WHAT OIL?

[Bumpa]

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.

[Jon Tilson]

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

Jeroen any thoughts?

Jonners

[soe8m]

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

[Galileo]

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

[Jon Tilson]

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

[dollyman]

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:

[Galileo]

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

[Jon Tilson]

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

Anything up to SL is ok then.

Jonners

[GTS290N]

What happened to SK??

[soe8m]

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

Anything up to SL is ok then.

Jonners

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.

[cliftyhanger]

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)

[Galileo]

What happened to SK??

According to API:

API intentionally omitted “SI” and “SK” from the sequence of categories. For more information about API’s Engine Oil Program, visit our website at www.api.org/eolcs