Oil has changed (and not for the better).
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From: Kihei, HI (most of the time)
Oil has changed (and not for the better).
There have been lots of discussions here about what oil to use in the Lightning. Mobil 1 seems to be a popular choice along with the Motorcraft semi-synthetic. However, an article in the a recent issue of Car Craft looks at a major increase in camshaft failures in recent years as a result of formulation changes in engine oils. Specifically, some of the additives that should really be in engine oil have been removed to improve emissions characteristics and to help comply with EPA requirements. Camshaft manufacturers have been among the first to really notice the effects because of a sharp increase in warranty claims. Cam grinding and heat treating is better than it has ever been, yet flat tappet camshafts are failing at record rates. Oddly enough, "racing" oils continue to have the zinc and phosporus additives that have been disappearing from "street" oils. Shell's Rotella, marketed primarily for diesel applications (but lableled for gasoline as well) is one of the few dino oils that continue to be "properly" formulated. I don't know if the synthetics have the same issue and I'll continue to put Mobil 1 in the Lightning. Read the article and see what you think. As for myself, depending on the application, I'm using either full synthetics or the Rotella.
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Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Kihei, HI (most of the time)
Tim, you are correct. The article was in the June 2006 Hot Rod Magazine, not Car Craft. I hope loss of memory is not caused by the going fast gene!
And yes, the article primarily addressed the failure of flat tappet camshafts. That's where the change in formulation has first begun to manifest itself. So, while the Lightning Modulars do have rollers, but they still have areas such as the timing gear teeth to timing chain contact points which can attain pretty high pressure. I am also concerned about things like piston skirts. We don't need the oil to increase the drag on the piston, thus increasing the load seen at the rod.
And yes, the article primarily addressed the failure of flat tappet camshafts. That's where the change in formulation has first begun to manifest itself. So, while the Lightning Modulars do have rollers, but they still have areas such as the timing gear teeth to timing chain contact points which can attain pretty high pressure. I am also concerned about things like piston skirts. We don't need the oil to increase the drag on the piston, thus increasing the load seen at the rod.
