Old school engine oil

[DonH]

My 67 project is progressing to the point to where I need to install fluids. Oil products seem to have changed from what I am used to. Looking around I could not find 15-40 motor oil. Every thing is synthetic.
My completely rebuilt 289 flat tappet cam, I am sure, was not considered in todays engine oil. Modern engines have had roller cams for years and motor oils are being designed around them . The additives are different for these engines. The only 15-40 oil I found was designed for a diesel engine. I remember the letters on the on the bottle meant something and I do not know what they mean. One pare of letters meant there was an additive for flat tappet cams.


What oil is the group using for a new engine start up?

 

[armynavy17]

If I remember correctly, I used castrol GTX and a start-up additive. Their GTX line isn't synthetic. I also found cheap motorcraft oil at Walmart to be conventional. My builder recommended 10w-40 for winter and 10w-30 for summer.

 

[Rustytruck]

The Effects of Zinc Oil Additives on Older Engines | Rislone

Almost everyone who’s into cars has an older vehicle that they love. Whether it’s the feeling that they get behind the wheel or the way the car looks parked in their driveway, they pour their time and effort into maintaining the car and keeping it looking like it’s just been driven off of the...

rislone.com

The EPA has been trying to kill our engines for years. first they took the lead out, then thinned our gas with alcohol and now taking the zinc out of the oil.
sooner or later we will be pushing our Broncos.

 

[savage]

I run Lucas Hot Rod & Classic Car 10W30 OIL. https://lucasoil.com/products/hot-rods-classic-cars/hot-rod-classic-car-10w-30-motor-oil

 

[BUCKWILD]

The 15-40 diesel engine oil will work also, it is just higher detergent and i have run it for years. ANy 10-30 or 10-40 is what is recomended, IF it us a rebuild run conventional iol for about 5000 miles the you can use synthetic

 

[spap]

Va olive racing its has higher zinc
higher than what I don’t know, use in my boat Motor for years

 

[Bitch'nBronco]

Take a look at the amsoil break in oil, https://www.amsoil.com/p/break-in-oil-sae-30--brk/?zo=182507&zo=182507

 

[DonH]

http://[URL]https://rislone.com/blog/engine-oil/the-effects-of-zinc-oil-additives-on-older-engines/

[/URL]

The EPA has been trying to kill our engines for years. first they took the lead out, then thinned our gas with alcohol and now taking the zinc out of the oil.
sooner or later we will be pushing our Broncos.

If you look around many of the Bigger cities the air is a lot better to breath than it was 20 years ago.

 

[DonH]

The 15-40 diesel engine oil will work also, it is just higher detergent and i have run it for years. ANy 10-30 or 10-40 is what is recomended, IF it us a rebuild run conventional iol for about 5000 miles the you can use synthetic

This Bronco may never another 5000 miles. And I am leaning to the Diesel 15-40 oil.

 

[DonH]

Take a look at the amsoil break in oil, https://www.amsoil.com/p/break-in-oil-sae-30--brk/?zo=182507&zo=182507

If I was running a ull race engine this oil I would concider but at $12 a qt x7 is it what I need.

 

[Timmy390]

Lots of break in additives out there with ZDDP/Zink

Last flat tappet I broke in was a 390FE.....I used a quart of Crane Cam break in (it was a Crane Cam) and 30W non detergent per the builders advice. All went well

Since then I've bee running Rotella t4 15w40 1200 ppm of zinc. I also run it in my 351W roller cam Bronco and my 1.3L Samurai.....

Tim

 

[Yeller]

A lot of diesels are still flat tappet cams so it’s my go to for off the shelf. I’m a Rotella fan

 

[tirewater]

If you're breaking in a flat tappet camshaft, use the break in procedure and fluids that camshaft manufacturer recommends. Comp cams has a guide here: https://www.compcams.com/pub/media/wysiwyg/CompCams/FlatTappetCamTechBulletin.pdf

Last oil change I used Valvoline VR1 Racing Oil - 10w-30. Has 1400ppm Zinc, and 1300ppm Phosphorous. It's not terribly expensive and not completely a pain in the bottom to get.

 

[TX-ZACH]

Another vote for Valvoline VR1 Racing 10w-30. At most auto parts stores for $6 a qt.