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Classic car oil

Redsportfury

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Anybody out there using any of the special motor oils designed for older muscle cars?
 
special oil for older muscle cars ? ... not sure about that one ... I guess it all depends on your motor build, whether you need the zinc or not. I've been running Valvoline VR1 10w30 in my cars ...
 
Amsoil in everything. 10-40 in the 440.
 
I don't see running a 20-50 unless there is a problem. Amsoil has the high-zinc and additive package to protect seals. I don"t sell it, just use it. Modern Mopar too. Start up protection is critical too. 20 too thick for start up. Straight 30 days are long gone (for me anyway.)
 
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Straight 30 days are long gone.

Really! Not in my book.

Have used Valvoline my entire driving life, most of that VR1 straight weight. But, for what it's worth...after some catching up with the times, being told all about zinc and such, did some looking.
At the Valvoline website, handful of reports, saying on their racing oils, that the EPA zinc 'laws' do NOT apply to straight weight oils. True? Hell, I don't know. Just have to judge things for yourself!

Be awhile before I can fire off my 440, but it has VR1 30w for break-in, then going to VR1 40w. Never let me down yet.
 
A friend of mine that distributes all kinds of oil tells me the unless the can says "not intended for highway use" the oil does not contain adequate zinc for flat tappet cams. The government mandated reduction of zinc from oil. In the olden days, say prior to 1990, most oil had 1500ppm or more of zinc. Today if an oil contains more than 800ppm is must be labeled as not intended for highway use or for racing only. I'm not sure which. Many oil brands today that advertise being good for older cars do not advertise their zinc ppm and that's because the ppm of zinc in that oil is less than 800.
 
I've been using this but it is getting harder to find.
At one time Walmart had it but I haven't seen it now for months.
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I use Lucas oil, they make it in 5 qt bottles for a good price or I just buy their additive which treats your off the shelf oils.
 
What about Brad Penn ?

Penn Grade 1® High Performance Oils:
1. In addition to our unique base oil cut, increased concentration of “zinc” (zinc dialkyldithiophosphate a.k.a. ZDDP) provides outstanding anti-wear/anti-scuffing protection for engines employing either ‘flat tappet’ or roller cams. BRAD PENN® Penn Grade 1® High Performance Oils have been evaluated by a number of premiere camshaft manufacturers with tremendous success. Many are now recommending our Penn Grade 1® High Performance Oils to provide outstanding protection for their ‘flat tappet’ or roller cam

2. Our BRAD PENN® refinery, the oldest continuously operating lube oil refinery in the United States, refines light sweet parafinic crude oil. This type of crude oil is available domestically. We purchased the majority of our crude from sources in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and West Virginia. This crude oil is a very thermally stable paraffinic crude oil which contains no asphaltic constituents. This makes it an ideal choice from which to refine premium quality base oils. Because we use only one crude stock, our refined products are of consistently high quality and performance.

BRAD PENN® brand products are truly “MADE IN THE U.S.A.” American Refining Group’s Bradford, PA refinery is the home of “The Green Oil®” that racers, engine builders and enthusiasts alike have all come to know and love! The unique green color and outstanding performance of our Penn Grade 1 High Performance Oils set them apart from the competition.

BRAD PENN® Penn Grade 1® High Performance Oils are formulated using a unique base oil cut from our tower, which gives our Penn Grade 1® High Performance Oils exceptional film strength. This unique base oil causes our Penn Grade 1®High Performance Oil to cling tenaciously to engine parts to minimize wear during high engine torque loading and/or periods of heavily stressed operation such as those experienced during competition. This same oil ‘cling’ helps prevent ‘dry-start’ conditions to minimize wear even after the engine has been sitting idle for extended periods.
 
Yeah, from what I have READ, the Brad Penn company designed the oil specifically for Classic Cars/Muscle cars
Unlike other companies, that adapted their oil for this application.
 
Whatever synthetic 10W/ 30 that is on sale when I go to buy it...seriously, it just doesn't get driven enough that it matters.
 
I am not going to argue with the engine builder. Larry Shepard of Hemis Only has been building race and street Hemis for 50 years. He built mine in a 1967 GTX. The only oil he uses is Pennzoil 25w50 racing oil which has 2000 ppm zinc. He advises that from dyno testing that is the only oil he will use.
 
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