Switching oil brands due to reduced zinc. Thought I'd try the Valvoline vr1.
I seem to recall that at one time there were 2 different VR1 oils. One for off road only and the other was what was readily available in the parts stores. I think they had 2 different color bottles. Is this still the case or is there just the one now? If they still make 2 versions which would you use in a street/strip type application that has a flat tappet cam and is probably only driven a couple hundred miles a year?

Thanks

hi cuda , I like the silver bottle VR1 10W-30 part # VV205 or #822388 at napa . Or if you need the 20W-50 part #822347 . that's for reminding me to get some . I think it might even go on sale or be on sale this time of the year . ronnie

Dwayne recommended Driven HR3 15W-50 full Synthetic oil for my flat tappet cam cars

The VR1 20w-50 oil was just too thick for cold starts.

my 2 cents, Mark

Which VR1 was too thick?

Gray bottle is regular oil.

Black bottle is racing and fully synthetic.
Twice the price.

Well looks like the racing oil is a gray bottle also. So make sure you get the one that says RACING.

Menards has the vr1 grey bottles for under $5 qt, and get back 11% if you buy during the rebate times. Thats what I use now

I can only find the 20w50 at the local Menards. Does yours have the 10w30, too?

I used to run the 20w50 in my Hemi as I always had in my wedges. But after reading a number of posts here and elsewhere about the advantages of running a lighter weight oil, I tried the 10w30 and monitored my pressure. As a result, I have ran the 10w30 VR1 the last few years. So far, so good. In fact, I just ordered some fresh 10w30 from Amazon.

And with my luck, since I just ordered some, you guys should keep an eye out for a sale on it any time now.

Yes, we can get 10W-30 at our local Menard's as well as 20 W 50. Maybe if you ask they will order in some 10w30 for you.

I switched from VR1 to Driven. I can't remember if I lost 1 or 2 hydraulic cams running VR1.

There certainly are a lot of VR1 users (myself included) that have ran many, many engines with flat tappet cams and stiff springs with no failures like you experienced. Why would that be? Just good luck vs bad luck? Or is it possible that your failures were due to something other than using VR1?

Long-time VR-1 user here, absolutely NO abnormal wear evident on my hydraulic flat tappet lifters or lobes.

My 2 Cents...Joe

PS My take would be bad metallurgy or other source of failures

Why?

I don't know if the oil had anything to do with it, but when I pulled apart my pretty much stock 383 it had a failed hydraulic flat tappet cam. I used VR1 in it but the cam was in the car when I bought it. Bought it in 2008.

Built a 440 engine for the car. Hydraulic flat tappet cam failed - I do believe that improper assembly by the engine builder contributed to the failure. Put a hydraulic roller in the motor and then put the original 383 back in it with a hydraulic flat tappet cam.

Took a had look at the contents of the VR1 oil versus the Driven oil with my lubrication expert and felt more comfortable with the Driven oil. So far good luck with the Driven oil

You didn't put in the key word 'Racing' We've been down this road before and people still don't get that it has to be the Racing version. Valvoline puts VR1 on everything they make.

Found this on Valvoline site dated 11-22-2019. Notice that 10w30 has the lowest zinc and phosphorus.

Theres 2 types of VR1 Racing.

Black bottle is fully Synthetic RACING oil
Gray/Silver bottle is Conventional Dino NON Synthetic oil thus the price difference. Its very confusing.

Not really , if people would actually learn how to read the bottles , pretty self explanatory

Kind of like people posting before reading all threads on this website in GENERAL

Interesting on the VR1 10w30 Zinc Level

Now I have to learn how to read because I don’t remember it ever listed that low before , it was pretty close to that 1400 level on the CONVENTIONAL Dino

3. 10W30 Valvoline VR1 Conventional Racing Oil (silver bottle) = 103,505 psi
zinc = 1472 ppm
phos = 1544 ppm
ZDDP = 1500 ppm

4. 10W30 Valvoline VR1 Synthetic Racing Oil, API SL (black bottle) = 101,139 psi
zinc = 1180 ppm
phos = 1112 ppm
ZDDP = 1100 ppm

What is the source of this information and how old is it?
In searching the internet for info on this oil I have seen so much conflicting data that it is no wonder people would change to Gibs.