Diesel Oil in Gasoline Engines?

"Jedidiah" (4barrel4speeddualexhaust) 01/26/2015 at 21:48 • Filed to: None

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Compared to engine oil for gas engines, diesel engines still retain the zinc (ZDDP) additive that prevents unnecessary cam wear on flat tappets. It seems that the only reason that they stopped using ZDDP was because it clogged catalytic converters if the engine had blow-by.

Some grades also have better detergents it seems.

Nothing I own has any emissions equipment.

If you get this viscosity right, is there any reason why I shouldn't run a classic car with diesel oil to save money instead of racing oil or classic car oil?

442 W-30 and Rallye 350 for your time.

wontacceptthis > Jedidiah 01/26/2015 at 21:57

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I think its pretty common practice. Shell Rotella T is a favorite oil of aircooled VW owners.

camaroboy68ss > Jedidiah 01/26/2015 at 21:57

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Zinc additive is really only needed on cam break in on older motors, after a couple hundred miles you can switch to regular oil in the motor, but it is a must to run zinc in initial engine or cam break in.

Destructive Tester > Jedidiah 01/26/2015 at 21:58

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I've wondered this myself. Sorry I don't have anything to contribute other than a shared curiosity...

The Magic Rev Matching 4Runner > Jedidiah 01/26/2015 at 22:03

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Valvoline VR1 uses ZDDP additives in a normal weight (10W 30). It's what I've heard being used in older engines since the diesel oil is so damn heavy.

Bandit > Jedidiah 01/26/2015 at 22:03

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I just throw a bottle of zinc additive in my Trans Am when I do an oil change

ly2v8-Brian > Jedidiah 01/26/2015 at 22:09

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Oil be oil. If the viscosity is right it should do the job. The key as you pointed out are the additives.

DrScientist > Jedidiah 01/26/2015 at 22:12

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in the winter, i use rotella-t 15w-40 in my 5.3L v12 jaguar engine with 108k miles on it. its a fairly commonly used oil among the jaguar folks. car has 4 cats removed.

in the summer time i switch to a 20w-50 gasoline conventional oil for the added viscosity. the one time i used a synthetic gasoline oil, it developed a fairly obvious leak.

Jedidiah > camaroboy68ss 01/26/2015 at 22:20

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I'm trying to get the most life out of my cars, but in the most cost effective manner.

Changing it often is the best defense, but I like taking care of my stuff and I can buy diesel oil in big 5 gallon jugs to save money.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Bandit 01/26/2015 at 22:21

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Don't use too much, if you do it actually corrodes. I figured out I only need 3oz in my Merc.

Jedidiah > DrScientist 01/26/2015 at 22:22

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After doing some research online, it seems Rotella is the way to go.

Jedidiah > The Magic Rev Matching 4Runner 01/26/2015 at 22:25

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I'll look into it.

I was curious because I can buy diesel oil in large 5 gallon jugs to save money. If I can get Vr1 in a large container to use for my fleet, then it might be worth the cost.

DrScientist > Jedidiah 01/26/2015 at 22:31

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i assume youve visited bobistheoilguy? there's some exhaustive information and heated debates over on that forum. i'm sure there's plenty of detail on the use of diesel oils in classic engines. but be careful its easy to spend hours over there. and much of it is opinion.

camaroboy68ss > Jedidiah 01/26/2015 at 22:32

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I don't think you will see a huge difference in lifter wear between having zinc or not after break in. You should ask a engine/machine shop to see what they think. I run racing oil in my 33 Ford Pickup but mainly because it has a super built motor, but the 327 in my 68 Camaro, I just run off the shelf oil and have had no issues, Ill be pulling the motor in a couple weeks and swapping from my L79 spec hydraulic cam to a solid lifter 30/30 Z28 spec and I'll look at the lifters to see if there is any odd wear in them

Big Bubba Ray > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 01/26/2015 at 22:36

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On the topic of oil, what do you use in your Z? I'm just using 5w-30 right now but there are about a million different Z forums on what oil is best. Trying to find what fellow Z owners use.

Jedidiah > camaroboy68ss 01/26/2015 at 22:38

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I'd like to know as well. I've always heard chevrolets were notorious for cam wear and I don't know if that's true or not.

bob and john > Jedidiah 01/26/2015 at 22:40

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dunno. I just know it cheaper for my to pick up a 5L jug of rotella diesel for my motorcycle then almost anything else

Jedidiah > bob and john 01/26/2015 at 22:41

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That's kind of my current stand point. I'll try it next oil change.

camaroboy68ss > Jedidiah 01/26/2015 at 22:46

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I don't know where you heard that but ive never seen a bad cam wear from a properly broken in chevy, a buddy had a worn out 327 in his 59 el camino that turned out to be a factory solid lifter corvette motor. never had a valve adjustment in 20+ years and the cam and lifters still looked really good.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Big Bubba Ray 01/26/2015 at 23:19

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We just broke it in, my Z expert says Mobile 1, 10W30 with 3 oz. of ZDDP per oil change. He says with original engines, just go for the dino oil and the ZDDP for replacing what we don't get anymore. I mean I don't race or anything, its a stock motor with the triple carbs.

Big Bubba Ray > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 01/26/2015 at 23:26

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Cool, I'm due for an oil change in about 800ish miles here so I'll give that a shot, thanks!

I'm curious as to how many folks with older cars use oils with zinc additive. In my Baja Bug I used Valvoline ZR-1 "racing oil" because that's what the local, old-school shop recommended. Wasn't sure if I should use that with my Z though.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Big Bubba Ray 01/26/2015 at 23:29

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Ah the ZR-1, it doesn't have the levels that are best according to people I know. They tell me to get oil and add the ZDDP in the amount you need, it says per quart and most cars only need 3 oz. Too much of the stuff and it actually corrodes parts.

Jedidiah > camaroboy68ss 01/26/2015 at 23:34

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I heard it from a bunch of brand loyalists who don't really know what they're talking about.

They probably were running too much valvespring pressue.

camaroboy68ss > Jedidiah 01/26/2015 at 23:36

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most of the time premature cam failure is from improper break in. that's pretty much the same across all brands.

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > Jedidiah 01/27/2015 at 23:36

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I missed this post when it went up: seconding the Rotella throng, though it will do you no favors on mileage. My Rover is a low-rev efficiency failure that gets like 16 mpg anyway, so I ain't care.

Jedidiah > Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull 01/27/2015 at 23:38

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I will use rotella for the next oil change it seems. I don't care about mileage; I drive cars that I like.

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > Jedidiah 01/27/2015 at 23:41

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I will probably run something lighter weight when the Rover V8 for the Ranchero is back together, but to date I have never had a car I owned that I wasn't running Rotella in. Of course, that's because VW diesel, Rover, Mercedes more diesel, but still.