View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
1987_sportcoupe Member
Joined: 08 Jul 2011 Posts: 246 Location: Tacoma, WA
1987 Chevrolet Camaro
|
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 1:05 pm Post subject: Oil |
|
|
What brand/type of oil do you guys like to run? Being more specific what oil works best with gen 1 flat tappet motors? A lot of people swear by synthetics such as mobil 1 and royal purple but do they contain the right zinc levels to provide my cam a long life? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Twilightoptics Hardcore (12sec Club)
Joined: 13 Jan 2004 Posts: 9191 Location: Auburn , WA
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
|
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 2:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Full synthetics rely on film strength more than additives. That said, I've seen cams go flat with Mobil 1.
Proper break-in is a big factor. Regular oil can be fine, if you keep the revs up and don't idle a lot if ever. Remember these cams get their oil by splash.
I told my customers to use Royal Purple or Schaffers at 6,000mile intervals with half a bottle of Lucas ZDDP. Change the filter at 3000.
Yes it's expensive, but so is your engine. If you're EVER putting a fresh flat tappet cam in a gen 1, run PLAIN dyno oil for breakin only, AND spend the money for EDM offset oil hole lifters. _________________ A redline a day keeps the carbon away! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
chevymad Master B
Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 5474
1987 Pontiac Formula
|
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 2:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'm one that has had a cam go flat on Mobil 1. This is just after the oil additive change over. Cam was well broken in, might have had 50k miles on it. Then all of a sudden lost a bunch of lobes. I still like mobil 1 in newer vehicles.
I'm not hearing that many cam problems now. Not sure if everyone has switched oils or if the oil companies have their new formula's figured out now.
Valvoline VR1 is supposed to be one of the better ones. I tried royal purple for awhile but it left a black film over everything in the engine.
I too used the lucas ZDDP. But lately i've gone back to using oil straight outa the bottle. Napa oil which is valvoline in all my cars, extended change mobil in her toyota. Synthetic in the 87 and the yota. Jeep and 74 get dino.
Also alot depends on just how big a cam and what springs you are using. Mild you can probably use anything.. stiff springs, quick ramps and lots of lift good luck.
Paul, weren't you using Amsoil? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Twilightoptics Hardcore (12sec Club)
Joined: 13 Jan 2004 Posts: 9191 Location: Auburn , WA
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
|
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 4:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Used amsoil briefly. My jeep went flat with castrol. I use schaffers now. _________________ A redline a day keeps the carbon away! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
91camaro_rs Member
Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 1712 Location: Fox Island, Wa
1991 Chevrolet Camaro RS
|
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 1:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
how do you tell when your cam goes flat?? after break in ive ran castrol syntec since _________________
'91 Camaro RS 5.7 TPI- 700r4- 3.27 posi- headers- chambered exhaust- |
|
Back to top |
|
|
chevymad Master B
Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 5474
1987 Pontiac Formula
|
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 1:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Cylinders go dead, backfiring, popping out the intake, vacuum gauge bounces. Depends on if the intake or exhaust lobe goes flat for which symptoms you will get. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Alphius Peanut
Joined: 05 Sep 2006 Posts: 2429 Location: Grand Mound
1984 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
|
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 4:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The Subaru crowd has had a bunch of instances of Mobil 1 correlating to low-mileage spun main bearings over the past few years. I don't trust it.
I use Shell Rotella T6 full synthetic in everything I own, it's a good oil for the price and the guys over on BITOG like it a lot. I've even managed to convert a couple people I know to it.
My truck has a pretty small cam (Comp Cams XE262) and it's been run on any and all kinds of cheap dino oil since '01/'02 when the engine was rebuilt. Almost 100k so far and no flat lobes. Everything else I own is roller. _________________ 84 Camaro Z28 - LS1/T56
85 Silverado - Low and Slow |
|
Back to top |
|
|
chevymad Master B
Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 5474
1987 Pontiac Formula
|
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 5:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
That's the exact cam I had go flat. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
aaron_sK Member
Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 8834 Location: Back in beautiful Tacompton
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
|
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 6:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
It's been awhile, but the last flat-tappet motors I ran with Delo400 or cheap store-brand dino. I'm debating which one to run in the 300, it's the first flat-tappet I've had in awhile.
Delo400 has had problems with hot idle pressure in every vehicle I've ever run it in. Not sure how big of a deal it is since nothing ever blew up, but it's very unnerving to see the oil gauge dip down into the single digits when stuck in traffic on a hot day.
Cams going flat is god's way of telling you to get your head out of your ass and build an engine from this millennium anyway. Seriously now. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Twilightoptics Hardcore (12sec Club)
Joined: 13 Jan 2004 Posts: 9191 Location: Auburn , WA
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
|
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 7:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
My flat acted like ignition. Wouldn't rev cleanly over 4500rpm at the end. It gradually got worse. _________________ A redline a day keeps the carbon away! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Quasi-Traction "I have petals"
Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Posts: 3873 Location: stumptown
1986 Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta
|
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 4:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
aaron_sK wrote: |
Cams going flat is god's way of telling you to get your head out of your ass and build an engine from this millennium anyway. Seriously now. |
Says the guy who badmouths the Ecoboost |
|
Back to top |
|
|
aaron_sK Member
Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 8834 Location: Back in beautiful Tacompton
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
|
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 5:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
What can I say? I dislike things that break. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Twilightoptics Hardcore (12sec Club)
Joined: 13 Jan 2004 Posts: 9191 Location: Auburn , WA
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
|
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 11:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
aaron_sK wrote: | What can I say? I dislike things that break. |
Even with no proven failure! _________________ A redline a day keeps the carbon away! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
rjmcgee The Hammer
Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2320
|
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 12:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
aaron_sK wrote: | It's been awhile, but the last flat-tappet motors I ran with Delo400 or cheap store-brand dino. I'm debating which one to run in the 300, it's the first flat-tappet I've had in awhile.
Delo400 has had problems with hot idle pressure in every vehicle I've ever run it in. Not sure how big of a deal it is since nothing ever blew up, but it's very unnerving to see the oil gauge dip down into the single digits when stuck in traffic on a hot day.
Cams going flat is god's way of telling you to get your head out of your ass and build an engine from this millennium anyway. Seriously now. |
Says the guy who "rebuilt" his clutch fan |
|
Back to top |
|
|
aaron_sK Member
Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 8834 Location: Back in beautiful Tacompton
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
|
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 3:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I've got a spare Taurus fan and harness here Rodney. You want it for the diesel to get those extra horses? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|