Mountain vs. Mole Hill - Zinc Oils

63 Skier wrote: Just happen to have a quart of VR1 20W50 here in front of me. "Ashless anti-wear additives and ZDDP provide ultimate wear protection" "API Services SM/SL/CD" It does not say off road only. It may be the single weight oils that are marked off road, not sure.

My concern was that the VR1 has the API SM cert, so it is street legal.

I just spoke with a Valvoline tech again, and he said the reason the VR1 meets the API spec is because of the detergent package. The conventional (non-street legal) racing oil has a reduced detergents package that prevents it from meeting the cert. That oil has a recommended oil change interval of 500 miles, as opposed to the 3k mile change interval with the VR1.

Both the VR1 and conventional racing oil have high levels of zinc and phosphorus (though the conventional has slightly more with 1400ppm vs. 1300ppm).

I'll go with the VR1, either the 20w50 or a mix of 20w50 and 10w30. Its also good that the VR1 is $2 cheaper per qt.

Gents, great posts, good learning for all. Does anyone know what Valvoline filter to buy to replace the Fram PH8A for my 96 GT40?

Also I just got talked into running MO in my 2003 Ram with the 5.7 Hemi, is this motor a roller cam or flat tappet?

Also I just put in MO in my GT40 for the first time after the truck oil change, after reading other posts I added STP oil treatment. Will this be enough to get me through to the next change or should I change to the 20W-50 Valvoline now?

Thanks in advance.

M3Fan wrote: whiz05403 wrote: Gents, great posts, good learning for all. Does anyone know what Valvoline filter to buy to replace the Fram PH8A for my 96 GT40? As for the filter, some other good options would be the Motorcraft FL-1A or the Napa Gold 1515.

Yup- I cant remember if the Valvoline filters are any good or not. The Motorcraft, Mobil1 and Wix (NAPA) are all safer bets.

If it were me, Id drain the Mobil1 and put it in another motor. Then again, you may be OK.

Im sure that the new Hemi is roller- flat tappets are way old-tech.

TRBenj wrote: I'll go with the VR1, either the 20w50 or a mix of 20w50 and 10w30. Its also good that the VR1 is $2 cheaper per qt.

I changed over to the Valvoline Racing VR1 20w50 this weekend. I would have tried a blend of the 20w50 and 10w30, but couldnt find the lighter weight locally. According to my oil pressure gauge, there was no difference between the 15w40 and 20w50. I get 50psi at idle, and 60-70psi at speed.

What about the Mercruiser or Pennzoil marine oils? Anybody run those? I have some '05 Rotella 15W-40 in my boat right now, but was going to go with the Pennzoil marine of the same weight. I have seen it at West Marine(price not too bad if you can believe it -12.99 a gallon). And Pennzoil is a Shell product. I have also heard good things about Mercruiser oil, but I'm not sure who they source from. I am just curious why no one is looking to go with marine specific oils.