So I now have around 4500 miles on my totally rebuilt 455..with flat tapet lifters.and I have been using 10w30 motor oil and been adding the lucas zinc additive with every oil change.


So When and if I change to synthetic what oil would most guys run and would I still add the lucas zinc additive to the synthetic oil or is it not needed with the synthetic oil???


Is there any big benefit to running synthetic oil ....or stick with what im running now!!

 

In my experience there is not much of a difference. I only would run it if the car manufacturer insists (BMW suggests Castrol Synthetic.)

A lot of gimmicky advertising when it comes to oil.

 

I like synthetic, but this is likely another one of those topics that you'll find as many people who like it as not. I see your in Alberta, will you drive your car in cold weather? From what I've read, and I'd encourage you to do some research of your own, synthetic oil will flow better at colder temps. When synthetic oil was a relatively new idea it was like 6 times more expensive than petroleum based oils. But that's changed and the last time I purchased oil I found Castrol synthetic on sale for the same price as good petroleum based oil. So... lets see what others think and I'd still encourage you to do some research to see what the different companies say about their products.

John

 

I had a 99 Expedition that was totaled last year with 168,000 miles on it. I had never used anything but Mobil 1 in it. It never used any oil, smoked or leaked any oil. It ran as good as it did when it was new.

 

Joe Gibbs or Brad Penn full synthetic with ZDDP in 15W40. This is what I run.

 

I use Joe Gibbs 10-30.

 

In really cold weather, synthetic is probably better. Really, any oil out today is vastly better than the oils available when our cars were new. I sometimes wonder if that isn’t really what influenced the longevity of these cars when new. I mean, I believe if you build a brand new Toronado today, same factory. But fill it up with modern fluids, the car will run better and run longer than it did in the 60’s

 

If the oil had zinc in it or a roller camshaft in the "new" 1960's Toronado. There were two recent threads about modern oils. They are informative. Check the Comps Cam website. Valoline off road oils were some of the better ones. Ask Smitty, then take his advice. I like zinc additives but I'm not an expert just over cautious. Ken

 

I was told by my engine builder, he's built a lot of race motors, that synthetic will make more horsepower.

Craig