For Sits & Giggles, this is regarding Dino-vs-Syn oil: True life 47 yr high performance gasoline auto engine experience, i.e Dino not Syn.
Today: Tore down my 125K mi, 1967, 430 cid / 360 hp / 10.5 - 1 compression, factory original Buick Wildcat engine. Valves and timing renewed at 100K mi, block never touched. Oil pan never removed.
Missing and bad blow by began couple hundred miles ago, low key internal sounds too. Performed wet/dry compression test, all cylinders but one reading 160 to 175 lbs in either test. # 3 cylinder ran 40 to 45 lbs wet or dry. At first we felt (I hoped) maybe it was valve or even a lifter problem. So... we switched lifters, but same reading. Then we pulled head; wet test under pressure was A-OK. Then we pulled # 3 piston - And Oh Crap!!
# 3 piston was cracked in several upward area locations in proximity to rings; rings messed up too... why???... I and my mechanics don't know. Maybe factory material defect, maybe just 47 yrs age wherein metal fatigued? Not from pre ignition - we coild tell by piston tops. I figure if one went that way, even though cylinder wall is fine condition (crosshatches still visible under strong light) and bearings worn but not too bad... it's time for full rebuild.
Now - Here's what all this engine's internals looked like with 47 years of DINO OIL – Virtually STOTLESS! Even in lowest part of oil pan barely a smidge of sludge. I use Valvoline High Detergent Heavy Duty Dino Diesel Oil with 4 oz ZDDP additive at oil change and another 4 oz at 1/2 way through change. I replace oil at between 2.5K and 3K miles in all my classic-aged solid lifter engines. I bought this Cat 1998, 71,321 miles. PO's were in 70’s when they bought her new. Probably had regular oil changes with regular dino oil. She’d sat with short drives few times per year by son of remaining mom owner. She passed at 101 yrs.
I'm contemplating using synthetic oil after rebuild and will talk with the race car mechanic who rebuilds her. If engine’s interior was this clean – Dino Oil – vs – Syn Oil is still up in the air to my way of thinking.
OK – Synthetic Oil Pros - - > Convince Me, Why Syn over Dino??
Happy Oil Change Daze! - Art
Today: Tore down my 125K mi, 1967, 430 cid / 360 hp / 10.5 - 1 compression, factory original Buick Wildcat engine. Valves and timing renewed at 100K mi, block never touched. Oil pan never removed.
Missing and bad blow by began couple hundred miles ago, low key internal sounds too. Performed wet/dry compression test, all cylinders but one reading 160 to 175 lbs in either test. # 3 cylinder ran 40 to 45 lbs wet or dry. At first we felt (I hoped) maybe it was valve or even a lifter problem. So... we switched lifters, but same reading. Then we pulled head; wet test under pressure was A-OK. Then we pulled # 3 piston - And Oh Crap!!
# 3 piston was cracked in several upward area locations in proximity to rings; rings messed up too... why???... I and my mechanics don't know. Maybe factory material defect, maybe just 47 yrs age wherein metal fatigued? Not from pre ignition - we coild tell by piston tops. I figure if one went that way, even though cylinder wall is fine condition (crosshatches still visible under strong light) and bearings worn but not too bad... it's time for full rebuild.
Now - Here's what all this engine's internals looked like with 47 years of DINO OIL – Virtually STOTLESS! Even in lowest part of oil pan barely a smidge of sludge. I use Valvoline High Detergent Heavy Duty Dino Diesel Oil with 4 oz ZDDP additive at oil change and another 4 oz at 1/2 way through change. I replace oil at between 2.5K and 3K miles in all my classic-aged solid lifter engines. I bought this Cat 1998, 71,321 miles. PO's were in 70’s when they bought her new. Probably had regular oil changes with regular dino oil. She’d sat with short drives few times per year by son of remaining mom owner. She passed at 101 yrs.
I'm contemplating using synthetic oil after rebuild and will talk with the race car mechanic who rebuilds her. If engine’s interior was this clean – Dino Oil – vs – Syn Oil is still up in the air to my way of thinking.
OK – Synthetic Oil Pros - - > Convince Me, Why Syn over Dino??
Happy Oil Change Daze! - Art
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