Topic: Oils for our old cars and bikes

[Rocking-M]

I started an oil thread on another site and thought y'all might be interested in some
of the findings....

My initial post

Not intending to start a war here again.

ZInc use to be in all oils and was taken out because it reacts with the
components of the O2 sensor on cars.
But Zinc was what provided the cushion for the slap on
the cam with rocker arms are cam buckets/shims.
It is still found in SG rated oils such as Pen. 25-50 racing oil
where it is found in the highest ppm (.20%). Also found in diesel oils.

Compcams recommends Rotilla Diesel oil (15-40) for their cams.

Does synthetic oil supply this same protection?

A response

" The key for this is to look at the can/bottle of oil you want to use.  Look
for the American Petroleum Institute (API) rating of "SG" and/or the (new)
Japanese Motorcycle Industry rating JAMSA rating of "MA" on the can also.

If you want to use a 10W--40 oil....... use Mobil 1 MX4T 10W-40

If you want to use 20W--50 .......... use Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W--50

Both of the above oils are fully, totally, 100% Group IV (PAO) synthetics
that are rated SG and MA." (this from another group)

With this in mind I'll be switching from Castrol 20-50 which does not show the
SG rating any longer. I started with it first in motorcycles and then Fiats
30 years ago so it's a tough good by. (mine)

Also, just found out that BMW provides an oil made by Spectro,if you want to
stick with Dino (petroleum based) 20W--50 oil for your Fiat....... it's hard to
beat BMW's 20W--50 oil as it is SG rated.

And this from Castrol

Exceptional Engine Protection for Classic Cars
Finally, a motor oil that's one for the classics...

Today's engines face different demands than those of yesteryear. Now classic
car owners who are particular about what they put in their vintage vehicles
can receive modern wear protection from a high-zinc formula specially
engineered for classic engines.

Back in 1906 Castrol created its first automobile lubricant. Since then, our
leading-edge technologies have protected generation after generation of
engines. Castrol SYNTEC 20W-50 motor oil is geared to protecting, preserving
and helping extend the life of your vehicle from an age gone by that still
lives on.
Key Benefits *

Contains increased zinc levels for extra engine wear prevention.
Utilizes proprietary additives and base oils to reduce metal-on-metal
contact of aging engine parts.
Engineered to increase wear protection for classic cars with flat tappet
camshafts.
* SYNTEC 20W-50 does not meet the catalyst compatibility requirements of
vehicles manufactured since 1993.


I'll add that I put the Pens Oil 25-50 in the 750F just yesterday and did about 30 miles.
I really like the way it's running and shifting but I haven't tried the synthetic Castrol in anything except
the Fiat in the past

[medic09]

Methinks time to get out the beer and popcorn...

[oldfordguy]

Rockin, way to go.  First the "Gestapo" thread and now an oil thread!  You know entertainment!
 

[gerhed]

Currently using Valvoline Racing 50 in my '30 Model A.
Seals it up, no plug oiling, and more power (a relative term)
-- 24 h.p. --when new. Machine is unrestore but I've only had it
since '62.

[Rocking-M]

Rockin, way to go.  First the "Gestapo" thread and now an oil thread!  You know entertainment!
 

Are you saying I like to stir things up

More stirring, this just in, and I was hoping Castrol's syntec would be SG rated.
Looks like it ain't.

"It's just more sales hype from the same manufacturer that lowered the oil standards around the world.......as Castrol claimed it's Syntec oils were totally synthetic. 

Mobil 1 took them to court and a ignorant judge ruled in Castro's favor.  The judge agreed that Syntec was not 100% synthetic oil (never did say how much it really was...... 1% or 99% ?).......but oil had the same properties as a 100% synthetic.......whatever those properties are.

For the record, Castrol SYNTEC 20w-50 Motor Oil is a SL, SJ, SH rated oil........... not SG. 
And we have no idea of what "increased levels of zinc" actually means. 
It's probably from .0001 ppm to .0002 ppm, so they can now say it has double the previous amount.

This is why API "SG" and JAMSO "MA" ratings on the can/bottle are so important."


Hey Gerhed,
I may be running that Valvoline 50 in the duck. I'm trying the shaffer racing oil in the spider and sending
in a sample of the Castrol 20-50 for analysis. I'll post the results of that one.

[Rocking-M]

Here are some nice links,

http://www.bre.umd.edu/fact181b.htm

http://www.ibmwr.org/otech/oilreport.html#charta

[tsp37]

From what I read, the "SL" is better than "SG".  You don't have to give up your Castrol.  My Valvoline dino for the cars is "SM/SL" and the synthetic is "SM/SL, CF".  I let this lot convince me to pony up the brass for synthetic the last time I changed oil in my precious.  I may yet go back to dino.  After 1300 miles the synthetic still has a good color but the dino could still look good as well.

I do have a fetish for Valvoline products.  I am waiting for the line of intimate lubricants - call it Vulv- . . . no, strike that idea.  We hillbillies will stick with Crisco.

[Rocking-M]

Valvoline  intimate oops wait that is for another topic

I think the main point we need to find out about oils is the amount of zinc which is what we need
to protect our valve line/cams the best. SG rated oils had the the highest percentage of zinc.
This study provides some data on Zinc but not for all oils we may consider.
I do have a sample of Castrol GTX 20-50 that I'm sending in to get analyzed.
I'll post the results when I get them.

http://www.ibmwr.org/otech/oilreport.html#charta

[Uncle Ernie]

I've found that a suppliment of rolled oats offers a nice cushion to all internal parts.  You have to run without a filter, and it takes a couple days to change the oil, but everything is a trade-off anymore...

I don't like synthetic oil in my older machines- especially BMWs.  It's been so long, I forgot why, though.




I know that post is a big help.  Send thanks in a private PM.

[Bob Wessner]

I've found that a supplement of rolled oats offers a nice cushion to all internal parts.

Is this an improvement over sawdust?

Oh, oh, sorry, I didn't mean to start another controversial lube thread.

[Uncle Ernie]

Anybody who knows about sawdust has been around the block.
Cellulose doesn't break down as well as oatmeal.  After the oatmeal breaks down, it gets into smaller spaces to cushion parts better.  Plus, it gets gluey without clumping like sawdust does (due in part because wood chips aren't as consistant in size).  I seem to remember an MIT study back in the late '30s.

[Rocking-M]

Ah, who needs Zinc, I have plenty of oats around, what with our horses and all. 

[Bob Wessner]

Ah, who needs Zinc, I have plenty of oats around, what with our horses and all. 

Ah, but that raises the question, which is better, mineral Old Fashioned Oats or synthetic Quick Oats?

[Uncle Ernie]

You disappoint me Bob.  It's so unlike you to invite a flame war with a question like that.

[Rocking-M]

Bob has asked for it, no one but an idiot would find "quick oats" good for anything, nor instant grits for that matter









Oops, I just realized I have found a use for instant grits, they make great packing when shooting blanks in
re-enactments, makes it look like a whole lot more smoke, stings those a bit who get to close (depending on
packing tightness), and also gives a bit of recoil so it looks real. Guess I'm an idiot.

[Bob Wessner]

You disappoint me Bob.  It's so unlike you to invite a flame war with a question like that.

You are quite right  <slaps hand and goes to stand in corner>.

[Uncle Ernie]

There ya go... 
Everybody gets caught up in the frenzy around here occasionally. 


Mr M- are you shooting a muzzle-loader ?!  How would the grits stay in there?  Are they cooked, then?
To tell the truth, I guess instant grits showed up on store shelves when Yankees started moving here.  Shameless pandering, if you ask me.

[tsp37]

Tennessee state law prohibits the shooting of damnyankees in the absense of provocation with anything except instant grits, although this law has never been enforced.

[Rocking-M]

Tennessee state law prohibits the shooting of damnyankees in the absense of provocation with anything except instant grits, although this law has never been enforced.

Have you ever been around a damnyankee and there also been an absence of provocation

Hey Ernie, shooting it in a cap and ball remington, they pack in real nice