<VV> Oil

[MarK Durham]

Welcome to the forum! There is a lot of hype on oils and Corvairs. Well,
there is a lot of hype on oils period, and lots of opinions,, as I have
searched other forums for info as well. There are oil shear analysis tests
by an engineer; we have Richard 1's years of expereince who is "IN" the oil
business now with his advice on the forums and in his oil papers, all to
help us manage the issue of keeping our corvair engines driveable without
issues.

 While the oil shear tests are one way to test one aspects of a oils
capabilities, it does not take a rocket scientist to understand that "oil
film" is what protects the crank and bearings on startup where oil shear
can happen; before it gets to the ZDDP burnished in to the metal. Other
parts of the engine rely on this oil film; the cam lobes and lifter bases,
rocker arms and balls, cylinder walls and pistons/rings.

Oils in Corvair engines have to be capable of doing more than what your big
blocks require, which maintain most of their temp issues with a coolant.
Air cooled engines have greater needs using the oil to cool. Oil temps and
cylinder head temps will be greater in the Rampside engine than in the big
blocks.

In listening to other forum members comments on oil, some swear by Mobil 1
or Amsoil products, others use the Shell rotella products, others use
Pennzoil and others use nothing but Joe Gibbs, or other classic car
products. There is no real way to test the oils that I am aware of other
than the oil shear tests. Richard 1 has the background to look at oil
formulations to verify if a particular oil's formulation will work well in
Corviar motors. He has real world expereince. His comments are therefore
very valuable and must be considered.

Personally, I chose the Valvoline VR1 (#205 Silver Bottle) 10w30 because it
has come out close to the top in the oil shear tests  (it is a highly
refined Dino oil that performs like a synthetic) and has a good antiwear
package. I use a higher lift cam and have a significantly higher
compressionin ratio in my engine so I feel the extra additive's in this oil
versus say your Rotella is needed for good protection.

So, after that background information, you must consider if the engine is
new, how many miles are on it, and if it has a more aggressive cam,
pistons, carburation, etc., on it than standard. That said, make sure you
choose a top of the line oil that has a proven track record.



 Mark Durham
Hauser, Idaho
62 Monza coupe Red/Red 4 speed

On Wed, Nov 19, 2014 at 5:34 AM, mrmaxum--- via VirtualVairs <
virtualvairs at corvair.org> wrote:

> I've got 3 Chevy's with high performance Big Blocks I use Shell Rotella
> Oil in them and never had a problem, just got a rampside, and would like to
> change oil does anyone know of any problems or why I shouldn't use Rotella
> in it.  Thanks
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