Something interesting, 84 Civic / Red line oil

[OneEyeJack]

I've just overhauled my 84 Civic and have been looking for a new auxiliary valve rocker arm for the rear cylinder but have not been able to find one, yet. It makes a slight ticking noise that you can change in pitch by pressing on the rocker while the engine is idling. Today I changed the oil. Previous oil was 5w-30 PP and to use up my stash I used 0w-30 Red Line this time. The ticking noise is now very difficult to hear now and at times you can't hear it at all. I was surprised that an oil would make that much of a difference. I've heard people say their engine runs smoother with a certain oil but have never experienced such a difference.

 

[Clevy]

Redline oils tend to be on the thicker end of the grade and use little to no viscosity index improvers which may help too.
If I could afford it I'd use nothing but redline fluids exclusively. They are probably overkill in anything but severe service/racing/mudding and trails etc.

Their gear oils are amazing.

 

[CharBaby]

I have noticed this with certain oils! I have my favorites for this extra level of "quite & smoothness" alone!

 

[jrustles]

Ester based oils have this effect. They are polar and "build up" more on parts.

For example, I recently split two identical gearboxes, one filled with mineral oil and the filled with ester gear oil.

The latter box had a noticeably thicker, visible layer of oil on all the parts that remained well after disassembly whereas the mineral (grII+III?) coated parts quickly dried off.

Then on top of the superior base oil, you have Redline's heavy handed approach to FM too

 

[OneEyeJack]

FM?

 

[cp3]

Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
FM?

Friction Modifiers

Reline 0w30 is only listed at 3.2 HTHS, not really that much heavier than PP 5w30 which should be at least 2.9. Last TDS I have it listed on was 3.0.

 

[OneEyeJack]

You don't think an HTHS of 3.2 is "good enough"? One could always go to their 5w-30 for an HTHS of 3.7 if that would make any difference.

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted By: cp3
Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
FM?

Friction Modifiers

Reline 0w30 is only listed at 3.2 HTHS, not really that much heavier than PP 5w30 which should be at least 2.9. Last TDS I have it listed on was 3.0.


According to the figures you listed this is nearly a 10% difference this is quite a bit. Especially considering the hairsplitting done around here.

 

[OneEyeJack]

Maybe Red Line users will be able to struggle by with the given HTHS numbers. They'll probably do okay. I'm fine with the numbers.

 

[artificialist]

I'm surprised that there is no way to get a lash adjusting screw and locknut, fit a bronze bushing through the center of the rocker arm, and resurface the part that touches the cam.

Unfortunately, I don't know what that all would cost, and what the cost/benefit analysis is.

 

[cp3]

Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
You don't think an HTHS of 3.2 is "good enough"? One could always go to their 5w-30 for an HTHS of 3.7 if that would make any difference.


Good enough for a freshly overhauled engine? Personally, I would think so. By only I was referring to the difference to PP which yes is almost 10%, a large margin here but I'm over the hair splitting. I'm just not sure that 10% would make a big audible difference with a wonky rocker....maybe. Maybe a combination of jrustles idea and the heavier oil in combination....