Wrong oil for Chevy 454 7.4l?

[Ruediger]

My workhorse build in 2000. Following various oil discussions right here I wanted to switch to fully-synthetic oil. My challenge in Europe: 10W-30 synthetic not available. I finally bought 5W-30. So far, so good. But accidentually bought A5/B5. The one, I usually need by factory specs for my Volvo XC90. Diesel. Lower viscosity in exchange for a slowly lower fuel consumption. I focused mainly API SN. Your recommenations appreciated: Better to change before causing damage?


To add an additional question: Oil pressure above 60 when cold. And then around 25 when idle. Initially thought that fully-synth oil will lower the pressure. Alarming signal? (I know that the factory gauge not precise. Will update asap. But "not precise" means not precise or useless?

[TandW]

Since A5/B5 designates extended drain intervals I wouldn't worry about that. But am somewhat concerned with the oil pressure at 25#. I hope it builds closer to 40# on revving. Keep the filter changed regularly. Good luck!

[Ruediger]

Originally Posted by TandW

Since A5/B5 designates extended drain intervals I wouldn't worry about that. But am somewhat concerned with the oil pressure at 25#. I hope it builds closer to 40# on revving. Keep the filter changed regularly. Good luck!

It does. How accurate is the factory-placed gauge?

[TandW]

Your factory oem guage is operating and reporting correctly right now. It jives with every GM guage I currently own. You are good to go. No need to worry.

[Ruediger]

Originally Posted by TandW

Your factory oem guage is operating and reporting correctly right now. It jives with every GM guage I currently own. You are good to go. No need to worry.

Thanks a lot TandW.

[GypsyR]

I know you guys have different oils available over there but over here with older flat tappet engines one oil many of us favor is Mobil 1 15W-50. It has the additives that make such camshafts happy and tends to be reasonably priced. It's ACEA A3/B3.

Should you want THE best Mobil 1 oil then look for S-X2 5W-50. One of the few synthetics out there that still meets Mercedes 229.1 and Porsche's A40 spec. Which specs happen to EXACTLY what you want for old cast iron American flat tappet cam engines.

Mobil might label or name these oils differently over there. No doubt there are other great oils you could use but Mobil is like the only one with a readily found public comprehensive chart of what exactly their oils are and are for.

[TandW]

Keep hearing about flat tappets. I was under the impression when I bought my 88 Sierra that the 350 engine came with roller lifters for the first time that year. So I sort of assumed all GM engines have roller lifters since then. Am I wrong?

[shootist]

15-40 would be a much better choice. That’s a big motor with old school tolerances and it gets worked hard. 20-40 is what I would run if available anymore.

[GypsyR]

Originally Posted by TandW

Keep hearing about flat tappets. I was under the impression when I bought my 88 Sierra that the 350 engine came with roller lifters for the first time that year. So I sort of assumed all GM engines have roller lifters since then. Am I wrong?

The 454's didn't get roller camshafts (non-flat tappets) until 1996. Some say "late" in 1995. Many small block 350's also did not get roller cams until 1996 with the "Vortec" engines. The 350/5.7 blocks were built to accept roller cams starting in 1987. As to whether any particular vehicle and engine between 1987 and 1995 had a roller cam or not you'd have to ask someone a bit more versed on Chevy/GMC passenger vehicles than I.

[TandW]

Had about 450,000 miles and was still going strong with that '88 Sierra when it was T-boned during a cloudburst on I95 just south of Walterboro in 2016. It ran on Mobil 1 10w30 all those years.

[Ruediger]

Originally Posted by TandW

Had about 450,000 miles and was still going strong with that '88 Sierra when it was T-boned during a cloudburst on I95 just south of Walterboro in 2016. It ran on Mobil 1 10w30 all those years.

Would be also my prefered one. But not available in Europe... High-season summer going right here into the 110th and above. Then better 10w-40 IMO. But didn´t find a valid source where I can import it from.

[TandW]

Originally Posted by Ruediger

Would be also my prefered one. But not available in Europe... High-season summer going right here into the 110th and above. Then better 10w-40 IMO. But didn´t find a valid source where I can import it from.

Try Amazon.

[Ruediger]

Originally Posted by TandW

Try Amazon.

Has been my starter. But geo-blocking. See it but can´t order it. Suppose, they don´t plan to fly Mobil 1 around the world.

[IcePyro]

Originally Posted by Ruediger

My workhorse build in 2000. Following various oil discussions right here I wanted to switch to fully-synthetic oil. My challenge in Europe: 10W-30 synthetic not available. I finally bought 5W-30. So far, so good. But accidentually bought A5/B5. The one, I usually need by factory specs for my Volvo XC90. Diesel. Lower viscosity in exchange for a slowly lower fuel consumption. I focused mainly API SN. Your recommenations appreciated: Better to change before causing damage?


To add an additional question: Oil pressure above 60 when cold. And then around 25 when idle. Initially thought that fully-synth oil will lower the pressure. Alarming signal? (I know that the factory gauge not precise. Will update asap. But "not precise" means not precise or useless?

5w is not the viscosity, 30 is, 5w is the cold flow rate and lower is almost always better unless the climate is quite hot or your motor runs hot

Chevy big blocks are really forgiving, if you don't overheat it that thing would probably be just as happy with anything from 5w30 to 15w40, though fuel economy might suffer with heavier oils lol

I believe the original recommendation for a 454 was not synthetic at all, just 10w30...most Vortec (newer) 454 and 350 engines call for 5w30

Originally Posted by TandW

Since A5/B5 designates extended drain intervals I wouldn't worry about that. But am somewhat concerned with the oil pressure at 25#. I hope it builds closer to 40# on revving. Keep the filter changed regularly. Good luck!

20-25psi resting is in the OK range, under accel or cruising then ideally 30-40...the rule of thumb is 10psi per thousand RPM, so 10-60 or so