[TR] greenish oil now ZDDP, dripping chambers

[John Macartney]

I've absolutely no axe to grind about Valvoline products as they were used for
about half the total journey on the Triumph Trans-America Stag in 2009.
 
From
the start in Florida until we reached about the near halfway point in
Tennessee, the car was running Valvoline 20W/50 with added ZDDP. At the next
change, I was recommended to switch to Valvoline VR1 Racing 40. On reaching
Colorado, where we did an equivalent 10,000 mile service, the cam chambers and
oil filter were full of an odious black sludge. Up to that point, I hadn't
been entirely satisfied with the sound coming from the engine. Having driven
many Stags over the years, it lacked that turbine-like smoothness and can best
be described as 'jangly' and 'loose.' Detailed checks revealed we weren't
doing it any damage but decided at Colorado to revert to Valvoline 20W/50 with
something  called 'Mystery Oil' to clean out the filth and to do another oil
and filter change on reaching Minneapolis. The filth that came out at that
change was unbelieveable! From Minneapolis onwards to the finish in
California, the car was running Castrol Classic 20W/50
 (at my insistence) with ZDDP. It's clear the blending process for Castrol in
the US and Europe is different as in Europe we don't have to add zinc - and
Castrol certainly don't use castor oil now - except in Racing 40 and that's
only for the smell it leaves on the exhaust.
But the point I want to make is
that from Minneapolis onwards, the sound from the engine was utterly different
and just like every Stag I've ever driven. Smooth, syrupy and just as it
should be.
I'm not making any criticism of Valvoline products but I'm left
with the impression that they're probably better suited to more modern engines
and perhaps Valvoline VR1 Racing isn't the ideal lube diet for an older
designed engine? If nothing else, that experience confirmed to me yet again
that the engines in our cars are far better suited to a 20W/50 mineral oil of
the 'classic' blend than anything else available. But then, as I doubt I'll
ever do a trip of that length again, the likelihood of me using Valvoline is
remote.
Just my two pence worth
 
Jonmac