So after studying these threads, I'm under the impressing that that I might need to switch to a oil with more zinc content.

Question: 1994 F350 with 460 motor, does this truck have hydrolic roller cam, or the older style "flat tappet" cam?

Truck has 133K on it and currently I've been using Maxlife 10w30, but I think switching to Rotella or Valvoline Racing could be good for this older engine.

 

According to the factory service manual, only the Lightning 351 had a flat tappet cam by 1993.

Jim

 

Thanks for the help Jim! I'll probably just stick with the Maxlife then...

 

I would do that, Maxlife is a very good oil.

 

=Ganggreen;6438536]So after studying these threads, I'm under the impressing that that I might need to switch to a oil with more zinc content.
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GangGreen, Zinc is a very important ingredient in oil, especially for older engines, but I feel your stud 460 Ford is still new enough that it is not imperative that you have it in a modern oil.

As suggested, I too would recommend a quality high mileage oil such as Valvoline's Max-Life. In your case, I would use a 10w30 oil. Higher viscosity is not needed, UNLESS you have blow-by, piston slapping, extreme oil consumption / burning, and generally have a haze of light blue exhaust smoke coming out of your tailpipe. Your enegine is not experiencing any of those symptoms, right?

For example, if you need to add a quart of oil at or around 4500-5000 miles after an oil change, I would consider that normal consumption for a older, high mileage "semi-tight" engine. A "tight" engine, I feel, is a low mileage engine, (new to 75,000 miles with scheduled mainteneance performed religiously at factory recommended intervals) or an older engine that has just been rebuilt to factory specs.

Valvoline Max-Life 10w30 will enable your 460 to pump the oil very quickly to your crucial camshaft, valve-train area, reduce internal friction in the mains and crankshaft area and in general allow your 460 to run at all RPM's efficiently and easily overall.

A 5w30 or 10w30 will allow your 460 to get peak fuel mileage, at our high gasoline prices, in a high-mileage lubricant. Valvoline Max-Life is an excellent product. I've used it before, and have seen friends use it in their vehicles, ALL with usually very quick and immediate good results.

Back to zinc in oil for a minute. Joe Gibbs Racing is now making an EXCELLENT, state-of-the art synthetic oil that is availabe to anyone (Some NAPA, many speciality performance stores, 4X4 off road centers, restoration businesses, and import specialty performance stores are now stocking this new oil). As you can see, this oil has a nice zinc additive!

Here is more of what I'm talking about:
New Hot Rod

Anyway, just my 2 cents Ed

 

I just found out in the big block forum that the 90's 460 only had flat tappet cams not roller?! I'm getting confused now.

10w30 has seemed to do great for now. I've only been using it for about 15k miles though. But I don't want to take any chances. It does get 110 degrees or more here in the AZ summers, so maybe a 15w40 would be good.

Did a little browsing on the valvoline website and found this about how although valvoline oils does not as have as much zinc as previous oils but it is a better type of zinc that last longer supposedly, and also VR1 Racing as an option with 75% more zinc content.

http://www.valvoline.com/downloads/2008-003a.pdf

 

Hmmmm, I just read the same thing. I honestly still think you'll be fine using the Maxlife. It doesn't have zinc but should have moly, which is good. On the other hand, I don't see a problem using the VR1, it's just more expensive.

In my 70 F100, it has not seen a "zinc" oil in at least 10 years and runs very well. I'm not sure where you get your oil, but I would recommend wal mart. I know here in AZ, the maxlife 5qt jug is 14.00 at wally world. Also Valvoline Synpower is only 99 cents/qt after rebate at checker auto parts

 

Maxlife at Walmart has been my source. I always get the 5 qt jug. Funny you mention the sale on synpower at checker...I just saw that the other day and was very tempted to buy some up.

 

Yeah me too. Synpower is actually a really good oil, especially for 99 cents a quart. It's great too because it's extended drain as well because its synthetic. Kind of a win win.

 

Or, you could look around for a CI-4+/SH or SL rated diesel oil, like Shell Rotella T in either 10-30 or 5-40, both of which have a pretty potent ZDDP package. Don't know how much of it is still available, since they're changing over to the CJ-4/SM formulation. I know there sure isn't much CI-4+ 5-40 left in PA, because I've been scarfing it all up for use in our older diesel equipment.

There is much debate at the various oil forums about whether or not the reduced ZDDP levels in SM rated oils will cause cam/lifter wear in older engines - some maintain that it's only a problem during break-in with high performance flat tappet cams. All I know is that the problem seems to have surfaced after going to the SM formulation, so, using a pre-SM rated oil, especially if you can get one that's also rated for diesel use (to get their substantial add-packs), seems to make sense.

Or, I could be totally wrong.

 

According to a Shell email about Rotella. The older CI-4 had about 1400ppm zinc, the new CJ-4 has 1200ppm, which is still quite high. I've heard that all the gasoline SM oil's don't have more than 800ppm due to new regulations.

 

If you're into that kind of detail, cruise over to BITOG and look around in the UOA/VOA section. Here's one for an admittedly diesel specific oil (John Deere 0W-40) J-D 0W-40 Semi-Syn. (24 HP Yanmar Diesel) - Bob Is The Oil Guy - how about them zinc/phosphorous numbers!! Can't imagine a cam wearing out while using that stuff!!

Here's a neat chart (2nd or 3rd page) showing ZDDP and other oil info for a variety of selections http://www.turbodieselregister.com/TDR57_Oil.pdf

And, Mobil 1 offers
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/...duct_Guide.pdf

This stuff can become addictive.

 

[QUOTE=Ganggreen;6441652]I just found out in the big block forum that the 90's 460 only had flat tappet cams not roller?! I'm getting confused now.

10w30 has seemed to do great for now. I've only been using it for about 15k miles though. But I don't want to take any chances. It does get 110 degrees or more here in the AZ summers, so maybe a 15w40 would be good.

Did a little browsing on the valvoline website and found this about how although valvoline oils does not as have as much zinc as previous oils but it is a better type of zinc that last longer supposedly, and also VR1 Racing as an option with 75% more zinc content.

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A 10w30 will easily take those 110 degree AZ summer heat. You have Vipers, Corvettes, Mustangs traveling cross country with 5w30, 5w20, oils, for a month of Sundays.

Modern oils do not break down due to heat, such as was common for oils in the 40s 50s and early 60s/.

Engines in the last 20+ years are purposely designed to run hot, normally (less emmissions out the tailpipe) and need oils that can handle this.

In fact, a turbo 4 cylinder, such as a 80s, era 2.2 Omni GLHS, will run hotter and whip the oil on the bottom-end, much worse than any V8, which would be gentle to an oil by comparison.

 

If you want good zinc content, everyone loves Chevron Delo in 10W-30 flavor.

 

[QUOTE=Ganggreen;6441652]I just found out in the big block forum that the 90's 460 only had flat tappet cams not roller?! I'm getting confused now.

10w30 has seemed to do great for now. I've only been using it for about 15k miles though. But I don't want to take any chances. It does get 110 degrees or more here in the AZ summers, so maybe a 15w40 would be good.

Did a little browsing on the valvoline website and found this about how although valvoline oils does not as have as much zinc as previous oils but it is a better type of zinc that last longer supposedly, and also VR1 Racing as an option with 75% more zinc content.

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I would use the Valvoline Racing 10w30 (Part #VV 205) for the added zinc, plus it's a fuel and friction efficient lubricant. The best of both worlds (as Van Halen once said with Sammy Hagar on lead vocals back in the mid-80s) for an older engine needing zinc.

Ed