Need suggestions on good engine oil

[70 RAG TOP]

I need to find a good oil to use for my 383 once the breakin period is over.  I saw an add for Brad Penn oil that states it is for flat tappet cams.  Does anyone have any experience with this oil or any other suggestions .
thanks
Mike

[brads70]

Around here Brad Penn or Valvoline ( VR-1 I think it is called?) is used to get the zinc.

[Chryco Psycho]

Z-Alt , Brad penn are both good choices & are designed to protect older engines

[burnoutking-1]

Rotella diesel oil.

[Chryco Psycho]

Rotella used to be good but no longer , it has conformed to SM standards meaning the protection for Flat tappet cams in reduced below what is needed , approx 1600 ppm , also diesel oil is not the correct formula for the older gas engines to begin with

[dutch]

probably a dumbas$$ question, but what exactly does the zinc do?

[MEK-Dangerfield]

probably a dumbas$$ question, but what exactly does the zinc do?

That's actually a good question that I can't answer.   

All I know is zinc is apparently bad for the environment, thus they slowly removed it for oil.

[Jamiez]

It's an anti-corrosion agent, and reduces metal to metal wear/scuffing particularly in high revving engines

From: http://micapeak.com/info/oiled.html

% zinc is the amount of zinc used as an extreme pressure, anti- wear additive. The zinc is only used when there is actual metal to metal contact in the engine. Hopefully the oil will do its job and this will rarely occur, but if it does, the zinc compounds react with the metal to prevent scuffing and wear. A level of .11% is enough to protect an automobile engine for the extended oil drain interval, under normal use. Those of you with high reving, air cooled motorcycles or turbo charged cars or bikes might want to look at the oils with the higher zinc content. More doesn't give you better protection, it gives you longer protection if the rate of metal to metal contact is abnormally high.

This has some more info:
http://www.classiccarmotoroil.com/articles.html

[vinb]

Mobil Delvac 1300   CI-4 Plus  15w/40    4qt.

Motorcraft Super Duty  CJ-4 Plus  15w/40  5qt.

Approx. $15.00   most Wal-Marts

[dutch]

thanks for the link James 

[HP2]

Here is a quick and simple read on it.

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/ccrp_1111_jeff_smith_technical_questions_answers/index.html

[Locomotion]

Amsoil has a wide variety of synthetic high zinc viscosities to fit any need. My engine builders really like the stuff because it protects everything. Not sure how much is caused by the viscosity difference and how much is caused by the "slipperyness", but when I change my break-in oil from a conventional 30 or 40 weight to the synthetic 5w-20 Dominator I run in my race car, I have to turn the idle down!

Amsoil tech bulletin:
http://www.amsoil.com/techservicesbulletin/motoroil/tsb%20mo-2007-08-08%20flat%20tappet.pdf

Amsoil source and info"
www.thelubepage.com

 

[4 speed fish]

Amsoil it what I used.

[Chryco Psycho]

being synthetic will Amsoil allow the rings to seat in though

[Locomotion]

being synthetic will Amsoil allow the rings to seat in though

Use after breaking-in the engine with conventional high zinc oil and/or with additive. But Amsoil now has it's own break-in oil available. I haven't tried it yet or know any details on it.