[DeTomaso] A presentation on race oil basics from Joe Biggs Oil

Daniel C Jones daniel.c.jones2 at gmail.com
Thu Jan 24 18:31:06 EST 2008


> Dan J or someone:  Are synthetics recommended for flat tappets?  Do we
> know what the zinc content might be?

Yes but only if they have at least 1200 PPM zinc (ZDDP).  Passenger car
motor oils had approximately 1200 ppm zinc prior to 2001.  In 2001, the zinc
was reduced to 1000 ppm and in 2005 reduced again to the current 800 ppm.
Diesel oils like Shell Rotella T with the CI-4 rating had 1400+ PPM (some
as high as 1600).  You can only get Rotella T 15W-40 CI-4 in 55 gallon
drums now but CJ-4 version that's available in quart bottles is 1200 PPM
so still should be safe for flat tappets. Likewise, Mobil has Delvac 1
along with several other oils with 1200+ PPM:

 http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Files/Mobil_1_Product_Guide.pdf

Something like Mobil 1 Extended Life or Turbo Diesel oil would be good
for flat tappet cams.  Kendall Super-D 3 Diesel Engine Oil supposedly has
1450 PPM:

http://www.kendallmotoroil.com/NR/rdonlyres/CD5DE04F-2A0A-4AA4-86A3-798E3AD7D4C6/0/K_SD3_Dsl_Multi.pdf

Chevron Delo is another that would likely work, along with motorcylcle oils
like Mobil MX4T.  A number of guys are using Valvoline VR1 but beware there
are a couple of versions of VR1, one of which is not suitable.  You need to
be very careful with racing oils as some do not have the additive packages
required for a daily driver application and/or require more frequent change
intervals (some need to be changed every 500 miles).

Whatever you choose, stay away from the ILSAC GF-4 specification oils as
the phosphorus (zinc) levels for those oils must be less than 800 ppm.

Dan Jones



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