Solid valvetrain and engine oil
- Thread starter ram_man
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Just use the grade recommended by Honda. I am sure it is 5w20 and any API SN oil will work fine.
A very large number of SOHC and DOHC engines have solid valvetrains, and just using whatever is written in the manual is enough, unless the car has a design flaw.
Originally Posted By: ram_man
So my little civic has a solid valvetrain which I find odd since most cars do not.
Many do, actually. Most (if not all) Hondas and Toyotas do.
Originally Posted By: ram_man
But is there a different type of oil that should be used that would maybe work with the honda engines better than other oils?
Whatever your oil filler cap says. Just make sure your chosen tipple carries the API donut, and you're just fine.
So my little civic has a solid valvetrain which I find odd since most cars do not.
Many do, actually. Most (if not all) Hondas and Toyotas do.
Originally Posted By: ram_man
But is there a different type of oil that should be used that would maybe work with the honda engines better than other oils?
Whatever your oil filler cap says. Just make sure your chosen tipple carries the API donut, and you're just fine.
We've had seven Hondas, none of which have had hydraulic lifters.
Honda four cylinders are not picky about oil, not even the original two liter 240 bhp S2000.
Use any decent oil, synthetic or conventional, and your engine should last longer than the rest of your Honda, a very long time.
Honda four cylinders are not picky about oil, not even the original two liter 240 bhp S2000.
Use any decent oil, synthetic or conventional, and your engine should last longer than the rest of your Honda, a very long time.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: ram_man
I didn't know Toyotas also used solid valvetrain I know most Hondas do though . I didn't know if maybe a oil with more zinc would be better or anything since older flat tappet engines like a zinc heavy oil. Unless I'm way off.
You sort of are. The spring pressure on cam-over-bucket apps and OHC apps in general is very light. Which means copious amounts of ZDDP aren't needed to keep things healthy.
I didn't know Toyotas also used solid valvetrain I know most Hondas do though . I didn't know if maybe a oil with more zinc would be better or anything since older flat tappet engines like a zinc heavy oil. Unless I'm way off.
You sort of are. The spring pressure on cam-over-bucket apps and OHC apps in general is very light. Which means copious amounts of ZDDP aren't needed to keep things healthy.
Originally Posted By: ram_man
I didn't know Toyotas also used solid valvetrain I know most Hondas do though . I didn't know if maybe a oil with more zinc would be better or anything since older flat tappet engines like a zinc heavy oil. Unless I'm way off.
All Toyotas to my knowledge use solid lifters. All Hondas to my knowledge use solid lifters. Hydraulic lifters are (again, to my knowledge) generally a feature of cam-in-block American engines.
In any case, wear is an issue with certain flat-tappet designs (as opposed to roller tappet), not with solid lifters in general. Properly-hardened flat-tappet systems such as that on your Honda do not require high-ZDDP oils.
ZDDP is a great anti-wear additive. But it's bad for catalytic converters. That's the reason it was much reduced in the SM-and-up series of engine oils. There are ZDDP-rich oils out there, but their use is contra-indicated in your Civic unless you don't care (or don't have to care) about cat longevity.
I didn't know Toyotas also used solid valvetrain I know most Hondas do though . I didn't know if maybe a oil with more zinc would be better or anything since older flat tappet engines like a zinc heavy oil. Unless I'm way off.
All Toyotas to my knowledge use solid lifters. All Hondas to my knowledge use solid lifters. Hydraulic lifters are (again, to my knowledge) generally a feature of cam-in-block American engines.
In any case, wear is an issue with certain flat-tappet designs (as opposed to roller tappet), not with solid lifters in general. Properly-hardened flat-tappet systems such as that on your Honda do not require high-ZDDP oils.
ZDDP is a great anti-wear additive. But it's bad for catalytic converters. That's the reason it was much reduced in the SM-and-up series of engine oils. There are ZDDP-rich oils out there, but their use is contra-indicated in your Civic unless you don't care (or don't have to care) about cat longevity.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: ram_man
Most american engines in general arent solid valvetrains are they?
The Duratech and Zetec engines were, IIRC. The Modulars have HLA's, but the Ecoboost is cam-over-bucket.
However, many of the cam-over-bucket apps still use a hydraulic lifter/lash adjuster.
Most american engines in general arent solid valvetrains are they?
The Duratech and Zetec engines were, IIRC. The Modulars have HLA's, but the Ecoboost is cam-over-bucket.
However, many of the cam-over-bucket apps still use a hydraulic lifter/lash adjuster.
Originally Posted By: ram_man
I didn't know Toyotas also used solid valvetrain I know most Hondas do though . I didn't know if maybe a oil with more zinc would be better or anything since older flat tappet engines like a zinc heavy oil. Unless I'm way off.
You are way off. There is way more to it than just having a flat tappet cam. This insanity has gotta end.
I didn't know Toyotas also used solid valvetrain I know most Hondas do though . I didn't know if maybe a oil with more zinc would be better or anything since older flat tappet engines like a zinc heavy oil. Unless I'm way off.
You are way off. There is way more to it than just having a flat tappet cam. This insanity has gotta end.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: ram_man
I didn't know Toyotas also used solid valvetrain I know most Hondas do though . I didn't know if maybe a oil with more zinc would be better or anything since older flat tappet engines like a zinc heavy oil. Unless I'm way off.
You are way off. There is way more to it than just having a flat tappet cam. This insanity has gotta end.
Oh noes, its got the flat tappets and needs 10 million PPM of ZDDP so it doesn't lunch its lobes
Originally Posted By: ram_man
I didn't know Toyotas also used solid valvetrain I know most Hondas do though . I didn't know if maybe a oil with more zinc would be better or anything since older flat tappet engines like a zinc heavy oil. Unless I'm way off.
You are way off. There is way more to it than just having a flat tappet cam. This insanity has gotta end.
Oh noes, its got the flat tappets and needs 10 million PPM of ZDDP so it doesn't lunch its lobes
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: ram_man
Most american engines in general arent solid valvetrains are they?
The Duratech and Zetec engines were, IIRC. The Modulars have HLA's, but the Ecoboost is cam-over-bucket.
However, many of the cam-over-bucket apps still use a hydraulic lifter/lash adjuster.
According to the Haynes manual for my 1996 Zetec Contour this engine has hydraulic lifters.
Whimsey
Originally Posted By: ram_man
Most american engines in general arent solid valvetrains are they?
The Duratech and Zetec engines were, IIRC. The Modulars have HLA's, but the Ecoboost is cam-over-bucket.
However, many of the cam-over-bucket apps still use a hydraulic lifter/lash adjuster.
According to the Haynes manual for my 1996 Zetec Contour this engine has hydraulic lifters.
Whimsey
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