Getting confusing opinions as to the best oil to use in my recently rebuilt 440. Engine is a D 440 HP built to pretty much stock specs with forged pistons, comp "6 pack cam". Used Dello at first, now builder says Dello had been reformulated and to use 20w-50 with an additive such as a bottle of Comp engine break-in. Others have varying opinions.
Anyone have some advice?

Quaker State 20W-50W, Valvoline 20W-50W, etc. will be fine but you MUST use the additive from now on. If you don't you will wipe out some cam lobes, guaranteed. Some have said Rotella can be used as it still contains zinc. However, I've heard that the Feds made them reduce the amount of zinc so it's not as good as it used to be.

20-50 is pretty heavy on a fresh engine. I use 10-30 Valvoline VR-1 in my 408. It is also pretty fresh. It is supposed to have the zinc for the cam wear protection

I use 20-50 valvoline ZR 1....has all the zinc needed...have run 3 new engines in the past year and have no problems..need no additive with this oil..also use napa or wix filters...NO FRAM

Seems like everyone has an opinion, some based on experience and others based on what they heard. I would suggest you call Comp Cams at 800-999-0853 and ask one of their engineers or get on their website www.compcams.com for the correct answer to your question.

Brad Penn, It has plenty of protect for what ever
cam and lifter package you choose.

logan426

Brad Penn, Joe Gibbs, Hughes Engines and Valvoline ZR1 Racing oil are all good. I'm sure there are others I am missing as well. Any brand name oil is fine as long as you use Hughes Extreme Pressure additive or Comps additive or something equal to that. We do not suggest adding EOS or some of the other straight Zinc additives because, in our experience, it does not blend well when added to the oil after it leaves the manufacturer. (Just our opinion) This is why we like the soluble moly. It seems to blend very well and stay in suspension.
Kevin

I run shell rotella 15W40 on all my flat tappet engines (stock slant 6, and 360 with comp XE262) and haven't had any problems so far....

brad penn green oil is the way to go(if you have it in your area) they have the break in oil and the oil for after its broke in.

I'm with Patrick. Heavy Duty Engine Oil (rated CI-4/SL) is the way to go for protecting flat tappet valve trains. The Corvair Oil article recommends this as well. It also suggests that phosphorus (the anti-wear component of ZDDP) levels higher than 1400 ppm lead to long term wear and engine deposits. Phosphorus levels over 2000 ppm lead to camshaft spalling.

I would be very careful about adding more ZDDP to engine oil. It's better to use an oil that already has the right additives in it. HDEOs have better detergent additives than racing oils for street engines and can go longer between oil changes (or keep engines cleaner with short oil changes). Even the latest emissions HDEOs (CJ-4/SM) still contain 1000-1200 ppm of phosphorus, which is more than the previous Starburst oils contained (ILSAC GF-3 - 1000 ppm max of P). So yes, 15W-40 Chevron Delo 400 (CI-4+/SL) has been reformulated into a 15W-40 Chevron Delo 400 LE (CJ-4/SM) but it still contains 1200 ppm of phosphorus.

Incidentally, the latest API SM Starburst oils still contain 600-800 ppm of phosphorus (ZDDP) and a GM study found that (OEM-style?) flat tappet valve trains only require 500 ppm of phosphorus.

Shell Rotella T CI-4

Chevron Delo 400 LE 10W-30

Heavy Duty Engine Oil List