Reproduction Parts for 1916-1964 Chevrolet Passenger Cars & 1918-1987 Chevrolet & GMC Trucks


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#468879 04/11/22 12:17 PM
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Ted1956 Offline OP
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Has anyone had any experience with Hydrotex motor oil? My old car mechanic highly recommends it. Apparent only available on-line. Also, I am told rather expensive.


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I have no direct experience or knowledge of Hydrotex. What I do know is that any oil you buy today is phenomenally better than any oil that was available when these classic cars were manufactured.

I think there are more opinions than the number of owners and mechanics about which oil to run in these classic cars. I am sure that you will get lots of conflicting guidance.

You have to use the oil that makes you comfortable.

For me I currently use Farm and Fleet conventional 5W-30. The price is all the way up to $3.50 a quart. I drive about 1000 miles a season and have no indications of problems after 5 years.


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I have not but looking at their website, it looks like they are using bio-feedstocks for their lubricants and are focusing on sustainability and minimizing environmental impacts. From what I can tell, they meet API requirements so I'd have no qualms about using it. In the past I've used "G-Oil" (https://www.getg.com/G-OIL.php) which is a bio-derived oil made from was beef tallow. It was a little pricy but never had any issues with it and liked the idea of using a non-petroleum derived product, problem is I can't find it in stores anymore, I'm guessing Hydrotex may be using a similar feedstock/process to make their products.

If you really want to go down the rabbit hole, you could look at "Bob is the Oil Guy" and see if anybody has run Virgin Oil Analysis (VOA) and/or Used Oil Analysis (UOA). If you can afford it, I'd say go for it, just keep in mind the cheapest oil you can find today is still likely light years ahead of what they used originally (notable exception for high lift tappet cam setups which like higher Zn additive levels than standard motor oils today).

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A lot of folks are happy with 10W30 but I feel 10 weight oil is too thin. I use house brand 15W40. Thin enough to use in cooler weather but not water thin. As the folks above said, any modern oil made to current specs is way better than back then.


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I visited their website and was not impressed. It reads like "we have superior products trust us". I could not find actual test data to compare with other products. My BS alarm was loudly sounding. Trying to beat the major brands with all their resources can be done but not easily or at lower cost.

I worked in the automotive group of a major chemical company. We analyzed lubricants, coolants, fluids extensively. Worked with all major equipment manufactures including auto, truck, off-road equipment. Fleet testing was extensive and expensive.


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Ted1956 Offline OP
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Thanks ALL for the feedback. I also looked at the website and it wasn't very specific as to usage. My new purchase is a 1967 Buick Rivera. Has anyone used Shell Rotella diesel oil? Told it has the extra zinc content.


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Two friends of mine who used Penzoil forever now use the Rotella.


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Your Rivera does not need high levels of zinc. The amount in current specification oil is plenty.


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Ted1956 Offline OP
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Got it! Thanks!!


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I agree with Chipper’s advice. Use an oil with an API rating SN. Soon you will start seeing oils with a SP rating. Choose a viscosity to match your temperature conditions.

There are as many or more opinions about diesel oil in gasoline engines. You can read forever without reaching a conclusion. If the oil has both an S? rating and a C? Rating it has been tested for use in both engines.


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