What oil do you use?
 

Ok, I know this sounds simple but what oil is everyone using these days in a mild..... say 10.5 to 1 small block with a hydraulic cam? Maybe sees 6200 rpm max. Chevrolet iron heads also.

People are trying to steer my to really expensive oval track oil like Joe Gibbs brand. Isn't there any normal oil anymore that is any good?

Thanks much!
Ron

Re: What oil do you use?
 

Mobil1

Re: What oil do you use?
 

There is an ongoing debate about the benefits of zinc in oil for flat tappet cam break-in and longevity, particularly in performance applications, that "normal oil" has very little of any more. Even diesel oils have been reformulated due to emissions. That's why there are oil manufacturers who advertise higher zinc content oils and others who make additives.

Personally, I prefer Amsoil products and use their Dominator series in my race car.

Amsoil Flat Tappet and Camshaft Lobe Lubrication TSB:
http://www.syntheticwarehouse.com/br...lat_Tappet.pdf

Amsoil source & info site:
http://www.thelubepage.com

Re: What oil do you use?
 

Mobil 1 also.

Re: What oil do you use?
 

I've run Mobil 1 in the past, but beware, they have removed much of the ZDDP to meet new emissions standards. I do believe that Mobil 1 has recently introduced a racing-only oil that does not have to meet emissions and has the necessary ZDDP additives.

Re: What oil do you use?
 

Probably a silly idea, but I've used the new Mobil 1, but with some GM EOS added to put the ZDDP back into the oil.

By the way, I've bought and used the ultra expensive Joe Gibbs oil and saw no improvements :^( I suppose I was faster as my wallet was lighter ($12/quart!!!)

Re: What oil do you use?
 

Funny thing about modern motor. It is designed with detergents that remove particle build up on parts and internal surfaces. We have all seen old motors that are covered in sludge.The dtergent is desined not to allow this to happen. The detergent and the ZDDP compete for every surface that the oil touches. The ZDDP tries to bond to bare metal surfaces, under heat and pressure, and the detergent keeps removing it. So where is the protection? I am not sure of the Joe Gibbs race oil but the break in oil has no detergent in it. That's why it is superior for breaking in any new motor especially a high lift/high spring rate flat tappet cam. The ZDDP can plate itself to all the friction parts of the motor( cam and lifters) without fear of the detergent removing it. Brad Penn and Sunoco Blue race oils have lots of ZDDP and small amounts of detergent when compared to modern day oils. A synthetic oil flows better than a conventional oil. As such it coats the surfaces easier than a conventional oil. With this aspect, its lubricity is greater that a conventional oil. As a race engine, a motor gets better attention that a everyday driver and the sludge build up is never an issue. If you look at road race engines( not the exoitcs) they use 20-50 in their crankcase. They qualify,compete and win with that thick stuff. As S/SS racers we would use water if it could work. So for a recommendation I would say Brad Penn. Its reasonably priced, it's a partial synthetic, has plenty of ZDDP, low detergent levels and that green color(naturally occurring in it's crude state) is easy to read on the dipstick.

Re: What oil do you use?
 

CAM2 Blue Blood Racing Oil. It's a high zinc and high phospherous formulation. I run their full synthetic 0w30 in my crate motor Stocker, which I also bracket race -- combined for 55-58 races a year. I feel that the thinner oils are more consistent in the late rounds as they can't thin out like a heavy oil when you've gone through a lot of heat cycles.

CAM2 also makes 15w30 and 20w50 synthetic blends, and gear lube as well. You can order right off their website, cam2racing.com

Re: What oil do you use?
 

Valvoline VR1 oil for street use, Valvoline Racing oil (the not street legal type) for racing engine. Both have ZDDP. As many will recall this oil topic was discussed on this forum a while back , in great length.

Re: What oil do you use?
 

I'm going to try Schaeffer 20w40 blended oil. I heard some great things about it on the dyno and from the circle track guys. We will see how it is on the dragstrip. It's a lot cheaper than a lot of the other racing oils. And it is green like Brad Penn