new guy with crazy question
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Alaska Jim
Well-known member
Sid, I was not aware that the formula had changed. I switched to Rotella several years ago because I got a better buy on it from the dealer I buy my oil and filters from here in Alaska.
Sid
Well-known member
Yes Jim...Like you I bought Delo in 55 gallon drums and ran it in all my semi's and equipment and even the hotrods. I was in the process of buying 10 gallons in bulk a couple years ago and the salesman told me that the LE on the label was low emission and to his knowledge the zinc phosphate was removed. I thought all diesel oils had zinc I did a bunch of reading on it and found the highest levels were in the racing oils like Valvoline and penzoil and Rotella had a high level. From what I read you don't want to use oil with zinc in a car with a catalytic converter as it may clog them.
tinman080
Senior Member
Look any Y block over closely...if an outside oiler system has been tapped off the oil pressure sending unit then the cam bearings are shot. The Y blocks were known for wearing the cam bearings and losing all oil pressure above the cam due to oil blowing around the cam bearings. A copper T and lines running into drilled valve covers was the standard (read cheap) fix, keeping owners from having to replace the bearings. Most engines with this fix have pretty worn rockers and rails, they would run dry until the valve noise got loud enough to attract attention. I owned a nice '56 Merc hardtop and I believe a '61 F100 that I had to add overhead oilers to.
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dmsfrr
Well-known member
Another significant problem that causes poor or no top end oiling was the non-detergent oils used back in the day.
The oil passages in the block from the center cam bearing are 5/16" but the oil passages thru the heads are 1/4" at best. Where the oil passages jog to the right at the head gasket they are slightly flattened and could be further reduced if the head gasket swells a bit or the heads have been milled.
When any sludge builds up in these smaller passages oil to the rocker arms is blocked.
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The oil passages in the block from the center cam bearing are 5/16" but the oil passages thru the heads are 1/4" at best. Where the oil passages jog to the right at the head gasket they are slightly flattened and could be further reduced if the head gasket swells a bit or the heads have been milled.
When any sludge builds up in these smaller passages oil to the rocker arms is blocked.
.
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