Flat Tappet/Camshaft - Specific Oil

[olds307 and 403]

It was just Small Block Chevy V8's back then. I never saw failed Olds, Buick, Pontiac or Cadillac V8 cams. Some people argue the recent rash of cam failures had to do with offshore parts as much as low zinc. Finding good high zinc oil on the shelf is near impossible up here, in my area anyways. I say adding it is worth the small cost, especially at break in.

 

[64nailhead]

Leave the modern diesel oils for diesels - it is not the same stuff that was being used 10 years ago. Best options - Brad Penn, Joe Gibbs Driven line of oils, or an additive. The first two options are expensive, but work better than OK.

I've been using Les Frickshun from a small company in Oil City, PA for the past 10 years with no issues ($8/qt with one qt needed per oil change.)

My only word of caution is to use the correct amount. You can put in too much ZDDP. Use the product as the manufacturer recommends. For example, don't drop $10/qt on Driven Oil on a 6 qt oil change and then add ZDDP Plus.

Something else to keep in mind about FT cam wear, once it makes it past the break-in period it takes alot of miles for a llifter to eat up a lobe. And there are cams and lifters that are more prone to lobe failure. It's not well advertised, but Howard's will warranty a FT cam against lobe failure. Nitriding of a cam will increase lobe durability as well. After break in though, the #1 kiler of FT cam lobes are valve float and incorrect valve springs.

I know this is a little off the topic, but.....

 

[axisg]

I changed the oil in the car a few weeks back. I used the last of my 18l pail of Rotella T4 which I bought from TSC Stores. And I used my last 1/2 bottle of Edelbrock Additive.
Next week sometime I want to do the spring oil change in the 2.3 Volvo Inboard I have in the boat.

So I did some shopping this morning and got a little sticker shock.

The additive I bought from Performance Knuckleheads was like $9 a bottle IIRC when you bought the case ( which I did split a case with a friend maybe 4 years back ). They only sell it by the bottle now and its $ 26.95 wow !

The Pail of Rotella T4 oil was $90 which works out to like $5.00 a litre. So it was a $35.00 oil change twice a year for the Monte and every spring for the boat. Now its going to be over $50.00

I priced out the oils at the Speed Shop and the cheapest stuff with the ZZP specs out to $ 15 a litre ( tax in ) for Joe Gibbs HR2 when you buy it by the case. Which works out to a $75.00 oil change not including the cost of a filter.

This is getting a little out of hand ! For the DD I wait for oil to go on sale and buy 4-6 jugs at a time. It works out to less than $20.00 with the price of an new Wix filter.