Oil

I just picked up a 1989 S-10 with a V6 2.8 with 184,000 miles on it. What weight of oil should I use?

Thanks in advance!

(Me personally), in any car over 75K, I like to put 10W-30. It's thick enough to account for any slop in the bearings.

I run 10/30 full synthetic oil in my 2.8L.

It only takes around 4L with a filter change

I think I'll just use Mobil 10/30- non-synthetic. This truck has had conventional oil it's whole life and I might as well keep it that way at 184K. How many quarts of oil does it take?

The reason why I use full synthetic in mine is because the 2.8L is basicly Chevy's worst motor, and the bottom ends bearings have a tenancy to wear out quickly.
Why not try to stop the damage before it starts by using synthetic oil

But wouldn't it start burning the oil since it's not used to it???

No thats a myth.

Here's an old thread on the subject
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=313282&highlight=synthetic+oil

Is the Mobil Synthetic Blend 1/2 synthetic and 1/2 conventional?

I really don't know.
It only needs trace amounts of synthetic oil to be considered as a blend, so it's rather misleading
A trace amount might not even be a drop in a quart.

I don't think that anyone has ever made their own semi synthetic oil by mixxing pure synthetic and high quality oil, but it might be an idea if you want a synthetic blend. Then you know what your paying for.

How many quarts of oil does the V6 2.8 liter take? And are these engines prone to consumption? Thanks in advance!



Zak

I just changed the oil in mine, and it took 4 litres, with a filter change.

Mine doesn't use oil, but it has very little miles on a rebuild

how many quarts in a litre?

Sorry, buy 5 quarts, you'll probably use about 4 1/4 to 4 1/2

Thanks for your help!

zeek,
your profile shows you in NY; if the S10 shows no leaks and/or consumption, a 10W30 or 10W40 is great for summer, but I would probably shift to a 5W30 in winter.
and if it does show signs of minute leaks or slight consumption, a 20W50 or a straight 40W might cure that for the time being, until you decide which it is, internal or external, and how you decide to go about the service of when and where to fix it.
with 180+K, naturally no warranties or anything, so entirely up to you, locale, and driving habits.
synth or synthetic-blend will assist in longevity and definitely help in cold start scenarios, but a waste of money if you're burning oil, or losing it out the block somewhere.

hope this helps,
ctesla
ASE cert.instructor

Oh NO the oil debate will start again!

Very good advice ctesla, I sometimes forget that not everyone knows the tricks that I might. But then again some people know tricks that I don't too.

And zeek1403 I just changed the oil in my 2.8L, which is the only reason why I remembered how much oil it takes.
And to think that they say the memory is the first thing to go. That might just be true