Oil for my OHV engines?

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Hello

I'm rebuilding two old engines and I need oil advice. I'm afraid I ruin my camshaft if I use wrong oil.

First engine is Cadillac 472 from 1969 Cadillac. It's stock engine. What oil I should use in this one?

Cadillac engine operates in low rpm. I think it makes something like 1800 to 2100rpm in highway driving (50mph to 60mph).

Second engine is 1.5 litre Ford Cologne V4. This engine is stock and is in my Saab 96. Saab 96 has numerically high transmission and rear axle gear ratios and it makes 3500 rpm in 60mph.


I live in Finland. In summer here can be +25 degrees celsius, and in winter -25 degrees celsius. Im driving 50/50 highway and city driving.


I have been using Valvoline Turbo oil in both engines. Valvoline Turbo

Problem is, some products might be under different name in Finland than in USA. And I don't know do we even have all products you have.

Regards, Sdfx
 
We don't have Turbo here in the US but it sounds ok, you can get a ZDDP additive for extra cam protection or "GM EOS"(engine oil supplement) additive that would also be a good thing this is after cam and lifters having a moly type cam lube being used when building engine. ISKY cams has a moly cam lube and many others do as well. We have not had many camshaft problems here after break in on stock engines because stock valve springs don't give alot of load on camshafts. Biggeset thing is getting all systems correct on start up so engine fires right up after priming oil system with a drill and shaft to fit pump so when cranking up it has oil pressure and starts slinging oil on cam right away. What starts killing cams alot is people cranking and cranking because timing is off or some other problem.
 
That valvoline looks adequate, I 2nd the proper cam lube & breakin idea.

What do you typically use for winter oil? That stuff would be ok with a block heater, garage, or other help.
 
Ok. the 69 Caddy, is probably a summer car or and does not get used much due to its low MPG. I would use 10 W 30. The Saab, 96 I would use 10w30 also. These are both old engines with larger tolerances than newer engines. Valvoline is a good brand, why change?
 
Hihger Visc for the Caddy - ie 15w40
and lower visc for the V4 - 5w30/10w30

Based on average operating RPM, no consideration made to clearances etc
 
Quote:
What do you typically use for winter oil?

I usually use 10W-40, last winter I had 15w40 and that caused some problems on my other Saab.

Quote:
We don't have Turbo here in the US but it sounds ok, you can get a ZDDP additive for extra cam protection
Can there be too much ZDDP? What if this oil has already lots of ZDDP?
 
Originally Posted By: andyd
Ok. the 69 Caddy, is probably a summer car or and does not get used much due to its low MPG. I would use 10 W 30. The Saab, 96 I would use 10w30 also. These are both old engines with larger tolerances than newer engines. Valvoline is a good brand, why change?


Larger tolerance for what???

Dogs & children, maybe muddy feet???

If you're talking about engine the correct term is clearance(which are roughly same in most modern engines as well)... Tolerance is the allowable variance in clearance, in a older engine with larger tolerances on the low side it could be tighter than a modern one...
 
Hi
I run in my 3.5 V6, 6 quarts of 5w20 PP in the winter.
In the summer,3 quarts Pennzoil Platinum 5w20 mixed with 3 quarts
Pennzoil Conventional 5w30. I honestly believe that the summer mix
is smoother than the winter.
I run either a motocraft filter,or a Napa Gold.
I find no difference in them.
Last year I picked up 6 4,73 lit.jugs of PP. for
$19.99 a jug. And 8 jugs of Pennzoil Conventional 5w30 for $11.99 a jug.
I live in Norwood ONTARIO CANADA

gouda
 
We are only talking about break in period so an small bottle of zddp or EOS will be fine, once you run in motor and change oil cut open oil filter to be sure everything in engine is good. If it is cold when starting we also warm up oil pans on the dyno and have coolant heater in hose so engine has some temp when starting. The moly on cam also is for break in only so once you get in some miles your oil and filter should be changed. Then just go to your oil you have been using and a good filter and remember to change oil when hot to get any stuff out of pan.
 
Originally Posted By: vssjim
We are only talking about break in period so an small bottle of zddp or EOS will be fine

Agreed. While some of us might like to talk about VR1 and Rotella, that might be a little harder to obtain in Finland. Heck, I don't even know how easily he could find a ZDDP supplement there.

While possibly overkill, any A3/B3 A3/B4 oil should work fine in those engines, or an E7/E9 HDEO.
 
Originally Posted By: Sdfx
Quote:
What do you typically use for winter oil?

I usually use 10W-40, last winter I had 15w40 and that caused some problems on my other Saab.

Quote:
We don't have Turbo here in the US but it sounds ok, you can get a ZDDP additive for extra cam protection
Can there be too much ZDDP? What if this oil has already lots of ZDDP?



You only need extra zddp for break in. Once the engine is broken in the cam becomes wear hardened so no more problems or worries.
A typical hdeo will have enough zddp for break in.
 
I had a 1978 Cadillac with the 425/7.0L engine. I got the best gas mileage and the most power out of it by running Exxon Superflo 20W-50. It also ran much more smoother and quieter with 20W-50 than it did with 10w30. I miss that car.
 
Merkava, Imperial Oil doesn't even market a 20w-50 in Canada any longer. They've moved on; you should, too.
wink.gif
MaxLife is more than enough!
 
Quote:
While some of us might like to talk about VR1 and Rotella, that might be a little harder to obtain in Finland


Well, we have Valvoline VR1 here and many other products from Valvoline, like Maxlife, Durablend, HD, All fleet etc.

We have HDEO called Rimula from Shell. I don't know if it's same stuff as Rotella but with different name for European/Skandinavian marketing. Shell oils aren't very popular here. I don't know can I even get this Rimula in reasonably sized can.

We have some Kendall oils, Motul, Castroll, Gulf oils, and Mobil 1. Delvac from Mobil 1 is pretty popular here amongst old tractor users.

There are some Red line oils too in shops. Are those worth the price and can they be used with old engines? Those oils are marked here as racing oils (like VR1). They have high (over 1000ppm) ZDDP but do they have good corrosion and sludge protection? I've heard racing oils are made for racing engines with very short oil changing intervalls and they don't have good anti-corrosion or anti-sludge properties.

Quote:
Valvoline is a good brand, why change?

There have been rumours about this Valvoline Turbo oil. They say Valvoline has quit production of this oil and thats why I'm looking for some different oil. I hope this rumour isn't true.

I like Valvoline oils because they are easy to get and good quality. Maybe I should try Valvoline HDEO oils? Im also interested in Red line products. Are they worth the price?


By the way, do I need some special oil for breaking in my engine? Can I use multi grade oil, or do I need single grade oil + ZDDP additive? I think I know where to get this ZDDP additive made by Red line.
 
Valvoline VR-1 is safe for normal usage. A lot of other race oils aren't, as you indicate. Red Line is certainly safe to use in old engines and is good oil. Whether it's worth it or not is only something you can decide.

There's nothing wrong with using Red Line's ZDDP additive for break in, but I wouldn't bother with a monograde. Years ago, I think that was recommended more because non-detergent monogrades were more common. Today, that's erally not the case.
 
Hello

I contacted Valvoline Europe and Valvoline Finland and they confirmed that they don't make Turbo anymore..

I told them my engine specs and they recommended Valvoline All Climate for my cars. I have never heard or seen this oil before. There are 10W-40 part synthetic and mineral 15w40 and mineral 20w-50. Do you have this oil in US or are here any members from europe who can confirm that this oil is good for me?

VR1 could be good but there aren't any good viscosities for my use. There are 5W-50 Full synthetic which is very expensive (75 euros/5litres, 10W-60 semi synthetic and 20W-50 (mineral?). I think 60 is too thick for my just rebuilt engines and 20W just doen't work well in winter...

I contacted Mobil 1 too, let's see what they recommend.

Regards, Sdfx
 
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