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09-17-2003, 05:43 PM
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#1 |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon
Posts: 1,028
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oil question
what is the correct type of oil to be using in a stock 1984 305? it says on the dip stick to use SF. what does sf mean? and what weight should i use. the truck has 53000 miles on it
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Ken Morgan For fun: 1964 Volvo 122 For slow: 1984 Chevrolet C-10 For everything else: 1997 BMW M3 |
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09-17-2003, 05:49 PM
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#2 |
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yeller
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 13,824
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In all of my SBC engines I have always run 10W40 in the summer and 10W30 in the winter.
I do not know what SF means. -Jeff |
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09-17-2003, 05:58 PM
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#3 |
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www.73-87chevytrucks.com
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 6,935
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SF was a category for the type of oil used in gasoline engines. It is obsolete now. Currenty the types are SJ and SL more info is at http://www.api.org (where the ratings come from)
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Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com |
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09-17-2003, 06:05 PM
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#4 |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon
Posts: 1,028
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cool thanks for the help. i change my oil often and got a bit scared when i was over on the engine board when people were saying that they were putting in 20w50 . but i have used 10w30 in the past
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Ken Morgan For fun: 1964 Volvo 122 For slow: 1984 Chevrolet C-10 For everything else: 1997 BMW M3 |
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09-17-2003, 06:07 PM
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#5 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: St robert Mo
Posts: 2,001
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I use 20w50 but it is synth blend.
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1968 c10 lowered 3" 4" 355/Th400 built by Hatfield racing in joplin MO |
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09-17-2003, 06:22 PM
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#6 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Winterpeg Manisnowba, Canada
Posts: 60
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The S stands for Service Oils, and is a rating by API (American Petroleum Institute). The API service ratings proceed in alphabetical order, starting at SA and now up to I think SJ. You are safe to use any oil rated SF or higher, owner's manuals for our trucks typically say "use SF or higher oils", for example. Depending on where you live, a 10W30 will probably be fine year round. If it gets really cold in the winter, switch to a 5W30 for better starting and cold performance. At operating temperature, both 5W-30 and 10W-30 oils are the same.
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1985 Silverado S/W 454 TH400, 4 wheel Disk Brakes, B&M Floor Shifter, 9" rear, lowered 4/6. |
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