Comp Cams Lifters
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
I went to Autozone to see if they had the Rotella. It is diesel oil. Castrol had some diesel oil right next to the Shell Rotella. The Castrol oil had the 'glug proof spout', so I paid the extra 20 cents a gallon and bought that.
I read the bottle. It says it is good for gasoline engines as well as diesel engines, and has lots of goody ingredients that I didn't see in regular motor oil.
It makes sense to use it in older engines, the more I think about it. Diesel engines haven't been under the scrutiny of the EPA like gasoline engines have in cars, and this isn't the first time I heard of using the diesel oil in the old Lincoln.
If it blows the engine, I'll put up a post to let everyone know. LOL.
I'm screwed if that happens. I spent last winter building that Lincoln 400M engine in the cellar, and the wife already said no to my building the 71 Cougar engine (351C) (car is sitting in my yard) for a winter project, so this engine has to run!
I read the bottle. It says it is good for gasoline engines as well as diesel engines, and has lots of goody ingredients that I didn't see in regular motor oil.
It makes sense to use it in older engines, the more I think about it. Diesel engines haven't been under the scrutiny of the EPA like gasoline engines have in cars, and this isn't the first time I heard of using the diesel oil in the old Lincoln.
If it blows the engine, I'll put up a post to let everyone know. LOL.
I'm screwed if that happens. I spent last winter building that Lincoln 400M engine in the cellar, and the wife already said no to my building the 71 Cougar engine (351C) (car is sitting in my yard) for a winter project, so this engine has to run!
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Come to think of it most new engines are roller lifters or OH-cam engines. They don't need the additives for flat tappet cams so they have probably left them out of the new oils. 
I will post this article down in the lube forum also.
I will post this article down in the lube forum also.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,234
Likes: 3
From: In the woods of Oregon
Another thing I have heard that hurts the longevity of our current cams is the push towards higher lift per duration fiqures. In a sence the lifter has more angularity with the cam. A steeper ramp for the lifters to ride. To much lift per duration without a big enough lifter radius results in the lifter digging into the cam lobe instead of rotating up the ramp as normal.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 5
From: Delaware
Originally Posted by kopfenjager
Another thing I have heard that hurts the longevity of our current cams is the push towards higher lift per duration fiqures. In a sence the lifter has more angularity with the cam. A steeper ramp for the lifters to ride. To much lift per duration without a big enough lifter radius results in the lifter digging into the cam lobe instead of rotating up the ramp as normal.
That is why all the auto manufacturers have gone to roller cams and overhead cams.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Blacksburg, VA
smoulding---you don't have an oil pressure gauge by any chance do you? I was hoping to get some pressure comparisons between the way it ran with regular oil and once you put the diesel fuel in it.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Originally Posted by cwheel
smoulding---you don't have an oil pressure gauge by any chance do you? I was hoping to get some pressure comparisons between the way it ran with regular oil and once you put the diesel fuel in it.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: Redvers, SK
I have rebuilt 460's, 400's mopar 440's and 351c all with comp cams in them. I broke all these engines in using John Deere's Break-in oil. It is a special oil with additives just for new engines, it is a diesel grade of oil, and it is a 10-30 weight. Changed at 100 hours on tractors, and I changed the oil on these engines at 1500 miles. All engines still running strong, and the 460 has 40,000 miles on it now with no problem. I like this oil, and anyone can get it at their local J.D. dealer.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Idaho
Well then, a thanks to all that replied to help with this problem. The cam made it throught the 30 minute break in process. I used the recomended Shell/Rotella. The engine is running smooth. Now I just need to get the timing set correctly.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
I didn't put a pressure gauge in the Lincoln, so I have no idea if there is a pressure difference between the deisel oil and the regular motor oil. It is still running good, and there is less tapping. I think I'll run the deisel oil in there from now on.
New User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
GM has a oil additive with zink and all that good stuff in it put a can of it in there .I would use a good moly based coating on the cam and lifters when you install the new cam and lifters.I don't much care about the stuff they give you for assembley.I blew out a speed pro cam and a crane cam on break-in they just don't get a whole lot of oil from the lifter gallery .every one as well told me leave the inners in ,guess what took them out and third break-in went good .when i re-installed the inner springs I again coated the lifters with a moly assembley lube and did the break-in procedure again.I really believe with the inherant oiling problems these engines have a good zink additive pre-oiling the system for a bit and soft springs in the key.it worked for me.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 2
From: chicago burbs
i just thought of something else that would affect cam break-in and longevity, connecting rods used to have cam oilers built in that you just don't see very often any more. this Cleveland rod in front of me doesn't have it, do the M/400 rods have an oil shooter hole out one side from the cap/rod mating surfaces? there would also be a passage in the bearing too. wonder why that feature got phased out?