Thanks,i appreciate that.

That's what I did (except I added 2 ozs. to a gallon - same ratio as yours). You really want half of that. Add 1/2 oz. to 2-1/2 qts (or 1 oz. to a gallon).

Kris01 wrote on 11/08/15 at 20:37:25:


1 oz. to the gallon will result in a ZDDP ratio of 1,306 ppm - which is in the acceptable range.

OK....maybe this is the post that will throw this into an "oil war".

My "second choice" oil has been Brad Penn oil.  The only thing that keeps it from being my "first choice" is the cost and the difficulty in buying it.  I can get it somewhat local - it is about an hour round trip to the engine machine shop that carries it in Cincinnati.  The cost is just about $ 7.00 a quart for the motorcycle oil.

This morning I contacted Brad Penn to find out exactly what the ZDDP oil level is for their motorcycle oil.  The Tech department contacted me and we had a nice discussion about the needs of the Savage and what it must have to survive.  The good news is that the Brad Penn Motorcycle oil provides not less than 1,260 ppm ZDDP and will protect our cams and rockers, and it is wet clutch safe.  It is also JASO approved for motorcycle use.  I explained that the Brad Penn was not on our approved list of oils on the forum - mostly because it cannot be obtained at the local auto parts store, motorcycle dealer or Big Box store.  He did explain that most of the oil they sell goes through Summit Racing, Jegs, Amazon and the specialty machine and racing shops.

I discussed the Rotella T with him and the new lowered 1,100 ppm ZDDP level.  He was sympathetic and stated that it is his believe that all vintage equipment should be operated with the type of oil that was being used when the equipment was built - and that if the original equipment needed a high level of ZDDP we should still be using that oil.  He also stated that the HDEO oils have nearly twice the detergent package that a gasoline engine oil would - and that these extra detergents are not necessary in a gasoline engine.  A diesel engine puts a lot of soot/ash in the oil and the detergents are needed in those engines - however the extra detergents take up space that would have been occupied by a lubricating molecule, and in the HDEO there are twice as many oil molecules displaced.  And when I mentioned that we used Redline ZDDP additive to supplement the current ZDDP level - he commented that they don't recommend adding anything to the oil package, as it changes the character and design of the oil "package" and it does not always improve the oil.  It is better to buy the right oil and use it as it was blended.

So, I am still convinced that Shell Rotella oil is a good affordable oil, that bumping up the ZDDP level a little bit most likely won't hurt anything and doesn't cost much, and that I am likely never to suffer an engine failure resulting from inadequate lubrication in our large lawn mower engine that is used in the Savage.  Are there better oils for the Savage....probably YES.  Do you need them....probably NO.  Is there a suitable oil that is cheaper to buy...probably NO.   Are their other oils as easy to find as Rotella T......depends on where you live and what your local specialty store carry....you will not find anything at the big box stores.

Should this oil be included in the Tech Section as a recommended oil....probably not unless it becomes more convenient to buy.


http://www.penngrade1.com/Products/Motor-Oils.aspx

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/bpo-009-7156/overview/

Oldfeller--FSO wrote on 11/09/15 at 09:56:35:


Why would the NAPA HDEO have less detergent than the other HDEO oils?

Dave wrote on 11/09/15 at 10:10:00:


Because it used to honor the old CI-4 spec completely and only gave lip service to CJ-4.  

However, upon checking it both on line and at the local NAPA it now only specs at 1100 ppm of ZDDP so I guess the pending spec. changes have gotten to it too.

I guess I'll bump Walmart Supertech Universal oil as my next purchase, but I will check it before I buy it.

I hate it when oils change standards.

Hey OF. Besides zinc at a minimum of 1200 ppm, what else should we be looking for or looking to avoid? Also, when did rotella triple drop down to 1100 ppm zinc? PQIA has it at 1200 ppm as of december 2014. They also have rotella t6 at 1300 ppm on that date. Have there been any changes to the t6?

Take a looky here. http://www.pqiamerica.com/June%202014/consolidated%20HDEO%202015.html