limited oil choices for cam break-in

Grumpy · Jun 28, 2017

Grumpyvette,

Thanks again for providing the links to understanding engine balancing. From there, I started into the topic of oil selection. I have read your material on this, and as you point out there is a lot of conflicting info out there.

My application is a stock 1969 Impala with a 350. It will never be raced. I am rebuilding the motor to as close to factory specs as possible, including the flat tappet cam grind. Many of the oils you suggest are impractical or down right impossible for me to get around here, except one. You mentioned quaker state defy, which is available everywhere. Do I understand correctly that it is an above-average performing oil? (I realize it's not the top of the list...) If I used it, would I still need a ZDDP additive? It seems like I would not but I want to make sure I understand. Finally, what about the "seal swelling" additives to help old seals, when my motor is now 100% brand new? Very interested in any guideance you can provide. Thanks for all the work you do to put good info out there!

yes, theres a good deal of info in the links below and yes , the additional use of an additive will help increase the potential engine longevity, a good moly based assembly lube is critical, Quaker state oils tend to have a higher average paraffin content so add a quart of MMO (marvel mystery oil) as its additives tend to help prevent sludge forming and change oil at least every 7K miles after the first oil and filter change which Id generally suggest after you break in the cam and drain the hot oil after about 4-6 hours run time.
most cam failures are the result of improper clearances or not using a good moly based assembly lube along with not having good oil flow rates at start -up.
the best way to assure a cam has the best chance of a long happy life is verify the valve train clearances and spring load rates are correct for the application, and too design the lube system too supply the surfaces between the moving wear surfaces with a protective coat of warm high quality oil, and start out with those components covered with moly assembly lube , as an initial layer of friction protection, and continue to use cleana high quality oil that is constantly flowing over the moving surfaces, the links below provide a great deal of related info
in a properly set up engine there's always a cascade of warm , and in many areas pressurized oil flowing over and between the moving surfaces,
If you coat the lifter bases, cam lobes and rocker pivot balls with a good moly based assembly lube like crane cams sells and use fresh clean oil you,ll more than likely be ok without that additional additive IF your clearances and spring load rates are correct,for the application, but the ZddP additive won,t usually hurt and may help, I'd look at it as a cheap additional insurance.
oil with some paraffin content is not necessarily bad, as it acts as a moisture barrier,and it tends to prevent rust on internal parts if the engines not run regularly, it won,t generally turn to sludge if its not allowed to build up, and you do frequent oil changes , but it will build up if you don,t
very good,
I would suggest you use the magnets as they do tend to trap metallic debris
Preference on assembly lube?

50% marvel mystery oil

and 50% crane moly lube, or the paste moly, the mix of moly paste and M.M.O. is generally applied liberally with the paint brush, in multiple applications to surfaces like cam gears, timing chains, lifters, rockers, and cam lobes, to provide an extra layer of lubrication protection on initial engine start up.

what Ive used for decades
but this works

I have used J&B WELD EPOXY on a large magnet
https://www.zoro.com/value-brand-ring-magnet-98-lb-pull-10e797/i/G4187224/

on the base of an aluminum 1/2 cup measuring cup I purchased at a yard sale for 25 cents to mix up the mixture, the magnet allows me to stick the cup to the block oil pan rail or engine stand where its handy too get at, and I simply brush on the mix with a 1" paint brush, with synthetic bristles that won,t shed

OH! slide it off the block don,t try to just pull it off , its going to be much less messy that way trust me!
when your done , wipe it clean and stick it inside the lid of your tool box , after placing it in a ziploc bag to prevent it from picking up trash while in storage

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...akes-particles-in-oil.13330/page-2#post-69990

very very good

preventing cam & lifter break-in failures

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OK lets go into the problem,and info on potential solutions
(the failed cam lobe to lifter contact and rapid unacceptable wear area)
theres several routes or areas of concern, to look into
Proper clearances,
proper valve train geometry,
lubrication,
cooling,
protection from, and containment of metallic debris, generated through wear.
before, you start reading through the thread and links below, Ill point out that I,ve done the forensics on quite a few failed cams over the years that guys have brought to my shop and
Id say about
60% of the failed cam lobe & lifter problems were traced to a failure to check clearances or correct valve train geometry issues , like coil bind, rocker to rocker stud, or rocker to adjustment nut clearance, retainer to valve seal, clearances or rocker geometry, use of the wrong spring load rates for the application,or failure to check valve train or push rods binding issues like rocker to retainer, push rods binding on guide plates or heads,etc.before they became an issue.
about
10% were traced to failure to remove metallic or other trash, generated by a previous cam failing from the engines internal oil passages, or failure to carefully clean the engine before installing the new cam, and components, ( use of shrapnel screens and magnets help a great deal in this but can,t remove all trash as some is non-magnetic)
5% to low quality components, or miss matched parts, like the wrong spring load rates for the application, and perhaps
15% of the failures due to using the wrong lubricants , or not nearly enough moly cam lube on the lobes and lifter bases or setting up the oil supply system correctly, or use of a high quality oil and filter, and a failure to change that oil and filter regularly after the first few hundred miles , the remaining
1o% were from unknown causes but more than likely due to a failure to correctly break in the cam,or properly adjust the valves before the engine break-in process or carefully check and re-adjust the lifters rapidly during the break-in process
its likely cause

Strictly Attitude · Jun 28, 2017

Roller cam break in
http://www.onallcylinders.com/2015/06/24/roller-derby-how-to-properly-break-in-a-roller-camshaft/
Roller cam break in
http://www.onallcylinders.com/2015/06/24/roller-derby-how-to-properly-break-in-a-roller-camshaft/

Roller Derby: How to Break In a Roller Camshaft
Posted by David Fuller

By now, it’s common practice (or should be) to use break-in oil with ZDDP or a zinc additive for a flat-tappet camshaft.

But what about roller cams? Any old oil will work for that, right?

According top engine builders, ring manufacturers, and cam grinders, the answer is no. And the reason is pretty simple.

While the rings need to be seated in a roller, an oil that “wears-in” the rings will create a lot of fine metal particulate, and that particulate is a killer for your roller cam. According to Timken, the number-one reason for premature roller bearing failure is particulate contamination. An engine creates more particulate wear metal during break-in than at any other time. In fact the “normal” wear metals for a new engine are up to four times higher than after a engine has finished breaking-in—hence the term “breaking-in.”

So what does this have to do with motor oil?

Quite simply, not all break-in oils are the same. Some break-in oils are designed to accelerate the break-in process, and as a result, these oils generate higher levels of wear metal—bad news for your roller bearings. Other oils are friction modified. The added slipperiness of these oils can prevent the rings from seating properly

Striking the right balance is critical.

Driven BR break-in oil, for example, was formulated to help Joe Gibbs Racing with its engine program. Mark Cronquist, Chief Engineer Builder at Joe Gibbs Racing, says the break-in oil has two jobs: protect the valvetrain and not hinder ring seal.

“With a compacted graphite block and tool steel rings, the materials are very hard, so if the oil is too slippery, the rings won’t seat properly,” Cronquist said. “We still have a valvetrain with roller bearings that need protection as well, so the break-in oil features a high anti-wear formulation without friction modifiers to chemically assist the ring sealing. This strategy reduces the amount of wear metals created during break-in, and that protects the roller bearings in the valvetrain.”

Another aspect of roller cam break-in to consider is the high spring pressures and contact loads the cam, lifters, pushrods, and rockers see. While these loads would spell death to a flat-tappet cam, the high ZDDP anti-wear package of a break-in oil also protects these components during that critical break-in period.
use of a camshaft install handle generally reduces the chances of damaged cam bearings

Think of a break-in oil like a primer. Putting down primer before you paint establishes a uniform coating to build from, and that is exactly what a break-in oil does—it establishes a uniform anti-wear film that provides the foundation for protection. Just like a thick coat of primer smoothes out a surface, a properly formulated break-in oil does the same thing. The protective layer of ZDDP anti-wear film smoothes out the peaks and valleys that comprise the microscopic surfaces on the roller wheels and needle bearings. A smooth surface enables greater load carrying with less fatigue.

The more aggressive the valvetrain, the more critical these details become.

“It is hard to fall off the bottom of the mountain,” said Brian Reese from COMP Cams. “The more aggressive the valvetrain is in terms of lift, duration, and spring pressure, the less margin of error you have. The little details become critical.”

According to Reese, using a break-in oil is just part of the equation.

“We are seeing a trend away from flat-tappet engines to avoid the oil issues related to flat tappet cams, but just because you have a roller cam does not mean that it does not have to be broken in properly,” Reese said. “NASCAR level engine programs like Joe Gibbs Racing are still doing a 30-minute break-in on their roller cam engines because they have learned the hard way what happens when they don’t.”

Reese says improper break-in will catch up with you eventually.

“If you get the break-in wrong with a flat tappet cam, it dies right in front of your face,” he said. “If you get the break-in wrong with a roller cam, it may not die until several thousands of miles down the road, but the problem began at break-in.”

Here are a few break-in tips from the experts:

Wash off the rust preventative coating that is on the parts prior to installation. Parts are shipped with a preventative coating, and it needs to be removed for lubricants to function at maximum efficiency.
Apply a calcium-sulfonate grease instead of ZDDP before assembly. While ZDDP is critical in the break-in process, it is not the best assembly lube. After cleaning the camshaft and lifters, apply calcium-sulfonate for protection and lasting lubrication during initial start-up. Then, soak your roller lifters in break-in oil.
Use a finer micron filter during break-in.
Prime the pump before firing the engine. This ensures a critical supply of oil to the cam and lifters at initial start-up.
Do not idle the engine. Bring the engine up to 2,500 rpm and vary the speed by a few hundred rpm for 20-30 minutes.
After a 30-minute break-in, change the oil filter. At this point, you have removed all the larger particles that could cause problems and you can start upping the flow rate of your filter.
Change the oil and filter after initial break-in. Most of the wear metals created by an engine occur during the first hour of operation.

By properly breaking in your roller camshaft, you’ll ensure maximum performance and long life.

Indycars · Jun 29, 2017

Nice article ..... thanks!

limited oil choices for cam break-in

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.

COMP Cams 812D-16 COMP Cams DLC High Energy Hydraulic Lifters | Summit Racing

Crower 86092 Crower ZDDPlus Motor Oil Additive | Summit Racing

Howards Cams Direct Lube Extreme-Duty Mechanical Lifters - Free Shipping on Orders Over $109 at Summit Racing

Strictly Attitude

solid fixture here in the forum

Indycars

Administrator

limited oil choices for cam break-in

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.

COMP Cams 812D-16 COMP Cams DLC High Energy Hydraulic Lifters | Summit Racing​

Crower 86092 Crower ZDDPlus Motor Oil Additive | Summit Racing​

Howards Cams Direct Lube Extreme-Duty Mechanical Lifters - Free Shipping on Orders Over $109 at Summit Racing​

Strictly Attitude

solid fixture here in the forum

Indycars

Administrator

COMP Cams 812D-16 COMP Cams DLC High Energy Hydraulic Lifters | Summit Racing

Crower 86092 Crower ZDDPlus Motor Oil Additive | Summit Racing

Howards Cams Direct Lube Extreme-Duty Mechanical Lifters - Free Shipping on Orders Over $109 at Summit Racing