Re: Synthetic oil?

Posted by Anthony Pallett On 2013/9/14 4:38:54

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/synthetic_vs_mineral_motor_oil/

This is a test done by hot rod magazine in which they replaced the lubricants of the test car (engine oil transmission fluid rear end gear oil)with synthetics put the car on an engine dyno and gained 10.1 Hp and 6.1 ftlbs or torque. This test was done with the same viscosity of oil (20w50 which is not thin by any means I use the same weight in my 5.0 mustang) so a thinned oil can not be sited as the power increase. This is just one of countless tests done over the years to show the increase in performance of synthetics.

I do drive my classics probably more regularly than most I wouldn't say daily but several times a week is not uncommon. So the added millage of the synthetic oil life wouldn't be a bad thing for me. But the biggest reason I want to switch is again for a couple more bonus HP and the main concern was leakage.

There has bee a recent trend in the racing world of high lift mechanical flat tappet cams going bad due to the lower zinc levels in today's oils (which other than diesel oil and racing oil is all ut none). This by no means is at the power, RPM, valve spring pressure level of ANY Packard engine but the problem does exist. When I saw building engines professionally, I saw the results first hand. You might not believe the Hot Rod Jim-bobs but the guy putting tens of thousands of dollars into a 100% aftermarket 540 cubic inch big chief head nitrous drag boat motor is no idiot. Again I could site several articles by reputable sources.

If you would have no gain in durability with higher zinc levels why would oil used in semi trucks, that have engines under tremendous internal conditions and are expected to endure over countless miles still contain some of the highest levels of it? I really doubt that a bunch of truck drivers yelled at the oil industry on the internet till zinc was added back into diesel oil, remember having an engine continue to run is how they make money anything that helps that happen is well received.