SL rated Valuecraft oil at autozone

[Chris142]

Anybody know what the scoop is on this stuff? I saw 10w30 and 10w-40. Bottle says "SL rated for 2004 and older cars".

I wonder if it would have a decient amount of Zinc for a flat tappet engine? Or is it a "SM" oil in a "SL" bottle for marketing purposes?

 

[MGregoir]

More likely an SL oil which is cheaper to blend for "economy" purposes.

Really, I imagine at this point somebody could blend SJ rated 10w30 for relatively little money that would be "good enough" oil in a lot of applications...and cheap.

 

[PandaBear]

Why get that when you can get SM rated Formula Shell or Chevron for cheap, even without rebate $1.50 per quart is only going to make $2.50 difference per oil change (5 qt), and the oil is going to last longer than SL.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Why get that when you can get SM rated Formula Shell or Chevron for cheap, even without rebate $1.50 per quart is only going to make $2.50 difference per oil change (5 qt), and the oil is going to last longer than SL.
Because my 4.0 jeep not use roller lifters.

 

[MGregoir]

If you are worried about a flat tappet cam, you are in California, and it is the AMC I-6, I would use something like a Rotella or Delo 10w30, or even maybe a 5W-40 synthetic HDEO. All the zinc you would want, the thicker oil those engines really like, and an assurance of how high the oil's quality is.

 

[wgtoys]

This flat tappet SM oil scare is 99% urban legend floating on top of 1% of truth.

If you are really worried, buy an HDEO as others have suggested. There is no telling what you are getting with a bargain basement SL oil. SM lowered the MAXIMUM phosphorus content. That doesn't mean that an SL oil necessarily has a high level of the sacred ZDDP.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Why get that when you can get SM rated Formula Shell or Chevron for cheap, even without rebate $1.50 per quart is only going to make $2.50 difference per oil change (5 qt), and the oil is going to last longer than SL.
Because my 4.0 jeep not use roller lifters.


Neither are my corolla nor my integra. SM Chevron has a ton of moly and i have great result with it on 5000 mile OCI. I've had noname SL that turns dark and make the engine loud within 2 weeks.

 

[Chris142]

I bought a qt last night. I'm gonna send in a sample because the suspense is killing me.