Which engine Oil?

[pete917]

I have just about finished rebuilding a 3.2c engine.

What are the views on engine oils. Which oil is best for running in and how often should it be cahnged during the running in period. Then, when the engine is run in, whats the best engine oil to use?

Many thanks
Pete

[SP2]

Ok, lots of recent threads on oils. But what I am going to do is break in my new cams and rockers with Rotella T 15w40, then change the oil in about 1000 miles to Valvoline VR-1 20w50, and that's what I will use all the time after that. My plan is based on what many of the recent threads have concluded/suggested.

[cnavarro]

Do a search both here and on Rennlist. There are two active threads on oils/additives on Rennlist.

Although you are bound to find my link on many threads, it's worth repeating here. It might answer some of your questions:

http://www.LNengineering.com/oil.html

[chris_seven]

We have just started using Joe Gibbs Racing 'Break-In' Oil and then running our Rally engines on JGR XP4

http://www.joegibbsracingoil.com/datasheets/JGD_ProductBrochure.pdf

We have used Valvoline 20/50 Racing for some time with good success but I believe that the additive levels have been reduced because of the new API regs and as the JGR products are for 'Race' use they still have higher zinc and phosphorous levels.

Really difficult decision though.

[MBruns]

We have used and tested the gibbs oil for some time and its amazing ! They spared no expense in formulating the stuff. When we began testing the product we tested it in the SCCA Spec Ford engines which are not very powerful but are extremly consistant,On the engine dyno they repeat within a tenth or two over 5 pulls. the teams that run and rent those cars will bring over 5-6 engines and test for days to find the best one and then struggle for a few tenths of a hp to get the best one (these are all sealed engines) they usually run some type of special oil and some run mobil 1, the other day on the last engine we added a change of the Gibbs oil and on the first pull it picked up 2.7 hp and settled in at a gain of just over 3 hp ( thats on an engine that only made 110 peak hp) The Nextel cup boys see gains in areas up to over 15 hp. We use it in our 3.8 RSR and have been very happy.

Mike Bruns JBRacing.com

[cnavarro]

Mike, I plan on testing a few of their oils, which have you used?

[MBruns]

Hi Charles,the product we use in the 3.8 is the XP3, what we used in the spec fords was the XP1 and Lake Speed Jr. at Gibbs said the XP2 would show better results than we found, they base the selection on bearing clearances, They have been very helpful.
We met them at the PRI show last year as we had our booth next to them in the show, We are due to pull the 3.8 apart soon and will get another look at results.

Mike

[afterburn 549]

WOW on their web sight one eng. dropped 40. deg! like wowsa man......if its not all hype

[Loaded]

silkolene 15w50