406 sb Motor Oil

[Pistol Pete]

So far I haven't been very UNsuccessful searching for threads... And I am sure this has been debated and recommended, so I apologize if it has been beaten to death..

Much like any other 'which is better' conversation... I am looking for advise as to what is the best (or at least range of best) motor oil to use...

I am not sure what the previous owner used, or that would have been my first place to start...

I have 406 csb, it is a weekender for sure... So has a tendency to sit for a while while waiting for nice days to drive...

What weight and oil do you recommend?

Thanks in advance.

[geezer#99]

Good old 10w30 works great.
BTW you have your heater hoses hooked up wrong. Needs to be intake to bottom of core.
You got a pcv on there somewhere?

[Pistol Pete]

Well, that's good to know, thanks! I just got this truck not too long ago... I am having an A/C installed before the summer anyway...but thank you for the catch!

[geezer#99]

And how about that pcv!
Do you have one?

[RedRoad]

valvoline VR1 racing 10-30 if you can find it or 20-50 for hot temps

[Pistol Pete]

The thermostat on this is pretty low... Running about 170 or so on the hw (on cool days) maybe 180 in the town going slower...so it doesn't run hot at all... As for the pcv...it has one, but not connected to recirculate... It has a rubber 'cap' on it... What does that do for me? Bad deal?

[Wizo]

Royal purple 10w30 full synthetic and don't forget metal additive.

[Pistol Pete]

Throughout the years I have heard polarizing views and opinions of oil additives... Which do you use and why? I have heard many complains as to the corrosiveness of them... Or that many just simply are marketing gimmicks...

Thoughts?

[geezer#99]

[QUOTE=Pistol Pete;702932.. As for the pcv...it has one, but not connected to recirculate... It has a rubber 'cap' on it... What does that do for me? Bad deal?[/QUOTE]

Oil leaks can happen.
Crankcase pressure can blow out gaskets and seals.
Check to make sure that cap has a pcv in it and run a hose to the large vac port on your carb.

[Pistol Pete]

So... I am a rookie here... What/where is the large vacuum port on my carb? It has a quick 750 on it...

[Alex V.]

If your temp. gauge is accurate I'd agree with 10W30 - a good synthetic blend or full syn. I've seen Valvoline products perform remarkably well in several different small blocks, however they were all 350's. If the engine's going to get romped on/revved high very often I'd be temped to move to a 10W40, but the difference is trivial. My understanding of "racing" oils is that they're formulated for high-performance/stress engines but short drain intervals - will it affect the longevity of your engine? Very possibly not, but it's worth noting.

Do you know any of the specs for your engine? Compression ratio, flat-tappet or roller cam, etc.?

[Alex V.]

And as to additives, what wizo is referring to is a ZDDP additive. I, for one, believe the argument for a ZDDP substitute is legitimate, but it only applies if your engine has a traditional flat-tappet camshaft. If that's the case I'd pick the oil you want in light of all other factors and then, if the oil you settle with doesn't have high enough zinc content, use an additive.

[Pistol Pete]

Well...I am a but embarrassed to say I'm not sure... I know it has mechanical lifters... Not sure on the cam or compression...sorry, I'm an idiot...

10-4 on the ZDDP!

[Alex V.]

Not at all. I don't know what the compression ratio or cam is in my '67 Suburban's powerplant - it just wasn't passed on to me, through however many people, from the guy who built the engine. I paid $400 for the engine because I knew it ran well when it was pulled from the '68 auto-trans. Corvette it came out of (completely incorrect engine for that car) and I'll have gotten $400 out of it by the time it comes back out.

"Mechanical lifters" - by that do you mean flat-tappet, or truly mechanical lifters ("solid" lifters) like the 60's hi-perf. SBC's had?

[Pistol Pete]

Solid lifters... He also put a girdle on it to help keep them from moving much. ...

[Alex V.]

Coolio. In that case, that's probably a pretty tight valve train and zinc is definitely advisable. You said the engine will only see occasional use - what kind of use, most often? Motoring to the local car show, running to a swap meet a distance away, or playing at the strip?

[Pistol Pete]

Car shows, weekend cruising, tailgating, etc... No plans to take it to the strip...I AMA cruiser not a racer...

So whether or not I get royal purple, mobile 1, or valvoline, I do plan on getting fully synthetic... Is there a specific ratio I am supposed to use of the ZDDP? The brief amount of research I just did says to be careful and measure... 'More is not better' in this case...

[Alex V.]

In that case, IMHO, Valvoline or Mobil full-syn. 10W30 is probably more than adequate and much more available than the high-end oils like Royal Purple. I have nothing against Royal Purple, Amsoil, Redline, etc., but doubt it's needed for your purposes.

Yes, too much ZDDP can lead to - rather than accelerated wear of the cam lobes, where there isn't enough - large chunks of the wear surfaces breaking off. If you're going to use a non-racing, non-specialty, service "SN" oil (as Synpower or Mobil1 will be), just use the additive as directed. Racing oils, in many cases, have more ZDDP to begin with and that's beneficial to know when adding even more to it, but the levels found in those two oils should be exactly what an additive like ZDDPlus (what I've used) is designed to boost to necessary levels when used per directions = 1 bottle per 4-5 qts.

[Wizo]

The old farts,(the serious gear heads) always use to say "put lead in tour gas and metal in your oil. I am inclined to believe that they know what they're talking about.

[Pistol Pete]

Sounds good, thanks guys!

[Alex V.]

Happy trucking.

[geezer#99]

Originally Posted by Pistol Pete

So... I am a rookie here... What/where is the large vacuum port on my carb? It has a quick 750 on it...

Right out the back of your carb on the bottom.
As for whether you have solid lifters or not. Easy to tell if you hear some ticking when you first start it. No noise says hydraulic.

[BADPURPLE70CHEVY]

Congrats first of all on the truck. If im not mistaken that is my brothers old truck you just purchased. Great truck. If you want to know what oil he used previously I can ask him or just give him a buzz.

[Pistol Pete]

It probably is... Looks like you are from the same area! I have asked him a couple questions, I just hate to be that guy that bugs him for a bunch of questions...know what I mean?

Geezer, it seems that the vaccum port (I think) is hooked up to the break.

[geezer#99]

Originally Posted by Pistol Pete

It probably is... Looks like you are from the same area! I have asked him a couple questions, I just hate to be that guy that bugs him for a bunch of questions...know what I mean?

Geezer, it seems that the vaccum port (I think) is hooked up to the break.

Find a plug back there on the intake to hook your brakes too!
Should be one right behind the carb.