steve58

anyone know either a website or mail order where I can get this--no place around me, either auto parts, warehouse (Costco, etc) or on line has produced a supplier for this. Need it for a completely rebuilt '58 that will be fired up within a month. Can find the 15w, just not 5w.
thanks

Vet65te

Didn't know they offered it in a '5w' designation. All I've ever seen is the 15-40w variety.

Plasticman

That is all I have seen as well in the standard mineral oil Rotella.

15W-40 works well for our older flat tappet engines. Oil pressure may be higher (especially on a cold engine), but that is not a "problem". Just don't "get on it" until it has warmed up (as with any engine).

There is a Rotella T synthetic 5W-40. See it here:
http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?...ellasynth.html

Probably need to go to a (Shell) truck stop to get it.

Plasticman

67vetteal

Any quality certified major brand oil will be fine for your initial start up. But, you need to go to a GM dealer and buy EOS, (Engine Oil Suppliment) and add it to your crankcase oil. I would prefer the 15-40 to the 5-40 as it will circulate and splash more readily. The EOS contains all the good stuff like Zinc that you are looking for with our Flat Tappet designed engines. Check out "Bobistheoilguy.com" for a better technical explaination. Al W.
BTW, stay away from a Synthetic oil during engine break in as the lubrication properties are too great for the friction wear that is neccesary during break in to occurr.

Powershift

Steve:

I have seen Rotella 5W-40 synthetic oil at Walmart, NAPA, and Advance stores in this area. I would check similar stroes in your area. I am almost certain that NAPA or Advance would special order for you if you asked them. But you may have to buy a case if you go the special order route.

However, as others have said, I would NOT recommend this oil for initial engine break-in. I would either use a straight weight oil (20W-20 or 30 wt. depending on temperature) or the regular Rotella 15W-40; PLUS a can of GM EOS (Engine Oil Supplement). As I understand, GM recently re-introduced the EOS, so it is available. The new part number is #88862586.

Also be certain to pre-lube the engine with the oil pump before trying to start.

Larry

Ironcross

Why would you want to place a 5w oil in your engine if its a performance engine? And the next question is, whats wrong with racing oil?

GCD1962

EOS is primary used to coat the cam/lifters when installing new ones. It states on the bottle that it is not an additive to the crankcase. Stick with the Rotella 15-40w and it will be fine.

sweet66

you can also buy some quality 10-30 Wt oil such as Chevron
then add a bottle of additive www.zddplus.com the website tells the story ..You than come close to or surpass the formulation of oil 40 years ago.. a box of 6 bottles was on sale for $50 recently .. had some emails back and forth with vendor..
EOS is available from GM as mentionned about $9-10 a bottle even half a bottle will likely put the extra zinc etc in to protect against cam and bearing wear.

KyleDallas

Though a little dated... an excellent tech paper on the subject
and some zinc/phosphorus comparison charts between oil brands.

http://www.ibmwr.org/otech/oilreport.html

RestoDoc

Better make sure the Rotella is CI4 spec and not CJ4, the later, reduced Zinc variety that is on the shelves now. Add a bottle of Comp Cams break-in oil additive to the mix. That's what it's for. And, you'll want to install their break-in valve springs for the initial start-up just to be safe. For an additional 100 bucks you can have your flat-tappet cam Nitrided by comp so it's ready to go.

GCD1962

GM discontinued making EOS for about 3 or 4 months, then started making it again. My guess is that the new formula does not have the zddp amount that it used to (or any at all) as they do not want dealers to dump this in the oil and creating further problems with the newer cars.

6T5RUSH

You know, I found this interesting. I happen to have 2 bottles of the "old" E.O.S and 2 bottles of the "new" E.O.S. The "old" bottles DO NOT state ZINC or, for that matter, the makeup of its contents. This is under GM#1052367.

The "new" E.O.S., under GM#88862586 DOES state its contents. They are:

Mineral Oil Blend

Calcium Sufanate-CAS#71486-79-8

Zinc Dialkyldthiophosphate-CAS#68649-42-3

Polyisobutene-CAS#9003-27-4

As a side bar on this, I recall paying about $8.00 each for the "old", over the counter at the part department (Chevy or Pontiac dealer).

I paid $19.09 EACH at my local Pontiac dealer 3 months ago.

Curious, I just did a search on EBAY using the "old" GM part # and wallah. Click here and you can buy up to 12 16 ounce bottles at slightly less than the "new" GM part # price.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GM-EO...spagenameZWDVW

Jim

ffas23

Steve,
Too bad you don't live closer to me. I am down at the Shell Oil Supplier just about every week or so picking up automotive lube oil in drums for resale in my business. I am sure they have what you are looking for.

Fred

MidYearRoadster

I assume you lubed all your parts during the assembly process...all we ever did when we started up our race engine is fill the oil filter up then install it..fill the engine with a good racing oil.....pre lube the engine and build up oil pressure for about a minute or two....make sure your timing is on the money...start the engine up..checking for leaks..etc..and bring the rpms up to about 2 grand and leave it there for a while..checking again for leaks..keeping an eye on the guages..warm that motor up completely....a few good revs...and then a shutdown...then drain the oil and filter and repeat the filling process...we did not use any additives..we must have done something right we held two national records with our 57 in modified production...just my nickels worth...

Frankie the Fink

I am running zddpplus in my solid lifter vette after researching all the options !

JohnZ

You'll find that weight at truck stops; hardly ever available in retail stores.

steve jarrett

Rotella 5w-40 synthetic can be bought at Wal-mart. It's $16.24 per gal. Steve Jarrett

Blkblt

Here in the San Antonio area Wallys also.

Plasticman

I would not use synthetic for a new fire up ever. But that just be me.

Local Wally did not have the 5W-40 synthetic.

Plasticman

C2Driver

John when I installed my ZZ4, a GM Tech told me not to run synthetic in it until it was broken in. He said that synthetic is too slippery to allow proper wear in. - Pat