this maybe dumb to ask but, id rigure id throw the question out there and see what id get for responses....

Hence myself being a new zcar owner, and doing my first oil change...

what have you guys been using for oil?...is there some spefic brands i should aviod?

what filter should i look into getting?
how much oil am i going to need?

whats best to run in my car?....i got a 81 280zxnt...

thank you very much for your help!!

 

I just run Mobil1 10w30 full synthetic with whatever part number K&N has for our cars.

I usually put 5 quarts in, INCLUDING the oil I put in the filter.

 

Conventional 10w-30 from any name brand oil company, and your choice of filter. Virtually any oil sold in auto parts stores is fine. Before the 80's, there wasn't all that much research on oils, and some oils weren't SAE certified (thus the reason some OLD mechanics still say today to "make sure the oil is SAE certified".

Indeed synthetic oil is great, but it doesn't mix w/ conventional, and it's molecularly thinner than conventional.... so, converting a high mileage motor to synthetic isn't advised.

 

although my car runs smoother with the synthetic than the conventional

 

in my miata i used mobil1 synthetic turbo diesel oil and it got rid of my lifter tick, and the only differenve between a "diesel oil" and gas oil is diesel oil is a stronger more durable oil, it meant to work harder. plus turbo diesel has an additive called ZDDP which helps keep turbo seals good, but if you have a cat dont use it because ZDDP clogs cats, but here in wyo where we dont have emissions testing, you can get away with no cat just dont get caught ha ha.

so when i change my oil to the mobil1 5w40 turbo diesel oil i will post my results and findings in this thread

 

I use nothing but Castrol 20/50 in my Zs.

 

I use Mobile 1 full Syn High Mileage in my engine. even though it only has about 30K on the engine

 

i lied, i didnt want to go with the turbo diesel oil, i just did the mobil1 clean 5000 5w30. honestly in such an old car any new oil, dino or synthetic, will work fine imo