What oil for older engines?

[old farmer]

I have an old rebuilt Ford 302 flat tappet engine in a 1947 Ford truck. Question is, what oil to use?
Today's oils are down on zddp and don't protect the old flat tappet camshafts very well.
So what oils have what it takes to protect the camshafts?
I don't really want to buy it on-line, would prefer to get it at a store?

 

[Lead Shoes]

Use a diesel oil on your choice and weight if you are worried about zinc.

 

[tommygunn]

DELO 15W-40 is a good stout oil, with a decent ad-pack of Zinc....

Other than that....you could look into "supplementing" with say, "break in lube" at every OCI.......


But may be easier just to use real oil and let it be

 

[The motor guy]

diesel oil is pretty much your only choice.

 

[Food Scientist]

Has anyone ever read the history of using ZDDP in flat tappet cam engines? I think if you do non-performance flat tappets (stock spring pressures) will be protected with SN oils of today.

 

[porkchop01]

There is also Quaker state Defy 10w40. I am using this in my rebuilt 390 FE.

 

[sprocketser]

Torco ZEP Supplement , add it to your oil .

Here s the link : http://www.torcousa.com/torco_product/tbo.html

the ZEP Link : http://www.torcousa.com/torco_product/zep.html

http://www.torcousa.com/torco_product/sr-1.html

 

[Phishin]

Lucas Break-In is all you need.

It's at 50,000 PPM Zinc. 2oz. in a 5 sump will zinc 500ppm!! Just that' two ounces or 60 mls. Good stuff. Fairly cheap. I think a 10oz. bottle was like $15. So for $3 an oil change, you can raise your Zinc 500ppm. For $6 an oil change, about $1 per quart, you can raise your zinc level in you favoite oil a 1000ppm!! For just $6.

 

[Mau]

yup Defy is available here in Canada now. CT has it.

 

[TFB1]

The sky is falling, no ZDDP is blown all out of proportion, most(if not all) 10W-40 still meet API SL which was the spec prior to reduction in the CAFE oils...

 

[Bamaro]

QS Defy

 

[ted s]

any 10w 40 i have seen is SN rated

 

[BobThe]

AMSOIL Z-ROD is full of ZDDP as well I believe.

 

[fxrider]

Valvoline VR-1 20W50

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: old farmer
I have an old rebuilt Ford 302 flat tappet engine in a 1947 Ford truck. Question is, what oil to use?
Today's oils are down on zddp and don't protect the old flat tappet camshafts very well.
So what oils have what it takes to protect the camshafts?
I don't really want to buy it on-line, would prefer to get it at a store?


Any diesel oil will do. What cam is in it? Heads? rockers? They are pretty cheap to convert to roller if you are up to the task......

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: ted s
any 10w 40 i have seen is SN rated


Only SN rated or did it have multiple ratings??? Even if it was only SN rated, AFAIK the ZDDP reduction doesn't apply to 10W-40 or 20W-50 oils...

 

[electrolover]

rotella t5 10/30!! buy it at walmart

 

[4x4chevydude]

defnitely stick to your HDEO not PCMO for that old of a motor...Rotella is a great one or DELO or even Motorcraft for that matter