[Healeys] oil weight

Bob Spidell bspidell at comcast.net
Wed Jun 10 21:32:43 MDT 2015


OK, I'll bite.  How, exactly, do you formulate an oil for an older 
engine (besides adding lots of ZDDP for flat tappet cams)?  Except for 
(possibly) looser clearances--not necessarily so if you have a good 
machinist--what is the difference between an older iron block and a 
newer one (I know many modern engines are Al), Al pistons, steel con 
rods, babbitt bearings, etc.

We are running modern oils in:

- a 1946 Chevy 2-ton truck
- a 1955 T-Bird
- a 1956 BN2/100M
- a 1965 Mustang (289)
- a 1967 BJ8 (that gets 4-5K miles/year and uses--drips, mostly--a quart 
of oil every 3,500 miles)

... with no issues with the oil whatsoever.  Sorry, but while I'm sure 
Pennrite is a good oil, unless you/they can tell me exactly what needs 
to be formulated for older engines it sounds like marketing blather to 
me.  If 'formulated for older engines' means you get lots of sludge and 
gunk in the pan thanks, but I'll pass.  I had the timing cover off my 
BJ8 to replace the seal the other day and was astounded at how clean it 
was; not a speck of crud (110,000 miles since the last rebuild).

Note there are strict requirements (per SAE) for oil viscosities, so 
20W-50 Pennrite is the same viscosity as 20W-50 KMart oil and, BTW, 
there's no good reason not to use a multi-vis oil; you're doing your top 
end a disservice every time you start the engine if you don't. I believe 
Pennrite makes a XXW-60 oil, which should give a little more oil 
pressure if your engine is oil pressure-challenged.

Any racers on the List care to chime in?  Richard M., aka 'Boy Racer,' 
are you on here?

Gearboxes?  No question, modern synthetics--like Redline MT-90--are 
hands down the best (if you can live with the leaking--I can).

Bob

ps.  I'm not trying to be antagonistic Patrick, I just don't buy the 
Pennrite line


On 6/10/2015 5:53 PM, Patrick & Caroline Quinn wrote:
>
> G’day
>
> I don’t think you read was I said.
>
> Not a problem using modern oils, but they should be oils formulated 
> for older engines.
>
> Take for instance the oil for the gearbox. I certainly wouldn’t use an 
> oil that contains a detergent.
>
> Hoo Roo
>
> Patrick
>
>

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