I picked up some 5-30 synthetic oil on sale and I planned on using it my 67 122S with a B 20 engine.. Now I am wondering if it might be too light..The engine is in very good shape with good oil pressure and does no use oil.. Where I live it can get into the 90 plus F range in the summer.. Any ideas ??

I use 10w-40 Mobil 1 High Mileage and add 4oz of ZDDP from iRoll Motors.

http://irollmot.ipower.com/oscom/product_info.php?cPath=27&products_id=121&osCsid=55a55b9d692f086fea7f4feacfb703a8

I have been using for the a last 5 years Accel 10/40 that has the zinc additives ,, works ok,,,will look into the racing oil that planetman suggests...

The Accel costs around 2 buck a quart at Walmart..

So here's a response from Castrol to my inquiry about ZDDP in their oils.

"Thank you for contacting Castrol North America.

Castrol always recommends following the guidelines of your manufacturer to determine the recommended grade and API specific to your application. This information can be found in your owner's manual, or by contacting your OEM directly.

Castrol EDGE with Syntec Power Technology (SPT) SAE 5W-50 has been recently reformulated to have a boosted level of ZDDP (1300 ppm) to help protect flat tappet cam engines in classic cars. This engine oil is a full synthetic, has excellent cold temperature properties, and has a high temperature viscosity (SAE 50) that is suitable for use in many classic car applications."

How do you guys feel about that? I mean the 5W-50 in our Volvos?

I also wrote to Lucas Oil and their response is posted below

"No. Our Stabilizer has no zinc. We have a product called Engine Oil Break in oil additive, TB Zinc Plus. Part # 10063
It is a pint size bottle and you add half the bottle to a 4.75 quart capacity and it will provide you with 1,600 ppms of zinc. All new API oils are mandated to no more then 900 ppms of zinc due to premature wear on the catalytic converter."

I wrote back

Thanks for responding. I use 20% mix of Lucas Oil stabilizer with 80% Castrol 10/30 GTX, which is a conventional oil. Should I replace 1/2 pint of your stabilizer or 1/2 pint of the Castrol with your break in additive? My old Volvos have an oil capacity of 3.75 liters or 7.91 US pints. Just under 4 quarts.

His response "Back off on the Oil Stabilizer by 8 ounces."

I used the Castol Edge full sythetic 5-30 and threw in a can of zinc replacement for good measure..Next change will be something heavier, maybe 20-50 if I can find some synthetic stuff..

Amsoil makes a high zinc content 20w-50 engine oil. Product code ZRFQT.
It's specifically formulated for flat tappet applications and has oxidation inhibitors in it for long term storage. And no, I'm not affiliated with Amsoil, I've just been using their products for 32 years.

Amsoil makes a high zinc content 20w-50 engine oil. Product code ZRFQT.
It's specifically formulated for flat tappet applications and has oxidation inhibitors in it for long term storage. And no, I'm not affiliated with Amsoil, I've just been using their products for 32 years.

Amsoil makes a high zinc content 20w-50 engine oil. Product code ZRFQT.
It's specifically formulated for flat tappet applications and has oxidation inhibitors in it for long term storage. And no, I'm not affiliated with Amsoil, I've just been using their products for 32 years.

You'd think I'd be better at this after this much time...

You need thicker than 5W. Castrol RX Super 15W-40 is what I prefer. It states that it has enough phosphorus to kill a cat con and gives me no cam problems. Being a modern diesel oil, it should be good for 30,000kms. I have always used the larger Ford filter on my B20's and extend mild engines out to 10,000miles and racier B20's out to 5000miles, depending on how much lift the cam has.
--
Three 164's, Two 144's, One 142 & a partridge in a pear tree.

I recommend looking at the Amsoil Z-rod oils as an option. Plenty of zinc and phosphorus for the old timers.

Amazon Guru Phil Singer recommends Valvoline All Fleet Plus 15W40, or its Napa labeled equivalent....I'd be hard pressed to sway from this as it has all the additives that our B18/B20 needs.

how do you completely delete a post? Not just edit it. Not mu inquiry above, I still want that one there.

I suggest you use oil that has the proper amount of ZDDP which is a combination of Zinc and Phosphorous.

AFAIK almost all non-racing multiweight engine oils DO NOT have enough ZDDP as it has been determined that ZDDP is harmful to catalytic converters and has been almost completely eliminated from those oils.

You can buy an additive, but most manufacturers of 30w engine oil still put enough ZDDP in their oils.

We use Napa 30w which is manufactured by Ashland in Texas who makes Valvoline. And I took the time to verify with Napa that the amount of ZDDP is suffcient for normal street driving. Napa did recommend higher levels of ZDDP for high performance engines.

The camshaft and lifters will suffer premature wear if you don't use an oil with enough ZDDP.

Less than 2 years ago we rebuilt an engine for an 1800E. The customer did his own oil changes using Mobil 1 and did not use an additive. About a year after the engine was installed, we had to change the camshaft and lifters due to massive wear. I should have taken pictures, but I returned the camshaft to Isky for analysis and my salesman said the camshaft material was not to blame.

He now uses only VR1 Valvoline racing oil which has tons of ZDDP.
--
Eric

Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)

Torrance, CA 90502

This is some eye opening real world experience - Thanks

p.s. I wonder how concerned I should be on my B230ft ? I use Delco 15w-40
--
I own a Volvo or Does Volvo Own Me? Try the easy to search Expanded Style FAQ Index http://40mph.com/Brickboard_700-900_FAQ_Expanded_Index_Version/

My mechanic put a synthetic 10W-30 in my B20. My compression is a little light (135 average) and I was getting a James Bond cloud of white smoke when I would come off the gas or down shift. Research told me to go 20W-50 and with a high zinc phosphorus content. Looked at the Valvoline race oils, but settled on Mobile 1 V-Twin 20W-50 motorcycle oil instead. Clouds are mostly gone now.

I'm just about to change the oil in both Amazons and this seems like a good time to change brands if required. I have been using CASTROL GTX with 20% Lucas oil stabilizer. I looked for ZDDP in the tech sheets that Castrol has posted on line. There doesn't seem to be anything about it or a list of ingredients at all for that matter. This particular oil seems conspicuously absent from the discussion. Does anyone have any information on it?

No Lordcos here, but Valvoline is probably available-I'll look for it while I await comments. Thanks.

Thanks for all the good advice !! I may look for a ZDDP additive,,,

I believe that EOS is available at Lordco (where we get a 30% discount as a VCBC members).

Cheers,
--
Barry '67 122S "Betty" (Rest in parts), '69 122S "Veronica"

I just got back from Lordco..I picked up some Edelbrock Zinc Additive for 20 dollars and a few cents for one treatment.... Bloody expensive..

I am using Brad Penn 5-30. It also has plenty of ZDDP.