I'd appreciate some recommendations concerning the best engine oil for me to use in my Model A roadster. The engine is a 350 sbc with a lumpy cam and solid lifters. It came out of a 1970 with unknown miles. I've been using NAPA premium 10/30. The car is driven about 2500 miles a year, largely to and from work, a 3 mile comute.It mostly sits during the winter and is used almost every day from April through October, sometimes on 100 mile highway trips.Any problem switching to synthetic, like Amsoil? Recommend any additives? How often would you change it? Thanks for your help.
do a search and read about ZDDP (zinc) additive. it's been discussed a lot. i use Valvoline VR1. -scott noteboom
I was an Amsoil dealer. I didn't sell much because racers couldn't justify the expense when you change the oil every week. I had a night where I had to thrash to get the car ready. I'd like to blame someone else, but I'm my own pit crew. The valve cover bolts weren't tightened and it blew all of the oil out of the right side of the car. From what I've been told that my car was on fire under caution laps and would blow the flames out under green. It all happened in a manner that the smoke wasn't entering the cockpit so I didn't know I had an oil leak. Basically before the race was over I'd pumped all the oil out of the motor. I hauled into turn on and the oil light came on because the pump was sucking air. I missed the switch and didn't get it turned off on the first try. Here are the pics from that night including a pic of one of the cleanest oil filters I've ever seen. I ran that enigine the rest of the year with no problems. Needless to say I really believed in their products after that!
There is an Alliance Vendor here that sells ZDDP. Read their website www.zddplus.com diesel and racing oil is not the best for older engines running on the street.
Whatever's on sale! Seriously. When using a conventional oil, if you take 10 different brands, but they all have the SM rating, there is going to be no discernable difference in wear protection. They all have to meet certain specs. Synthetic oils will have better protection from heat related breakdown vs. conventional oils. I would switch to Mobil 1 synthetic, 15w50, and be done with it. If you are going to stay with conventional oil, then buy whatever is on sale. Nick P.S. Remember to only use quality oil filters!!! WIX, Ac Delco, Baldwin, Purolator. STAY FAR AWAY FROM FRAM!!!
You have been doing it right. That oil meets your engine's specifications, besides, at that rate it will never wear out anyway. There is an unbelievalbe amount of B.S. out there about oil. Damn few engines fail due to oil quality.
Yup, at the end of the day, they're all just hydraulic oil with different detergents. But I use Delo on EVERYTHING I own. In fact, I even pay extra to have it put in my 2007 GMC Sierra.
rotella 15 40 diesel oil. it has the additives needed for older engines that most new oils dont have. my engine builder wallace engine company in essex did a test for a magazine and sampled different oils and said that the rotella was the best. if a motor that fires on compression alone at 15 or 17 to 1 can stay together and perform well on this oil and still look good after 5000 miles it sounds like the right stuff for me. i run it in everything i own including my dirtbikes.
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