Originally Posted By: built
I have a high performance sb chevy with flat tappets and high pressure springs,Is there a off the shelf engine oil with high enough levels of additives to protect my engine on the street.
Widman's
Corvair Oil article suggests that all the anti-wear additives required for valve train protection are contained in CH-4 / CI-4 HDEOs.
Originally Posted By: widman
It is important to note that the API does not qualify oils based on additive levels, but on performance. Performance is determined by base oil and additives. As you will see later, different base oils need different additives for optimum performance. It is the combination of additives and base oil that gives performance and protection. The API Service MS (known as “SB” today) oils had little or no detergent and approximately 250 ppm (parts per million) of zinc combined with 200 ppm of phosphorous. A good CI-4 oil in the market today has 1200 to 1400 ppm of zinc and 1000 to1200 ppm of phosphorous.
Originally Posted By: widman
Low quality oil or excessively high metallic anti-wear additives (ZDDP, Moly, etc.) in the oil increase the deposits. See below for the need to balance cleanliness with anti-wear.
Originally Posted By: widman
Since the additives are polar, they fight for surface area. The addition of ZDDP usually results in reduced cleanliness, higher engine temperatures and more deposits. Some studies have shown that going past 1400 ppm of phosphorus will increase wear over the long term, and going above 2000 ppm will begin to break down iron and result in camshaft spalling.
Originally Posted By: widman
If you want the maximum valve train protection, look for an oil that is certified CH-4/SL or CI-4/SL without CJ-4. If the CH-4 or CI-4 comes before the SL, that is fine. Oils that are only SL certified have less anti-wear additives.
Blatantly added link for
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ACCCC Engine Oil Article