Oil

[Nunyas]

This may be a silly question, but where does one find the "rating" of the oil? I've never paid attention in the past, but these days it seems like it may be a good idea.

 

[Steve_S]

Visit the manufacturer's site. Or sometimes it says on the bottle.

 

[Tom_Fisher]

as far as the oil im going to look at the Iola Old Car Show this weekend to see if i can get any of the older Castrol or if we have some local resellers for the older stuff with ZDDP


thanks for all the great advice
Ray

Ray:

Why don't you just get some Valvoline 20w-50 V1 Racing Oil and be done with it. It has ZDDP in it - says so right on the label.

In all fairness, however, the ZDDP thing has been way overhyped. If you're breaking in a new cam and lifters, yeah - it's probably important. But for already broken in engines, it ain't worth worrying about. Any good detergent 20w-50 oil is gonna be okay.

 

[Mac_Townsend]

Valvoline VR1 racing oil is readily available around here for $3-4/quart (Autozone is 3.06, Kragens 3.95)

Since it doesn't have to meet API standards, it has full comple,ement of ZDDP. Even says so on the case! And my machine shop foreman told me in no uncertain terms to use it on a Dodge 225 we recently rebuilt...that GM's EOS and diesel formulations are also being changed to lower ZDDP.

While I'm using up my Castrol, I do add a bottle of STP which dumps a lot of ZDDP into the mixture.

Note: this applies to more cars than you might realize! Even my 92 Olds is a "flat tappet" even though it is hydraulic not mechanical (vs roller hydraulic tappets on the new cars) and my DOHC SAAB is also flat tappet!

VR1 is available in straight 30, 10W-30, etc. as well but you may have to order it.

FWIW