Oil/ Scuff Packages
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 378
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Oil/ Scuff Packages
The word from my machine shop friend, (in Paterson NJ) is that the government is forcing oil companies to remove scuff packages from their products.
What this means is bad news if you are running an engine with a flat tappet cam and high spring pressures, (which includes a lot of guys with C1-C4 cars).
Case-in-point is a customer who's bb suddening started wiped out a cams after an oil change.
What to do, use Shell Rotella along with an additive produced by Torco. If theres any interest in this post, I'll get specifics on the Torco additive, (comes in a black bottle) and an alternate to Shell oil that foumulated for Mercury Marine.
Have no vested interest in Shell, Torco or Mercury Marine, just passing along the bad news.
jersy68l36
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: San Antonio TX
Re: Oil/ Scuff Packages (jersey68l36)
This sounds a little bit strange. The anti-scuff in motor oils is zinc and it occurs in such small proportions (.1 to .3%) that I don't know why they'd get rid of it. Besides, it is one of the more common components of all these snake oil engine oil additives. That doesn't mean the snake oil additives are any good. There is no evidence that exceeding the .3% level, which they commonly do, adds protection. Automotive oils are at the low end of the zinc range. Motorcycle and other rec vehicle oils, such as two-stroke, are at the higher end. But if they did abandone it as a part of the automotive oils additive, you could easily make it up with small portions of the snake oil.
I am aware that some oil manufacturers are eliminating some additives that can shorten the life of the converter but there are still anti-scuff additives that work and don't harm the converter.
Edit: And if you could afford it, you could always use a motorcycle-spec oil but these tend cost more than synthetics.
[Modified by gerry72, 2:35 PM 3/3/2003]
I am aware that some oil manufacturers are eliminating some additives that can shorten the life of the converter but there are still anti-scuff additives that work and don't harm the converter.
Edit: And if you could afford it, you could always use a motorcycle-spec oil but these tend cost more than synthetics.
[Modified by gerry72, 2:35 PM 3/3/2003]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 378
Likes: 19
Re: Oil/ Scuff Packages (jersey68l36)
Here is the rest of the info about recommendations for proper oil to protect an engine with flat tappet lifters and high pressure valve springs:
Besides Shell Rotella, another oil is that sold by Mercury Marine and an oil my friend identified as "Quick Silver". Whatever oil selected, it should be supplemented with Torco, MPZ.
Again, have no vested interest in any of the manufacturers, just passing along info from an individual who been in the hipo engine building business for 40 years. He now encourages customers to only use roller cams, to avoid the whole problem.
Will be draining the Kendel GT-1 racing oil from my 427, (that has an old Isky cam and LS-6 valve springs) and replacing with Rotella and Torco MPZ. Did not like the way the motor sounded the last time it started, (took about 3 minutes for the hydralic lifters to quiet-down).
jersey68l36
