Wolf's Head semi-synthetic motor oil for 1970 to 1990 Cadillacs.

[EAM 17806]

How good is Wolf's Head semi-synthetic motor oil 5w -30w for use in 1970 to 1990 Cadillacs, other than high performance ones?

[Jon S]

From what perspective?  Brand, weight, formulation?

[EAM 17806]

From what perspective?  Brand, weight, formulation?

JON!  I'm referring to the quality of Wolf's Head semi-synthetic motor oil. The weight should be okay.

[Jon S]

Wolf Head's been around for years - a good product. 

I'm not a fan of synthetic oils for the older cars and stick with conventional Dino oil (10W/30 or 10W/40) and have been using Pennzoil or Quaker State changed every 2,000 miles.  Synthetics  or semi-synthetics may last longer, but I like flushing out the suspended particles and acid more often.

JMHO

[Dan LeBlanc]

I run synthetic oils in all of my newer stuff but still follow the same oil change interval recommended by the manufacturer for conventional oils.  Remember, we change oil because it gets dirty.  A 1970 Cadillac will still deposit the same contaminants into synthetic oil as it will into conventional oil.  I don't discount the superior lubricating ability of synthetics though.  Admittedly I have not heard of Wolf's Head, but definitely would read up on it.

For a brief period, I did run Mobil 1 10W30 full synthetic in a 62 Coupe de Ville I owned and did not experience any more leakage than it did on conventional oil as some report.

In any case, I cannot see a synthetic blend oil being detrimental to the cars you are referring to.

[76eldo]

You need the zinc for your cam and lifters.

I run Lucas Hot Rod oil formulated for flat lifter cams.

Brian

[Gene Beaird]

I run synthetic oils in all of my newer stuff but still follow the same oil change interval recommended by the manufacturer for conventional oils.  Remember, we change oil because it gets dirty.  A 1970 Cadillac will still deposit the same contaminants into synthetic oil as it will into conventional oil.  I don't discount the superior lubricating ability of synthetics though.  Admittedly I have not heard of Wolf's Head, but definitely would read up on it.

<SNIP>

Actually, it's not the same contaminants, there's one big one missing: the lead.  That, and the carbon from running rich during warmup are what causes most damage.  So with the lead out, your interval can be extended a bit, but if the car gets little  usage, and taken on short trips, the same interval is probably good to follow, since the other issues, moisture and acids, won't likely get boiled out as much, or as often. 

[TJ Hopland]

I don't know that brand but I do like the blends.  I believe they are considered to be a premium brand and I assume carry a premium price?   On a non daily driver I suppose the cost is not a factor.   Even on a daily driver the cost of oil is a fairly minor percent of the overall cost of ownership and operation.     

I started running a blend about 10 years ago in a daily driver because Motorcraft was the only thing parts stores stocked in the weight I needed.   It was a Mopar product and for the first 2 or 3 years I could not buy anything less than a 55 gallon drum from them so I had to go to Ford to keep my new Dodge on the road.   When I got into diesels I found a 5w-40 blend that seems to be a good quality oil.  I found it also carries a SJ rating for gas engines so its what I use in most everything now including my 73,  dads 57, and many of my small gas engines.    No clatter on cold starts and I get good cranking speed (or easy pull on the rope) even below freezing and it seems to stay cleaner than regular oil did.   I don't extend my change intervals.   Part of the cleanness could be the diesel formula but I remember the same thing about the Dodge that I changed myself at 4,000 miles for 180k.   At times due to availability I ran regular and full synthetic and the regular was always much dirtier than the blend or synthetic.   Didn't seem to matter the brand.   I put a lot of miles on that car so sometimes I would be changing it every 4 weeks.