OIL?

[Anonymous]

I finished my build last year. Headers, head rebuild, 5200 carb, petronix, etc... The engine I started with only had about 70,000 mi on it, so I left the block alone other than drop the oil pan and replace the gasket. My father and I bought it off a little old lady (original owner) about 10 years ago. My father has always ran 30W Non-Detergent oil in it. I change the oil every 1000 mi or so and only put about 3000 mi a year on it at the most. Since the rebuild I have continued to run the 30W Non-Detergent. Should I be running something else?

Thanks

 

[pedal2themetal45]

HI
I would contenu to run the non detergent for now.. But if you rebuild the motor I would switch to detergent or synthetic.
The non detergent oil will cause a sludge build up (maybe not in your case if you have been delagent on the 1,000 mile oil changes) which alot of times stops the motor from getting loose and rattling you know rods, lifters, Cank and sutff. So if you start using a detergent oil it well clean out the sludge and the motor well start making noise.. nocking a such..
just my .02
tim

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

I would go for a detergent oil and extend the oil change at least to a few thousand miles. But then again at 1000 mi oil changes, you may not be building up much.

 

[Lazy JW]

Normally I would recommend staying with the non-detergent oil, but.... you said that you did the head a year ago and had the pan off. My question is this; was the engine pretty clean when you looked inside? If so, and you have only put a few thousand miles on since then, I say go to the detergent oil. I wouldn't extend the period between changes though. I doubt that you are driving frequently enough to keep it thoroughly boiled out, and that is important. Short runs that don't let engine evaporate all of the moisture and fuel vapors are MUCH more harmful than long runs. Your driving conditions should dictate your oil change intervals, not the odometer.
Joe