Best oil to use...

[m22mike]

I also for years used whatever discount oil I could get, the service rating is more important than just the brand.
However, the fact remains that alot of the heavy metals that once protected the flat tappet cams are not in these oils any longer.
Next time you look at new oil, look at the service rating donut on the bottle, you will see the words "Energy Conserving" . In a nut shell those oils do not have the Zink, ZDDP, need to protect the flat tappet cam's.
I have been using the Shell Rotelle T 15W 40, and it also has taken a hit from the EPA. But from my reading too, it still has enough ZDDP. But keep an eye on it, because it may change it the future.
For me I will be switching to a race oil like Valvoline. That stated right on the lable "Contains increased amounts of zinc for extra engine protection"
Here is a recent thread on this too.

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/show...0/fpart/1/vc/1
Mike

[3macs1]

Hi Tom:
We run full sythetics in everything from lawn mowers to BBC and I mean everything.However in the past few years we started having cam issues in the BBC and after replacing three cams in three engines that should never had to be replaced in my mind ( two solids and one hyd) I am convinced the sythetic oil played a role.I spoke to good friend who rebuilds a lot of BBC and he has seen the same problems just lately and also now uses only the race valvoline.
We switched all of the BBc back to valvoline with gm eos and it seems cam issues on the BBC are gone.

[Mr70]

I use their 20W-50 VR1 Racing Oil,and I can hear my lifters thanking me for it.
This has a .116 Zinc content.

[Mr70]

Their NOT Street legal has a .112 Zinc content.

[3macs1]

[ QUOTE ]
I use this 20W-50 VR1 racing oil,and I can hear my lifters thanking me for it.
This has .116 zinc content.

That is the one Rick. We use 20W50 also and so far so good.Do you use the GM EOS with it??

[Mr70]

No EOS Joe,just straight Valvo...

[3macs1]

Humm. I wonder if the EOS is worth it. We add it every change more as a habit I think.Gets costly

[68Biscayne427]

I use the same thing too - 20W-50 VR1 Racing Oil. I also use Lucas Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer since my engine was built 25 years ago and the clearances are a little sloppy.

[Salvatore]

[ QUOTE ]
Humm. I wonder if the EOS is worth it. We add it every change more as a habit I think. Gets costly

[/ QUOTE ]EOS should really only be used at break in.

[ORIGLS6]

I've used Valvoline Racing oil (now VR1) in my good cars since 1967. Never had a problem that I could blame on oil so I guess ignorance is bliss. Plus,.......... I'm too damned old to change ANY behaviors now!