[Healeys] Removing cam in situ

[Bob Spidell]

Michael, et al,

That was my first thought.  I have used Chevron 20W-50 almost from the start--IIRC, I used Castrol and other brands for 
a while but the Chevron was available at Costco until a couple years ago--and I believe the Chevron had pre-converter 
levels of ZDDP, as some (most?) 20W-50s still do.  We used a high-quality assembly lube when we rebuilt the engine.  I 
would expect the lack of ZDDP to affect all the lobes, but it only appears that 2--#2 and #11--were 'lazy.'  Also, my OP 
is normal for a BJ8, I've never seen any metal in the drained oil and I've cut the filters open and inspected the media 
a couple times and there was no significant metal detritus (just did a change and will be opening up the filter today).

I just got a case of VR1--it runs $7/qt, give or take!--and will be using that from now on.

Bob


On 7/19/2014 7:51 AM, Michael wrote:
> What you are describing Bob is exactly what I encountered with AHX12.
> I believe that it was attributable to the dreaded ZDDP problem.
> I would suggest that you drain the oil and check for metal content.
> In 12 the flakes of cam lobe and lifter were all through the engine. The first indication of trouble was very low oil 
> pressure caused by the relief valve being jammed by the metal flakes.
> I rebuilt the engine completely and thereafter used Valvoline VR1 non synthetic oil, just put 10 bottles in #174, and 
> the problem never reoccurred.
> Michael S
> BN1 #174
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>


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Bob Spidell           San Jose, CA            bspidell at comcast.net

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