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Joined
Dec 23, 2018
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Location
UK
My Car
Various
Penrite or Purple or other?

Hi all - would you hel;p a useless limey  :p

Mine has the 351 Cleveland  36000 miles old "M" code piece of loveliness -- but I have this car in UK temps typically between 40°F  (5 °C) and 90°F (30°C summer) 



 
Look for an oil with about 1400 PPM Zinc and 1300 PPM Phosphorus. Assuming factory bearing clearances, a 10W30 or 10W40 weight oil should be good. I don't know what is available in the UK so I can't help there. Good looking car. Chuck

 
Hello and welcome from an ex limey, now living in SW Ontario Canada.

In my pretty much stock 351C M code, I run Castrol 10W30 with a bottle of zinc additive. No idea if you can get zinc additive there, but I know you can get Castrol oils.

Geoff.

 
Well  I managed to find these two based on c9zx's advice  :chin:

5W50 Castrol Edge with Syntec API SN, synthetic

zinc = 1252 ppm

phos = 1197 ppm

ZDDP = 1200 ppm

5W30 Royal Purple XPR synthetic

zinc = 1421 ppm

phos = 1338 ppm

ZDDP = 1300 ppm

 
Well  I managed to find these two based on c9zx's advice  :chin:

5W50 Castrol Edge with Syntec API SN, synthetic

zinc = 1252 ppm

phos = 1197 ppm

ZDDP = 1200 ppm

5W30 Royal Purple XPR synthetic

zinc = 1421 ppm

phos = 1338 ppm

ZDDP = 1300 ppm
 Only one problem, Synthetic. I think most will agree these old engines don't do well on synthetic oils, rear end lube and tranny lube unless they have been built to take it. I know some use it, but when my engine was rebuilt with stock parts and clearances, the builder told me NOT to use synthetic oils,  but stick with 10W30 conventional oil. Anyway, your car, your decision.

Geoff.

 
Invested a lot of $$ in the rebuild of my original 429cj, C-6 transmission and trac-lok rear. My engine builder whom is a renowned builder and racer here in Southern Ontario was very specific to ensure I used synthetic fluids in all three. Made it so...

 
Well  I managed to find these two based on c9zx's advice  :chin:

5W50 Castrol Edge with Syntec API SN, synthetic

zinc = 1252 ppm

phos = 1197 ppm

ZDDP = 1200 ppm

5W30 Royal Purple XPR synthetic

zinc = 1421 ppm

phos = 1338 ppm

ZDDP = 1300 ppm
 Only one problem, Synthetic. I think most will agree these old engines don't do well on synthetic oils, rear end lube and tranny lube unless they have been built to take it. I know some use it, but when my engine was rebuilt with stock parts and clearances, the builder told me NOT to use synthetic oils,  but stick with 10W30 conventional oil. Anyway, your car, your decision.

Geoff.
Geoff, Search on "synthetic oil myths". I've successfully run synthetic oil in everything (engines, transmissions, differentials, mowers, and yard tools) I own since 1982 without any problems. Chuck

 
Well  I managed to find these two based on c9zx's advice  :chin:

5W50 Castrol Edge with Syntec API SN, synthetic

zinc = 1252 ppm

phos = 1197 ppm

ZDDP = 1200 ppm

5W30 Royal Purple XPR synthetic

zinc = 1421 ppm

phos = 1338 ppm

ZDDP = 1300 ppm
 Only one problem, Synthetic. I think most will agree these old engines don't do well on synthetic oils, rear end lube and tranny lube unless they have been built to take it. I know some use it, but when my engine was rebuilt with stock parts and clearances, the builder told me NOT to use synthetic oils,  but stick with 10W30 conventional oil. Anyway, your car, your decision.

Geoff.
Geoff, Search on "synthetic oil myths". I've successfully run synthetic oil in everything (engines, transmissions, differentials, mowers, and yard tools) I own since 1982 without any problems. Chuck
 Ok, so it seems I'm getting ganged up against here.

 Like anything else, when new technology comes along, there is resistance to it and often for the wrong reasons. Or is it I'm just 'old school'.

 I'm am certainly not an engine expert, not even close, so I rely on the expertise of others. In this case that was my engine builder, who is also renowned in my area. His advice was to use conventional 10W30 oil in the 351, so that's what I do. Besides, most of our cars only do around 1500 -3000 miles /year and the oil gets changed every spring, or at least mine does, so why do I need to spend good money on oil that is basically getting wasted?

 For my car, I'm sticking with conventional oil.

 Geoff.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
 Ok, so it seems I'm getting ganged up against here.

 Like anything else, when new technology comes along, there is resistance to it and often for the wrong reasons. Or is it I'm just 'old school'.

 I'm am certainly not an engine expert, not even close, so I rely on the expertise of others. In this case that was my engine builder, who is also renowned in my area. His advice was to use conventional 10W30 oil in the 351, so that's what I do. Besides, most of our cars only do around 1500 -3000 miles /year and the oil gets changed every spring, or at least mine does, so why do I need to spend good money on oil that is basically getting wasted?

 For my car, I'm sticking with conventional oil.

 Geoff.
Hi SL 

Please don't feel ganged up on and I appreciate all the advice in here -- I just don't want to make a mistake

I've been looking at all sorts of options -- including conventional lubes with additives 

I just guessed these engines wouldn't care for cheap typical humdrum fluids one would put in a Nissan Micra

Has anyone here used Penrite? has any views on that?

 
Last edited by a moderator:
 Ok, so it seems I'm getting ganged up against here.

 Like anything else, when new technology comes along, there is resistance to it and often for the wrong reasons. Or is it I'm just 'old school'.

 I'm am certainly not an engine expert, not even close, so I rely on the expertise of others. In this case that was my engine builder, who is also renowned in my area. His advice was to use conventional 10W30 oil in the 351, so that's what I do. Besides, most of our cars only do around 1500 -3000 miles /year and the oil gets changed every spring, or at least mine does, so why do I need to spend good money on oil that is basically getting wasted?

 For my car, I'm sticking with conventional oil.

 Geoff.
Hi SL 

Please don't feel ganged up on 

I've been looking at all sorts of options -- including conventional lubes with additives 

I just guessed these engines wouldn't care for cheap typical humdrum fluids one would put in a Nissan Micra

Has anyone here used Penrite? has any views on that?
 At the end of the day, it's your car, your choice what you put in it.

Another consideration is condition of your motor. Is it a fresh rebuild or never been touched? Does it have a flat tappet cam or roller etc.etc. The list goes on, but as I said I'm definitely NO expert on engines, just what I've learn over the years from my own experiences.

Personally, I have not heard about Penrite oil, not seen it in my area of Canada, maybe US I don't know.

Anyway, hope you're not getting too confused by all the differing opinions.

All the best with it,

Geoff.

 
 Only one problem, Synthetic. I think most will agree these old engines don't do well on synthetic oils, rear end lube and tranny lube unless they have been built to take it. I know some use it, but when my engine was rebuilt with stock parts and clearances, the builder told me NOT to use synthetic oils,  but stick with 10W30 conventional oil. Anyway, your car, your decision.

Geoff.
Geoff, Search on "synthetic oil myths". I've successfully run synthetic oil in everything (engines, transmissions, differentials, mowers, and yard tools) I own since 1982 without any problems. Chuck
 Ok, so it seems I'm getting ganged up against here.

 Like anything else, when new technology comes along, there is resistance to it and often for the wrong reasons. Or is it I'm just 'old school'.

 I'm am certainly not an engine expert, not even close, so I rely on the expertise of others. In this case that was my engine builder, who is also renowned in my area. His advice was to use conventional 10W30 oil in the 351, so that's what I do. Besides, most of our cars only do around 1500 -3000 miles /year and the oil gets changed every spring, or at least mine does, so why do I need to spend good money on oil that is basically getting wasted?

 For my car, I'm sticking with conventional oil.

 Geoff.
Geoff, I'm not trying to gang up on anyone. I'm just attempting to bring facts and empirical data to the conversation. Clearly you can, and should, use whatever oil you desire. However, there are more people in this conversation beside you and I and someone may benefit from what I've stated. Chuck

 
Geoff, I'm not trying to gang up on anyone. I'm just attempting to bring facts and empirical data to the conversation. Clearly you can, and should, use whatever oil you desire. However, there are more people in this conversation beside you and I and someone may benefit from what I've stated. Chuck
 Chuck, absolutely no offence taken, just making light of it all.

As you say, it's not about you and I, but is meant to benefit all. For whatever reason, there are pros and cons on both sides of the fence so to speak and not all will ever agree.

Perhaps it is just "Old School" thinking, but in my case, both the engine builder and the transmission specialist who did my 4 speed, definitely said not to use synthetic oils. That's the best information I have and what I had go by.

Geoff.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Geoff, Search on "synthetic oil myths". I've successfully run synthetic oil in everything (engines, transmissions, differentials, mowers, and yard tools) I own since 1982 without any problems. Chuck
 Ok, so it seems I'm getting ganged up against here.

 Like anything else, when new technology comes along, there is resistance to it and often for the wrong reasons. Or is it I'm just 'old school'.

 I'm am certainly not an engine expert, not even close, so I rely on the expertise of others. In this case that was my engine builder, who is also renowned in my area. His advice was to use conventional 10W30 oil in the 351, so that's what I do. Besides, most of our cars only do around 1500 -3000 miles /year and the oil gets changed every spring, or at least mine does, so why do I need to spend good money on oil that is basically getting wasted?

 For my car, I'm sticking with conventional oil.

 Geoff.
Geoff, I'm not trying to gang up on anyone. I'm just attempting to bring facts and empirical data to the conversation. Clearly you can, and should, use whatever oil you desire. However, there are more people in this conversation beside you and I and someone may benefit from what I've stated. Chuck

Geoff, same as Chuck in my response, as I guess you are referring to my comment as well. I did my research as well even though my engine builder made the initial  suggestion. We ran conventional oil for the engine break in and then switched over. In fact, when it comes to eliminating conventional oil in all my vehicles, I hung on as long as I could with conventional oil use, but now run synthetic in all my vehicles. My mustang's were last to be converted over... I think differing opinions here are good, not meant to be personal, just one's opinion. People will do what they will do in the end...
 
 Geoff, I'm not trying to gang up on anyone. I'm just attempting to bring facts and empirical data to the conversation. Clearly you can, and should, use whatever oil you desire. However, there are more people in this conversation beside you and I and someone may benefit from what I've stated. Chuck

Geoff, same as Chuck in my response, as I guess you are referring to my comment as well. I did my research as well even though my engine builder made the initial  suggestion. We ran conventional oil for the engine break in and then switched over. In fact, when it comes to eliminating conventional oil in all my vehicles, I hung on as long as I could with conventional oil use, but now run synthetic in all my vehicles. My mustang's were last to be converted over... I think differing opinions here are good, not meant to be personal, just one's opinion. People will do what they will do in the end...
 Ken, It clearly looks like the synthetic side of the fence wins the day. No support from the conventional side!

 All of this is meant to assist 1sostatic, which I hope it does without confusing him. He asked what was recommended, conventional or synthetic and what brand. We are all here to help one another with our opinions and as you say, not ever meant to be personal. You raise a good point on breaking in an engine on conventional oil with zinc additive (I assume), then switching over if one plans on using synthetic oil. Question though, what weight oil would be suggested, 5W30 or 10W30? I would think that 5W30 would be too light.  Also how much does it depend on the engine build, flat tappet or roller cam. Just curios.

For my part, I'm sticking with conventional 10W30 and change it every spring with usually only 1500 miles on it. Even if I did use synthetic, I'd still change it every spring as sitting for 5 months in unheated garage can't be good for any oil.

My VW Passat uses Castrol Edge full synthetic (VW mandated) and gets changed once a year (or 20000kms which it never sees). So I do use synthetic oil, but not in my mustang.

 
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