oil for a 65

[ti-ride]

What is the best oil for a 65 small block original 327

Thanks for any help

 

[jims427400]

I run rotella 15w40 w/ a crane cam additive for zinc in my 67 and 68 427s..

 

[Tom Bryant]

I run rotella 15w40 w/ a crane cam additive for zinc in my 67 and 68 427s..

Same here in my new 355. The 283 in the '59 will go this route next oil change too.

 

[Oz's 59]

Same here for the rebuilt 283 ci in my '59

 

[Craig -1965]

65 oil

Question guys, I just looked up the Crane cam additive (which I'm considering using) and it is recommended for engine break in. Do you add it at every oil change?

 

[VetteVirgin]

Hib wrote a tech article on this very subject:
Corvette Action Center | Tech | Engine Oil Deep Dive - CAC's Comprehensive Look at Engine Oil and Flat-Tappet Camshaft Durability

Hib does not recommend using any additives on an engine with a fully broken in cam as long as you use an oil with the correct level of ZD(D)P such as Rotella. In fact he warns against potential problems caused by ZD(D)P levels that are too high or additives that dont work properly in conjuction with your oil.
Pages 4 and 5 have the info you are looking for.

DT

 

[Craig -1965]

65 oil

Thanks that answers all my questions, I'll stick with Castoil 10W-40 and use Pro Long or Z-Max as an additive. Hib article is most excellent, hats off!

 

[JohnZ]

I'll stick with Castoil 10W-40 and use Pro Long or Z-Max as an additive.

Neither of those additives will do anything for your engine - both are "snake oil"; their lawyers spend almost all their time in court with the Federal Trade Commission signing consent decrees to cease false and misleading advertising. :eyerole

 

[Craig -1965]

65 oil

Ok John I appreciate your input, what oil additive would you use that adds zinc and can be added at oil changes. I see Joe Gibbs Racing has high zinc racing oil but the cost leaves a lot to be desires.

 

[jims427400]

I've also heard Brad Penn oil has proper zinc levels but my engine builder suggested what i mentioned earlier. Oil continues to be a mistery...

 

[Hib Halverson]

If you're cheap...uh, sorry, I mean budget-concious and you want an engine oil with plenty of ZDP in it, go to Walmart and buy either Shell Rotella-T 10W30 or Chevron Delo 400 LE 10W30. Both are excellent choices for older engines with flat tappet cams.

Ok John I appreciate your input, what oil additive would you use that adds zinc and can be added at oil changes. I see Joe Gibbs Racing has high zinc racing oil but the cost leaves a lot to be desires.

You don't need any zinc additive if you use an oil with more than 1000-1200 PPM phosphorous.

Do not use a racing oil in a street engine even if it has a lot of ZDP.

Why?

Racing oils lack adequate detergent additive packages.

If you want a low cost, high ZDP oil, see my comments above.

I've also heard Brad Penn oil has proper zinc levels but my engine builder suggested what i mentioned earlier. Oil continues to be a mistery...

Oil is not a mistery (sic) if you take it upon yourself to be informed. You can end most of the mystery by reading and article here on the CAC at:
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/tech/oil/

 

[VetteVirgin]

Unless Hib or John indicate otherwise, I would think that if you're afraid of the diesel oils and don't want to pay the premium for something like Joe Gibbs, then you could always use a regular oil such as your Castrol 10W-40 and add one $10 bottle of ZDDP Plus(or any other ZDDP-only additive) which does nothing but increase your ZDDP level to the pre-catalytic converter standard.
I've also got a quick question for Hib. Is it true that diesel oils are lowering their ZDP levels due to future requirements for catalytic converters?

 

[Craig -1965]

65 oil

Lots of great information here,thanks to everyone!
:W

 

[Hib Halverson]

Unless Hib or John indicate otherwise, I would think that if you're afraid of the diesel oils and don't want to pay the premium for something like Joe Gibbs,

First, let me say that when the discussion takes this turn, I have a tough time not wondering why people will spend tens of thousands of dollars restoring a Corvette, including a thousand or more rebuilding the engine, then will have stress about spending an extra few bucks on oil which, considering the mileage most Corvetters put on cars like that, might get changed once every year or two. In my opinion, the phrase "penny-wise, pound-foolish" sometimes applies in situations like this.

then you could always use a regular oil such as your Castrol 10W-40 and add one $10 bottle of ZDDP Plus(or any other ZDDP-only additive) which does nothing but increase your ZDDP level to the pre-catalytic converter standard.

Don't fall victim to the slick marketing by makers of products like that. It is true that some of these "phosphorous-supplements" can be useful but that only the case if you 1) know how much ZDP is in them, 2) know how much is in the engine oil your going to mix them with and 2) know how to properly mix them with the oil such that the resulting mix has 1000-1200 PPM phosphorous.

One bottle of ZDDP plus is likely to leave you with too much phosphorous content and that is just as bad as not enough. Plus if you spend an extra 10 bucks for that additive each time you change your oil, why not spend the extra money on an oil that will leave you with the ideal phosporous component rather than an unknown amount of it?

I've also got a quick question for Hib. Is it true that diesel oils are lowering their ZDP levels due to future requirements for catalytic converters?

I can't speak to future diesel engine oil specs but the current API spec for diesel engine oils has a phosphorous level more than adequate for any conventional flat tappet valve train.

If cost is the most important issue, the oil to use in pre-87 small-block V8s with flat tappet cams is Chevron Delo 400 LE 10W30 or Shell Rotella-T 10W30.

If cost is a contributing factor, but not the overriding issue; I'd go with the Joe Gibbs product.

If cost is not a factor and you know the engine is going to see severe duty---ie use in very hot weather, very agressive street driving or racing---you need a 10W30 synthetic with 1000-1200 ppm phosphorous, such as Red Line or Mobil 1 High Mileage.

 

[VetteVirgin]

One bottle of ZDDP plus is likely to leave you with too much phosphorous content and that is just as bad as not enough.

According to their web site, one 4 oz bottle of ZDDP Plus results in a total concentration of 0.18% zinc and 0.13% phosphorous in 5 qts of SM grade oil, or equivalent to the old SF standard. It is not a "break-in" additive like Crane. To me it looks like just another option for someone who has a "favorite" SM oil that they want to use.

One last question Hib. Are there any potential issues with the higher detergent levels in diesel grade oil, especially for higher mileage engines?