What is the best oil to run in a y-block engine after it is broken in? I will break the engine in using Joe Gibbs break-in oil but after that, what is the best oil for normal street use? I will be firing this engine up this spring and at that time, I will probably ask about break-in procedures. Thanks!



BudMan

When Injustice Becomes Law, Resistance Becomes Duty

Budman:     Welcome and you do realize you've just "Opened that can of Worms"

       I'am sure you will recieve the answer you're looking for.....

Bill

Pelham,Al

As Bill says, you will get a dozen opinions on what oil you should use. Generally speaking, avoid oils with the "sunburst" gear on the label as they are intended for modern engines with roller valve trains, and most are reduced in ZDDP additive. Beyond that..??

Paul

Brad Penn, Valvoline VR-1, Wal Mart 10w-40 what ever you like as long as the wt is 40 or above when it has an API SM rating.  Try Wolfs Head Golden 40wt, it'll never let you down!

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

I would suggest using a deisel or race rated oils. These have the higher amount of zddp whicb will help protect your cam. The newer oils have a lesser amount of zddp due to it harms the cats in the exhaust system. If i remember correctly, in the starburst on an oil container, you dont wanna use anything that is sm, due to lower zddp content, unless you use a zddp additive.oreillys has a zddp additive.

Just my 2 cents worth, but I have been using Amsoil 100% synthetic Premium 10-40 for years now without any problems. That particular oil is formulated with extra ZDDP and made for flat tappet motors. You can look up the specs on their website.

Rono.

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

Yep it can be a can of worms that is for sure. After much research and trial and error of different oils and one Highly Recommended oil having a foaming problem as the anti-foam agent did not do it's job, I settled on Brad Penn and in a 10W30.

If you check the original factory specs on Y's you will find that the factory reccommended 20W with 5W20 in Cold Winter conditions, this will all depend on if your engine builder built to specs or if they clearance for a thicker oil. I use the 10W30 due to unleaded fuel causing them to run a little hotter as lead was a cooling agent in fuels of days gone by.

Good Luck with it.

312T85

What?

BudMan, these engines love synthetic oils with the old level of zddp period. From my experience Amsoil 10w 40 as Ron uses and /mobil 1 15w 50 have worked great for me since the 80s and have protected my engines from everything from drag racing to easy street driving and no sluge buildup at all after a couple hundred thousand miles. I'm sure their are others oils that are real good to but I can attest on these two brands really work well. Is this confusing enough?

-Gary Burnette-

I see you used Joe Gibbs break in oil why not use his HR-3 racing oil designed for flat tappet engines. It has high levels of zinc and phosphorus for these type of engines. I run the HR-3 15W-50 Hot Rod oil in 62 F100 292 twin turbo y-block. I have been running that oil since I first built the engine. I am running over 600 whp horse power and 750 lb/ft of torque at the wheels with no failures. I would have to believe that the oil has proved itself in my eyes. I would suggest calling Joe Gibbs their tech department is great to talk to.

Been using 15w40 Rotella and it has never let me down. A FL1A filter and we are good to go. In the summer I do run some STP as well.

Hutz,

If you are running that kind of horsepower in your Y, you have got to do an article for the Y block magazine. Contact Bruce Young...

Daniel Jessup

Loveland, Ohio

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com