Best oil to use...

[NCGuy68]

Zinc in motor oil for early model cars has been the 'buzz word' for quite a while. Myself, and many others are running full sythetics. Red Line and Royal Purple are popular. I've been using Amsoil for two years with no issues to date.

[camarojoe]

I've read many of the oil threads on various sites including this one, and have a stupid question... what if I just use standard non -diesel, non synthetic, non racing, non gimmick oil, like run-of-the mill Havoline or Pennzoil or Shell or (pick your brand) 10w30 conventional oil? I've never used anything but regular old "buy it anywhere" type oil in everything I've ever owned and have never had a problem with anything...I don't even always use the SAME brand as far as that goes... am I just lucky, or is there some hype associated with all the "best oil" threads I see everywhere? Granted I don't run my cars to redline or race or abuse 'em, but I do drive them, changing the oil and filter once a summer or every 3000 miles, whichever comes first... I'm wondering if I should be concerned with the fact that I don't have any "fancy" oil in any of em.

[68Biscayne427]

I'm no petroleum chemist but I think the single biggest thing you can do to protect your motor is to change your oil - often... My personal opinion is a lot of it is hype. I am sure some of the more expensive oils are "excellent" at what they do, but I don't race my car, I just drive it to shows and when we have sunny days. If I was racing then I would probably have a much different opinion.
Like you, I have used a lot of different oils in my cars and never has one bit of trouble. But one thing I did was change them often.... My $.02.

[Salvatore]

I would say after the initial break-in if things are going well you are probably alright. You are right Joe it does not have to get or be so scientific. I have always used conventional oil but as the properities come out I try to choose the oil that has the most/best properities that we were used to in the past. To answer your question probably nothing would ever happen to our engines because how we treat our cars and the maintenance we give them.

[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...