Cross Flow engines oil

[scionys]

What oil is everyone running in their Cross Flow engines that aren't raced and are mainly street-driven, with only the occasional hard run?

[NSXguy]

valvoline vr1 20w50 with high zinc content. i run this on street and track

[San Augustine]

@scionys I used Lucas 20w50 when I changed my oil last month in my 1600 sprint. Crossflows are pushrod, flat tappet engines, as long as the oil has high concentrations of zinc and phosphorus you’re good to go. Although, I do prefer mineral to synthetic for these older design engines. 
 

In the past I have also used in my older pushrod, flat tappet engines:
 

Castrol GTX Classic 20w50

Valvoline VR1  20w50

 

 

Edited November 7 by San Augustine

[7Westfield]

I use Brad Penn syn blend 15w40

[Christopher smith]

I understand that the older flat tapped motors need high levels of ZDDP to lubricate properly. Not sure if all of the cross flows were flat tappet. The pre-crosslow 1340 and 1500 as used in the super 7 are flat tappet But  a lot of ZDDP kills catalytic converters so no good for the more modern engines. there are various grades labeled hot rod or racing but good to check about ZDDP before using.

[7Westfield]

crossflows are flat tappet

 

Some say that extra zinc isn't needed on OHC motors, but be careful, If it's an older design like an Alfa or Jag, I'd def use it. 

My 2 ¢ worth is that if it's a non-roller contact on the cam, you need it

[Kitcat]

My 1997 Caterham was powered by a 1700cc SuperSprint X-flow. The original owner ran Mobile One pure synthetic in it for 7,000 miles or so. I switched to the oils mentioned above, with their ZDDP, for the 10K miles I added. There was no evidence of unusual wear, or sounds, using either type of oil.

[wdb]

I run VR1 20W-50 in my twincams. There are other viscosities available as well.

 

Has anyone been following their engine's health with used oil analysis?

[IamScotticus]

I vote for VR1. not because it's better but because it's widely available and has sufficient zinc.  There is a good argument that Mobil 1 syn is sufficient and Cat has spec'd it for the xflows, as it is stamped on my '96 plackard, but it's your choice.

Another argument is that the most important choice in oil is the one used in the first 30 minutes of run-in time and if that was done correctly.  After that, the oil zinc content may not be a major factor in an engines life, as much as change frequency is. Just TOMA.

Mobil1 is an amazing oil.

Edited Wednesday at 10:56 AM by IamScotticus