Thread: Engine oils

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Yep, this subject almost gets emotional at times.

I've been using Motorcraft Semi Syn in my '31 (as well as the wife's car and my DD truck). Usually been either 10W-30 or 15W-40 for the '31 as I feel that the 5W-20 is a little light for heavier valve springs and roller rockers. I can't find anything but the 5w-20 locally unless I go to their diesel specific oil. Is there any advantage to my using this Motorcraft Diesel specific oil? Disadvantages? Or should I just switch to Valvoline which is my other long time favorite. Not interested in Amsoil or Royal Purple (way too expensive to use in that car and the amount driven). I have used Mobil 1 and do like it, but for a car only driven a couple thousand miles, probably isn't cost effective either. Then there are the racing oils like Joe Gibbs and Brad Penn and no sellers any where locally according to their web sites, nor do I think that I need these oils for my kind of driving(Oh yeah, I wont EVER use Castrol again).

Mostly I'm interested in comments of what others use and why

Dave I`ve been using rotella 15-40 for the last ten years, although the last I heard the protective agent has been reduced its still not nearly as low as the quote ( off the shelf oils ), I just did this check on several sites just a couple of weeks ago, think this will be a good thread, I`m also using a wix filters...

Dave............it comes down to the additives that are used in the heavy duty oils for diesels. I don't think they would hurt the motor, but if you have the alternative, use the Valvoline.

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DaveW, have you ever perused Bob Is The Oil Guy's information? It takes a while to wade through, but the guy seems to know his stuff - Motor Oil 101 - Bob is the Oil Guy

I use Rotella in a lot of my diesel engines, Mobil 1 on the newer common rail engines, and I also add Zinc additive to help protect the cams and tappets in the engines. The zinc additives have been removed from diesel oils recently. I use either ZDDP or Lucas zinc plus. Tappet wear has dropped with running these additives. I've ran 15w40 Rotella in a few gas engines and had no ill issues either. I was actually planning on running it in my Hemi. I've heard the older engines have looser tolerances and will require a heavier oil to maintain proper pressure. I don't know how true that is, but it makes sense to me.

Good discussion - even Craig's deleted one appears to have good info.

I do use Rotella in my little Iseki powered diesel tractor and after 20 some years still doesn't use a drop although you could tar a road with the drained stuff.

Looks like Valvoline may again be in my future as I am still hesitant to use the diesel blend. I spent some time on BobstheOilGuy this morning - that is until I got an overload headache. Too much Castrol/Amsoil/Mobil 1 (sponsors perhaps and forcing a 'lean')

One tidbit that I just came across and it is a hijack of my own thread. I've been using a Motorcraft FL 300 oil filter but unless I make a 40+ mile round trip or do an internet order, none locally. I then decide to cross reference to WIX/NAPA. Their cross referenced filter is a 51068 and is 3/4" longer and wont fit my car (I have one now for a swap meet sale). Instead, the 51311 is identical to the FL300. The Wix 51335 is the very little one at about 2-1/2" tall - and both have the 3/4-16 thread. If you go to NAPA, just take the leading 5 off the WIX p/n and you have their number.

Dave W,
Thanks for that filter numbering information. That WIX 51335/NAPA 1335 is the one I use too, for clearance with my steering box, but I did not know that dropping the leading "5" from the WIX p/n worked across the board for the NAPA Gold's. I expect that means WIX makes the filters for NAPA, and the difference is the paint color. I strongly considered going to a remote mounted filter to be able to use the "full size" filters, but I decided that the potential for hose failure with four fittings plus the adapter on the engine and the remote mount itself was not worth it for me. Besides the potential leaks and the cost I did not have a real good place to mount it. I change oil more on time than miles anyway, at this point.

Oil Filter Cross-Reference Table
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...9ztBe0KWeNAZKw

Originally Posted by billy zz

Oil Filter Cross-Reference Table

Good info, but only a partial list (doesn't have the 51335/1335 filter, for example). Is CM Canton Racing Products? If so those are some high buck filters!!

Dave W, I totally forgot, what got you out of sorts with Castrol? Just wondering, as I've used it some in the past and didn't see any problems.

Originally Posted by rspears

Good info, but only a partial list (doesn't have the 51335/1335 filter, for example). Is CM Canton Racing Products? If so those are some high buck filters!!

Dave W, I totally forgot, what got you out of sorts with Castrol? Just wondering, as I've used it some in the past and didn't see any problems.

heres one that covers everything from airplanes to zambonies.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...Wi7XZ9fJIjlmAA

Roger - not sure that NAPA numbering thing is 100% across the board, but every WIX/NAPA filter I've had has cross referenced that way.

My fall out with Castrol has been with vehicles that never used a drop of oil between changes suddenly starting to need 1, 2 or more in the same period of mileage. Then changing over, no longer used any again. That had happened on several vehicles. Is it bad oil? Of course not. But I've just had less then good experiences and more then once

Originally Posted by IC2

Roger - not sure that NAPA numbering thing is 100% across the board, but every WIX/NAPA filter I've had has cross referenced that way.

My fall out with Castrol has been with vehicles that never used a drop of oil between changes suddenly starting to need 1, 2 or more in the same period of mileage. Then changing over, no longer used any again. That had happened on several vehicles. Is it bad oil? Of course not. But I've just had less then good experiences and more then once

I've had the same experience with castrol in any of my "hopped up" gas engines. I quit using it for the same reason years ago. I know a lot of dirt track guys that quit using it too, for the same reason. Most of those guys went to John Deere oil because they could buy it 5 gal at a time and it still had the zinc additive in it.

I stopped at Wally World today and again looked over their line up of oils. I picked up a jug of Valvoline conventional 10W-30 - walked about 50 feet, looked at the label, asked myself "Why am I downgrading oil in a several thousand dollar engine for a couple bucks". Took a look at the Valvoline semi synthetic, lights again went on, and for a couple bucks more, bought the Mobil 1. Oh well!! Been known to contradict myself before

i use castrol oil in my 548 14to1 my 548 blower engine . my donovan 632 my 572. my 468 . my 462. there one or two mising from the line up and erery day drivers . but i am a dealer for joe gibbs . brad pen so not using it any more but it worked fine for me ???