Ping: Bob Palma

Bob's computer went on a siesta for now, and is not at home! He's "cyberless"

Jim Turner

Extremely informative and to-the-point article in June Hot Rod Mag (still on some newstands) on this subject.

Here is a collection of Bob's comments that were on this(?) thread previously. I recently collected them for a newsletter article so they were all together.

The June 2006 Hot Rod magazine has an excellent technical article on why flat-top lifters and their attendant camshafts are failing at a dramatically-increasing rate of late. It's worth a read if you have the time. One (but not the only) reason cited was people using current S-rated motor oil designed for new-car engines, none of which (they say) have the flat-top lifters and camshafts that were the industry standard for a hundred years, and are in our Studebakers. Hot Rod's research points out that current S-rated oils do not have enough zinc and phosphorus compounds to properly lubricate flat-top lifters and cams. They recommend diesel-rated oils, using Shell Rotella-T as an example. Chemical analysis is given for the requirements of current S-rated oil versus C-rated oil (C = Compression Ignition, i.e; Diesels). The analysis indicates C-rated oils have between 50 and 60 percent more zinc/phosphorus compounds than do new-car S-rated oils. Rotella-T, of course, isn't the only appropriate oil meeting those standards. Chevron Delo-400 is another such oil, as is Castrol Tection Extra. For those with Pennzoil as their brand of choice. The appropriate Pennzoil product is known as Pennzoil Long-Life, .Heavy-Duty Motor Oil. If anyone buys Pennzoil, be sure the product says "Long-Life." They also have a conventional, straight-weight oil called Heavy-Duty, but it does NOT carry an API "C" rating, and does NOT contain the words "Long-Life" in the label identification. For those who prefer Valvoline products, the Valvoline product with the appropriate specifications is "Valvoline All-Fleet Plus Motor Oil." Remember, we discussed this oil situation in The Co-Operator some time ago...so get your news first in Turning Wheels Thanks. BP)

Thanks Lark,

JT

Wasn't the consensus from that Co-Operator article that 15W-40 diesel weight was the proper oil to use? I tink that article also made heavy mention of the fact hat 10W-40 was a flawed formulation and should never have been marketed in the first place. I'm using the diesel

-George-