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[Healeys] Valvoline VR1 20W-50 Redux Redux

Subject: [Healeys] Valvoline VR1 20W-50 Redux Redux
From: coudesluijs at chello.nl (Oudesluys)
Date: Thu, 11 May 2017 11:06:46 +0200
References: <f1947b71-d4e1-2a10-f457-f518067fb370@comcast.net>
I am not a 100% sure but I think the highest spec oil to be used in 
classic car engines is SG/SH. 20W60 may interfere with the oil flow as 
20w50 is the usual specified oil for classic cars. The higher the 
numbers the thicker the oil hence a higher oil pressure but a reduced 
flow. Oil flow however is all important in an engine, more than pressure 
(within limits of course).
Kees Oudesluijs


Op 11-5-2017 om 1:07 schreef Bob Spidell:
> I was at my favorite local parts house today and noticed, as reported 
> by others that VR1 is back on the shelf after mysteriously 
> disappearing a year or so ago.  Good deal, I think, then I noticed the 
> label is slightly different than the stock I bought a year or so ago; 
> in particular, 'HIGH ZINC' is shown prominently on the front label (my 
> stash doesn't).  Also, the 'new' stuff is rated SAE SJ only, whereas 
> my bottles say 'EXCEEDS API SERVICE SGCD And All Pending API Gasoline 
> Categories Exceeds API Services SN/SM/SL'  The cam makers generally 
> say that SN and SM are not suitable for flat tappet engines (not 
> enough zinc and phosphorous).  SN/SM--dunno about SL--are supposedly 
> OK for engines with catalytic converters, which implies less zinc.
>
> Anybody know for certain know what gives?  My theories are:
>
> 1) Valvoline pulled their stock and simply relabeled their product SJ 
> to make it clear it shouldn't be used in cars with cats
>
> 2) The old VR1 WAS acceptable for cars with cats, implying zinc 
> content of no more than 800PPM or so, and they have reformulated the 
> oil with more ZDDP, which required the relabeling.  I hope this isn't 
> the case, as I bought a boatload of it because it appeared to be an 
> off-the-shelf oil with decent zinc and phosphorous content.
>
> The plot thickens (it's now 20W-60).
>
> Bob


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