Oil Recommendations ...
 

I will soon be draining the break-in oil (BR 15W50 recommended by the machine shop) from my flat tappet 454. What are the experts oil recommendations for this engine? Thanks in advance! Craig

I like PennGrade 15W-40. I use that in both of my 1969 cars. The "green" oil. One is a solid lifter motor the other a hydraulic lifter motor.

There are several choices... Valvoline VR-1 is what I run as it has high Zinc content, which is necessary for flat tappet lifters. PennGrade is another choice that also has high Zinc.

I use Driven GP-1 15W40 in my 427.

You'll probably get a bunch of answers here. I use Valvoline VR1 & always a Wix 1st line filter. Napa 1st line used to fit in that group but unless it say made in the US, it's not a wix in the NAPA box....Joe

I also use Valvoline VR-1 oil in all of my cars, 20W50 and 10W30 type.

I agree, I run the same

I used to order Brad Penn but now use Valvoline VR1 50 w. in my 67 L78. My local Oreillys stocks it.

I've been using Brad Penn 10w x 40 with zinc (green oil) for many years and am very happy with it. I purchase off Amazon and its here in 2 days.

I have been using Driven 10w-40 (HR5) conventional oil for a number of years now.

Valvoline VR1 in L78 here.. readily available at auto parts and K&N filter

Green oil is the best oil and Driven GP-1 fills my oil pans. Don’t take my word for it. Go to an NHRA National Event and ask around. You’ll see & hear this same sentiment . . . .

VR1 in all the cars

VR1 here

We R VR-1 here. :)

I use old SL or SM rated oil. I have several cases of Pennzoil that I've run across.

Kurt, one of the things that the rep at Driven told me was that they use Pennsylvania something in their oil that everyone else has stopped using. He said that Brad Penn used it, but has stopped. It's supposed to make their oil better. I guess it's what Pennzoil and Quaker State used years ago. That Pennzoil should be good stuff. I've got several quarts of Pennzoil racing oil in quart cans.

Driven GP1
 

I had not heard about the Driven oil you guys are talking about. Going to check it out.

Pennzoil and Quaker State used to use PA crude. One of the only crudes that is paraffin based. They had wax extractors in the refinery process.
My mother used to make candles and she bought 50# of paraffin directly from the QS refinery, back when you could.
Another local refinery had a gas station in the refinery. That one eventually burned for 3 days...

WIX/NAPA Filters...
 

I went to Napa store yesterday and looked at the filters...we always use the longer truck style filter...Napa gold/black filter...made in china. They had a Wix version, but the box said 'not intended for street use'...racing only. It was made in the USA.

I have a few older Napa filters buried in the garage somehere...i'll have to see what they are.

What Wix filter is best for the hi-perf big blocks...again, i like to use the long filter.

thanks,wilma

I also use VR-1. For reference, the Wix 51069 (for my 302) I got at Napa a few months ago is Made In USA, as is the 51061 that fits my truck 350. You may have to check per filter at a parts store to be sure.

I use these,bought 3 cases from NAPA many years ago.These are what's left of the first case,as I still haven't opened the other cases yet.

wix filters
 

no good at napa...they don't carry regular wix filters...all their gold units are china or vietnam :tongue:

looks like o'reillys has the wix brand...will check it out tomorrow.

-wilma

O’Reilly stocks them.
Sorry for the sideways pic.

Wix filters are cheaper at Rock Auto, that's where i get mine. But you have shipping cost also. I also heard that the Napa gold is made by Wix, per my buddy who works for Napa.

The best oil filters on the market are Motorcraft, Bosch, Purolator, this confirmed by a oil testing engineer named RAT540. He has taken apart many oil filters and looked at the paper filter media and how well they are made. He has a blog online which you can read. I took his advice and he told me go with Bosch, which i did. I used Wix at one time, no more, he claimed their quality has changed and made overseas. Just my two cents.