Oil for 409
- Thread starter Nutts62
- Start date
That is dependent on your particular engine ie. how tight the clearances are,but a good rule of thumb provided you are using a good quality high performance/heavy duty type oil is as low a viscosity that will still give you good hot oil pressure.The 10w30 you listed is a good starting point run it and listen to what your oil pressure gage tells you,if it maintains good oil pressure under all conditions move down to 5w30 at the next oil change and see what happens,if it shows a little low in hot conditions move up to 10w40 or 15w40.The benefit of running thin oil is less parasitic pumping loss (more available power and better economy) and better oil flow and cooling.
^ this is the most accurate, concise post on oil selection I’ve read in a long time. Exactly right. Don’t overdue it or overthink it! Start with 10w30 and adjust as needed.
I use Castrol 20w-50 in my '62 409. Why, I'm not really sure. I know on a hot summer day, I have 50 lbs. of oil pressure at 45-50 mph, about 2300 rpm's. Idle about 28 lbs. I know it's a heavier oil, but I don't drive the car in cold Winter type weather, so it's not an issue turning over. I also add the zinc additive, Carmine.
Carmine, why the zinc additive or any other, I'm using 10w30 and it seems fine. But I do use oil that says for high mileage vehicles, why, just because of the age of the engine, it's never been rebuilt. Should I be using this new high tech molecular bounding additives?
Because the damn tree hugger EPA took the zinc out of the oil because of the crap cars that use a catlytic converter. They never give a crap about older cars or they're owners.
It's only needed when you have parts that "slide" on one another like a cam lobe to lifter. Roller rockers or zinc is your choice...
It's only needed when you have parts that "slide" on one another like a cam lobe to lifter. Roller rockers or zinc is your choice...
I would hate to be your cam especially if its been sitting a while on start up
Bob said it exactly. I buy the zinc additive through Amazon and add a bottle to every oil change. Cheap insurance in the scheme of things, Carmine.
poison ivy
Well Known Member
chevrolet, eos, engine oil supplement, 1 pt oil change, rotella,oil,.
I decided on Lucas oil 20-50 hot rod oil the last time in my L78 Nova. Used to use Castrol GTX. Read what I could find. The zinc additives might not mix in to the oil and to much zinc is harmful too.
Cayneman
Well Known Member
dakota tom X2. Adding a bottle of zinc after an oil change is the last thing I'd do. Oil manufacturers have staffs of engineers and chemists who determine the correct level of zinc and phosphorus in their products. By adding additional zinc who knows what level you have in your oil. Too much zinc causes excessive wear and corrosion.
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Poison,I like the Rotella also along with Delo 400 as much as people like to think of it as diesel oil I believe that they have maintained the zinc in it more than the standard auto oils.I've also had good luck with it keeping the engine cleaner inside.It is more limited in viscosity choices but I always run it if I can find a weight that is appropriate.
I believe the last time I looked at a label on the Rotella, in the l's t year or two, there isn't any zinc in it anymore.
Brad Penn 30wt