What is a good oil for winter storage? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

aaronbv16 · 11-13-2012, 01:19 PM

I'm storing my SS for the upcoming month's. What is a good choice of oil to use?

james347 · 11-13-2012, 05:13 PM

I would change to a 0W-30W with Zinc additive (Amsoil, Redline, Motul to name a few) which helps maintain a coating on all of the metal surfaces. Let the engine fully warm up and circulate the new oil. GM does not recommend those oils because they do not burn off as well and may cause catalytic converters to clog. But for short term use like this, should be no issue. Protecting the internal components is the key focus.

If you are truly obsessed, remove the spark plugs and inject a little oil into the cylinders. Reinstall the spark plugs (or an old set of used plugs for storage) without torquing them completely, and crank the motor briefly. (Don't let the engine fire.) This will coat the combustion chamber and cylinder walls with a protective layer of oil. Don't restart the car until storage is over. You will need to change the spark plugs back to your good ones or buy new ones.

Lots of knowledge on this site so sure some good recommendations (corrections where I made mistakes) will be made.

phess11 · 11-16-2012, 06:42 AM

If your oil is not ready for a change, don't change it. There is no magic about new oil sitting motionless in an engine versus older oil sitting motionless in your engine. If the older oil is going to be harmful sitting motionless in your engine, then wouldn't that oil be worse if the engine was actually moving and causing friction? Any benefits to storing with new oil versus old will be seen, maybe at around 2 million miles. I think we need to use our heads a little and not keep dumping perfectly good oil because of our paranoia. GM does not have a vendetta against oil companies. I am sure there oil indicator is backed by very conservative equations. All I ask is that we fight our paranoia's.

MMC · 11-16-2012, 07:06 AM

Part of oils job is to clean, old oil will contain acids and contamination in it, changing it before storage gets this out.
The best oil to use is what you want in the car in the spring when you start it, no need to change it again in the spring.

HaulnJ · 11-16-2012, 11:17 PM

Use the same oil you always use. Change it right before you put it away for the winter. If for some reason you need to start it while it's in hibernation make sure you get it up to operating temperature. That will ensure to keep the moisture out of the engine components. I always use mobil 1 5w-30 but amsoil is also a good substitute or any other quality full synthetic will work.

11-13-2012, 01:19 PM	#1
aaronbv16 Aaronbv Drives: 2010 Camaro RS/SS Victory Red Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Meridian, Idaho Posts: 134 View My Garage	What is a good oil for winter storage? I'm storing my SS for the upcoming month's. What is a good choice of oil to use?

11-16-2012, 07:06 AM	#4
MMC Drives: CGM 2SS/RS, 1987 & 2014 Silverado Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Spencerport, NY Posts: 1,012	Part of oils job is to clean, old oil will contain acids and contamination in it, changing it before storage gets this out. The best oil to use is what you want in the car in the spring when you start it, no need to change it again in the spring. __________________

11-13-2012, 05:13 PM	#2
james347 Drives: 2006 Crownline Join Date: May 2012 Location: . Posts: 700	I would change to a 0W-30W with Zinc additive (Amsoil, Redline, Motul to name a few) which helps maintain a coating on all of the metal surfaces. Let the engine fully warm up and circulate the new oil. GM does not recommend those oils because they do not burn off as well and may cause catalytic converters to clog. But for short term use like this, should be no issue. Protecting the internal components is the key focus. If you are truly obsessed, remove the spark plugs and inject a little oil into the cylinders. Reinstall the spark plugs (or an old set of used plugs for storage) without torquing them completely, and crank the motor briefly. (Don't let the engine fire.) This will coat the combustion chamber and cylinder walls with a protective layer of oil. Don't restart the car until storage is over. You will need to change the spark plugs back to your good ones or buy new ones. Lots of knowledge on this site so sure some good recommendations (corrections where I made mistakes) will be made.

11-16-2012, 06:42 AM	#3
phess11 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 73 View My Garage	If your oil is not ready for a change, don't change it. There is no magic about new oil sitting motionless in an engine versus older oil sitting motionless in your engine. If the older oil is going to be harmful sitting motionless in your engine, then wouldn't that oil be worse if the engine was actually moving and causing friction? Any benefits to storing with new oil versus old will be seen, maybe at around 2 million miles. I think we need to use our heads a little and not keep dumping perfectly good oil because of our paranoia. GM does not have a vendetta against oil companies. I am sure there oil indicator is backed by very conservative equations. All I ask is that we fight our paranoia's.

11-16-2012, 11:17 PM	#5
HaulnJ Drives: 2010 SS/RS LS3 GFX Heritage grill Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Anchorage, Ak. Posts: 181	Use the same oil you always use. Change it right before you put it away for the winter. If for some reason you need to start it while it's in hibernation make sure you get it up to operating temperature. That will ensure to keep the moisture out of the engine components. I always use mobil 1 5w-30 but amsoil is also a good substitute or any other quality full synthetic will work.