What is the best oil and weight for a 454?
07-23-2011, 07:43 PM
#2
Pro
I've always been under the impression that the synthetics such as Mobile One handle high temps better than the petroleum based oils. That may just be urban legend I am not an expert and would be interested in hearing some feedback on this. I always used Valvoline 10-40 in the El Camino I used to have with a street built 406 sbc in it here in Charleston and it worked fine for me. When the Vette gets on the road down here (currently it is still in project status) I plan to use a synthetic after break in.
07-24-2011, 08:41 AM
#4
Team Owner
You adjust to get the desired oil pressure with oil weight and engine temp.
07-24-2011, 09:22 AM
#5
Le Mans Master
I've always been under the impression that the synthetics such as Mobile One handle high temps better than the petroleum based oils. That may just be urban legend I am not an expert and would be interested in hearing some feedback on this. I always used Valvoline 10-40 in the El Camino I used to have with a street built 406 sbc in it here in Charleston and it worked fine for me. When the Vette gets on the road down here (currently it is still in project status) I plan to use a synthetic after break in.
07-25-2011, 11:05 PM
#7
Melting Slicks
Original cam? If so (flat tappet cam) you'll want something with a lot of wear additives (ZDDP) or add a bottle of supplement yourself. Today's oil recipes have a third to a half the wear additives of yesteryear.
I add a half bottle of GM's EOS to a quality 10w-30; either conventional or synthetic. The EOS has the wear additives you need.
Do a search "ZDDP". You'll be reading for months.
I add a half bottle of GM's EOS to a quality 10w-30; either conventional or synthetic. The EOS has the wear additives you need.
Do a search "ZDDP". You'll be reading for months.
07-25-2011, 11:37 PM
#8
Melting Slicks
Member Since: May 2002
Location: Sulphur LA
Posts: 2,686
Received 105 Likes
on
95 Posts
St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'11,'13-'14,'16,'18,'19
Run the recommended weight for temp conditions in Carolina. More than likely a 30WT oil will be were you need to be.
The most important aspect would be that the oil you choose needs to have the correct amount of wear additives for a flat tappet cam.
If you don't mind spending a little extra money I would suggest synthetics for the added protection.
There are few true synthetics on the market today but two tend to have more proven benefits by the way of oil analysis and they are
Mobile 1 and Amsoil.
They both sell an oil with high levels of wear additives for older flat tappet engines.
Stick to a true synthetic.
Neal
The most important aspect would be that the oil you choose needs to have the correct amount of wear additives for a flat tappet cam.
If you don't mind spending a little extra money I would suggest synthetics for the added protection.
There are few true synthetics on the market today but two tend to have more proven benefits by the way of oil analysis and they are
Mobile 1 and Amsoil.
They both sell an oil with high levels of wear additives for older flat tappet engines.
Stick to a true synthetic.
Neal
07-27-2011, 12:05 AM
#10
Instructor
10W-40 Synthetic Purple is what I reccomend. I put in a new ZZ454 and the oil pan that came with it was was too close to the ground. I orderd a new pan from GM that was smaller. I had a reccomendation from an old Vette guy to put in a standard volume oil pump and not to run too thick of an oil. With the pump that came with it, under hi rev's he said I could pump all the oil out of the pan before it had a chance to run back down.
The following users liked this post:
Stage03 (09-14-2020)
07-27-2011, 06:03 PM
#11
Race Director
I would recommend Amsoil AMO 10W-40. It has about 1300 PPM Phosphorous and Zinc. These are the critical additives needed for a flat tappet cam that have been drastically reduced in most oils on the market today. It is a spark engine oil and is a true synthetic with only Group 4 and Group 5 base stocks in the correct viscocity for your engine. Diesel oils have a different additive pachage with the most noticable difference being much higher levels of detergents and also have reduced ZDDP levels to meet the new EPA mandated diesel standards as of 2007. High detergent levels reduce the bonding of phosphorous to the cam lobes further reducing its effectivness at protecting flat tappet lobes and lifters. I used to use and swear by Shell Rotella 15W-40 for over 20 years. But the formulations have changed. It went from API CE rating to CF to CG to CH to CI to CJ with reductions in ZDDP mandated at each change in API rating. It does not even resemble the old formulation now.
07-27-2011, 07:15 PM
#12
Rotella T 15W40 CJ-4 spec, available at wallyworlds everywhere.
~1200ppm of zinc, all you need. Confirmed in writing by Shell just this week and by Blackstone Labs earlier this month.
~1200ppm of zinc, all you need. Confirmed in writing by Shell just this week and by Blackstone Labs earlier this month.
07-27-2011, 09:57 PM
#13
Le Mans Master
Forget diesel oils! No need to run any of them today! They have a different additive package and are made for diesel engines. Do C3's run diesel engines, easy answer?-NO! There are a number of group 3 and 4 oils for GASOLINE engines with the correct amount of ZDDP! Best bank for the buck-Mobil 1 15W-50 high performance/racing synthetic. Run a synthetic with the correct ZDDP for the best protection, in my opinion! Synthetics are far superior to dino oil-well documented!
07-27-2011, 11:35 PM
#14
Drifting
Rotella carries both the American Petroleum Institute (API) diesel "C" rating as well as the API gasoline engine "S" rating. Having said that, run what you like. I run Rotella in my 68 L36 Roadster and (very original 96K mile) 65 442. Both engines are basically stock, with mild valve spring pressures.
Oil threads ROCK!
Oil threads ROCK!
Last edited by Jeff_Keryk; 07-27-2011 at 11:38 PM.
07-28-2011, 12:32 PM
#16
I would recommend Amsoil AMO 10W-40. It has about 1300 PPM Phosphorous and Zinc. These are the critical additives needed for a flat tappet cam that have been drastically reduced in most oils on the market today. It is a spark engine oil and is a true synthetic with only Group 4 and Group 5 base stocks in the correct viscocity for your engine. Diesel oils have a different additive pachage with the most noticable difference being much higher levels of detergents and also have reduced ZDDP levels to meet the new EPA mandated diesel standards as of 2007. High detergent levels reduce the bonding of phosphorous to the cam lobes further reducing its effectivness at protecting flat tappet lobes and lifters. I used to use and swear by Shell Rotella 15W-40 for over 20 years. But the formulations have changed. It went from API CE rating to CF to CG to CH to CI to CJ with reductions in ZDDP mandated at each change in API rating. It does not even resemble the old formulation now.
No doubt about that..
