Oil Noise Level Tests

[Domenic T.]

Back in the 60's I chose my oils by the results of the noise level test at different temps.

There was a difference and when the noise level was high it meant the cousion between parts was not so good.

I took Duke's advice and will use the API ratings he says work the best in the older engines, but have not heard any thing about noise levels.

Back in the 60's when I had the heads off cars a old timer would come to my stall and feel the ridge in the cylinders, ask what the milage was, then tell me if the owner was using 10W/30 which (at the time) had higher noise level tests, or a straight weight oil.

He would then open the door and prove it by reading the oil sticker which was usually put on the drivers side door jam.

He was right on all the time so I never used 10W/30W or a multigrade till the racing oils came out, then I used 20W/ 50W.

I used Valvoline Racing and Penzoil racing 0il for years and now only find Valvoline Racing oil which is a ashless disbursent oil.

Aircraft oil is also ashless disbursent (if I am spelling it right) and only a few auto oils are ashless disbursent.

OK Duke lets hear what you have to say, you might have been there when 10W/30W first came out and read noise level tests also.

I use valvoline racing and am going to try the C oils but all the years of sucess with them is something that I will not have time in life to get personal test results on the C oils.

DOM

[Duke W.]

Re: Oil Noise Level Tests

Ashless oils are "ashless" because they don't have any additives. They can also be called "non-detergent" oils. It's the additives that leave ash deposits. Light aircraft engine oil formulations have not changed since the fifties due to the cost of certifying to new specs in what is a very small market.

In the seventies, GM recommended ashless oils for very high compression RACING ENGINES THAT ARE NORMALLY TORN DOWN AND INSPECTED EVERY RACE. For a road engine that is built to last and not require teardownss every few operating hours, modern C-category oil is the best choice for reasons that I have explained nearly an inifinite number of times.

I have never heard your oldtimer's story, but early multi-viscosity oils used viscosity index (VI) improvers that broke down early in service, so after a couple of thousand miles a 10W-30 was more like a 10W-15.

Modern base stocks have higher oxidation resistance, better VI, and VI improvers are also better, longer lasting, and less is necessary. Comparing modern oils to early HD multi-vis oils is meaningless.

The only measureable wear in my '63 340 HP engine at 115K miles was cylinder bore taper - .003 to .005", and I attribute that to the POS foam air filter, not the sixties vintage 10W-30 HD oils that I used for most of its first life. I recommend modern cellulose filters in all engines that had the crummy foam as OE, which should only be on the car for judging.

Duke

[Domenic T.]

Re: Oil Noise Level Tests

Duke,

Thanks for the explanation on the 10W/30W, that makes sence that the breakdown would cause the wear.

What about noise level tests? My brother in law worked for Mobile oil and gave me lab results that had recorded noise levels. What he gave me was in phone conversations and not the actual reports.

Have you ever seen or did you ever hear about noise level tests?

I would think that they are important to engine life.

DOM

[Tracy C.]

Re: Oil Noise Level Tests

Back in the 60's I chose my oils by the results of the noise level test at different temps.

There was a difference and when the noise level was high it meant the cousion between parts was not so good.
DOM

Dom, the concept of "noice level" comparision for oil selection made me laugh..... I'm guessing that theory originated from an LSD enhanced mind of a college kid.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Oil Noise Level Tests

Dom, the concept of "noice level" comparision for oil selection made me laugh..... I'm guessing that theory originated from an LSD enhanced mind of a college kid.

Glad you got a laugh, but the tests are very important as HONDA tested their motorcycle engines using noise level and vidio.

They recorded the noise level and ran the engines at max till they failed.

Then they improved the engines till they did not fail and put them in production.

The noise is the lack of cushion between the bearings, piston to cylinder and so on.

The better the footprint between parts the longer they last.

They explained that the oil actually acts as a bearing between parts.

Cheaper oils make MORE niose.

Not to mutch to laugh about when you tear one down

DOM

[Tracy C.]

Re: Oil Noise Level Tests

Seems to me like a higher viscosity is all you need to reduce impact noice. I can't see any correlation between noice and lubrication.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Oil Noise Level Tests

Seems to me like a higher viscosity is all you need to reduce impact noice. I can't see any correlation between noice and lubrication.

That and additives are it. Some engines cannot increase their viscosity because of tighter clearances.

Loose engines like race engines use 50W & 60W to cushion the parts.

Dukes articles explain the additives very well.

DOM

[Duke W.]

Re: Oil Noise Level Tests

Duke,

Thanks for the explanation on the 10W/30W, that makes sence that the breakdown would cause the wear.

What about noise level tests? My brother in law worked for Mobile oil and gave me lab results that had recorded noise levels. What he gave me was in phone conversations and not the actual reports.

Have you ever seen or did you ever hear about noise level tests?

I would think that they are important to engine life.

DOM

I've never heard of any relationship between oil viscosity and engine noise and have never seen any data on the subject.

Duke