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Open can of worms here...

Well here goes my opinion first... I like the Amsoil z-rod 10-30 for synthetic - it has all the right stuff for flat tappet cam protection. I live in an overall climate of 60-80 degrees and I typically run Valvoline Racing VR-1 20-50 year round. The VR-1 has all the stuff for flat tappet protection too. I use VR-1 over the z-rod because my oil gets changed around the 2500 mile mark regardless and the VR-1 is cheaper.

Valvoline 4-stroke motorcycle oil. Available EVERYWHERE: Autozone, Advanced Auto, Walmart, etc. It's usually on a separate shelf from all the regular oils.  It's designed for Harleys, which are flat tappet engines, just like ours. Been running it for 5 years now.

On another note, I use 10w40 instead of 20w50. Lowered the cylinder head temperature by 20 degrees with that single change. Exact same oil, just lighter weight. Oil temp is unchanged, as it is thermostatically controlled. 

Shades of the movie 'Groundhog Day'. 

My daily driver VS with 1835cc logged 161,000Km (that's 100,000 trouble-free miles) trekking all over the Western U.S. on 20/50 detergent oil bought at Pep Boy's (or Auto Zone).

Mike, this self-induced angst is kinda like a patient reading through a Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR) and thinking you have EVERY symptom and ailment described in the entire book.

DRIVE THE CAR - ENJOY THE JOURNEY (with your AAA card in your wallet)! 

@Mike Naz 356

Oh, and 'Welcome To The Madness'. 

 

DannyP posted:

Valvoline 4-stroke motorcycle oil. Available EVERYWHERE: Autozone, Advanced Auto, Walmart, etc. It's usually on a separate shelf from all the regular oils.  It's designed for Harleys, which are flat tappet engines, just like ours. Been running it for 5 years now.

On another note, I use 10w40 instead of 20w50. Lowered the cylinder head temperature by 20 degrees with that single change. Exact same oil, just lighter weight. Oil temp is unchanged, as it is thermostatically controlled. 

Thanks Danny,  there is a lot about high Zinc content and that Penngrade 1 10/40 is the right oil for the engine and protects well.  Have you inquired about the difference?

Mike Naz 356 posted:
David Stroud posted:
Mike Naz 356 posted:

Hi all,  what engine oil works best? Synthetic ok? 

I'd be very careful here with your research and decisions. Flat tappet engines like specific oil types. Excursions from that can be serious....$$$$. 

Please explain 

No one, not even engineers in the field of study related to viscosity can agree on what is the right oil. Hence every oil manufacturer out there says their oil is best. Lots and lots of research with zero consensus. 

High zinc - phosphorus  the norm for older flat tappet design engines...I recall an article Jake Raby wrote stating he steered away from actual oil recommendations but he did lean heavily toward Brad Penn within the article.   I use either Shell Rotella diesel oil ( yellow container)  or Brad Penn 30 .....  But always use Brad Penn green oil for breaking in a engine.    Dozens of air cooled motors never went bad with one exception when in my senior moment  I reversed the remote oil filter housing feed and return hoses and the fresh 1915 engine ran nicely for 6.7890 seconds and promptly seized.

Last edited by Alan Merklin

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