Hello Everyone, I'm new to this forum and excited to be part of the f-body community.

I do have some pressing question regarding the type/brand of oil or oil additives necessary ( if needed at all ) for my car.

I have a 1980 Trans am with a 4.9L ( 301CID ), NA ( non turbo ), with the w72 performance package ( meant different cam, carb, distributor with ESC detonation/advance pull back system and specific 350THM transmission gearing ).

I have read on the internet that today's oils have reduced zinc/phosphorus levels down to 600-800ppm ( parts per million ). The oils used back in the day my car was built had these levels at 1400ppm. The reduced levels are a concern for flat tappet engines and high lift performance engines causing the lobes on the cam and lifters to wear out quickly.

I purchased this car last year and I have been told by the previous owner that everything is original including the stock engine. Not sure what type of oil / additive ( if needed at all ) I should be using to prevent engine failure. Right now I'm using Valvoline 10w30 conventional ( it only has 800ppm of zinc according to Valvoline tech dept ) and only changed the oil twice since I picked up the car last spring. I also have new dual cats ( high flow ) with dual mufflers.

I would appreciate any experienced advice from anyone who has same type of engine and what type of oil / additive ( if needed ) they are running to combat this issue.

Thanks
TJ

The Joe Gibbs oil is high zinc.

Thanks....Is your engine a flat tappet as well? What type of oil do you run?

I was hoping to get an answer from someone who has similar age engine ( Camaro or Firebird ) and find out what they are running.

tj andhis ta - Here's a site that has the answers that you're looking for if you don't mind a little reading

http://www.drivenracingoil.com/

Nope only into the new age hotrods now.

When Detroit went fuel injected so did I

Even on newer engines if you start modding for performance with big lift cams etc that puts more stress on some sheer limits so the extra zddp is req'd.

If you run an LS anything and want to not worry? Joe Gibbs LS30 oil is the safest way to go. If you want to get all BIll Nye and mix your own blend? Source out some high concentrate ZDDP and look into what the racing scene is using. Keep in mind a lot of race stuff puts detergent on the bottom of the list, but they change the oil after each race day so its moot. Some after every pass depending on what fuel they use. Again with fuel theres lots of home brew out there that makes BIG power, but wreaks havoc on engine oil.

I still like the GC 0w30 for newer street cars. For my DD its Penzoil 5w30 non syn

Here's some more info..

http://www.theturboforums.com/threads/3 ... ght=gm+eos

EPA should be rebranded into the "economic protection act"

Sure seems like thats what that agency does, as all their "suggestions" cost us more money and really dont do much if anything for the greater good. Makes us use things, that wear out our stuff faster, so we spend more money. Rather than limit waste, reduce consumption, and get the MOST out of our vehicles. Long live the SBE types.

Hmmm whats better for the climate? Continually building more and more vehicles or making the most out of the ones we have? Im sure the environmental impact of building just ONE new car, trumps a lifetime of running leaded gas in the same old car, using the worst nasty additives in oil, to make the vehicle last for 20 years instead of 10. Think about Chinas impact on climate


Now im no commie, im all for more increasing more cars built/sold/bought. But not at the behest of forcing us to use sub par products under the guise of the EPA's true agenda. Money money money.... Thieving buggers

cam,

What do you think of the "new" ?:

Castrol Edge 0W-40 with SPT
(It meets: API spec of SM, ACEA A3)
or
Mobil 1 0W-40 (European Car Formula)
(It meets: API spec of SN, ACEA A3)

I am currently going to use:
Castrol Edge 0W-30 with SPT (from Germany; aka: German Castrol, GC)
with Edelbrock Zinc Additive bottle
Which should bring my ZDDP level to just under 1500 ppm.

Using in my L99 6.2L V8 engine ('14 Camaro SS).

I havent really looked into it. I spent some time investigating oil and its properties after unexpectedly wiping the lobes off our 80's plow truck ten years back or whenever it was the zinc was ditched. Tried a few, got onto GC 0w30 and found it to be superb on stock engines, but not enough for cammed up motors roller or not, without pitting the stems so now I add about 1/2 bottle of GM EOS additive per change. No noticeable issues yet and I typically dont mess with success BUT....


Thanks for the tip re the 0w40, I'll be looking more into that as a potential for the next build, which will push many envelopes of performance

I used to use Joe Gibbs. While speaking to a lady at Carquest who has a GTO, she actually recommended Valvoline VR1, so I ran that this summer. The price was quite a bit better.

Motor builder recommended VR1 to me. Walmart now carrys it also.

Main reason I suggest Jor Gibbs LSoil is you can be assured its good to go. Most shelf oils change formula year to year without much notice, so just keep an eye on the rating codes on the back to be sure you dont end up wamboozled again. Happened to a lot of us with flat tappet engines when they changed it up across the board quietly.

AMSOIL also has ZROD which has 1440 ppm zinc and phosphorus 1320 ppm, or their Dominator Racing series has zinc 1575 ppm, phosphorus 1474 ppm.

ZROD 10w30 is $9.15/qt
Dominator 10w30 is $11.10/qt

Both of these are full class IV synthetics.

I'm using VR1 in mine.