been using traveller diesel 15 40 from Tractor Supply Company. It compares well to Rotella and is a bit less expensive.
Oh I love oil debates. Wanna know the truth? As long as you run a zinc additive (or diesel oil with zinc) to protect your flat tappet camshaft, the actual viscosity of the oil doesn't mean much. Old engines have loose clearances, and generally aren't picky. Run whatever you want, 10-30, straight 30, 20-50. If you go on the thick end, be nice to the throttle for the first 90 seconds til the oil gets some heat and starts flowing nicely. If you go on the thin end, listen for ticking at idle when warm and next oil change try a thicker viscosity. Seriously, you're way overthinking this. PS your engine's oil recommendations were made 50 years ago, we have a lot more viscosity options today. good luck
Pretty much all the ZDDP is gone from oils here, unless it is marked for non-highway use. Maybe you should check your local supply as well.. ZDDP is pretty much gone from here... maybe you want to check your local supply as well. Has the engine ever been rebuilt? Loose tolerances? I've checked more than a few that still had nice tight tolerances. I try and use the correct viscosity. Then again I mic my clearances when I fix things as well.
Tight tolerance for a 50s engine design equals loose tolerance for a modern engine design. We're talking way more than rods & mains, there's a thousand ways to measure clearances that aren't feasible unless you're CMMing the surface of every part with touch probes. A mic would be a knife in this gunfight.
ZDDP is sold here by an Alliance Vendor. Read their website. If you have more questions, email or call them - they are great people! www.ZDDPlus.com
Here's some good reading on oil. Seems to be a very astute group . . .much like us HAMB'rs.... http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/
I'd run 30w Brad-Penn break in oil. It still has the good stuff in it, zinc, etc.. If ya' need a multi, use their 20w50 Racing oil. They also have a 10w30. All have more guts for flat tappet cams than the other guys.
ZMAN --- is on target, All oils have changed as of January 2007 Diesel On highway, due to the reduction in ash content for Diesel Particulate Traps, and any additives that negatively affected emissions. This extends the time to service cleaning interval on the Particulate Filter. .... Read your flat tappet camshaft boxes, oh by the way, All oils "top brands" have changed, unless you are running Wolfs Head Oil from the 70's, you may want to pay attention. Thanks ZMAN, there is a lot of lost souls.........................out here. Momma did not say we had to be the sharpest crayon in the box, just the one everyone likes.
20/50 castrol gtx better oil pressure and it cleans out the gunk your engine was not designed with the newer thinner oils in mind also everything in our engines are worn mine included so why put thin runny oil in were a nice thick 20/50 would work so nice
I agree, but the break in is a critical issue with the lack of ZINC additives, is wiping out a lot of cams. Rollers are so dog gone expensive. I was shocked when I bought my latest Comp Cams, requiring the additive, the speed shop did not tell me either?
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