question on api rating

[towpainter3]

As I understand , if im correct the new oils on the market dont have the stuff we need for the flat tappet motors we run.
My local oil distributor has many cases of oil multi and straight grades sitting in his warehouse. Boxes covered in dust and ones that are smply coming apart due to age. Would it be better to chose these oils over new oils which he moves regularly. Some of these cases are 10 to 20 years old. Due to the demand for bulk oil at the quick lube stores he told me he doesnt move the cased oil as much as he used too and this stuff just sits.
Will the age of this oil hurt its ability to work? Like they say if you dont know ask an expert.

 

[Robert Kenney]

If you choose not to go with swepco there is a very solid major manufacturer that still sells a highly zinc/calcium ep fortified oil that I happen to use in all of my flat tappet and high performance mills.... That would be valvoline vr1. Available in 30/40/50/60 and 20-50.

I insist on it for any engine I build even for customers.


Can't say for any old stock oil that has been around for 10-20 years

 

[DF Sales&Marketing]

Good questions and remarks about api ratings, I'll try to be as concise as I can without being confusing......

First of all, I would be apprehensive of purchasing/using engine oil which is over 10 years old for two reasons:
1) you will be going back past the api "sj" rating which was considerably better than the previous ratings were. Even tho the additive levels, primarily phosphorous, zinc, and calcium might be higher than a lot of other oils at that time, they will still not come close to the higher performance/protection that you will get out of an sj, and sl rated oils. Some diesel oils did a whole lot better than the gasoline engine oils at that time and did have a higher additive level tho, but even those have been cut back in 2007.
2) depending on the base stocks and the blending process, aged engine oil could possibly "go south" on you in the form of the additives dropping out of suspension. If you are seriously considering purchasing and using those oils for strictly economic reasons, you should thorougly research the oil's manufacturer by going to it's website and asking their opinion on the matter. It would help if you had production dates, or quality control numbers in that case, also include the api rating of the oil you are interested in to them so as to give them the most information as possible. Most oil blenders will have "contact information" listed on their websites, and that would be the first step. If you are unable to find information on the web concerning the particular product's manufacturer, then go back to your dealer/distributor and ask him to put you in touch with the right people to talk with.

If I had a choice between using the 10-20 year old oil and the newer sm rated oil in a vehicle which doesn't require sm, I'd choose the sm and treat it with a good oil improver, such as swepco 502 oil improver which has a healthy slug of zinc and micronized moly in it..... One pint treats up to 5 quarts of oil, and it is also available from ihon and Isa's IH.

Hope this helps!

View attachment 502 Product Profile with zinc oval.pdf