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Do you add any zinc to the engine oil on a k5?

wazzabie

wazzabie

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Do you add any zinc to the engine oil on a k5?

Is off the shelf modern oil good for these old 350 engines?
 
I run Kendall racing oil because it has zinc but I may switch to a different brand that's easier to find. I have a hydraulic roller cam in the Blazer so I don't necessarily need it but I figure it's good insurance.

My wife's Jeep has a flat tappet cam so I add Rislone's zinc additive with every oil change. I don't use a "racing" type oil with zinc in the Jeep because I run Castrol which is everywhere in case she ever needed to add oil.

I don't use any additive in my Dodge diesel but I do run the "Cummins approved" Valvoline oil.
 
I think any engine that still has a factory flat tappet cam at this point, wouldn’t give it two thoughts

Second, if I was putting in a new flat tappet cam…
No, I don’t do that…
 
I still use zinc in my SBC with flat tappet hyd cam. Not in the 2016 Toyota or the 01 8.1, but the 8.1 got 15-40 Rotella it's last oil change.
 
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Run the zinc. Why not? I have flat flappers in mine. I've read a million and one posts about this. My conclusion is why wouldn't you run zinc if you have flat flabberts?

I'd rather error with caution using the zinc than flattening cam lobes amd having to spend a ton of $$ on an engine rebuild, When a $50 bottle of oil could have prevented that. Jejeheheheheheh

It won't hurt using that oil but it may hurt a lot more than your engine if you don't.

Valvoline makes one, Lucas makes one

 
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Valvoline VR1 Racing oil. It has the zinc but is kinda hard to find in stores. I buy from Amazon mostly. The pricing fluctuates but it's Currently $32 for a 6qt box which is cheap. Only comes in 2 viscosities 10w30 and 20w50.

Valvoline VR1 Racing SAE 10W-30 High Performance High Zinc Motor Oil 1 QT, Case of 6 https://a.co/d/5AtaJ7i
 
I’m in a heated discussion with shell about rotella as I write this. Rotella was Ck rated meaning it could have 1200 ppm zinc, the new bottles show an SN rating which caps zddp at 800 ppm. She’ll says these SN rated bottles don’t exist so I send pictures and they replied with “well that’s interesting, we need to ask corporate about this”.
 
Kommiefornia outlaw'd everything below SJ iirc, except SA, no additive oil. You can still have, sell and use any oil that would normally be SB-SJ but it can't say it on the bottle. If you look at VR1 there will be no S designation on the bottle.
 
Summit sells a house brand of “hot rod oil” with zinc. Specifically made for the old flat tapped cams. I usually just add a case whenever I order other stuff.. so far it’s good stuff at a good price.
 
I believe Rotella also has lowered zinc levels from what it used to have.
I use the Rotella and add a 4 oz bottle of zddp.
I get it from Amazon, Summit or even Eastwood has it.
Local auto parts stores should have the specialty oil with zddp but I don’t bother with it. I just add the 4 oz bottle to Rotella but added to any sn oil would be fine.
 
How many of you guys have lost a camshaft prior to changing flavors of oil?
 
Bent77 said:
How many of you guys have lost a camshaft prior to changing flavors of oil?
Click to expand...
I kinda agree, I mean as old as these trucks are if it hasn’t lost one yet it probably won’t because who knows what the prior owners ran for oil…..however I guess I figure a little extra insurance doesn’t hurt
 
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