9 replies to this topic

[rexy]

Have had conflicting advice from good sources regarding the use of a full synthetic oil in a Holden V8 with a solid lifter cam.

Anyone had any long term experience?

[grumpy xu1]

Have had conflicting advice from good sources regarding the use of a full synthetic oil in a Holden V8 with a solid lifter cam.
Anyone had any long term experience?

I'd contact tk383 Tony on that one rexy, but they seem to run it in the USA with the solid cams. He'd be "the" man to ask though !

[LC-GTR-1969]

Penrite sell good synthetic oils with high zinc- if you decide to run synthetic run the penrite 10 tenths imho. 

[grumpy xu1]

I think it's actually been discussed that molybdenum is preferable for a roller cam & not zinc, my preference in the oil range would definitely be liquimoly i can not speak highly enough of it, followed by Fuchs & nulon.

[LC-GTR-1969]

Moly is quite good from what I have read but not as easy to find easily accessible oils with it... Zinc has been successfully protecting flat tappet cams for the last 40 years and is easily accessible... You can buy penrite oils for relatively cheap and they are always stocked at Repco, supercheap etc.. From memory, the advantage of moly additives is it can stick to moving parts better than zinc which helps start up. 

[grumpy xu1]

Nulon, liquimoly & Fuchs all have moly & available at repco, super cheap, autobarn & Bursons easily. I personally use the moly. I'm not a penrite fan.

[warrenm]

You can also use diesel oils, as they are usually loaded with zinc, as the older & larger diesel engines have flat tappet cams.

[rexy]

I spoke with both the Penrite and Nulon technical folk who were confident a full synthetic would be fine.
The guy at Crow cams wouldn’t commit one way or another. Not sure if he was one of the experts or workers.

It’s not a monster cam (5626). Still got a container of the good mineral stuff to use up so might procrastinate till next time.

[LC-GTR-1969]

I spoke with both the Penrite and Nulon technical folk who were confident a full synthetic would be fine.
The guy at Crow cams wouldn’t commit one way or another. Not sure if he was one of the experts or workers.

It’s not a monster cam (5626). Still got a container of the good mineral stuff to use up so might procrastinate till next time.

Honestly you will be fine with a good synthetic- just make sure its one suited to older cars and with suitable additives. I've run my flat tappet cam on synthetics for ages and all sweet so far. 

[gtrboyy]

It's the high zinc content is what AV8 peeps heavily debated over in getting cams lasting longer.

 

Penrite hpr30 was the go to brand but formula/zinc content been changed that now better brands out there..heard of dudes switched over to diesel oils.

 

My f280 355 engine probably 10 yrs old...afaik hpr30 most of it's life