through about a quart every 1500 miles. Changed to Mobil 1 full synthetic and it hasn't burned a drop.
 
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