I know I am beating a dead horse, but here it goes. I have just purchaced a 1978 chev bel air 4 door sedan, people keep telling me that these old engines need older style engine oil, not the new formulated stuff for new modern engine, like brand X oil with the API classification SH. What I have heard is that they are removing the zinc and phosphurous from these new oils and its having an effect on the flat tappet valvetrain that is so common in our beloved power plants. The oil everyone is telling me to use is heavy duty diesel engine oil, I can see the reason why, as a diesel engine operates under heavy loads and shocks just due to the design of the beast, but what oil to use. I work in a VW dealer and all new 2009 and up diesels must meet a strict emissions requirement, light and heavy duty vehicles, thus even diesel oil is loosing some of those critical additives. I believe they are removing these additive because they have an effect on the diesel DPF and the gasoline cat converters. What do you guys think?
Good quality dyno oil is what I use I watch for deals and buy extra I use Castrol Synthetic for my Suburban and 2500HD My old cars get Dyno oil changed 3 times a year It a very personel question you should get 1400 responces
You can use the SH oil fine. The diesel oils are good too with the heavy duty soot handling additives. Sometimes though if an older engine is not used to the higher detergents in the diesel oil, they get cleaned out a bit too much and start using oil. I don't worry that and use Petro-Canada Duron 5W40 synthetic in everything , all gasoline and diesel, and it works great. I would be careful though in some of these newer engines that call for 5W20 as their clearances are designed for a lighter oil and you better use the recommended grade.
