Engine Oil and Muscle Cars

[Verne_Frantz]

"Truck Motor????""" ....Wise guy!

I've also heard that the amount of zinc has been reduced in Rotella, but it was my understanding that it is still higher than most other brands. Yes, it does sound a little strange to put diesel oil in our cars, but since those engines generally see harder service (and are expected to last a LOT longer) oils with better additive packages were developed. The diesel oils also have an "anti-sooting" additive which our cars don't need, but it doesn't hurt anything for it to be there, IT's a "no care".

Verne

[frank23]

Vern - I appreciate your reply, and I wish it was that simple. But, unless you purchased your Rotella or other high-quality diesel oil six months or so ago, you will now find that it has been re-formulated, and no longer contains the same quantities of zinc and phosphorus. I went to great lengths to explore every avenue possible prior to this decision. Please keep the comments coming. Regards --Frank

[DaJudge]

It seems to be Bob. I sat in on a tech seminar regarding engine oil at the Mopar Nationals in Carlisle. The speaker there recommended Valvoline Blue 15w40, which is a diesel oil and similar to Rotella. Cummins recommends Valvoline Blue. It just goes against everything we have come to understand to pour diesel oil into our muscle car engines.

[169yenko]

I use it in my solid lifter BBC 496. Some of the cam companies mention using the "Diesel Oils" i.e. Rotella and Delo 400. Stuff you can get at Advance or Auto Zone or Wally World. Their was an article on this issue in one of the mag's CC or SC or CHP. I also recommend running the new EDM solid lifters with new solid cam installs.

[Seattle Sam]

Frank, I think there is definitely a market for it at that price. Some education would have to be delivered to help create demand for the product. Not everybody is aware of all the re-formulation going on; Rotella and other diesel formulas used to be "the answer" but now maybe not so much..
-Sam

[Verne_Frantz]

The whole thing sucks. We're trying to preserve pieces of history here, and the government (in their infinate wizdumb) wants to rid us of everything needed to preserve the past!

Uh-Oh, did I just make a political post?????

[Seattle Sam]

Verne,
I think you can rail against the generic government, as long as it isn't personalized with "damned liberals" or "stupid evil Bush".

-Sam

[Andy]

I too have read that the amount of zinc (sulfated ash) content in oil will go down in diesel oils in the near future. It is unfortunate because Rotella is cheap and readily available. I use Rotella in my 'Cuda now because the 340 was built back in 1980. At the time it was built, had the largest hydraulic flat tappet purple cam available installed, so the big springs are hard on the cam and lifters due to a tight 108 LSA and a lift over .500". I guess that if we have to go back to conventional oils, then a camshaft/engine break-in lubricant will have to be added at every oil change. One of the articles I read recommended this. The author said he had been doing it for years. When I was at a super wal-mart the other day, I noticed an oil forumulated for vehicles made previous to 1988. I believe it was one of their house brands. Does anyone have any info on this oil? It was pretty cheap too.

[Gary L]

Hi all. I saw this product being discussed over at another board.
http://www.zddplus.com/

[juliosz]

If you have a couple of hours to burn, check out the NCRS archives as this subject comes up every couple of days. Here's a link to one of the better discussions: Oil Discussion. Some of these guys have really done their homework on this which has made me perfectly comfortable continuing the use of Rotella 15/40.