Motor Oil

[Ray C.]

Has there been any changes in the CJ-4 diesel motor oil. I have been using the Rotella brand CJ-4 oil in my solid lifter 270-HP 1961. I pick up the 283-CI 315-HP engine from the machine shop yesterday and there were two bottles of Comp break included with the engine. When I mentioned that I used the diesel oil, he stated that here were changes in the oil and that I needed to use the additive. Is this a protective measure on his part?

Thanks for any information!

Ray

[Edward J.]

Re: Motor Oil

Ray,
The Engine Oils Of Today The Levels Of Zinc Have Droped Which Is Used For Flat Tappet Cam And Lifters As Far As The Shell Rotella Oil, Im Sure There Levels Have Droped, There Was Some Good Articles In Corvette Enthusiast Magazine (jan./mar09)topics Where In Great Detail Of Todays Oils.

[Joe L.]

Re: Motor Oil

Has there been any changes in the CJ-4 diesel motor oil. I have been using the Rotella brand CJ-4 oil in my solid lifter 270-HP 1961. I pick up the 283-CI 315-HP engine from the machine shop yesterday and there were two bottles of Comp break included with the engine. When I mentioned that I used the diesel oil, he stated that here were changes in the oil and that I needed to use the additive. Is this a protective measure on his part?

Thanks for any information!

Ray

Ray-----


I would use the additive regardless.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Motor Oil

Ray,

I agree with Joe, use the additive and verify oil to be used with the builder, if only for warranty sake. After that period is over you will know what oil to use.

[Larry S.]

Re: Motor Oil

I also have been using the Rotella oil in My 64, but am wondering if anyone knows what additional additive I should use with it?

[Joe L.]

Re: Motor Oil

I also have been using the Rotella oil in My 64, but am wondering if anyone knows what additional additive I should use with it?

Larry-----


I don't think you need to use an additive with it for regular use. Ray's situation is different since he's breaking in a completely rebuilt vintage engine. For the break-in period of such an engine, I'd want to make sure I had all the protection possible.

[Duke W.]

Re: Motor Oil

Has there been any changes in the CJ-4 diesel motor oil. I have been using the Rotella brand CJ-4 oil in my solid lifter 270-HP 1961. I pick up the 283-CI 315-HP engine from the machine shop yesterday and there were two bottles of Comp break included with the engine. When I mentioned that I used the diesel oil, he stated that here were changes in the oil and that I needed to use the additive. Is this a protective measure on his part?

Thanks for any information!

Ray

Changes in WHAT oil? Yes, there were changes to C-category oil beginning with CJ-4 that was released in 2007, and this spec will remain unchanged until it is eventually superseded by CK-4 sometime in the future.

For breakin an engine breakin supplement is a good idea. I recommend EOS because I know what it is. I don't know the details of the product you mention.

There is an indepth article on engine oil in the Summer 2008 Corvette Restorer. Since everyone who posts on this board must be a NCRS member, all who have been NCRS members for at least 6 month should have that issue.

Read the article (and the Web references) and you will know more about engine oil than 99.99999999 percent of the earth's population and 99.999 percent of "engine builders".

Duke

[Ray C.]

Re: Motor Oil

Duke,

I have been waiting for your reply, I was 99.9999999 % certain that you would reply. Some of us are not experts with the grading or evaluation process of oils. That is why this board is so great. There are many experts of different fields grouped together to help others Corvette owners.

Many Corvette owners whom are not member of the NCRS also visit the site, but they are not privileged to the Restorer. Good reason for them to join!

I just wanted to confirm that there were no changes with the CJ-4 oil and if there was, the nomenclature would need to be changed, as you described. (hope I interrupted correctly)

If this thread helps prevent one cam failure, the forum has done it's job.

Duke, thanks for all your advice and help on my past restorations!

Ray

[Tom M.]

Re: Motor Oil

Has there been any changes in the CJ-4 diesel motor oil. I have been using the Rotella brand CJ-4 oil in my solid lifter 270-HP 1961. I pick up the 283-CI 315-HP engine from the machine shop yesterday and there were two bottles of Comp break included with the engine. When I mentioned that I used the diesel oil, he stated that here were changes in the oil and that I needed to use the additive. Is this a protective measure on his part?

Thanks for any information!

Ray

Ray, And to all,
The oil company's have taken Zinc out of oil last year, All solid lifter flat tappet cams need additive, and proper cam break in, it's a must,
Joe Gibbs racing oil is the best for flat tappet cams,
If you don't do this the lifters and cam lobes will not last!

Tom

[Duke W.]

Re: Motor Oil

Ray, And to all,
The oil company's have taken Zinc out of oil last year, All solid lifter flat tappet cams need additive, and proper cam break in, it's a must,
Joe Gibbs racing oil is the best for flat tappet cams,
If you don't do this the lifters and cam lobes will not last!

Tom

ABSOLUTE RUBBISH!!!

And I'm utterly amazed that someone with over 15 years membership and a frequent user of this forum could make such an ill-informed statement!

Duke

[Tom M.]

Re: Motor Oil

ABSOLUTE RUBBISH!!!

And I'm utterly amazed that someone with over 15 years membership and a frequent user of this forum could make such an ill-informed statement!

Duke

Not ill informed, That is what my engine builder told me , I'm building a Boss 429 to put in a torino, It's a fact, That he has had 2 new motors come back in the last year , He will only use roller lifters now,Hyd cam !!!!!!
He wouldn't stand behind engine build, with flat tappet cam.
Call them " Holbrook Racing Engines" talk to Dave Lyall or Chris Holbrook,
734-762-4315
Ask the experts Duke get the facts yourself, don't kill the messenger

Tom

[Duke W.]

Re: Motor Oil

I did "ask the experts" - the real experts - not some "engine builder" who believes/spreads myths and misinformation, but the American Petroleum Institute and Chevron.

I wrote an indepth article on the subject published in the summer 2008 Corvette Restorer, which included several Web site references with specifications and training courses from the above institutions that are used throughout the automotive and petroleum industries.

You obviously either didn't read it or you have a very short memory.

Duke

[Richard M.]

Re: Motor Oil

ETIQUETTE ABOVE ALL, PLEASE PRACTICE COURTESY AND CIVILITY!

[Tom M.]

Re: Motor Oil

I did "ask the experts" - the real experts - not some "engine builder" who believes/spreads myths and misinformation, but the American Petroleum Institute and Chevron.

I wrote an indepth article on the subject published in the summer 2008 Corvette Restorer, which included several Web site references with specifications and training courses from the above institutions that are used throughout the automotive and petroleum industries.

You obviously either didn't read it or you have a very short memory.

Duke

Duke , no i Didnt read that, But i did talk to more than one expert, The engine i have is fresh long block (new) never run , about one year old,
It has a solid cam ,flat tappet in it now, Holbrook will not stand behind Dyno run, or engine completion , So i called more Expert engine builders (3) , they Said the same thing , "NO ZINC IN NEW OIL " The cam , lifter & push rod change will cost about $1,000 more , So no i don't want to spend the extra money , But i have to.

I don't deal will just the average engine builder , Holbrook is on of the best ,
Call them yourself, please, you might learn something , and help us all out .
I just pass along expert info if i get it , To help Corvette guys out, that all. Better safe than sorry !!

And yes i have a bad memory , when you get old like me ,You will know what i'm talking about .


Your friend, Tom

[Bill C.]

Re: Motor Oil

I did "ask the experts" - the real experts - not some "engine builder" who believes/spreads myths and misinformation, but the American Petroleum Institute and Chevron.

I wrote an indepth article on the subject published in the summer 2008 Corvette Restorer, which included several Web site references with specifications and training courses from the above institutions that are used throughout the automotive and petroleum industries.

You obviously either didn't read it or you have a very short memory.

Duke

Oh boy,
Here we go.

Lets put the sarcasm away and be open minded.

Derogatory attacks are really unnecessary toward any ones ability/memory/experience. Or anything else for that matter.

All "experts" are that, true. On their end.

All hands on engine builders and the years of experience they have is also a fact and should not be shrugged off as rubbish. They are also experts. On their end.

Plenty of web sites and articles written by the post responders in our organizations publication and by an organization that collects fee's from manufacturers to publish their approval ratings is also true

And all are open to question.

If I am not mistaken, experts also design fuels that are " approved for all vehicles at a given required octane rating. Well, I know plenty of vehicles that either cannot use the recommended 87 octane in their car and need to put in 89 or 91 because it will ping like crazy.

I also remember when the experts in their field used MTBE as an additive that was approved to reduce pollution and what did that really do to your cars exposed fuel components, and not to be overlooked, all our gas powered yard equipment,never mind your health. The landscape equipment repairers were never so busy replacing carb components, floats, tanks, hoses, etc. All things they predetermined would not happen. It did , at our expense. I do not think anybody was reimbursed by Chevron or any other fuel manufacturer.

And we have been quietly using up to 20 % alcohol in our fuel for some time, you should know by now thats causing you heartburn in you 'ol vette V-8 with plenty off ills.

In the early '70s it was called "gasohol" and was developed by the "experts" as an additive for fuel conservation. Predetermined by the experts again not to be of concern to any previously manufactured cars or their fuel systems.That did not go well for a number of reasons and caused a lot of damage and loss. I do not know if any damages were ever awarded to anyone for harm caused.

Would it not make sense, since these are our prized toys and do not see anywhere near regular vehicle use or oil change frequencies to err on the side of extra caution? "MIGHT" the experts be wrong? If so, it will not be at my expense!

Use the EOS or other proven additive.

Will it hurt anything? Is it really costly in comparison to the car and its upkeep as a whole? What are the negative effects of its use?

One positive for sure is piece of mind, yeah, that feels better!

I for one have enough things to worry about, I do not want to worry about someone else being wrong and I have now something to fix that could easily have been prevented!

Some of the largest most reputable large equipment and diesel engine builders in the worlds specifications for oil are no longer met by the current oils available.
Thats a fact.
That tells me something.

But I am open minded, I will wait, and watch others who choose to follow the experts and if proven right, I will stop using the additive's and be the first to say I wasted my $$ and all the engine builders, mechanics, etc were wrong and be assured the experts were right by the fact that others proved it. With their cars.

I just do not want to be one of those currently doing all the test miles to do so.