What is a good oil type for new cam break in???

What is a good oil type for new cam break in???
hey buddy sum1 told me to use diesel oil if its a flat tappet cam

It's almost impossible to beat Shell Rotella 15/40.

I have special "Break-in-oil" I'll sell you for $100 a quart guaranteed no to wipe a lobe, small investment when you consider the cost of the cam.

Rotella 15w40 and a bottle of GM's EOS.

It's almost impossible to beat Shell Rotella 15/40.
Hey Rick , Is that a good oil to run all the time in a HP engine?

Hey Rick , Is that a good oil to run all the time in a HP engine?

Yes that or chevron delo both designed for diesels so they contain more zinc.
Zinc reduces wear and tear tremendously.Chevron has a tad of moly in it also. The reason why regular motor oils have low levels of zinc is because the stuff destroys cat converters. But now delo and rotella have a new formula which reduced the zinc a lot I believe. It's suppose to be cleaner burning but who knows how well it works. The older formulas are rated CI-4 while the new stuff will be rated CJ-4. Or you could use valvoline VR-1 as it has higher zinc levels but is also arond 5 bucks a qt while the diesel stuff is around 9-10 dollar a gallon.

Yes it is, both the Rotella and Delo still test out in the 1400ppm range for zinc. Diesel pickup truck guys are going 10,000 miles on this oil and it still tests out fine at that mileage.

As an FYI, we have not used any additional additives when breaking in a new motor on the dyno ever. When oil specs began to change a few years ago and we began to have issues we switched oil, after a very long diagnostic process. Over the past three years we use 20/50 NAPA on break in with no issues.

But now delo and rotella have a new formula which reduced the zinc a lot I believe.

You're correct. With the EPA now requiring emissions equipment on 2007 and newer diesels, the oils HAD to be reformulated so the higher amounts of ZDDP (zinc & phosphorous) would not "poison" the emissions equipment. If you can find the older Rotella or equivalent formula, then you should be fine. Otherwise something like Valvoline VR1 racing blend is ideal because they purposely added more ZDDP back into the oil just for flat-tappet cam users. Either way add a bottle of EOS at intial startup and break-in of any flat-tappet camshaft.

Not all oils had to be dumbed down with AW protectants, the oils I listed are fine for break in. The last VOA I saw for VR1 had LESS AW additives than either the Rotella and the Delo 400 15/40's. That is not an oil I would run for break in.

rich you're saying the new formulas have decent amount of zinc? I also heard the gov on gm for the eos so they lowered the levels also. thanks

Yes

rich you're saying the new formulas have decent amount of zinc? I also heard the gov on gm for the eos so they lowered the levels also. thanks

Well that just wouldn't make any sense. It's an intial break-in oil additive. It's not required for anything assembled with a roller camshaft. The last bottle I saw actually said it was NOT recommended for pollution controlled vehicles. I don't think the EPA would regulate it since it's not classified with any class of motor oil.

Originally Posted by RickWI
The last VOA I saw for VR1 had LESS AW additives than either the Rotella and the Delo 400 15/40's. That is not an oil I would run for break in.

The most updated list (12/7/06) I have shows the Valvoline VR1 racing blend as having 33% more ZDDP than the newest formulation of Shell Rotella-D or Chevron Delo.