Oil thread, again but no war please!

I will be first starting my motor and I put just plain 10 W 40 Penzoil in it. I have read ALL! the threads about oil and older motors. The bottom line to me is this, Does Federal Mogul know what they are doing? My bearings are 2007 vintage, not 1965. I tend to lean towards them knowing how to make bearings for todays oils. I know I just started a Hatfields and McCoy war, I'm sorry and don't kill anybody. I just think modern slippery stuff in a new short block should be ok. Prepare to launch your attack as I hide behind my firewall. Scott Shumaker, Germany

I've been hearing things about todays oil and the issue of wiping out cam lobes on flat tappet cams. Make sure you use cam break in lube on the cam lobes and lifters (if it's a flat tapet cam). You might want to do a search on here and on a search engine for more info.

The bottom line is if you have rebuilt an older engine and you want to lean towards the side of caution, you use the highest zinc oil you can find for the break in miles. Then if you want to use plain ol 10w40 then have at it. Many engines have lasted 150000 miles or more with such plain oil. HOWEVER! remember that the zinc "(I have read ALL!)" has been all but been removed in the last couple of years from 90% of the oils. Zinc is one of the biggest sources of lubrication for the flat tappet camshafts and piston/Cyl wear. Really anyplace there is high amount of friction.

Not to say that ive been around the block many times BUT ive always had pretty bearings in my rebuilds. Ive allways used 20/50w Valvoline Racing (high zinc) in my non emision engines. Its what i have in my rebuild right now. When i put a few thousand on it ill be going to 5/30w Mobil One (hyd roller cam)

Just my 2c
Good luck!

I have wiped a cam lobe before. That is why I'm here at this point. I have the T-shirt of "Been there and done that" I have Blood Wings. I'm not leaving things to chance. A slightly bad lifter bore screwed me before on a Jasper short block. They should of caught it but I paid for it. No way of proving fault, esp 5000 miles away. "Guilty until proven otherwise" I can not get Rotella oil for breakin. I guess I will comit the ultimate sin and start this this motor with Penzoil 10/40. If my motor totally dies then maybe Penzoil will help me out?! Video to follow. I just can not jump on the band wagon that todays oil is total ****, sorry. I will be the guinea pig with documentation.. I'm on my 3rd motor as it is. What do I have to loose??

Originally Posted by shumakerscott

I can not get Rotella oil for breakin. I guess I will comit the ultimate sin and start this this motor with Penzoil 10/40. What do I have to loose??

Use some Valvoline RACING 20/50 for your break in. Its still very high in zinc.
What do you have to lose? Your camshaft, lifters,bearings....etc, etc.
Personally for me i spent every dime i have to get to this point. So when i was assembling i took every possible precaution i could cause i cant afford to go back and start over. Id be selling it, or it be sitting for another 3 years

I hope you have no issues, best of luck to you.

I pre lubed everyting with "Lunati" assembly lube. In excess by most standards. As did I on the 2nd rebuild befaore a lifter bore screwd me over.

Hey, its your money and your engine. I ask the cam maker what to use to break in a new cam. The bearings will work with any oil but breaking that cam in takes a high zinc oil to keep it from becoming scrap. Talk to your cam builder and see what they recommend - or supply as an additive. If you follow their advise then it should be fine. If you wing it on your own then you take full responsibility and cost for what happens. As long as you accept the terms then go for it.

Thanks for the advice. I have no cam builder. Im in Germany with no real back fall. It is pull the trigger and see what happens. I have already been screwed with a lifter being stuck in the bore on my previous build, my fault of couse by not seeing it, everbody in their right mind know about this. Bad luck folows certian people. I will take the hit for this but not for anything that follows. I just hope I have vidieo on this one.

just add GM's EOS (engine oil supplement) or comp cams break-in additive to your regular oil for the break-in, and then again for the first oil change and you should be fine.

Last I heard, the GM EOS had been discontinued.

I've run Rotella in everything for years, but I suppose I'll have to search for something else soon, or find an additive with ZDDP.