What kind of oil are you using? | FerrariChat

What kind of oil are you using?

Discussion in '308/328' started by Jonny Law, Nov 9, 2010.

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  1. Jonny Law

    Jonny Law F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    May 6, 2008
    3,210
    Over yonder.
    Full Name:
    IT Guy
    OregonFerrari forwarded this to me. Had never really considered the chemical differences from one brand to another, much less the difference in additives.

    The Difference Engine: All change, oil change
    http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2010/11/tribology?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/bl/tribology

    ... a lot of well-maintained old cars, especially sportier models, have begun to fail in surprising numbers—as if struck down by some virulent new disease...

    ...To prevent excessive wear of the valve gear, motor oils have traditionally contained a fair amount of a zinc and phosphorus in the form of zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP)—with typically 1,700 parts per million (ppm) of zinc and 1,600 ppm of phosphorus. The ZDDP additive works by getting the zinc to react with the iron of the tappet surface and cam lobe, creating a glassy sacrificial barrier...

    ...the ZDDP in motor oils has been steadily reduced. Lately, however, the concentration has fallen precipitously in America...
     
  2. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,407
    Houston, Texas
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    Bubba
    AE Haas has pretty much covered it...

    I use Royal Purple 20-50w, but in an old 308GTB it shears down/dilutes pretty quickly.

    Regular interval on changes (3-4K miles)..
     
  3. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

    Jun 14, 2008
    6,912
    Full Name:
    Mike 996
    Oh good - let's find something else to worry about... ;)

    In the competition/performance engine building business, this was our advice to folks who asked what kind of oil to use: "Go to the parts store, stand in the oil aisle, close your eyes, spin around three times and point. Whatever brand of oil you pointed at of the proper weight will work just fine." It still will.
     
  4. 76Steel

    76Steel Formula 3

    Sep 8, 2007
    1,482
    New Jersey
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    Mike
    Ha, ha ... right. "Castrol 20/50" on my 76 308 and "Mobil 1 Synthetic" on my 96 'Vette. Works.
     
  5. BEisler

    BEisler Formula Junior

    Aug 16, 2006
    374
    Carmel, IN
    Valvoline VR1 Racing oil 20W50 in my 308 QV.
     
  6. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2006
    15,834
    Cerritos, CA.
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    Mike
    RedLine 5w/50
     
  7. shashi27

    shashi27 Formula Junior

    Jan 7, 2006
    988
    Long Valley, NJ
    Full Name:
    Shashi
    AGIP SINT
     
  8. Hans

    Hans F1 Veteran

    Feb 17, 2006
    7,734
    Hilversum, Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Hans Teijgeler
    Castrol semi-synth 10w40
     
  9. st@ven

    st@ven F1 Rookie

    Aug 4, 2008
    3,318
    Germany
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    Steven
    0W40 Mobil 1 synthetic
     
  10. decardona

    decardona Formula 3

    Apr 23, 2005
    1,019
    PA
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    Dennis Cardona
    Rotella T 15W40. The car is a '77 308.
     
  11. ClydeM

    ClydeM F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2003
    12,122
    Wayne, NJ
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    Clyde E. McMurdy
    Castrol 20-50 every 3K miles.
    The one time synthetic was put it it seeped out of everywhere.
    Back to dino stopped the weeping.
     
  12. stev4266

    stev4266 Karting

    Mar 24, 2010
    186
    R.I.
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    steven gregson
    I use Redline
     
  13. Paul308GTSi

    Paul308GTSi Formula 3

    Oct 26, 2008
    1,003
    Queensland Australia
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    Paul D
    Castrol Magnatec 10W 40.
     
  14. BillyD

    BillyD Formula 3
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    Feb 28, 2004
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    Pacific Northwest
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    Brad Penn 10-40 winter & 20-50 summer, not cheap but has enough zinc for cams
     
  15. bigodino

    bigodino F1 World Champ
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    Apr 29, 2004
    13,200
    The Netherlands
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    Peter den Biggelaar
    I used Agip Sint 2000 10W50. Currently it's in the shop and they are going to use Shell 10W60.

    Thanks for the information about the oil and valves. What's the consensus on lead replacement additives? Are they useful? Do they protect the valves?
     
  16. davebdave

    davebdave Formula 3
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Mar 18, 2007
    2,381
    Northern VA
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    Dave W
    +1 5w/40
     
  17. Crallscars

    Crallscars F1 Rookie

    Jun 7, 2006
    2,512
    Bainbridge, GA
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    Douglas Crall
    Castrol 20/50 and filter every 3000 miles.

    I am guessing oils will change before i am do again though, I have put 4000 miles on the car in 5 years, so I am do for my next change in 2 to 3 years
     
  18. Pizzaman Chris

    Pizzaman Chris F1 Rookie

    Mar 13, 2005
    3,919
    New Hampshire
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    Pizzaman Chris
    I asked my machinist what kind to use, when I ever get her up and going, and he recommend Valvoline VR 10 30.

    He said the racing version has all the "good stuff" in it.
     
  19. shashi27

    shashi27 Formula Junior

    Jan 7, 2006
    988
    Long Valley, NJ
    Full Name:
    Shashi
    I used this in old vettes I had. Was very good stuff. Old musle car guys swear by it.
     
  20. Crallscars

    Crallscars F1 Rookie

    Jun 7, 2006
    2,512
    Bainbridge, GA
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    Douglas Crall
    whatever happend to oil being oil?
     
  21. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

    Jun 14, 2008
    6,912
    Full Name:
    Mike 996
    "whatever happend to oil being oil?"

    Marketing and advertising happened! :)

    Go to 10 different shops and see what oil they "recommend" for your car...You can count on the fact that they will not be the same. Why? Because they are going to use the oil that they can get the best cost/benefit on. If they can buy brand X for 2 bucks a quart and sell it to you for 5 bucks or buy Brand Y for 3 bucks a quart and sell it to you for 5, which one do you think they are going to be stocking/selling/claiming is the best?

    I have seen shops (and worked in them) where marketing guys showed up one day and the shop went in literally one day from saying to customers, "By God, Valvoline is the best there is," to "Castrol is the ONLY oil we would ever use in a customer's car." It's absurd but marketing is marketing and companies can't survive without it.

    Note: I apologize to Castrol and Valvoline - it could have been any other motor oils but the example was what happened. At various times shops I worked with used: Kendell, Valvoline, Penzoil, Castrol, Mobil, Motul, Shell, Chevron, Quaker State...and those are the ones that come immediately to mind. And they changed as it was profitable to do so. Sometimes they went from one, to another, than back to the first one.

    That would seem to be a tough sell but somehow it worked and customers never seemed to catch on - January: "X oil is the best," June: "X oil sucks, we use Y." Oct: "Y has always been over-rated, tests show X is better." Ever wonder why all those "tests" they quote are just vague, like that..."tests show" but what tests?

    It's all ludicrous.
     
  22. Crallscars

    Crallscars F1 Rookie

    Jun 7, 2006
    2,512
    Bainbridge, GA
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    Douglas Crall
    Same with gasoline, it's heavily government controlled, except for a cleaning agent, it's all the same. Fancy station + great store = expensive fuel
     
  23. Glen_Lloyd

    Glen_Lloyd Formula Junior
    Owner

    Dec 13, 2003
    785
    Lloydminster AB
    Full Name:
    Glen
    SHELL Rotella T 15W-40
     
  24. Crallscars

    Crallscars F1 Rookie

    Jun 7, 2006
    2,512
    Bainbridge, GA
    Full Name:
    Douglas Crall
    Thats great oil, I have been using it in my first (255,000+ miles) and second (175,000+miles) diesel dodge trucks. Comes in gallon containers
     
  25. maestro8

    maestro8 Formula 3
    BANNED

    Dec 2, 2009
    2,054
    Nor Cal
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    Jason
    These are fine Italian machines.

    I only use the finest single-estate olive oil I can find.

    Now I clean the garage floor with a little black pepper and a baugette!
     

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