I'm about to start my engine for the first time. What type and weight motor oil is best to use once it is past the 20 minute break in? Here are my engine specs.

440ci
Bored .40 over
Closed chambered heads ported and polished
2.14/1.81 valves, hardened seats
Harland Sharp roller rockers
Comp Cam XE 274 cam and lifters
LY rods
Keith Black Hyperutectic pistons
Forged crank
Clevite bearings
Factory mains
ARP head, main and rod bolts
Double roller timing chain
Edelbrock RPM intake
Holley Street Avenger 770 vacuum secondary
TTi 1 7/8" headers
2.5" mandrel bent exhaust to stock tips
Turbo mufflers
H pipe
mini starter

Thanks!

A 10w30 that is appropriate for flat tappets--(high ZDDP)

Im breaking in with flat tappet on amsoil 30w break in. 10/40 or 15/40 after that. Amsoil hotrod.

Valvoline Racing Oil is what I have always used. Never lost a cam or lifters with it. Any time I used something different, I lost a cam and lifters on a new Comp Cam that WAS broken in correctly. Valvoline Racing Oil still has the max amount of the Zinc additive you can get without a custom blend. As long as you are not running Catalytic converters, you should not have any issues with it.

http://www.valvoline.com/products/VR...otor%20Oil.pdf

The Valvoline VR-1 Racing Motor Oil
• The #1 selling Racing Oil of all time and race track proven.
• Protects against high-temperature deposits for a cleaner engine.
• ZDDP additive provides tough anti-wear protection.
• Enhanced with fricition modifier to improve horsepower.
• Formulated with enhanced anti-foam system.
Approvals/Performance Levels
Viscosity Grade/Other
API SM/SL/SJ
- - - - - - 20W-50
API SH
10W-30 20W-50
API CD
10W-30 20W-50
Test
10W-30
20W-50
Vis @ 100°C (cSt)
11.5
20.5
Vis @ 40°C (cSt)
77.0
181.8
Viscosity Index
143
132
Spec Gravity @ 60°F
0.8722
0.888
Density (lbs/gal)
7.27
7.39
Total Base No.
8
8
Flash COC (°C)
212
248
Pour Point (°C)
-33
-24
CCS cP (°C)
6200(-25C)
8000(-15C)
MRV TP-1 cP (°C)
20,000(-30C)
27,000(-20C)
Noack % off @ 250C
<15
<15
Sulfated Ash
1
1
Zinc/Phosphorus
0.130/0.120
0.130/0.120
Calcium
0.250
0.250

Same here on Valvoline but there are a few other great oils out there........I know my tear-downs are an average of 6-7 years it seems and things look real good considering how much I drive my car especially testing several different carbs. Valvoline and Isky cams...........Innovators not copy cats.......

Would that valvoline be in the gray or the black bottle?

Brad Penn oil.

Valvoline VR1 in the gray bottle is what I run. I do oil samples and it always runs around 1200PPM of Zinc. Brab Penn, Joe Gibbs and Amsoil make some good oils also that probably have a higher rating of zinc. Valvoline is easy to find here and $7 a QT.

Valvoline is good, but I like Brad Penn oils a little more. This old thread may interest you.

I'd leave the breakin oil in for 5000 miles...why waste it? It is what I do have done for 30 years..

Some folks waste so much oil it's

Valvoline VR1 race oil...found at any parts store.

You're kidding right............

Excellent information, although wouldn't using the break in oil wear your motor down to nothing if you kept using it?

Does the Valvoline VR-1 come in just one viscosity?

No, it comes in several different viscosities. I'd use 10w30 or maybe 20w50 if the clearances are on the loose side.

For 30 years huh? What "break-in" oil were you using 30 years ago?

I'd break it in for longer than 20 minutes. I like to go through several heat cycles in my race engines before putting the "regular" oil in afterwards, which is Amsoil Dominator.

Running softer valve springs for break in is good insurance, but a pain because then you have to change them out to what's recommended.

Amsoil Tech Bulliten - High zinc oils.

Why would you run any oil for 5000 miles, especially on a new engine? Oil is cheap, engine parts are not.

I blend mine my self out of 10W30 Royal Purpel mineral break in oil and 20W50 mineral 76 Unocal in a 50/50 blend and it works for me and my 505 CI.

Tesar recommends Klotz 10/40 for my heap.

On a flat tappet can you keep pouring in the
additive on every oil change.. whats it gonna
hurt if you wait on the first oil change.. I
still have the break in additive in my engine
but its only been 400 miles