Don Terrill’s Speed-Talk

I am switching over from gas to alcohol this year, and have always ran Mobil One 15w50 in my sbc drag motor. Is it correct that I should not run a synthetic base oil?
It was recommended to use Brad Penn or Schaffers micro moly oil 20w50
whats your recommendations?

Brad Penn, IMO.

Richard

I use Valvoline VR-1 20/50 Racing oil,I have never had a problem with this oil. Ken

I like the Schaeffer's Micron Moly way better than Brad Penn and I have tested both. If you have deep pockets, the Royal Purple XRP is way better than the others.

Consider a thinner oil like straight 30 or 40 or 10W-40

Pick an oil that is designed to mix or can mix with the Alky. Mobile 1 doesn't. Run a little thicker than most tell you. Remember you ARE going to mix alky with the oil & you ARE going to load the bearings more trying to compress more liquid in the cylinders. Disregard the above statements if you get the first time perfect tuneup or are the one in a hunderd that can tune alky.

s/c 266 wrote:I like the Schaeffer's Micron Moly way better than Brad Penn and I have tested both. If you have deep pockets, the Royal Purple XRP is way better than the others.

Consider a thinner oil like straight 30 or 40 or 10W-40

What was the nature of the test?

Richard

Adger Smith wrote:Pick an oil that is designed to mix or can mix with the Alky. Mobile 1 doesn't. Run a little thicker than most tell you. Remember you ARE going to mix alky with the oil & you ARE going to load the bearings more trying to compress more liquid in the cylinders. Disregard the above statements if you get the first time perfect tuneup or are the one in a hunderd that can tune alky.

I am glad I am not the only one that has seen a blown alky kill the oil!
There must be more people on this sight that have been there!?

I have talked with two oil enginers at great lenghts The Peen Grade 1
and Ce Pen co Are my picks they are made from crude out of Pn. Ohio
and the new England states. This stock has a parifin base Ca and Tx.
has an asphalt base. The parifin give it the sticky feel that does not run off
when the engine is cut off. Then comes the additive package of pollomires
These Oil have the ability to retain the alky in the oil.If the oil does not re-
tain the alky it settles out . Which had you rather run on dulleted oil or pure alky. There is a saying out, that if the can has the circle with the recomed rating like se c4 sm and ect it is not for racing . The blown truck
pullers I know uses loose clearences and 50-70 weight oil. Vavoline and
Joe Gibbs have off road oil that is good but $10.00 a qt. Ps don't for get
to add Klotts uplon fuel lube you won't regret it.

rskrause wrote:

s/c 266 wrote:I like the Schaeffer's Micron Moly way better than Brad Penn and I have tested both. If you have deep pockets, the Royal Purple XRP is way better than the others.

Consider a thinner oil like straight 30 or 40 or 10W-40

What was the nature of the test?

Richard

I paid for and had lab testing on VIRGIN samples. Blackstone Labs. Then had the data and Blackstone's comments verified by an industry race oil consultant. I also tested VR-1 and it was not too bad for a cheaper local shelf oil..
PS The BP had a few issues that after reviewed forced me to not even use it. Case is still in my shop some place

s/c 266 wrote:

rskrause wrote:

s/c 266 wrote:I like the Schaeffer's Micron Moly way better than Brad Penn and I have tested both. If you have deep pockets, the Royal Purple XRP is way better than the others.

Consider a thinner oil like straight 30 or 40 or 10W-40

What was the nature of the test?

Richard

I paid for and had lab testing on VIRGIN samples. Blackstone Labs. Then had the data and Blackstone's comments verified by an industry race oil consultant. I also tested VR-1 and it was not too bad for a cheaper local shelf oil..
PS The BP had a few issues that after reviewed forced me to not even use it. Case is still in my shop some place

I am sorry, but I guess I wan't being clear. I was wondering what parameters were measured and how was the testing performed? I am having a hard time "designing" a test to answer the question asked here unless it involved running the oil in a blown alky engine and the doing a teardown and detailed inspection along with an oil analysis. It seems unlikely that someone went to these lengths. My answer, and I suspect most of them posted here, was based on experience, IOW stating what has worked for us. If there is a better basis for deciding, that would realy be useful. It seems that you are speaking of some kind of oil analysis? What did they measure and did it involve used samples from blown alky engines?

Richard

We have been using the CENPECO 50wt oil in our blocwer engines for the last 13 years and these are 1500 horse SBC and during rebuilds the engins look great and even there 15/40 deisel oils are loaded with zick compared to the Rotella T that use to be good!!!

We have used Royal purple for over 15 years in all alky applications,for the guys on a tight budget just drain the oil and heat it in a pan to 250 deg.that will remove the water and you can re use the oil.we have some circle track applications where the customer used the oil for a full season,just changed filters every 5 races.
We have used it in blown and turbo applications as well,in my opinion it is one of the best oils for alky out there.Bill

I'm quite sure some scientist will come on and correct me on this but the simple test is to take your oil put it in a clear container with the alky. Shake them up. If it mixes you're better off it it seperates like oil and vinegar don't use it. We always used Kendall gt 50 and I'm told Brad Pen is the same don't know for sure.

I believe what Paul is referring to is some tests on virgin Brad Penn that showed a higher than normal iron content perhaps meaning that the pipes that carry their product are flaking. You can spend days searching www.bobistheoilguy.com for all kinds of information.

I still love the old Valvoline ad "Motor oil is motor oil"

Good luck with whatever you pick!!

can someone suggest a grade and brand of oil for a 700hp bbc naturally aspirated running on alochol. after only 2 or 3 passes the oil is so milky i have to change it! ive been using castrol 20w50.