Not a good idea these days. See below

> Can I replace stock hydraulic lifters with solid ones?
> Is this a bad idea?
goofymuso@YAHOO.CA
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OIL IS KILLING OUR CARS!!!!! *

By: Keith Ansell, Foreign Parts Positively, Inc.

About a year ago I read about the reduction of zinc dithiophosphate 
(ZDDP) in the oils supplied with API approval that could affect sliding 
and high pressure (EP) friction in our cars. The reduction of these 
chemicals in supplied oil was based on the fact that zinc, manganese 
and/or phosphates reduce the effectiveness and eventually damage 
catalytic converters and introduce minute amounts of pollutants into 
our atmosphere.

A month or so ago I had a member of the Columbia Gorge MG Club bring a 
totally failed camshaft and lifters back to me that had only 900 miles 
on them!! I immediately contacted the camshaft re-grinder and asked how 
this could happen. They were well aware of this problem as they were 
starting to have many failures of this type. In the past, the lack of a 
molybdenum disulfide camshaft assembly lubricant, at assembly, was 
about the only thing that could create this type of problem. My 
customer has assembled many engines and had lubricated the camshaft 
properly and followed correct break in procedures.

This got me on the phone to Delta Camshaft, one of our major suppliers. 
Then the bad news came out: It�s today�s �modern� API (American 
Petroleum Industry)�approved oils that are killing our engines.

Next call: To another major camshaft supplier, both stock and 
performance (Crane). They now have an additive for whatever oil you are 
using during break-in so that the camshaft and lifters won�t fail in an 
unreasonably short period of time. They also suggest using a diesel 
rated oil on flat tappet engines.

Next call: To a racing oil manufacturer that we use for the race cars 
(Redline). Their response: �We are well aware of the problem and we 
still use the correct amounts of those additives in our products�. They 
continued to tell me they are not producing API approved oils so they 
don�t have to test and comply. Their oils were NOT the �new, improved 
and approved� ones that destroy flat tappet engines! �We just build the 
best lubricants possible�. Sounds stupid, doesn�t it, New-Approved but 
inferior products, but it seems to be true for our cars.

To top this off: Our representative from a major supplier of 
performance and street engine parts (EPWI) stopped by to �warn us� of 
the problem of the NEW oils on flat tappet�engines. This was a call 
that the representative was making only because of this problem to warn 
their engine builders! �The reduction of the zinc, manganese and 
phosphates are causing very early destruction of cams and followers�. 
They are recommending that, for now at least, there must be a proper 
oil additive put in the first oil used on new engines, beyond the 
liberal use of molydisulfide assembly lube. They have been told that 
the first oil is the time the additives are needed but remain skeptical 
that the first change is all that is necessary. Their statement: Use 
diesel rated oils such as Delo or Rotella that are usually available at 
auto stores and gas stations.

This problem is BIG! American Engine Rebuilder's Association (AERA) 
Bulletin #TB2333 directly addresses this problem.�I had a short 
discussion with their engineer and he agreed with all that I had been 
finding.

Next phone call was to a retired engineer from Clevite, a major bearing 
and component manufacturer. First surprise was that he restored older 
British Motor bikes. The second surprise was that he was �VERY� aware 
of this problem because many of the old bikes had rectangular tappets 
that couldn�t rotate and are having a very large problem with the new 
oils. He has written an article for the British Bike community that 
verify all the �bad news� we have been finding.

Comp Cams put out �#225 Tech Bulletin: Flat Tappet Camshafts�. They 
have both an assembly lube�and an oil additive. The telling sentence in 
the bulletin was �While this additive was originally developed 
specifically for break-in protection, subsequent testing has proven the 
durability benefits of its long term use. This special blend of 
additives promotes proper break-in and protects against premature cam 
and lifter failure by replacing some of the beneficial ingredients that 
the oil companies have been required to remove from the off the�shelf 
oil�.

Next question: Now what do we do?

 From the camshaft re-grinders (DeltaCam) �Use oils rated for diesel 
use�, Delo (Standard Oil product) was named. About the same price as 
other quality petroleum based oils. They are not API formulated and 
have the zinc dithiophosphate we need in weights we are familiar with.

 From the camshaft manufacturer (Crane): �use our additive� for at least 
the first 500 miles.

 From General Motors (Chevrolet): add EOS, their oil fortifier, to your 
oil, it�s only about $12.00 for each oil change for an 8 ounce can 
(This problem seems to be something GM has known about for some time!).

 From Redline Oil: Use our street formulated synthetics. They have what 
we need!

 From our major oil distributor: Distributing Castro, Redline, Valvoline 
and Industrial oils: �After over a week of contacts we have verified 
that the major oil companies are aware of the problem�. �The 
representatives of the oil companies today are only aware of marketing 
programs and have no knowledge of formulation�. The only major oil 
companies they were aware of for doing anything to address this are 
Valvoline that is offering an �Off Road 20W-50� and Redline.

 From Castrol: We are beginning to see a pattern emerging on older cars. 
It may be advantageous to use a non-approved lubricant, such as oils 
that are Diesel rated, 4 Cycle Motorcycle oils and other specified 
diesel oils.

Last question: So what are we at Foreign Parts Positively going to do? 
After much research we are switching toRedline Streetrated oils and 
stocking the Castrol products that are diesel rated. Castrol, owned by 
British Petroleum, is now just a brand name. This is a difficult 
decision as we have been a dealer and great believer in all Castrol 
Products for over 40 years. We have been using Castrol Syntech oil in 
new engines for about 3 years so the cost difference in changing to 
Redline is minimal. The actual cost in operation is also less as the 
additive package in Redline makes a 1-year or up to 18,000 mile change 
recommended! Yes, it is a long change interval but with lowered sulfur 
levels and the elimination of lead and many other chemicals in the 
fuels there are less contaminants in our oil from the fuel, which is 
the major contributor to oil degradation. We will continue to offer the 
Castrol products but will now only stock the suggested diesel oils that 
they produce.

Too many things are starting to show up on this subject and it has cost 
us money and time. Be aware that �New and Improved�, or even products 
we have been using for many years, are destroying our cars as it isn�t 
the same stuff we were getting even a year ago.

For the cars that use �engine oil� in their gearboxes this may even 
pose a problem as these additives that have been removed could be very 
critical in gear wear. We will be using oil specifically formulated for 
Manual Gearboxes with Brass Synchronizers. The only oils we are aware 
of that fit the criteria are from General Motors and Redline.

Keith Ansell, President

Foreign Parts Positively, Inc.

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From: Brit Bits Inc.

To: Dennis Coulthard

Talked to my cam guy. He says that delco makes a product called EOS 
engine

additive which has both zinc and dithiophosphate in the correct 
amounts.� Just add it to the oil in the car.

Avenue West Auto carries Engine Oil Stabilizer (EOS) for $6.00.

Ken

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