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For all of you who worry about those new oils: https://humboldt.craigslist.org/pts/6072955566.html
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Very interesting very long blog posting - racing oil and zinc
- Thread starter steveg
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twas_brillig
Jedi Knight
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I've written a couple of lubricant manufacturers regards their recommendations for 'our' engines (I identified 1959 to 1962 Sprites and a 3000). Here is a reply from Shell (I'd written Quaker State, owned by Shell), and from Castrol:
Quaker State/Shell:
"For your Austin-Healeys Model, it is recommended for those years model to consider an oil with API SF. In addition to that, your flat tappet engine required an oil with a reasonable amount of Zinc that will create the needed sacrificial layer for this area of your engine. My recommendation will be to consider using Shell Rotella T4 TP 15W-40 which contains in average 1200 ppm of zinc."
Castrol:
"Classic cars with flat tappet cam engines represent a special case in regards to engine oil lubrication. These engines have valve train configurations that require elevated levels of zddp (zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate) anti-wear for proper protection of the flat tappet camshaft and its lifters. Insufficient concentration of zddp will lead to premature wear and failure of the camshaft and lifters. Current GF-4 and GF-5 fuel economy grade engine oils are designed for extended life of the catalytic convertors in modern passenger cars and have industry mandated limitations on the amount of sulfur and phosphorus within the oil.
Castrol EDGE SAE 5W-50 has been recently reformulated to have a boosted level of ZDDP (1250 ppm) to help protect flat tappet cam engines in classic cars. This engine oil is a full synthetic, has excellent cold temperature properties, and has a high temperature viscosity (SAE 50) that is suitable for use in many classic car applications."
Pick your poison!
Doug
Quaker State/Shell:
"For your Austin-Healeys Model, it is recommended for those years model to consider an oil with API SF. In addition to that, your flat tappet engine required an oil with a reasonable amount of Zinc that will create the needed sacrificial layer for this area of your engine. My recommendation will be to consider using Shell Rotella T4 TP 15W-40 which contains in average 1200 ppm of zinc."
Castrol:
"Classic cars with flat tappet cam engines represent a special case in regards to engine oil lubrication. These engines have valve train configurations that require elevated levels of zddp (zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate) anti-wear for proper protection of the flat tappet camshaft and its lifters. Insufficient concentration of zddp will lead to premature wear and failure of the camshaft and lifters. Current GF-4 and GF-5 fuel economy grade engine oils are designed for extended life of the catalytic convertors in modern passenger cars and have industry mandated limitations on the amount of sulfur and phosphorus within the oil.
Castrol EDGE SAE 5W-50 has been recently reformulated to have a boosted level of ZDDP (1250 ppm) to help protect flat tappet cam engines in classic cars. This engine oil is a full synthetic, has excellent cold temperature properties, and has a high temperature viscosity (SAE 50) that is suitable for use in many classic car applications."
Pick your poison!
Doug
Bob_Spidell
Yoda
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To add to the confusion, there appears to be two versions of Edge 5W-50; one says specifically 'Specially Formulated for Classic Cars:'
https://www.automotivepartsfactory....1378157.html?gclid=COqQpoutwtMCFZOBfgodDzoA3w
and one does not:
https://www.castrol.com/en_us/unite...ic-motor-oil/castrol-edge/edge-motor-oil.html
So Castrol, what's the deal? As I think back, it has always seemed like Castrol has always given seemingly helpful answers, that seemed to just muddy the waters a bit more. Reminds me of the old joke:
Pilot is lost in a cloud bank, spots a building with a man in a window, rolls down his windscreen and asks:
Pilot: 'Where am I?'
Man: 'In an airplane.'
Pilot turns 90deg left, lowers gear and flaps, drops out of the cloud and greases it on a runway dead ahead.
Co-pilot to pilot: 'How did you know where we were? He didn't tell you anything!'
Pilot: 'He gave me a perfectly logical and correct answer, but provided nothing useful, so I knew it had to be the IBM <insert favorite foil here> building, and I knew the SuchAndSuch Airport was left about five miles.'
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The bottle that says "'Specially Formulated for Classic Cars" is the old label. It also says "Formerly Castrol Syntec". They dropped that label a couple of years ago. The other one is the new label.
For $24.99 for the old one, I'll go with the new label. In fact, I may have some of the bottles with the old label that I would be willing to part with at that price.
For $24.99 for the old one, I'll go with the new label. In fact, I may have some of the bottles with the old label that I would be willing to part with at that price.