Castrol Anybody?

[55 Fargo]

I changed the oil in the Fargo late last fall, used Castrol GTX either 10W30 or 10W40. I previously had been using Rotella T 15W40, and other similar diesel oils, have for fun added a bit of STP type stuff too.

Anyway, point of this thread is not to fire up an an oil debate of any kind, my query is this, those who have used this oil, did you find it would thin down real easy as engine warmed up.

I am finding this to be the case, but possibly it is just my older engine. I do plan to switch back to 15W40 diesel oil real soon.

I am not 1 for any "snake oil" ideas, just an observation on this oil.....

[Dave72dt]

As compared to....?  Viscosity tests and temp controls to do it scientifically and then again, what do you expect it to do and why would one change in viscosity rating be better or worse than another.  None of us here have a controlled environment and the equipment to test and analyze the results.  Every oil I've ever run into flows more freely at higher temps than say at 0 or 30 below.

[NiftyFifty]

What your really looking for in oil for these old girls is the highest phos and zinc levels, or adding it after the fact. I use plain old CoOp straight HD 30, it shows the highest on the tests I've seen. I've tried other 10w30's but they always smoke more...and thin out as you say, valvoline and castrol...only one I found that wasn't too bad was the Quaker State high mileage 10w30, but they stopped carrying the 5L jugs at Ctire so I went to coop

[55 Fargo]

I can certainly try COOP straight 30. But to be honest, with these low rpm, valve springs type, really do not believe that ZDDP is a huge issue. I think on a brand new rebuild this may be a consdieration for a break in period, but any of the oils today, minus a lot of the ZDDP is better than anything of the 40s,50s and 60s...

[55 Fargo]

Not sure what Dave, 10W30 viscosities from oil brand and manufacturer compared to each other? I do notice this Castrol seems to thin out a little more than another cheaper brand I have used.

I do figure some oils will be produced in a cheaper manner than others, don't know don't really care. I was just curious about Castrol oil in specific, and if anyone else has had a similar experience. I will say this, this ain't a problem here from November to March, great oil for the cold...

[Jeff Balazs]

I have used Castrol GTX for years. I am running 20w50 with a pint of STP in my truck. My truck is not a fresh rebuild but I did pull the head....put a new timing chain on it and dropped the oil pan. When I first got it running I put cheap 10w40 in it. Ran it for a few hours and changed it. I repeated this procedure along with a couple of filter changes along the way to flush the oiling system thoroughly. To begin with the engine did smoke a bit and there was some valve train noise. Over time and with each oil change it got quieter and stopped smoking. It is pretty impressive now......very quiet , not a trace of smoke and does not leak at all. Compression has come up slightly too. The difference in oil pressure readings..... cold versus hot has not been more than a couple of PSI.

 

I have always been happy with this combination in older high mileage vehicles. It has worked well for me in the past.....and it looks like it is doing just fine in this truck.

 

Jeff

[55 Fargo]

Hi Jeff, sounds like yor plan is working.

I am like you, no oil smoking, good oil pressure drops a bit at idle, but some valve train noise with the 10 W 30 oil, maybe will try the 20W50 or straight 30 approach with some oil thickener like STP, that I sually don't add.

I do need to drop the pan, the side covers wee off with the manifold job, they were fairly clean, but not perfect, according to the Mechanic who did that job...

[Don Coatney]

What does valve train noise sound like?

[55 Fargo]

Don, not quite like untrained valves.......

[Jeff Balazs]

What does valve train noise sound like?

Clickety clack........ just like a train rolling down a track. Honestly .... it is much quieter now than it was when I first started.

 

I have a decent stethoscope. It is amazing what all you can hear and identify. Bearing noise....broken rings..piston slap..scuffing. It is actually a very useful tool. I have used this thing for years. If you are ever out here I have an amazing old 1949 AJS motorcycle with an engine that I have built to trials spec. It has among several technical innovations for the time a wire wound piston that runs at .001" tolerance. For the first minute or so when you fire it up it sounds just like any other piston ....in other words you can hear some slap......but the moment it reach's operating temperature it goes almost silent. It is truly shocking how quiet this thing runs. Valve noise is almost non existent due to a very clever "hairspring" type arrangement. When it is warm about all you can hear other than the exhaust note is the chain driven magneto and the roller bearing mains. Oh yah If you listen closely you can also hear a bit of a woosh as the scavenge pump draws oil from the dry sump. It is kinda like music you need a stethoscope to appreciate.

 

Jeff

Of course there is always the possibility that you may hear something you don't like.

[NiftyFifty]

I try not to add the stp thickening type when possible, I was using a Rislone product I bought in the US that I really liked, but last few trips down I can't find it so have been using the stp zddp additive, but even its hard to buy here. I guess the fact that these engines were built to run that type of oil is why I maintain using it, they should have lead substitute too, but I'm not going down that road.