Questions - 1969 Stepside
 

Re: Questions - 1969 Stepside
 

1. Running synthetic is the best thing you can do for the longevity of your engine. Some will argue, but independant labs don't lie. There's a new one comeing out from castroil soon that has high levels of zink, which has been removed from pretty much any oil you'll find oin the market, and is detrimental to the life of the camshaft in your engine.
2 While a 69 is designed for leaded fuel, you can run unleaded without too much damage. Continue with the substitute untill it's no longer sold in your area, then just keep on keeping on. You can fix it at a rebuild, since in all reality, it's never a real good idea to put new heads on a well aged engine.
3. Yes, GMC badges went across the hood on a 69. no, no engine displacement badges on a GMC, Yes, there should be custom script on the top of the doors.

Re: Questions - 1969 Stepside
 

I'm sure it's a typo or confusion on my part, but I am confused about this statement, at first you say synthetic is great, but then you mention the new one coming out that has high levels of Zinc and is detrimental to the life of the camshaft. Can you clear up my fuzzy brain? :crazy:

Re: Questions - 1969 Stepside
 

I think he meant that the lack of zinc in the newer oils was the problem, which caused some premature cam shaft wear.

Re: Questions - 1969 Stepside
 

Conventional verses synthetic.... while the synthetic is way better, most of them still don't have the zink to protect the camshaft. If it is certified for moden vehicles (ANYTHING you see on wall mart shaf or at juffy lube, or 99.9% of any place you'd look for oil) it won't have enough zink to protect the cam.
The Synthetic is still better than conventional oil though.

The new oil coming out by castrol http://www.castrol.com/castrol/gener...tentId=7032644 has said zink.

Re: Questions - 1969 Stepside
 

Hot Rod magazine recently had an article discussing oils and cam shafts. I think they were using a diesel engine oil because it had more of the additives for protection.

Re: Questions - 1969 Stepside
 

Just a thought on the unleaded thing-I used to run a 481 inch 69 camaro which I would treat to aviation gas occasionally which most of us know is unleaded-I would pour about 1/4 can of marvel mystery oil in the tank and never worried about it.Less marvel would have been fine also---for a driver I would guess 1/8 can would suffice.

Re: Questions - 1969 Stepside
 

the diesel oils lost there zink recently. Shell's Rotella oil was the main one recomended,now they have no zink in it.
Never heard of marvel mystery oil protecting the valve seats.

Re: Questions - 1969 Stepside
 

OK, I re read it and I get it hehe... thanks :) I was at work and thus not thinking haha...

Re: Questions - 1969 Stepside
 

One thing about synthetic oil is they are Slippery-er than regular oil (I know thats not a word). So they allow for easier movement of parts = increased horsepower (a little) = less wear...however IF you engine already has a little wear and things are not seated quite as tightly as they once were, this could lead to leakage/oil useage/deposits... SO, if your engine is still tight and fresh let the synthetics roll...if your engine has a little wear (which most of ours do) then you have a choice to make.

Re: Questions - 1969 Stepside
 

I see that said all the time, but i have swiched many 100,000+ mile old engines... and never had a single issue with leaks, blow by, tail pipe smoke... you can ask anyone that attended the 2nd Ohio board meet a couple years ago, my old town car was a steaming pile of dog crap. I dumped mobile one in it the day I got it, and never had these problems, and that sucker had 180,000 miles on it when i got it. I think it was at 205,000 when i sold it.
Many regular customers at our shop have been making the chainge here lately too, fleet cars and trucks and vans, all with over 100K, some up into the 300 - 350K areas, never an issue.