Fresh RV8 engine....... What oil should I run?

Jono FD3 · Post by **Jono FD3** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 12:49 am

I know that these were designed to run on mineral oils, and now they have been phased out!! So, my question to you is, what oil should I run in it now??? The engine is going in to a drift car so is probably going to spend most of its life in the top half of the rev range!

Not after theries of, well you need to have this in the oil, but this has been removed from the chemical mix of the oils now, blah blah blah.....
What I'm after is what grade and brand you recomend!

Cheers
Jono

sidecar · Post by **sidecar** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:40 am

I run Valvoline VR1 20-50, it is a mineral oil with a high zinc content which is what the RV8 needs. As it is a 20 grade when cold you need to keep the revs down until it is fully warmed up. (A 10 grade would be better in this respect)

conrod · Post by **conrod** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:00 am

who told you mineral oils have been phased out? plenty on the shelves last time I checked!

unstable load · Post by **unstable load** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:37 am

From here and elsewhere, you need to make sure it has a high ZDDP (Zinc) content, this is because of the requirements of the cam and lifters. 20W/50 seems to be the majority recommended grade.
Personally, I use Shell Rotella 40 and have not experienced any hassles (yet).

Jono FD3 · Post by **Jono FD3** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 12:18 pm

I thought the minerals were being replaced by semi now..... just Castrol are reducing their mineral range and haven't seen any in Halfords at all recently!

DaveEFI · Post by **DaveEFI** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 12:35 pm

Jono FD3 wrote:I thought the minerals were being replaced by semi now..... just Castrol are reducing their mineral range and haven't seen any in Halfords at all recently!

Last time I looked they still do GTX.

jefferybond · Post by **jefferybond** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 12:36 pm

My old rover v8 likes Halfords Classic 20W-50.

Not sure of the zinc content, but it is designed for older engines, and I think it has a seal swell agent in it to reduce oil leaks.

Jeff

r2d2hp · Post by **r2d2hp** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 1:33 pm

Think Zinc content is a little low on the Halfords Classic 20/50

I have just switched to this one >> http://www.commaoil.com/productsguide/view/6/247

Spec is here >> http://www.commaoil.com/productsguide/f ... 832cfa3a9b

DaveEFI · Post by **DaveEFI** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 1:53 pm

How much is that Comma oil? So many of these products slap a 'classic' label on and double the price...

r2d2hp · Post by **r2d2hp** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 2:08 pm

Its cheap compared to others, have a look at the Burton Power website

http://www.burtonpower.com/parts-by-bra ... 20w50.html

Jono FD3 · Post by **Jono FD3** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:40 pm

DaveEFI wrote:
Jono FD3 wrote:I thought the minerals were being replaced by semi now..... just Castrol are reducing their mineral range and haven't seen any in Halfords at all recently!
Last time I looked they still do GTX.

Yea, they do still do the GTX, but this is now a semi

its what I used to use in the RX7 as that was the best mineral oil to use in a rotary.... now it's semi synth I have to spend twice as much on oil

Jono