Engine oil

Ken Arms

Ken Arms

Well-known member
What's the opinion here for oil? I have a rebuilt 59ab with break-in oil in it presently, I think it has zink in it. Now ready for first oil change, I want to use full synthetic and ad a zink additive to it. Opinions? Ken
 
Pick up any good engine oil. There is still enough zinc in them for a flathead. I use 10W 30 Valvoline.
 
Mobil I 10W 30 would be fine. I use straight 30W here in SoCa. Any good synthetic sold at Walmart. Forget Zinc in a flathead. Very low valve spring pressures.
 
IMO, if you need to use an additive, you're using the wrong oil. Best to pick an oil that meets all your requirements. Too much ZDDP can cause more damage than not enough.
I agree with jack on using regular Valvoline on all my flat tappet engines, but do use Valvoline VR-1 10W30 non-synthetic on my roadster's flathead because of a pretty radical cam, although probably overkill.
 
Agreed with the above statement. Most oils contain enough zinc that ZDDP additive should not be used.

I use SAE straight 40 weight Shell Rotella for my 34’ Roadster. Never an issue. As I have always been told oil passages in these flatheads are large for straight and not to use a synthetic. I’m sure someone can explain why synthetic has disadvantages.

That’s what I’ve always been told and sticking with it.


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Don´t be to quick with changing to synthetic oil...give it a good work out on a regular quality oil first.
If your engine is not completely done with the break-in...synthetic additives doesn´t do you any good...
 
I agree with flatheadmurre, I go a bout 10k miles and then switch to synthetic, every gas engine I know of that has used Mobil 1 has ran over 200k miles before a rebuild and has shown less wear than any gas engine with the same miles using Dinosaur oil. I also take into account whether the operating conditions are in a clean environment , sometimes oil can be contaminated by dirt or moisture which means more frequent oil changes are necessary, more frequent changes from the economic standpoint makes synthetic less cost effective versus Dinosaur oil. Just my opinion.
 
I but anything the local "Dollar General" has on sale for less than $3 a quart as long as it has an "API" seal on it. 10-30. 10-40, whatever; just no non-detergent.
 
tubman said:
I but anything the local "Dollar General" has on sale for less than $3 a quart as long as it has an "API" seal on it. 10-30. 10-40, whatever; just no non-detergent.
Click to expand...

I've seen local grocery store brands have the API starburst. That works.
 
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