oil in a rebuilt engine
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 781
Likes: 18
From: East Texas
Roller or flat tappet cam?
If it is a flat tappet cam and you want to use synthetic, I'd suggest Rotella 5W-40, Royal Purple or Redline. I had the engine in my 77 rebuilt ~3 years ago and have been using Rotella or Motorcraft Super Duty oil (not synthetic). The dual rated diesel/gasoline oils have higher levels of zinc and phosphorous antiwear agents which will be better for the flat tappet cam.
If it is a flat tappet cam and you want to use synthetic, I'd suggest Rotella 5W-40, Royal Purple or Redline. I had the engine in my 77 rebuilt ~3 years ago and have been using Rotella or Motorcraft Super Duty oil (not synthetic). The dual rated diesel/gasoline oils have higher levels of zinc and phosphorous antiwear agents which will be better for the flat tappet cam.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 781
Likes: 18
From: East Texas
Not a problem per se, though I have heard of high volume pumps causing the distributor gear to shear the roll pin. As far as cams, and you may know this, the flat tappet cam (flat side of lifter rides on the cam) has a little more need for antiwear agents (zinc/phosphorous). The roller cam (rollers on base of lifter ride on cam lobe) do not have the same need for highers concentrations of antiwear agents.
You might contact the engine rebuilder to see what is in the engine.
You might contact the engine rebuilder to see what is in the engine.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: Somerset County, PA
Mobil 1 5W-40 TurboDieselTruck is another good one. 
I was never a great fan of high-volume pumps in the Windsors, since they have pretty good oiling systems, and there's supposedly the chance of extended high RPM use pumping the pan dry (although I've never actually seen such a condition - maybe it's an urban myth?
). Do you have a high capacity pan on there?
I was never a great fan of high-volume pumps in the Windsors, since they have pretty good oiling systems, and there's supposedly the chance of extended high RPM use pumping the pan dry (although I've never actually seen such a condition - maybe it's an urban myth?
). Do you have a high capacity pan on there?
