Oil choice for flat tappet cam ?
#1040362
07/26/11 12:42 PM
07/26/11 12:42 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 45
Forest Grove,Oregon
beepbeepdon
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OP
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Forest Grove,Oregon
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Hi All I wanted some input as to who uses what oil with their flat tappet cam.I have a Hughes Racing flat tappet cam and engaged them and they recommend running either Joe Gibbs Hot Rod conventional or synthetic. I have been using Hughes Extreme Pressure additive and conv Pennzoil 20W/50 but from what I am told that I should start using an oil with high zinc content designed in the oil..I am just curious what you all use. I want to protect my engine/investment as much as possible....and not end up with a flat cam......Any input would be appreciated....Thanks  ......btw The guys at Hughes are very professional and have always answered my questions and concerns
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Re: Oil choice for flat tappet cam ?
[Re: SILVER67]
#1040367
07/26/11 01:24 PM
07/26/11 01:24 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,091
Delray beach, Florida
Performance Only
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top fuel
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Delray beach, Florida
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i use the Brad Penn break in oil along with an additive for camshaft break in. after that, just the regular Brad Penn oil in the appropriate weight designation for the application.
machine shop owner and engine builder
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Re: Oil choice for flat tappet cam ?
[Re: mistress]
#1040369
07/26/11 01:59 PM
07/26/11 01:59 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
383man
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Balt. Md
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I just broke in my cam about 2 months ago. It is .634 and .630 lift with 1.6 rockers and I used Valvoline Racing oil with Comp break in additive. I did remove the inner springs when breaking in the cam but all went great with no problems at all. Ron
Last edited by 383man; 07/26/11 01:59 PM.
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Re: Oil choice for flat tappet cam ?
[Re: Biginchmopar]
#1040370
07/26/11 02:02 PM
07/26/11 02:02 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,300
Northern Indiana
Dunnuck Racing
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Northern Indiana
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Quote:
Joe Gibbs-they did all there research and it is the best oil out there.
I agree,I use the Gibbs assembly lube and break in oil.
As far as oil to use after the break in,I have been using the Gibbs Racing mineral oil,and have had absolutely no wear issues with flat tappet cam and lifter set ups.
If you go exactly by what Gibbs tells you,you don't want to add any additives to his stuff.
As far as adding a bottle of break in additive to other oils,a lot of guys have luck with it but I am getting away from that myself after a little research on how the zddp additives are blended.
I think it is better to have something designed for what you need than to mix your own.
Too much money invested in a good engine to comprimise with oils and additives anymore. 
Keith
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Re: Oil choice for flat tappet cam ?
[Re: beepbeepdon]
#1040372
07/26/11 03:55 PM
07/26/11 03:55 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 249
Sonora, CA
68X426
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Sonora, CA
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Valvoline VR1 has high zinc content (14ppm) and phosphorus (13). http://www.valvoline.com/pdf/VR-1%20Racing%20Motor%20Oil.pdf
Last edited by 68X426; 07/26/11 03:56 PM.
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Re: Oil choice for flat tappet cam ?
[Re: beepbeepdon]
#1040373
07/26/11 04:01 PM
07/26/11 04:01 PM
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Az
Crizila
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Royal Purple full synthetic and Hughes additive. Running over a .6" lift Hyd. After 3 years ( and 2 sets of springs ), NO appreciative valve train ware.
Fastest 300
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Re: Oil choice for flat tappet cam ?
[Re: Crizila]
#1040374
07/26/11 06:13 PM
07/26/11 06:13 PM
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in a cattle trailer down by th...
Guitar Jones
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I had a .672 lift (1.6 rocker) Hughes flat tappet for over 20 years and it's still good. I even had it in 2 different blocks with the same lifters. I used just the moly lube initially for break in with cheap convential oil and just the outer springs. After break in I added the inner springs and changed to Mobil 1 10w30. I had to add more spring pressure as it would valve float at 7500. I ended up running 140 on the seat and 440 over the nose with nothing more than 10w30 Mobil 1 all it's life. It is still a very usable cam. I was going to use it again in my 408 but a killer deal cam up on a solid roller with only 10 dyno pulls on it so that is what went into the new engine.
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Re: Oil choice for flat tappet cam ?
[Re: beepbeepdon]
#1040375
07/26/11 07:14 PM
07/26/11 07:14 PM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,285
Pacific NW USA
CompSyn
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pro stock
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Pacific NW USA
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Quote:
Hi All
I wanted some input as to who uses what oil with their flat tappet cam.I have a Hughes Racing flat tappet cam and engaged them and they recommend running either Joe Gibbs Hot Rod conventional or synthetic. I have been using Hughes Extreme Pressure additive and conv Pennzoil 20W/50 but from what I am told that I should start using an oil with high zinc content designed in the oil..I am just curious what you all use. I want to protect my engine/investment as much as possible....and not end up with a flat cam......Any input would be appreciated....Thanks ......btw The guys at Hughes are very professional and have always answered my questions and concerns
Okay, since you specifically asked for "any input", here is mine.
There's a lot of marketing hype, personal opinion, and overall bias out there regarding motor oils.
If you like, you can look to an ASTM approved bench test for a preliminary evaluation of the overall anti-wear package of a few of the most popular high performance motor oils on the market.
Click here for LARGER IMAGE
American Society of Testing and Materials(ASTM)
ASTM D4172 - 94(2010) Standard Test Method for Wear Preventive Characteristics of Lubricating Fluid (Four-Ball Method)
Significance and Use:
This test method can be used to determine the relative wear preventive properties of lubricating fluids in sliding contact under the prescribed test conditions. No attempt has been made to correlate this test with balls in rolling contact. The user of this test method should determine to his own satisfaction whether results of this test procedure correlate with field performance or other bench test machines..
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for making a preliminary evaluation of the anti-wear properties of fluid lubricants in sliding contact by means of the Four-Ball Wear Test Machine.
2. Test Conditions
132 pounds of applied pressure - 302 degrees Fahrenheit operating temperature - 1800 rpm - 1 hour duration.
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Re: Oil choice for flat tappet cam ?
[Re: beepbeepdon]
#1040380
07/27/11 11:19 PM
07/27/11 11:19 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
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IN
ahy
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Quote:
One more question if I may......Will switching from Pennzoil 20W50 conventional + additive to Joe Gibbs Full synthetic HR-4 10W30 after 20 or so passes harm the cam or motor....We broke it in on Pennzoil 30W + additive.....Thanks again everyone for all the info,I really appreciate it 
I don't think the switch from conventional to synthetic in general will hurt, however, that's a big change in viscosity. What does the engine want/need in terms of viscosity? Is 10W30 enough? Also, what are the zinc specs on the Joe Gibbs synthetic? If over 1300-1400 PPM should be ok in that area.
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