The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Interesting comments about Opie's recommendations. I have always used Valvoline VR-1 20W-50 in my MGB V8, and change it every 3000 miles. These Rover engines tend to sludge up in the rocker covers so for a low mileage car 3000 miles is a reasonable interval for changing. It comes around about every 8 months and the rocker covers are still nice and clean inside after 31000 miles.

_________________
Mike
(1969 MGB GTV8, 1977 Dolomite 1850HL, 1971 MGB roadster now all three on the road)

I thought we were OK on the ZDDP up to SJ but worth checking.

Jeroen any thoughts?

Jonners

_________________
Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.

I thought it's now about the 20st time on here I had at my former job a few classic oils tested in a lab on zddp at my local major oil company eurol what also supplies to motorsport and many Dakar rally vehicles.

Bardahl classic had a decent amount in it like in the old days and that's what I use. It's a us brand and also very suitable for all the low cam v8's over there with the same problems. In some engines I use a synthetic oil and add zddplus to have enough in the oil of your choice.

A lot of major classic oil suppliers had too little or didn't match their datasheet. Most classic oils call themselves classic because of the viscosity and not by the ingredients.

That are my thoughts.

Jeroen

_________________
Classic Kabelboom Company. For all your wiring needs. http://www.classickabelboomcompany.com

Valvoline VR1 20W-50 for £31 delivered from Amazon, simple.

_________________
Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)

Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3

I was more thinking of which API rating that marked a decline in the zddp content we need for our old
camshafts and such.

I thought SJ was still ok zddp wise, but wanted Jeroen to confirm that, as I think we had this conclusion before.

Jonners

_________________
Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.

I think you will find "sf" is ok as well. As that is what it was in the 70s when our cars were built:suntan:

_________________
NOW A CLUB MEMBER 2017057

The 'internet' suggets this:

Grade / Zinc ppm / Phosphate ppm / Year
SN ???? >=2011
SM 800 0 =<2011
SL 1000 1400 =<2004
SJ 1000 1400 =<2001
SH 1000 1400 =<1996
SG 1000 1400 =<1995
SF 1000 1400 =<1988
SE 1000 1200 =<1979
SD 1000 1200 =<1971
SC 1000 1200 =<1967
SB 1000 0 =<1951

_________________
Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)

Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3

Thanks....I was one out then as I read that...

Anything up to SL is ok then.

Jonners

_________________
Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.

What happened to SK??

No, These api ratings are not an indication for the level of zinc anymore. Katalist converters cannot stand zinc so in the mid '90s the zinc was taken out the oil and replaced by other anti wear products to maintain their api rating for wear. You don't know that you buy for example a recent made SF does contain zinc or if it is replaced by a modern anti wear additive. The same for most modern "classic" oils with their old ratings on the label don't say that there's enough zinc in it. You are only sure when you add yourself or checking datasheets and hope that it actually is what it say's when using.

Jeroen.

_________________
Classic Kabelboom Company. For all your wiring needs. http://www.classickabelboomcompany.com

How about this stuff? Looks pretty similar to VR1 in terms of spec, and about half the price.
It may well be very suitable for the majority of owners (though probably not for people who put their cars on track etc)
https://www.classic-oils.net/Classic-Oi ... tage-20W50

(edit when I say spec, I did look at the VR1 spec sheet ,found on here http://www.valvolineeurope.com/english/ ... ing_20w-50 not just the 20/50 rating)

_________________
Clive Senior
Brighton

According to API:

_________________
Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)

Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3