Brad Penn Oil

[Harry L.]

Re: Brad Penn Oil

I hope that the unnecessary cut about my Comp Cam was not a defense mechanism in case the CJ-4 OIL that I just started using, happens to destroy my engine. For 10 years my car has always run great. I should look into Brad Penn Oil then. DUTCH

[Duke W.]

Re: Brad Penn Oil

You sound like you are taking my criticism of Comp Cams personally. I don't know why unless you are connected to the company.

The Web if full of stories about failures of their Extreme Energy series, in particular. These cams have aggressive dynamics that require high valve spring force, and they don't Parkerize their cams like GM did (and Federal Mogul, Dana Corp., and Crane do now), which is an aid to the critical initial breakin process.

I stand by my remarks regarding Comp Cams, and offer them as a warning to others. There are better sources, like Federal Mogul, Dana Corp. and Crane.

Duke

[Harry L.]

Re: Brad Penn Oil

I am not connected to the company by any means. My thread was not about Comp Cams reliability, but which oils are suitable for my engines performance. DUTCH

[Gene M.]

Re: Brad Penn Oil

As I understand it (I may be wrong) fresh rebuilt engines are in need of the Brad Penn type oil more so than an engine that has say 20k miles on it. Prior to all the info on this board (thank you) I always used 10w40 Pensoil with a can of STP. No issues.

Do my broken in 327 engines get enough additive with the STP?

[Duke W.]

Re: Brad Penn Oil

Fresh engines should use CJ-4 with a bottle of GM EOS.

STP? You gotta be kinding, and Pennzoil 10W-40 is rated SM.

Where have you been?

As far as the mention of Comp Cams is concerned, the type of oil used and camshaft quality is critical to achieving successful camshaft/valvetrain break-in and long term durability.

Duke

[Gene M.]

Re: Brad Penn Oil

I saw a chart that list STP as high in zinc & phosphate is that not good for 327 engines with miles on them?

[Joe C.]

Re: Brad Penn Oil

Has there been any more changes in CJ-4 oils since Duke"s article in 2008. The last owner of my car put in a COMP CAM 280H Grind high energy. It was not driven much before Me, and this was 10 years ago. Dukes article is very informative and by using the C-J-4 OIL , my cam and engine properties stay up to date . thanks for all your inputs. DUTCH

Harry,

With such a cam as yours, I recommend that you use the Brad Penn, Joe Gibbs (or equivalent) oil.

Look up the valve springs required for that cam, and/or verify what you have installed. Check and post the spring force at 1.7", and the spring rate, which will yield the spring force at full valve lift. Verify your rocker arms, their ratio, and post.

Comp Cams stands behind their products, has the most extensive and comprehensive product line in the industry, and is the largest seller of camshafts in the US. It is unfair and disingenuous to bash Comp Cams.

Change your oil every 6000 miles, try to limit idling your engine, and enjoy your setup..........you will not live long enough to wear out the cam and lifters if you drive your Corvette in limited amounts as most of us do.

If it gets ugly/infantile here, then PM me.

Joe

PS: That is not a high lift cam. With lobe lift .306/.306 it is fairly mild as far as lift is concerned. The difference of only 50 degrees between advertised (J604d) and 0.050" duration makes it a moderately fast ramp.

[Duke W.]

Re: Brad Penn Oil

I saw a chart that list STP as high in zinc & phosphate is that not good for 327 engines with miles on them?

Post the chart or a link to it. I don't know the chemical analysis of STP.

CJ-4 oils have more ZDDP and detergents/dispersants than available oils when 327s were built.

So why do you need more?

Duke

[Michael Y.]

Re: Brad Penn Oil

I have never seen anything in this forum about the use of the retrofit hydraulic roller cams and lifters in these engines. I was wondering what the thoughts were on these products. If they were used would it not negate the issue of zinc in the oil? Thanks

[Duke W.]

Re: Brad Penn Oil

What about the ball and socket rocker arms? They are sliding surfaces and need more ZDDP that the roller trunnion rocker arms used in most modern engines.

You can spend several hundred extra dollars on a "retrofit" roller cam and roller trunnion rocker arms that probably won't fit under the OE rocker covers or use a proven OE flat tappet cam and CJ-4 oil that's about the same price as the lower-ZDDP SM oil that is formulated for modern "roller everything" engines.

So what would you do?

Duuke

[Michael Y.]

Re: Brad Penn Oil

I would do what I did. I would go with the roller cam and avoid all of the hassles of rounded cams and special oil. Another added benefit is I don't adjust valves. As for the rocker arms, they fit under the valve covers just fine. I am not disputing what Duke is saying about flat tappet cams, but there are other options. Thanks

[Harry L.]

Re: Brad Penn Oil

Taking all the posts about which is the best oil to use, I have come to the conclusion that the CJ-4 OILS 15/40; like Cheveron"S Delo 400 LE, and other house brands with the CJ-4, CI-4. Also Brad Penn Oils 15/40. DUTCH

[Duke W.]

Re: Brad Penn Oil

. As for the rocker arms, they fit under the valve covers just fine.

I'm not talking about roller tip rocker arms, which are nothing more than a marketing gimmick. I'm talking about roller trunnion rocker arms - the type that replace the ball and socket with needle bearings.

I don't think most will fit under OE valve covers - either SB or BB.

Duke

[Michael Y.]

Re: Brad Penn Oil

I agree with you Duke, that the roller tip rockers are not very good. I have used the Harland Sharp rockers with success under the stock valve covers. There probably are some that will not fit. I have also used the jesel sportsman shaft rockers before with success as well, although the price is a bit much for a street engine. Thanks

[Clem Z.]

Re: Brad Penn Oil

Ron, I have run diesel oil in my cars since I started driving, 1961. Some of my cars racked up 250,000+ miles with absolutely no problems. I have run Shell Rotella, Texaco Ursa, and Gulf ? 30W and 15W40 with the same results. I was assistant director of maintenace for a fair sized fleet, 2,500 vehicles, and we only had one motor oil for cars, trucks, diesels, and that was the current spec "diesel" oil, from Mil Spec 2104-A to the current CJ-4. There is no reason to have reservations about running "diesel" oil.

back in the day i had a customer run "series 3" diesel oil in a BBC race engine i built for him. in 3 nites of racing the engine was completely worn out. i checked with the people i knew at gulf oil research labs and the told me that series 3 diesel oil did not have any high pressure additives in it and that is what is needed in a race engine. this may not apply to stock engines or even to today's diesel oil but i just posted my experience with diesel oil in non diesel application